People’s National Movement (PNM) San Fernando West candidate Faris Al-Rawi and St Ann’s North candidate Stuart Young, have warned that legal action will be taken against anyone who defames political leader Dr Keith Rowley or any PNM member.

The duo, who are also Rowley’s lawyers, made the statement during a press conference yesterday as they announced that Rowley would initiate legal action against the Newsday newspaper and former Legal Affairs Minister under the PNM, Peter Taylor, following an article published in the newspaper last week.

The press conference took place at Balisier House in Port-of-Spain.

The newspaper article to which Al-Rawi referred alleged, through a letter written by Taylor, that Rowley had used the state’s intelligence resources to spy on Taylor.

It resulted in a subsequent article, in which Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal called on Rowley to take legal action against Taylor or resign.

Rowley’s lawyers confirmed that pre-action protocol letters were being drafted and would be issued after the election.

“It is not often that attorneys come to a microphone to address a letter such as this but it is incumbent, with five days before election for us to set the record straight.

“This letter, to put it at its most polite, is incredible, unbelievable,” Al-Rawi said.

“Why someone would be compelled to put to the public domain, that a leader of the Opposition has control of the National Operations Centre and Special Branch to interfere in the relationship between Mr Taylor and his girlfriend is just incredible.”

Al-Rawi said it was the position of the PNM that Dr Rowley’s telephone records demonstrated that not a single phone call was made to him by the Newsday seeking comment on Taylor’s claims.

“We condemn this type of publication particularly when this type of letter leads one down to an inexorable conclusion that it could not have been written by anyone with serious intention to tell a truthful story.

“Allegations are completely denied. We wish to state that the reason we have not yet issued the pre-action protocol, which will not be only to Taylor but specifically to the Newsday, is that this type of letter is often best left to be done in the luxury of time and with five days before elections, one does not engage precious time to deal with matters like this,” Al-Rawi said.

“The letter is being crafted as we speak and will go out in due course.”

“Pre-action protocols demand that we exercise caution and address the matter with alacrity but we must do so while being thorough,” said Al-Rawi.

Al-Rawi also questioned why Moonilal was keen to comment on the issue.

“If Moonilal has the proof. as he says he does. He must take it to the police. Character assassination will not be tolerated. 

“We will pursue with vigour. We will not be distracted or lose sight. We have been informed there are further attacks to come,” Al-Rawi said.

“It is our view that this is a continuation of the No Rowley campaign.

“It is a wicked and mischievous publication and one that a serious editor should have looked at twice. We certainly think it is well within the public’s domain to know Rowley is reachable at all times. 

“I am always available as PRO and his lawyer.”

Young said the article must have failed the Reynold’s test for proper journalism.

The Reynold’s test provides a checklist for responsible journalism.

He said there was no doubt in his mind that the statements were defamatory.

“We will pursue legal action against anybody who defames the political leader and any member of the United National Congress,” Young said.

Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner last night called on Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar to tell the public whether he owns a US$125,000 condo in Miami which was purchased on June 8, 2012.

Warner raised the issue as he addressed supporters at the Angel Harps Panyard in Enterprise, Chaguanas.

He also questioned where Ramadhar obtained the funds to purchase the house and whether he had made the disclosure to the Integrity Commission. But he said he intended to investigate this himself.

“I am advised that this property was bought secretly but only the Prime Minister knows about it. He has two BMWs, a $4 million house in Champs Fleurs and this house in Miami.

“Where did Prakash get this money from? You understand why foreign exchange is so scarce,” Warner said.

He claimed one of the BMWs was owned by Ramadhar and the other by his wife.

Warner then turned the crowd’s attention to a screen on stage which showed photos of Ramadhar’s alleged Miami condo.

The shot showed the price of the house and who Ramadhar bought it from.

Warner then produced a second document which he described as a “government document” from the Miami State, which showed that the condo was located at 1625 South East, 10th Avenue, 707 Fort Lauderdale.

“That is the level of corruption. Let Prakash tell this country how in two years...a man who was living in a rented home...a man whose biggest case was Dole Chadee...a man who had trouble paying his bills...how he bought this condo,” Warner said.

In “busting” a second mark, Warner also alleged that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar went to New York in 2010 and while attending a function, had to be taken to her car by former minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters after she became incapacitated and could not carry on.

“The things she did when she was Prime Minister will blow your mind,” he said, adding he had more on the PM but would only reveal it if she pushed him.

An 18-year-old Belmont man was killed at Davis Street, Laventille, yesterday morning. 

According to police around 1.30 am residents heard gunshots and reported the matter to police. When officers responded they found the body of Aaron Walker on the roadway.

Walker, police said, was not identified at first but relatives later confirmed his identity to police. Walker’s killing takes the murder toll to 281 for the year, 33 solved with the corresponding figure for the same period at 292 with 53 solved according to Homicide Bureau of Investigations.

In three unrelated killings that took place over the weekend relatives of the deceased who spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James are calling for an end to the bloodshed.

One such person was a female relative of Peter Brown who was gunned down on Friday night. According to police Brown, 24, was chased by gunmen from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartments opposite Riverside Plaza, Port-of-Spain around 10.30 pm. Brown was struck by a car and as he was attempting to get up he was shot and killed.

The woman who did not want to be identified said Brown used to be involved in criminal activity but walked away from a life of crime when his daughter was born two years ago. 

According to the woman, Brown, of Foster Road, Laventille was convinced to rob a man who was wearing gold jewelry. Police said the man was used as ruse to lure bandits and had gunmen lying in wait. 

She said as Brown and others attempted to rob the man gunmen came out and killed him.

In another killing, the father of Jason Lightfoot, described his son as a gamer who was not a street child. Clifton Lightfoot, an undertaker with Celestial Funeral Home, said he has learnt to deal with death as a part of life, but still was not prepared for his son to be killed.

He said he had not seen his son in six months but would speak with him regularly on the telephone. He added that his son was not known to have any enemies and would spend most of his free time playing video games.

According to police reports, around 6.45 am on Monday Central Division officers received information about two bodies lying at the side of the road, at Mc Bean, Couva. When the officers investigated they found Lightfoot and his friend Andy Maharaj, who were reported missing since Friday tied up and killed. 

In yet another murder, relatives of Kevon Smith say they are confused as to who would want him dead.

Relatives told the media that Smith, 29, an employee of the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development and was a known limer who was not known to be involved in any criminal activity. Police said Smith was liming outside a house party at Sixth Avenue around 2 am Monday when gunmen walked up to him and opened fire. The gunmen then escaped into a waiting vehicle. 

His relative said he died doing what he loved.

If he becomes prime minister, People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley promises to be accessible to manufacturers and the rest of the business community.

“The country has nothing to fear from the PNM,” he said yesterday when he addressed a session on the future of the manufacturing sector hosted by the T&T Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School, Mt Hope.

TTMA president Dr Rolph Balgobin, who hosted the event, had earlier asked Rowley for a commitment that if he becomes prime minister he will give manufacturers all the help they need.

“We as manufacturers have a significant role to play in economic development in T&T. We therefore see ourselves as contributing more in terms of employment and are very keen to export more so that we can earn more foreign exchange for T&T. 

“We at the TTMA do a number of things to encourage people to manufacture more and export more. We have a food fair coming up and the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC). Are you prepared to give vocal support to our initiatives to encourage something other than the development of the state sector?” Balgobin asked.

Rowley said the PNM does not have a draft budget ready in the event of victory at the polls next Monday but they intend to work with experienced public servants to prepare a one quickly.

“It is obvious the public servants would have been crunching the numbers but the guidelines on how you pitch the oil prices will require an understanding of the budget,” he said.

Rowley said the PNM is not a “fly by night” organisation and has been around for 60 years.

“During that time we have had a variety of opportunities in manufacturing and today we are recognised as one of the leaders in manufacturing, so the next PNM government has a record. There are opportunities and we intend to provide support,” he said.

He also promised to support a buy local campaign but warned the business community that their products must be up to international standards.

Independent Liberal Party political leader Jack Warner is predicting that taxpayers will have to fork out more than $100 million in legal fees for his extradition matter, based on the initial $12 million legal bill submitted to government by State attorneys.

In an interview, Warner revealed that his private legal fees were less than $1 million. He expressed disgust that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration was paying exorbitant fees at taxpayers’ expense for a matter that the United States initiated against him.

“Imagine my matter has not yet started and they already paying $12 million. Over $100 million will be paid by the State if we go by this calculation. It is obscene, absurd and disgusting,” Warner said.

“These State lawyers spent 15 minutes in court on three occasions. The case has not yet been started. This is a matter that the US has initiated against me. Why taxpayers have to pay this money? This is for the US government to pay. That is a US problem and they cannot place a US problem on the taxpayers of T&T.”

He said there was nothing in the extradition treaty signed between T&T and the US which states that the monies will be reimbursed. 

“This is a last attack on the Treasury before this government leaves office. This is an attack on taxpayers. They owe an explanation as to why so many attorneys were hired and why they are paying so much money in legal fees,” Warner said.

“This is political harassment of the worst kind and the Prime Minister is party to it,” Warner said.

The 72-year-old former government minister is one of 14 people wanted by the US on allegations of bribery, money laundering, corruption and wire fraud conspiracy arising out of an investigation done by the US Department of Justice. He is currently on $2.5 million bail. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between 1990 and 2011. 

Warner, who is contesting the Chaguanas East seat in next Monday’s general election, is expected to reappear in court on September 21.

Fees justified

Meanwhile, one of the State attorneys hired for the case, Jagdeo Singh, who is expected to benefit from the $12 million payout, said his $1.5 million fees were for the entire extradition proceeding. Singh said it was not uncommon for attorneys to file invoices beforehand, adding that the fees were justified.

“Extradition is complex and requires an exorbitant amount of work. I actually charged less than what I was entitled to. I was entitled to charge two thirds of the fee charged by the QC but charged much less than two thirds. This fee is for the entire commital proceedings,” Singh said. 

Asked whether it was unusual and unjustified for so many lawyers to be hired for an extradition case, Singh replied, “That is not for me to decide. I can’t get into that.” He said under the existing extradition treaty, T&T will not get a reimbursement of legal fees from US.

Contacted on his cellphone yesterday, Attorney General Garvin Nicholas refused to explain why a battery of lawyers were hired for the extradition and why $12 million is being paid even though Warner’s case is yet to begin.

“I am not going to make any comment with regards to Jack Warner’s matter,” Nicholas said, declining to answer any further questions.

The cheques are expected to be signed and delivered this week, days before the general elections, on September 7.

Murder accused Christopher “Monster” Selby re-appeared in court yesterday but will have to wait one month before he is able to plead guilty to escaping lawful custody.

Selby who is charged with murder, escaping lawful custody and eight other charges, gave an undertaking on his first appearance to plead guilty for escaping lawful custody. 

When the matter was called before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, yesterday, police prosecutor, Insp Winston Dillon requested one month for the file to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a State attorney to be appointed before his guilty plea could be addressed. 

The Chief Magistrate then adjourned the matter to October 5. Selby is alleged to have escaped from the Frederick Street Prison on July 24 along with Hassan Atwell and Allan “Scanny” Martin. Martin and Atwell were killed within 48 hours of their escape.

Martin by police during a shootout at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, minutes after he bolted from custody, and Atwell allegedly by rival gangs in East Port-of-Spain. 

Selby is charged with the murder of PC Sherman Maynard, who was killed during the daylight breakout.

Selby was also charged with assaulting prison officers Kerron Prime, Jean Marc Hernandez and Nicholas Singh and two charges of shooting at prison officer Leon George and Maynard’s colleague Tisean Francis with intent to cause them grievous bodily harm.

He was also charged for possession an illegal gun, robbing a man of a Nissan Navara, which was reportedly initially used as a getaway vehicle before it crashed near the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and for robbing the Prison Service of two keys valued at $140.

Health Minister Fuad Khan yesterday denied that suppliers had cut off credit to the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) resulting in a shortage of essential supplies reaching patients.

The shortage of ECG paper, X-ray films, reagents and other essential supplies was highlighted yesterday morning by People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for San Fernando West Faris Al-Rawi.

At a press conference at Balisier House yesterday Al-Rawi criticised the spending of his opposing UNC candidate Raziah Ahmed on fireworks while patients’ lives were at risk.

Al-Rawi called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to instruct Khan to address the matter.

“He said he had been informed that $17 million dollars was owed to SWRHA suppliers, who were refusing to continue supplies.

Al-Rawi said as a result of Government’s failure to honour its debts, patients’ lives were being affected.

In a telephone interview yesterday Khan, who admitted that suppliers were demanding payment at all the regional authorities, said the matter had already been addressed.

“Two weeks ago we issued a release to all the RHAs to pay the staff and suppliers,” Khan said. 

“We are still getting supplies. The suppliers had threatened to cut off supplies unless they received up front payment for goods.

He said he was told the reason for the threats was because suppliers were afraid that they would not receive payment for their services if the PNM was elected to government.

“The thing is I am aware of it, but all the regions run on credit. Each RHA has to pay around $50 million,” Khan said.

He said the situation at the SWRHA was slightly different as the regional authority had a very high employment cost. 

“They tend to pay staff first and the suppliers after. Suppliers calling me and they are saying they want all their money up front. They are afraid if PNM gets into power they will not be paid.

“I don’t know if Al-Rawi is raising this because they have interest or relationship to the supplier. He should be asked that,” Khan said.

Khan said the situation wasn’t affecting patients as suppliers were still supplying goods to the hospitals.

When asked about the question yesterday, Al-Rawi said he was disappointed in Khan’s response.

“I have no interest with any supplier other than the fact that people are suffering because $17 million worth of bills are outstanding to suppliers who have cut off supplies.

“Further, suppliers are not afraid that PNM would not pay them, that borders on lunacy. PNM has a track record of honouring all contracts. Dr Khan ought to know that the authority to pay on contracts to suppliers cannot be interfered with by ministerial discretion. The contract is between RHA and suppliers and NIPDEC.”

He said it was the ministry of health’s responsibility to ensure that the financing to RHA’s were in order.

“In the context where we witnessed full page ads for fireworks. It is irresponsibility of the highest order to prioritise fireworks over lives.”

“While elections get feverish, one must focus on the priorities. My raising of this issue is a matter of serious public concern. 

“I am very disappointed that Dr Khan would respond to such a serious issue in the trivial and trite fashion. I would expect that he would treat the issue with the gravity it deserves so people would be confident that when they turn up at public health institutions their lives would not be put at risk,” Al-Rawi said.

CEO responds

SWRHA CEO Anil Gosine yesterday said the SWRHA had shortages from time to time but it was not more than the norm.

“Our ECGs are working because we have paper. There are also shortages of reagents from time to time but nobody is turned away.

Police in New Jersey are investigating the possibility that a fire which claimed the lives of a family of four with Trinidadian roots on Tuesday morning was in fact a murder suicide. According to a report on Fox News yesterday, the bodies of Lyndon Beharry, 35, Amanda Morris, 29, and their children Brandon and Brian Beharry, ages seven and four, were discovered unconscious after firefighters extinguished a fire at their home at Joline Avenue, Long Branch, New Jersey, around midnight on Tuesday. 

They were taken to hospital where they eventually succumbed to their injuries.  While police initially believed that the fire was accidental, forensic evidence gathered afterwards revealed the possibility of a more sinister cause. First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Marc LeMieux, in an interview with the news network yesterday said the victims showed signs of injuries unrelated to the fire. 

The police’s suspicions are reportedly being bolstered by the fact that the fire was confined to the second story and that there was no external damage to the house. “This fire does not appear to be accidental. We are not ruling out the potential that this was a homicide and a potential suicide,” Marc LeMieux said. 

Beharry, a mechanic with the city’s Public Works Department, was described as “an excellent mechanic and a very good-natured person” by his boss Fred Migliaccio. While this newspaper understands that the family are originally from Trinidad, it could not confirm how long ago they migrated to the United States. 

Investigations are continuing. 

A poll of the marginal constituency of Toco/Sangre Grande shows voters will likely return the People’s National Movement candidate to the seat in Monday’s general election. Asked who they intended to vote for come Monday, 55 per cent of the respondents said the PNM, while 33 per cent said the United National Congress. 

Some 11 per cent of the respondents said they were still undecided about who to vote for while the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) polled one per cent. The PNM’s candidate is Glenda Jennings-Smith while the UNC candidate is Brent Sancho. 

The strata were based on the percentage victory of the winning party over its nearest rival in each polling division (PD) and resulted in the PDs being classified as “strong PNM,”  “marginal” and “strong PP.” The proportion of the sample selected in each stratum was proportional to the percentage of the total votes cast.

Those who were undecided or refused to respond were still asked to indicate which party they were inclined to support in the election. These were then reallocated to the parties where this was indicated. This still resulted in 11 per cent being undecided or refusing to respond.

Some 19 per cent of those who voted for the People’s Partnership in 2010 now report that they intend to vote for the PNM in 2015. This compares with only four per cent of previous PNM voters who now intend to vote for the UNC/PP. The margin of error associated with the question was nine per cent but even if all of the undecided are allocated to the UNC/PP results indicate a PNM victory.

The PNM was also considered the “best” party in looking after the interests of people; having the best policies for the country as a whole and having the best team of leaders to deal with the country’s problems. PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley has overtaken Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as being the best prime ministerial among people in the constituency.

Rowley received 55 per cent of the votes while Persad-Bissessar got 39 per cent. Warner received two per cent of the support.

Relatives of a 30-year-old student being detained in Saudi Arabia under suspicion of being a terrorist are calling on the Foreign Affairs Ministry for urgent assistance in securing his release. Tariq Shamoon Mohammed, a final year student at the University of Medinah, was detained by Saudi national security officials as he returned to that country on August 21 after vacationing in T&T.

On Monday, Mohammed’s father, Shamoon, wrote to Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran seeking diplomatic intervention as he claimed his son was being unlawfully detained. The plight comes on the heels of reports of several T&T nationals travelling through Turkey to join foreign fighters supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis).

In his letter, which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, Trinidad Broadcasting Corporation 106.1 FM radio network host Shamoon Mohammed pleaded his son’s innocence as he said:

“Our son has diligently pursued his course of studies receiving good grades along with his wife, Saudah. He has never left Saudi Arabia to go to any Middle Eastern country during his stay there. He is not involved in any negative activities there. He has been a law-abiding citizen throughout his life.”

Shamoon, of Mohammedville, El Socorro, claimed since his son’s  detention, he and his wife were contacted by representatives of T&T’s Ministry of National Security, who questioned them on their son’s possible terrorism link. “We are unaware of how this misinformation reached our Ministry of National Security. When we saw the photograph of the alleged activist, it was clear it was not our son Tariq.

“It seems some person or agent in Medinah sent information to our Ministry of National Security which is a clear case of mistaken identity and/or misinformation,” Shamoon said. In a brief telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Dookeran said he was yet to receive the letter. “I haven’t seen it but I will check into the issue as I am sure it is being addressed by the permanent secretary,” Dookeran said. 

Contacted yesterday permanent secretary Frances Seignoret said she was in fact in receipt of the letter and that the issue was being urgently addressed. Attached to the request to the ministry was a first hand account of the family’s ongoing experience from Mohammed’s wife Saudah Ali. In her detailed statement on the issue, Ali claimed she and her husband first encountered problems when they arrived in the United Kingdom and attempted to board a connecting flight to their usual intransit in Turkey. 

Ali said she and their 16-month-old son, Sulaimaan, were separated from Mohammed for three hours as he was being questioned by British intelligence officers before they were eventually allowed to catch a later flight. “Tariq told me that they asked him about the Arabic books he had with him which were his university school books and also details of where we lived in Medinah and about his car licence and so on,” Ali said. 

She claimed they were stopped again as soon as they arrived in Turkey. “After a few hours they told Tariq  he could not enter Istanbul, as we were planning on staying there for two nights and then going on to Medinah. They wanted him to go back to London,” Ali said. 

She said after being held back for almost 12 hours they were finially allowed to board a flight to Saudi Arabia. Although the couple thought their woes were over as they never had issues with travelling to and from the country they have called home for over five years, their worst fears were realised as they were greeted by Saudi officials upon arrival.

Ali said their belongings, including a large amount of cash, used to pay the living expenses for the rest of the year were seized and she was separated from her husband and was transported to their apartment. “On arriving at the apartment I could tell that it was searched as things were turned upside down and my laptop and old phones were missing,” she said. 

She claimed that since then she had not been able to see her husband, who was being held at Buraidah Central Prison, and was only able to speak with him over the phone on one brief occasion. “Everyday I continued calling the office asking about him and to talk to him and they told me he was only allowed to talk to me once which he did and so I couldn't speak to him again. 

“Today is day 11 that my husband, Tariq Shamoon Mohammed, has been detained and I still have not been informed as to the reason of his detention. All I have been told thus far is that he is currently under investigation,” she said as she claimed she and her son were virtually under house arrest as they were constantly monitored by Saudi officials. 

She also claimed she and her son were surviving on the goodwill of their neighbours as the family’s money was yet to be returned.

A Tobago man was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and compensate the People’s National Movement (PNM) $2,000 after he pleaded guilty to destroying an audio horn attached to a car that was canvassing his area on Monday. 

According to police reports, around 5.20 pm on Monday an employee of Cuthbert Denoon was driving his silver Nissan Tiida with two audio horns attached to the top of his car along Main Road, Signal Hill, when Garvin Noray damaged the two horns by pulling at them.

The 37-year-old gardener, of Number 147 Lambeau Signal Hill Road, Scarborough, was arrested the following day and taken to the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Noray was charged with malicious damage by PC James of the Scarborough Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined $1,000 or in default spend three months in prison with hard labour. He was also ordered to compensate the PNM $2,000 or spend 31 days in jail.   

Speaking at the weekly press briefing yesterday at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, which was focused on election-related issues, DCP Harold Phillip, who has been appointed Gold Commander in charge of security operations for the September 7 polls, said there would be full police presence on election day with 5,000 police officers and 1,500 special reserve police officers. 

He said the police would be using all their national security assets to ensure “election results will be credible.”

Speaking on issues of alleged misconduct touted during rallies, Phillip said his officers have been attending political gatherings for safety measures and to ensure that there were no traffic irregularities. Phillip urged supporters to obey the law following the closing of the polls on Monday and enjoy their celebrations. 

Also at the briefing was ACP Deodat Dulalchan, who said  the Priority Bus Route will be opened on Saturday for supporters of the two major political parties—the PNM and United National Congress (UNC)—who will host their final rallies at the Eddie Hart grounds and Aranguez Savannah respectively. 

Parking will be permitted on the southern side of the PBR, Dulalchan said.

A doctor at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) yesterday said patients were being turned away without being properly assessed because over 28 reagents for testing for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems were not available. A reagent is a substance used to produce a chemical reaction so as to detect, measure, or produce other substances.

Medically it is used to detect illnesses in patients. A senior doctor at the San Fernando General Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was concerned at the level of care given to patients. “We are being asked to use our discretion. For some patients, doctors are referring them to get the blood tests done privately, while others are not being treated at all,” the doctor said.

The shortage of reagents, ECG paper and X-ray films has been linked to an ongoing situation where hospital suppliers have threatened to withhold goods until they are paid. People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for San Fernando West Faris Al-Rawi alleged in a press conference on Tuesday that suppliers have cut off their lines of credit to the SWRHA.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan, speaking to the Guardian prior to the sod-turning ceremony for the new Dialysis Centre at Mt Hope yesterday, maintained that suppliers were still providing goods. Asked to respond to the concerns of doctors regarding the lack of supplies, Khan said any doctors who made such remarks were opening up themselves to problems.

“If they say they cannot assess patients properly, how can they treat patients? They are opening up themselves and opening us up to problems.” Khan, who maintained that patients were not being adversely affected, said there were some investigations that were being done.

“We indicated that if they can’t get the investigations in the RHA then they can get it done privately,” Khan said. 

“Sometimes there is a decline in supply.” He said that suppliers were still saying that they wanted all their money now.

Asked when suppliers would get their money, Khan said he spoke to the manager of finance and was told that $96 million was already paid to suppliers and more would be paid soon.

Former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas says chairman of the Cabinet-appointed Public Procurement Oversight Committee Timothy Hamel-Smith should resign within the “next 24 to 48 hours” after he urged citizens to spoil their ballots in Monday’s general election.

In his advisory on social media, Hamel-Smith, who is also the leader of a new political party called the Third Force, said: “Patriots, this is your last chance to protest. Say no to all.” He also advised voters to go to their respective polling stations on Monday to: “Draw a line across your ballot paper or write ‘None. Make NOTA (none of the above), the winner this election.”

Contacted for comment yesterday, Dumas said Hamel-Smith’s behaviour seems “inconsistent and does not follow logic.” He said Hamel-Smith recently formed the Third Force and subsequently withdrew from the election without consulting a member unit of the party—the Alliance of Independence—led by former national security minister Gary Griffith.

Dumas said Hamel-Smith as chairman of the Third Force have been advocating the need for procurement reform, which may be seen to be pushing his party’s position and not impartial. Dumas said in the wake of those developments Hamel-Smith should step down from the Cabinet committee within the next 24 to 48 hours. 

Meanwhile, chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Sir Paul Tovua, said he was unable to comment on Hamel-Smith’s statement. He was asked to comment during the group’s first news conference since coming to monitor Monday’s polls.

The delegation, which was invited by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, arrived on Sunday. Hamel-Smith was unavailable for comment yesterday. 

After hijacking and murdering Point Fortin welder Jason Jade Alexander on Tuesday, gunmen continued on a night of terror when they used his car in a drive-by shooting, which claimed the life of Marabella market vendor Anton Farrow. Farrow’s friend, Joel Hannibal, 21, of Bayshore Avenue, Marabella, was also shot and remains warded in a serious condition after undergoing emergency surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday. 

Up to late afternoon, Homicide Region Three investigators were awaiting autopsy results on Alexander and Farrow. Police believe Alexander was murdered for his car, which was not recovered. However, they were yet to determine a motive for the drive-by shooting.

Reports stated that Alexander, 27, of E Street, Fanny Village, was last seen alive by relatives around 5 pm when he went to ply his white Mazda 323 for hire. According to his brother-in-law Dwayne Pacheco, he accepted a job to transport some men despite initially refusing it. 

It was only until 1 am yesterday morning when police came to their home that they knew he was murdered. Point Fortin police said they got a tip-off that a body was seen lying motionless at James Park, Egypt Village. When acting Sgt Jaggernath and other officers went to the pavilion’s carpark, they found Alexander dead with a gun shot wound to his left eye.

Speaking at their home yesterday, Pacheco said: “We don’t know who did this but they went with his phone and the car. “I believe it has to be somebody who knew him that did this because he said he was not taking any hired work. Jade was a person that if he said he was not taking a hired work, he would not take it at all. 

“You had to be good with him for him to take a hired work so it had to be somebody close to him who did that. 

“Jade works otherwise at Ansad contractors as a welder. He hustles a little money for gas to go to work. He was supposed to come back home 10 o’clock to pick up his brother who is staying at Techier Village. 

“We called him and his phone kept going to voicemail right through. When I saw it was 12 o’clock, I thought to myself something was happening. “I said, ‘What is going on with Jade? How come Jade ain’t reach yet?’ 

“About one o’clock, that is when we got the news. Police came here and told us they found a body and they could not identify it. 

“The police themselves knew Jade because of his tattoo ‘Jade’ on his hand. Jade was not on any kind of things. He was a favoured and popular person. Everybody knew Jade. I don’t know why they killed the boy.”

Drive-by shooting with stolen car.

Around the same time Alexander’s body was found, police said Farrow and Hannibal were liming at Bayshore Avenue, along the old Marabella train line when the same Mazda 323 pulled alongside them. Two gunmen exited the car and opened fire on them. 

As they scampered for cover, both men were hit several times before the gunmen returned to the car and sped off. The injured men were taken to hospital by residents but Farrow, who lived with his aunt at Monty Street, Marabella, was pronounced dead on arrival.

Farrow’s mother, Annie Alexander, said she did not know why her son was killed. She said both him and Hannibal were good friends for a long time. 

Describing Farrow as a good boy, she said that she has leukemia and last saw him on Monday when he promised to accompany her to the hospital to undergo medical scans.

A Malabar woman who have not fully gotten over the killing of her 33-year-old son, now has to find the strength to bury another one who was shot and killed early yesterday morning. 

Maureen Caleb was calm as she recalled the events after learning about her son’s killing to the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday. The mother of five said her son was not involved in criminal activity and was not sure if his death was linked to the killing in June of his older brother.

According to police reports, around 2 am yesterday residents of Richard Trace, Tumpuna Road, Arima, said they heard gunshots coming from the home of 28-year-old Marvin Caleb. Police said a man in dark clothing was seen leaving the house. Caleb was later found dead in the house. On June 15, Caleb’s older brother Alexis Junior Caleb, was killed in a similar fashion. 

Police suspected the older sibling killing was linked to a previous murder where his friend Neil Fortune was gunned down. Fortune, 34, was found dead inside an abandoned house at Richard Trace, Malabar, around 3 pm on June 9. He had a wound to the head and was semi-nude, police said.

Speaking at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday the grieving mother said a neighbour was heard shouting that someone was shooting Marvin after breaking down his door with a sledge hammer. She said the killers also killed two dogs belonging to her son. 

“I have a son died two months ago too and I don’t know if that related to this... I don’t know what going on, I don’t know if the two linked. I don’t know. 

“He (Marvin) was a quiet man. I don’t know him to be a criminal. He was helpful. He had one son. He had a serious face but liked to joke and loved to laugh. He wasn’t rowdy or anything” she said, adding that as a mother who lost two sons to gun violence, she was “not feeling good at all.” 

“This is my second child. I genuinely don’t know. I have three of them left now,” Caleb said. Caleb's killing along with two other murders in south Trinidad takes the murder toll to 284 for the year, the corresponding figure for last year was 292.

Head of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Sir Paul Tovua, yesterday called on all political parties, voters and the media to ensure T&T maintains its reputation for holding peaceful and credible elections. He was speaking during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. The group arrived in Port-of-Spain on Sunday at the invitation of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and will monitor and report of Monday’s poll.

He said T&T had a track record of “credible elections and the Commonwealth is committed to continuing its support of the country’s democratic processes.” He said the six-member group was supported by four professional members of staff from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“We will assess whether the election has been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Trinidad and Tobago has committed itself, including the constitutional framework and national legislation, as well as Commonwealth and other international commitments,” he said, adding that the group “will be objective, independent and impartial.”

The group has already met with the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the police, the main political parties—the United National Congress (UNC) and the People’s National Movement (PNM)—and intends to meet with other political parties and interest groups, including a separate team of observers from Caricom later this week.

“The aim is to ensure we gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the election process and the electoral environment,” he added. He said tomorrow, teams will be deployed to San Fernando, Mayaro, Port-of-Spain and Tobago to observe the election environment and preparations for election day. He said on Monday the group will observe the opening and closing of the polls, the polling itself, counting of votes and transmission of results. 

Sir Paul said the group would issue an interim statement of key findings shortly after the election “and before our departure on September 11 we will prepare our final report.” He said the Commonwealth Observer team stood in solidarity with the people of T&T as they exercise their democratic right to vote for the leaders of their choice. 

The delegation includes the editor-in-chief of the Searchlight publication of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Clare Kaizer; former attorney general of the Bahamas, Alfred Sears, QC; executive director, Democracy Watch, Taleya Rehman, from Bangladesh; executive director, Commonwealth Youth New Zealand, Aaron Hape; and electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery, from South Africa.

Senior Magistrate Marcia Murray has filed a pre-action protocol letter against the Attorney General citing inequality of treatment meted out to her daughter Saraya Murray. The lawsuit stems from a decision by officials of the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme (GATE) not to pay Saraya’s tuition fees. 

She is enrolled as a full-time student at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Jamaica. The letter dated August 28 states that Saraya was offered a provisional place at UWI, Mona, and applied for tertiary tuition fees assistance on the GATE website. 

On May 19, she was notified that her application was “Clearance Verified.” Believing she would be funded by the Government, Saraya went to Mona campus but was informed by the Admissions Section that GATE was funding 40 students whose names were placed on a pass list. Saying that medical students enrolled at UWI, St Augustine, were subsidised by the Government of T&T to the tune of 50 per cent, Murray called on the Government to offer the same subsidy to Mona students.

Murray said if this was not done within four days then Saraya would pursue her constitutional rights in the High Court. Murray also noted that there must be equality of treatment for all citizens adding that the decision not to fund all local students at the Mona campus was a breach of the TT government’s treaty with UWI and Caricom.

On Tuesday, GATE director Theresa Davidson said the ministry pays US$28,000 annually for five years for 40 pupils at the Mona campus. The students are selected on the basis of merit. Davidson said since more places were made available for medical students at the newly opened San Fernando Teaching Hospital, the list of 50 was reduced by ten. 

She also said Clearance Verified did not mean automatic approval for GATE funding.

Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) chairman Dr Vincent Lasse says $57 million has been borrowed from Republic Bank to settle outstanding payments to bus workers.

Speaking at the launch of the PTSC’s new Granville to Point Fortin route at the Granville Activity Centre yesterday, Lasse said workers represented by the Transport and Industrial Worker Unions (TIWU) should be paid by today.

He said he expected a resumption of full bus service to the country yesterday as the corporation had told the union of the loan arrangement. 

Asked how PTSC would repay the loan, since it does not turn over a profit, he said part would be paid by the Ministry of Transport while the balance would be covered by ticket sales. 

Lasse said PTSC hoped to increase aggressively its customer base to achieve increased revenue.

“Yesterday I signed an agreement to secure a loan to settle all the outstanding matters which have caused us to have some delay in the bus service,” Lasse said. 

“The Transport and Industrial Workers Union employees at PTSC have demanded their back pay in order to ensure that they go back to work and do the work they had signed up for.”

He added: “We negotiated a loan of $57 million to pay them and as I was preparing my few points to deliver today, at 4 am the general manager called me and said the cheque would be delivered to PTSC as I now speak at 10 o’clock. It shows that PTSC has been proactive at all times.” 

Speaking by telephone last night, however, Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz said his ministry was experiencing cash flow problems as the fiscal year winded down and most of the funding for the nine statutory bodies he oversees had been expended.

Cadiz said it was not unusual for State companies to approach local banks for funding though, adding that under PTSC’s articles of incorporation the corporation could borrow money. 

He said the Ministry of Finance sent out quotes to local banks and Republic Bank had the best deal, adding repayment of the loan will be covered in the 2015/16 national budget.

“What has happened is that we have come to end of fiscal cycle and funds are stretched,” Cadiz said.

“If it was earlier in the year we may have been able to get the necessary funding to pay the back pay but we came down to the end of our budget and there is little or no money left for excess. 

“Therefore, we will borrow on a short term basis and in the new fiscal term we will pay back. Cash flow is the issue that we have right now.”

TIWU elated

Speaking about the decision, TIWU president Roland Sutherland said while it was worrying that the ministry had no money to cover the back pay, they were elated workers would get their payments. He said the lack of funds was something PTSC needed to work out with the Ministry of Finance. 

“I am elated as president of the union because PTSC had retroactive payments due to workers for more than three months. There had to be some action this month from the corporation because they were getting difficulties to pay the money. If they got money borrowed from the bank then the workers are happy,” he said.

He denied, however, workers were ever on a strike, saying they were on a work-to-rule to ensure they got what was owed to them and that customers were safe while travelling on the buses.

He added: “It is worrying as to why Government could not guarantee the PTSC its money. That is something they will have to sort out with the Government.” 

Despite the payments, he said workers would continue to work-to-rule until there were ample parts to repair defective buses and a full compliment of road worthy buses to ensure the public and workers’ safety.

Although yesterday’s ceremony was supposed to inform residents of the new service in their community, it eventually became more of a political meeting.

Lasse, PTSC general manager Carl Ramdeo, T&T’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Nyahuma Obika and members of the Siparia Regional Corporation (SRC) all used the podium to endorse United National Congress (UNC) candidate for Point Fortin Ravi Ratiram as the next MP.

Ratiram, who is PTSC’s deputy general manager of properties, promised to have the Point Coco Road paved so buses can use the road, improve bus sheds and have a deluxe coach operate between Point Fortin and Cedros. 

Despite the new bus route being requested since 2013 by Cedros councillor Ramesh Seunal and SRC alderman Shankar Teelucksingh, Lasse said it was when Ratiram approached him to have the route implemented that they immediately acted.​

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) yesterday reported “a lot of people” coming in to exercise their democratic rights as special voters in San Fernando and at its head office at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, ahead of today’s closure of special voting in those areas.

The situation was briefly confirmed by EBC chief elections officer Ramesh Nanan yesterday. 

Speaking to the T&T Guardian by telephone, Nanan said all EBC systems were ready for Monday’s general election.

On special voting, which began on September 1, Nanan said the total number of special voters was 18,727. He could not say how much of this figure had so far voted. He, however, said EBC had noted large numbers voting in San Fernando and the EBC’s Frederick Street head office.

EBC stations established at Frederick Street, San Fernando and Tobago for special voters close at 3 pm today, he added.

He said there had also been no major complaints in the voting exercise so far.

Also contacted yesterday, People’s National Movement (PNM) general secretary Ashton Ford said the party had received no complaints of any problems with special voters. UNC secretariat officials were unavailable.

Meanwhile, National Security Minister Carl Alfonso, speaking to T&T last evening, said all upgraded security measures were being implemented for Monday’s general election activities across T&T. 

He said all police officers have been recalled from leave and supplementary Defence Force personnel were expected to be in the system within the next 24 hours.

“You will be seeing a higher presence of security personnel on the ground and roving in areas ensuring that everyone is comfortable to cast their ballot wherever in the country they may be,” he said.

He assured that systems will also be in place for tomorrow’s rallies by the bigger political parties at the Aranguez Savannah, San Juan, (People’s Partnership) and Eddie Hart Savannah, Tacarigua (PNM).

“What did we miss?”

This is the question that now haunts the family members of Amanda Morris after an autopsy revealed Morris and her two sons were murdered and her husband, Lyndon Beharry, committed suicide.

Morris’s eldest sister, Cadine Mohammed, who lives in Claxton Bay, said the family was baffled by the tragedy.

The family of four were found in a bedroom of their New Jersey home on Tuesday by emergency personnel who responded to a fire at the residence. 

Morris, 29, and Beharry, 35 were in a 12-year common law relationship. Their sons—Brandon, seven, and Brian, four, were born in New Jersey. 

“What sign did we miss? This is what is hitting us hard. We didn’t have a thought to say they had a problem that he would have done this,” Mohammed told the T&T Guardian.

“We don’t know how to think, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. The baffling part is we never saw any sign; there was no indication of anything like this.”

Mohammed said the photos of the family on the Guardian’s front page on Wednesday were taken during a family trip to Atlantic City two weekends ago.

“The pictures of them on the front page, you look at those and tell me if you can see anything wrong with that family? Those pictures were taken just weekend gone, when they went on a family trip.”

As for the murder weapon, a gun, Mohammed said her guess was as good as anyone else’s.

“We have no idea where he could have gotten a gun. I know my sister and I know she would not allow a gun in the house with her children.”

Mohammed said as the eldest of five sisters, she helped take care of Morris while they were growing up. However, she may not get to tell her sister goodbye as she is experiencing problems with arrangements to travel to the US for the funerals. 

“I went to the US embassy, but they told me there are no special considerations for times like these. I don’t think I’ll be able to say goodbye to my baby sister.”

Although a date has not been set for the funerals, Mohammed fears her time is running out.

“I had overstayed my time the last time I was in the US and now I feel like I will not get to see my sister one last time.”

She said the family would most likely be cremated together in New Jersey.