A Marabella man who said he drank alcohol as a way of coping with the two-year-anniversary of his son’s death was fined $15,000 and had his driver’s permit taken away yesterday, after he was convicted for a third consecutive time for drinking and driving.

Wazir Ramjohn, 52, pleaded guilty to the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and his attorney, Sharmilla Rampaul, told Magistrate Natalie Diop he needed help instead of a custodial sentence.

Ramjohn has two previous convictions for driving under the influence, one in 2010 and one in 2014.

He was arrested when police responded to a road traffic accident along Union Road Marabella around 6 pm on Sunday. When he was interviewed by officers on the scene, Ramjohn admitted he was drinking alcohol. When a breathalyser test was done on him, it showed he had exceeded the 35 microgramme legal limit by 42 microgrammes. He was arrested and charged by WPC Sylvester.

In her mitigation to the court yesterday, Rampaul said her client’s son died on April 13, 2015 and the date he was arrested was close to the two-year anniversary of the death. She said he had been drinking again because of the anniversary.

Asking for a non-custodial sentence, Rampaul said Ramjohn needs rehabilitation and not jail time. She said he needed counselling as his drinking and depression were inter-related. At the age of 52, she said Rampaul had still not been able to deal with his son’s death and would drink alcohol to block off the pain he was feeling.

Rampaul said her client was willing to participate in any programmes, such as Arrive Alive, as he had not done so in the past because his family did not know about such programmes.

Diop said Ramjohn’s court record showed he had two pending matters from 2010 and 2014 and the police had a duty to update their records. After she stood down the matter for prosecutor Sgt Kassiram Lutchman to check the records, she said in the past Ramjohn’s driver’s permit had been taken away by the court and then reinstated sometime later. She told him that no matter how he felt about his personal circumstances, if drinking brings him relief and he opts to drink he must not be on the road.

She said there was minor damage reported from the accident and Ramjohn should know the law as he has been through the system time and time again. She said with his two past convictions, the court needs to send a clear message that his conduct would not be tolerated. She then fined him $15,000 and ordered him to pay $3,000 forthwith, with two months to pay the balance. In default, he will serve two years hard labour.

Diop also ordered that his driver’s permit be taken away permanently and that he be disqualified from holding a permit for life.

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) had to put on seven additional flights on Easter Monday to deal with 952 unexpected standby passengers travelling the domestic route for the long weekend.

On Friday, the airline also had to accommodate 562 standby passengers who showed up at the Piarco International Airport without confirmed tickets to Tobago - for a total of 1514 standby passengers for the weekend.

This was in addition to the 17,500 booked seats the airline had serviced between the two islands from Good Friday to Easter Monday. The inundation is believed to have stemmed from the ongoing woes on the sea bridge.

Confirmation of CAL’s busy weekend came yesterday from head of corporate communication Dionne Ligoure. She said for the weekend the carrier had 17,500 confirmed seats to and from Tobago. However, on Friday she said the airline had to service 562 standby passengers.

“Monday we put on eight extra sectors (four flights), while Monday night we put on three additional flights. In all it was seven flights. If you count... I am just giving you context... that will put it at 952 seats.”

Each flight accommodated 68 passengers.

For the period April 7 to 24, the airline had made 55,196 seats available on the domestic air bridge, she said.

Yesterday, Ligoure said the airline had supplied additional service to deal with the influx of passengers.

“I want to commend the hard working teams at Caribbean Airline for the tireless effort they put out this weekend to ensure that our customers had a positive service experience. What I can say is that the airline has placed priority on the air bridge to ensure that it is carefully and closely managed.”

She said by today she would have a precise figure on how many passengers the airline serviced between Friday and Tuesday.

Ligoure admitted, however, that the carrier had to consolidate flights on the weekend because their loads were low.

“Everybody land up at the airport Friday morning. We put on flights and clear the standbys. So by Friday afternoon we were consolidating flights because the loads were low because everybody had gone already. “

Ligoure said what CAL did on Friday had to be repeated on Monday and yesterday “because you still have a flow of people coming back. Some people would have gone up by boat and decided to return by plane and so on.”

Communications manager of the Inter-Island ferry Service, Vilma Lewis-Cockburn, meanwhile said the port faced no problems with its sailing on Easter Monday, as its operations were back to normal.

“There were no delays or interruptions.”

On Monday there were round trips with the Water Taxi, T&T Express and T&T Spirit, while the Super Fast Galicia sailed from Tobago at 11 pm, which accommodated 100 passengers and trucks with cargo.

Last Thursday, there was frustration for truck drivers as their cargo was turned away, while passengers endured long lines at the Ferry Terminal in Port-of-Spain following a series of cancellation of sailings for the past fortnight.

Yesterday, Lewis-Cockburn said there were two round trips on the sea bridge with far less passengers sailing to Tobago. But she was unable to say how many passengers using the ferries had returned to Trinidad on Easter Monday.

“The thing is, people would go as standby and sometimes it is so many it looks almost chaotic. People would feel we cannot accommodate the volume of passengers.”

She said the T&T Express and T&T Spirit ferries have been operational but not working at their optimum.

“Which suggests that there is still some work to be done on these vessels,” she said.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has dismissed claims by the Ministry of Education that there has been a marked reduction in violence and indiscipline among secondary school students within recent months.

Responding yesterday, president of TTUTA, Lynsley Doodhai, said he did not believe the data collected by the ministry truly reflected what was happening with students at both the primary and secondary levels.

Doodhai’s comments followed claims by ministry officials that efforts had led to a reduction in the number of incidents of school violence and indiscipline, thus resulting in a decline in the number of suspensions and extended suspensions being sought by principals.

Instead, Doodhai said TTUTA intended to carry out their own investigations to determine the truth, after they were informed by members that the ministry had instructed school principals some time ago, to cut down on the number of suspensions being handed out.

Discounting the data being used by the ministry, Doodhai said, “The teachers who are in schools have been telling us there is no reduction with respect to violence and indiscipline as they point out situations in which students are engaged in deviant behaviour.”

He added, “Some matters are not being dealt with in a forthright manner as some students are not being suspended or penalised as they should for infractions.”

Alluding to a “cover up” by some administrators, he was uncertain if it was a move to protect the respective school’s image or an unwillingness to complete the requisite paper-work - hence, his claim that the data was not representative of what was happening in schools today.

Regarding efforts to rehabilitate students, Doodhai commended the ministry for introducing the Learning Enhancement Centre (LEC) initiative which he described as, “An improvement from the past.”

However, he said much more still needed to be done to reform students.

Doodhai said although the Student Support Services Division was tasked with counselling these students, other efforts were also needed such as curriculum reform.

President of the National Parent Teacher Association, Zena Ramatali, declined to comment as she said their executive was due to meet today and therefore would be unable to say anything until after it was discussed.

The ministry said suspensions were reduced from 5,257 in 2015, to 3,940 in 2016.

Former Senator and attorney Carol Cuffy-Dowlat was described as a one who demonstrated the true meaning of patriotism.

This description was given by Cuffy-Dowlat’s sister-in-law Kimlin Foncette-Edmond during her brief speech during the private funeral service held yesterday at Oasis Greens, Egypt Trace, Endeavour, in Chaguanas. The service was done under Hindu rites and officiated by Pundit Karmesh Sharma.

“For many years Carol gave of her time and resources selflessly to enhance the lives of others. She fought to defend the rights of our citizens based on the principles of democracy, freedom and equality,” Foncette-Edmond said.

Pundit Sharma said he knew Cuffy-Dowlat very well over the years and described her as a loving soul.

During his message, Sharma urged mourners to keep high on their agenda the importance of family and to uphold the magic words of “Love, Forgiveness and Please and Thank you.”

“There is a family and social breakdown but it is up to us to be men to our families, spend quality time with the family. Train our children to be kind and courteous, practice values of saying please, thank you, I love you, please forgive me,” Sharma said.

Cuffy-Dowlat, 60, died on Good Friday (April 14) at 11 pm while warded at the Hibiscus Suite at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope. She was the mother of Dr Israel Kevin Dowlat and Anderson and grandmother of five.

She took in ill on April 10 and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex . She was then warded in the Hibiscus Suite until her passing.

Cuffy-Dowlat suffered from a number of medical conditions.

Cuffy-Dowlat began her political career in the early 1980’s with the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) led by Arthur N R Robinson (the Late).

When the NAR party fell apart, she continued with the United National Congress (UNC) with then political leader and founder, Basdeo Panday. At that time, the UNC, which was formed as the result of the split in the ruling NAR in 1988, was also known as Club 88.

During the ruling UNC administration (1995-2000), Cuffy-Dowlat was appointed a Government Senator and served as the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Settlements.

She was also the talk show host of Guardian Media Ltd 106.5 Aakash Vani.

Cuffy-Dowlat also acted in several ministerial positions including: Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Housing and Settlements.

In 2002, Cuffy-Dowlat contested against then Prime Minister Patrick Manning (the Late) in the general elections in the San Fernando East constituency.

The following year, 2003, she contested the Les Efforts/La Romaine districts where she served for two Local Government terms.

When the UNC split in 2006, the Congress of the People (COP) was formed by Winston Dookeran.

Cuffy-Dowlat was one of the many politicians that went with Dookeran and in 2010, in the General Election, now on a Congress of the People (COP) ticket, Cuffy-Dowlat sought another attempt to unseat Manning (the Late).

Also present at the funeral was Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, COP’s Political Leader Dr Anirudh Mahabir, former Political Leader of the COP, Winston Dookeran, former Government Ministers: Chandresh Sharma, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Bhoe Tewarie and Ramona Ramdial (Couva North MP) and Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan.

Cremation took place at the Waterloo Cremation Site.

T&T is well on its way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the Draft National Development Strategy 2016-2030.

According to Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, the report which is expected to be laid in Parliament on Friday, represents hundreds of hours of consultation and collaboration with stakeholders regarding the country’s progress and development.

Delivering the feature address at the start of a seven-day workshop on Sustainable Development Goals Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) Mission at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre yesterday, Robinson-Regis said the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report of 2014 indicated that T&T had achieved and in certain cases, surpassed most of the MDGs set out previously.

Among the benefits listed was the fact that the percentage of persons living below the poverty line of US $1 per day had declined from 24 per cent to 14.8 per cent; extreme hunger was almost eradicated with only 1.2 per cent of the population falling below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption; the achievement of universal primary and secondary education, as well as universal Early Childhood Education had become a reality for all; and tertiary level participation increased from 15 per cent in 2004 to 60 per cent at the time of the country’s report - thereby meeting the set targets.

Robinson-Regis said gender parity at both the primary and secondary level had been achieved, with women surpassing men at the level of tertiary participation.

Acknowledging T&T’s efforts to successfully meet the targets relating to the Consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances which declined from a high of 220 tonnes in 1998 to 34.34 tonnes in 2011, the minister said notwithstanding these accomplishments, T&T remained part of a global community that continues to face an array of challenges including rising inequalities, persistent and entrenched poverty, stubborn conflicts, contagious diseases, climate change and rapid environmental degradation.

She said, “Though these threats increase the vulnerability of all communities, the effects are more deleterious on those with fewer resources and capabilities, those most dependent on ecosystems and least able to exercise their rights to human security, to development, the right for their voices to be heard and the right to dignity.”

Grateful for the continued support of the United Nations team, Robinson-Regis said the immediate goal was a mission report and a summary of the mission including an assessment of the mission’s objectives, roll out, outcomes, next steps and a SDGs Roadmap for T&T, identifying the areas for national development acceleration.

In January, the ministry also initiated the Global Services Promotion Programme geared towards the development of skills via information technology enabled services (ITeS).

A call for proposals was launched via a Skills for Global Services Initiative, inviting businesses to partner with educational institutions and training providers to present proposals, develop skills, create jobs and ensure adequate investment in the pipeline of talent our country needs to transform the economy.

T&T’s National Vision and Strategy aspires that by 2030, the nation will be able to sustain its own development and provide a high quality of life for all citizens and for generations to come.

The Draft National Development Strategy (Vision 2030) provides the framework within which strategies and implementation plans can be developed; presents the broad priorities and the target time periods to achieve them; and provides for an orderly long term development process which is inclusive of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Five themes and outcomes for T&T towards 2030 have been identified including putting people first: delivering good governance and service excellence: partnering with stakeholders; and enhancing the environment.

Revealing that the ministry was currently in talks with stakeholders in the Styrofoam industry to discuss the possible elimination of this product in the food and beverage sector, Robinson-Regis said a State of the Marine Environment Report with an Action Plan has been approved by Cabinet and will be presented to the public soon.

Cabinet approval has also been granted for T&T to participate in the Nagoya Protocol which will allow for the exploration of flora and fauna as natural medicines.

Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat says game wardens have been monitoring social media as several hunters continue to post photographs of dead animals after the closure of the hunting season.

Despite the closure of the hunting season on February 28, several hunters still take to social media to show off their latest catch of wildlife.

The latest photograph that caused a stir on social media was what seemed to be a dead ocelot posted for sale.

Many have also posted photographs of dead iguanas and manicou on various sites.

This act has caused concern among other members on social media who have either caution the hunters about posting the pictures or warn them of possible jail time.

In a brief interview, Rambharat said: “We had a significant increase in the number of warnings and charges laid this hunting season.”

The minister said there were game wardens and 134 honorary game wardens who continued to work. Rambharat said that some photographs which appeared on social media could be from the hunting seasons while others may be illegal hunting.

“Social media is monitored and our wildlife division check questionable situations,”he said.

Rambharat said during the past few weeks, several individuals were charged with having carcasses of animals in their possession after the closure of the hunting season.

Rambharat said three people were charged in the Biche area for having several iguanas in their possession and in a separated incident 15 macaws and an Amazon parrot were seized. Several hunters and other individuals were warned on social media about conducting illegal activities by men who identified themselves as wardens.

According to the ministry, during the period between March 1 and March 31, all persons must dispose of all wild meat in their possession.

WHAT THE LAW STATES

​Under the Laws of T&T, Chap. 67:01 the Conservation of Wild Life

(2) Any person who—a) contravenes subsection (1); or

(b) has in his possession the whole or any part of a

protected animal, is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for three months

Tobago Chamber of Commerce chairman Demi John Cruikshank says Tobago stakeholders are still against the idea of the barge operating on the sea bridge.

However, he says the chamber will reserve comment on the MV Provider until the members discuss it officially at meeting today, after which an official statement will be made.

His comment came yesterday, hours after Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan’s announcement that the cargo ship MV Provider and a barge, named the Transporter, would service the sea bridge after the Super Fast Galicia leaves Trinidad and Tobago’s shores tomorrow.

But while Cruikshank was reserving his body’s comment, Tobago House of Assembly Minority Leader and Public Services Association president and Watson Duke is totally against the idea of using both vessels.

Speaking to the media in Tobago at the Scarborough Port yesterday, moments after it was announced the Provider would sail from Sunday, Duke said the specifications of the vessel were not suited for this country

“We are saying no to the MV Atlantic Provider, which is this Guyanese boat, should this boat come to Tobago or to Trinidad, the same port that they now do not want to dredge will have to dredge, because the hull of that ship is about 5.5metres, so therefore that will require the harbour in Port-of-Spain they are avoiding to dredge, they must dredge that harbour, also the harbour in Scarborough would need to be dredged,” Duke said

“That boat is an old boat, 1997. That boat has stability problems. That boat cannot carry passengers, only cargo, that boat has a chequered past, it was arrested in 2015. I could go on about that boat. We do not want that boat here.”

He added, “The capacity of goods that boat can carry is half the amount of the Galicia, where are you going with that? The barge could only carry about 80 cars, where are you going with that? No passengers?”

Duke also said the idea of the use of barge was a slap in the face of Tobagonians, as several stakeholders, including the Tobago Chamber, had rejected the idea during a meeting with Sinanan and even called on the intervention of Prime Minster Dr. Keith Rowley to mediate in the impasse.

“The barge that must be pulled by a tug boat, that will take about 10 to 14 hours to reach Tobago, which gravely diminishes the truckers and pace in which cargo moves between Trinidad and Tobago. It is something we rely on heavily, this barge doesn’t offer the ability for truckers to roll on and to roll off,” Duke said.

Duke visited the Scarborough Port yesterday for a planned protest, but the event never came off as the support he was hoping for never materialised. He instead took the opportunity to interact with stranded passengers who had been at the port for more than 12 hours. This after the scheduled 12 pm sailing of the T&T Spirit was rescheduled to 4.30pm, but never left Tobago until 7.30 pm.

Duke called on Rowley to apologise to Tobago for telling the nation to “hold strain” while the Government sorted out the inter-island ferry issue, noting sea bridge transportation should be more reliable

“We are calling on the Prime Minister to make the air bridge and the sea bridge safe and reliable again. Freedom of movement is a constitutional right to be enjoyed by all of us, even the little child among us,” he said.

Efforts to reach THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls to his cellphone.

Joint Select Committee chairman Wade Mark says they are preparing to make recommendations to impose sanctions on entities which do not comply with recommendations and requests from the JSC.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament after the JSC meet the National Gas Company executive yesterday, Mark said at present all the JSC could do was “name and shame” those culpable.

“We may have to come to a point where we will have to recommend that the State Enterprise Performance Manual become a legal document because right now it is only a set of guidelines,” Mark said.

He said at a committee meeting on September 7, 2016, the Sport Company of T&T, Community Improvement Services Ltd, Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), PLIPDECO, Solid Waste Management Company Ltd and NGC were examined by the committee.

Among the significant issues were lack of approved strategic plans for the current period, absence of internal audit units and late submission of audited financial statements to Parliament.

Mark said under the committee’s standing orders there was a provision that gave the State enterprises 60 days to respond in writing to the committee’s recommendations and how this would be implemented.

“So far we have been able to get positive responses,” Mark added.

Asked if the committee’s recommendations were rejected, Mark said this was not the case thus far. He said despite staff challenges, the committee monitored the entities to determine if recommendations were implemented.

Pressed on what penalties could be imposed on entities that do not adhere to Parliament requests, he said decisive action would be taken, adding, “At the end of the day, a line minister is responsible for those entities. So if any entity has defied us we go to our superiors and seek their guidance. This is the only way we can move forward.”

This is why he said it was critical to get the idea of real sanctions implemented.

Asked about making those who previously appeared before the JSC and were no longer members of a State company responsible for their negligent actions, member Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said all State enterprises must adhere to Parliament’s guidelines otherwise Cabinet would have to take decisive action.

“When we sit here as a committee, one of the most irritating factors is that we are in 2017 and we have to look at reports from 2009 to 2008 to 2006, ... therefore it is historical information we are dealing with,” she said. 

“As we go forward, we have to ensure that the present persons who sit on State enterprises understand their roles and adhere to those guidelines and they are going to be held to those guidelines.”

The T&T Electricity Commission owes the National Gas Company US$516 million (TT$3.5 billion), another $15.9 billion was paid out through multiple dividends in one year and millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money was mismanaged via unnecessary community projects from 2012 to 2015.

These issues have significantly weakened NGC’s financial structure and put it in a state from which it is still trying to recover, the company’s president, Mark loquan, told a Public Accounts  (Enterprises) Committee meeting yesterday.

During the meeting in Parliament, Loquan told the committee, chaired by Wade Mark, that there has been no revised agreement between T&TEC and NGC since 1994. The bill still to be paid by the energy supplier was equivalent to TT$3.5 billion, he said. He said T&TEC has not been making payments on a regular basis, hence the reason for the hefty arrears.

But Loquan said solutions for a new contract agreement were now being explored, but final prices were yet to be determined.

“The T&TEC contract has not been in place since 1994, so this is an area where NGC continues to supply gas for power and has not been able to receive payments on a regular basis and has led to arrears and underpayment back to the NGC for gas,” Loquan said.

Regarding exorbitant dividend payments which were made when Indar Maharaj was president, chairman Gerry Brooks told the committee dividends were paid 11 times in some cases during one year.

“The company paid in 2012 $1.2 billion, in 2013 $4.2 billion, in 2014 $ 3.79 billion and in 2015 $6.8 billion,” Brooks said.

“The profit in 2012 was $4.42 billion after tax and the dividends paid $4.2 billion. In 2013, $3.7 billion in dividends was paid...the profitable tax is $3.8 billion. That is a clear violation of the State Enterprises’ Manual by the then directors.”  

Brooks said in 2013 there were 11 dividend payments, eight in 2014 and a “significant “ number of payments in 2015. In comparison, for the period 2009 to 2011, $1.17 billion was paid in dividends.

The committee also heard that $90 million was spent on a strategic plan for 2016 to 2020 under the pervious administration. When asked to identify the company which was awarded the contract for the plan, Brooks said he preferred to put this in writing.

Brooks and the new board members took up positions in late September 2015. Yesterday, he said his new executive was finalising a strategic plan for 2017 to 2020.

The committee was also told that wages and salaries moved from $338 million to $623 million between 2014 to 2015. Total staff cost was also increased from $433 million in 2014 to $ $750 million in 2015. The NGC has 1047 employees.

VP, Finance and Information Management Narinejit Pariag said salaries and compensation costs increased during that period, as there was a lag of market adjustment.

The company also received $4.5 billion in claims directly related to gas curtailment in the 2010 to 2015 period, which NGC is currently challenging in court. Regarding penalty provisions so that NGC could also sue conglomerates for shortfalls, Brooks said “a root to branch” review of such agreements was needed.

The committee also heard that company’s general budget for community expenditure was $22 million in 2011 but in 2012 rose to $40 million, $53 million in 2013, $81 million in 2014 and $73 million a year later. This represented $247 million over a four-year time span. On top of this, the committee was told the company spent $370 million on roadworks and upgrade of recreational facilities, which had nothing to do with NGC’s core business.

A solider accused of attempting to export a quantity of cocaine hidden in scented candles was yesterday granted bail on charges of ammunition possession and possession of uncustomed goods.

Collin Clarke, 26, of Cunupia, who was granted $300,000 bail after appearing in court on Tuesday charged under the Customs Act with attempting to export a prohibited substance, made a second court appearance in the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer separate charges over illegal items allegedly found at his home last week.

He was charged with possession of 50 rounds of ammunition and harbouring a package containing uncustomed goods (items for which no duties were paid) under Section 213 (c) of the Customs Act.

Senior Magistrate Joanne Connor granted Clarke $100,000 bail to cover the charges.

Clarke and his girlfriend Charlene Giles, 24, of Savannah Terrace, Diego Martin, were arrested during a sting operation set up by members of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) and the Customs and Excise Division at international courier DHL’s office in El Socorro, San Juan, last Thursday.

They are alleged to have had in their possession a box containing 24 packages of scented candles which were found to contain cocaine. The package, inclusive of the drugs and candles, weighed a total of 1.8 kilogrammes.

Clarke was charged under Section 154 of the Customs Act with attempting to export a prohibited item, while Giles was charged with cocaine trafficking. They were not called upon to plead to the charges as they were laid indictably.

Clarke, who had been enlisted in the T&T Regiment for the past five years, was hit with two additional charges over illegal items found at his home during a routine search after his arrest.

The couple will be tried for the drugs charges in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court while Clarke will face the other charges in Chaguanas. Clarke is being represented by Collin Partap and Irshard Ali.

Hugging each other and weeping uncontrollably as they held on to their crying children, retrenched Caroni Green Ltd (CGL) workers yesterday left their workplace for the last time facing an uncertain future.

With the return of property tax fast approaching, the workers, many of them women, said they were fearful about how they would feed their families.

With a tough job market now existing, many of the 77 employees who received their retrenchment letters at the company’s Brechin Castle, Couva office yesterday said they were unsure they would find new jobs.

Many of them are single mothers and men from rural communities in Waterloo and Cunupia, who live where the CGL farms are located.

For Darsan Nanan, however, it was the third time he had to go through the pain of being severed from employment. The former Caroni (1975) Ltd worker was forced out of a job when government closed the company in 2003. After finding employment at ArcelorMittal, where he toiled in the furnace, he was once again sent on a job hunt when the steel plant closed in 2016. It was only six months ago that Nanan found hope as a harvester in CGL, only to be sent home yesterday with $5,853 to take care of his bedridden wife and children.

“They gave us a letter of termination which stated that Caroni Green Ltd will be closing down and this is what they paid me. I used to harvest sweet peppers, fill crates, cutlass and plant in the Union farm. God alone knows right now,” a distraught Nanan told the T&T Guardian.

He added: “I used to work ArcelorMittal and I got retrenchment there too after 12 years’ service. When they gave me my retrenchment letter, I heard about Caroni Green and I ended up getting a work here.

“It is hard now because my madame is sick at home and our children are going to school. I have two girls, seven and 12 and I have no source of income. I am 54 years old and people don’t want to give you work.”

Mother of five Nikita Sankar cried as she noted her husband did not have a permanent job and all their children were in school. Sankar said the retrenchment had left her angry, sad, frustrated and disappointed, as it is hard to get a job these days.

She said after learning of the impending closure, she tried looking for another job but got nothing. Sankar and her family now face an uncertainty.

With her voice crackling with emotion, Deokie Budhoo said she did not think she would be able to fulfil her son’s book list when the new school year arrived.

“I used to pick eight crates of peppers a day. This is very sad and I just have to go home. Where can we go from here?” Budhoo said.

Anil Saran meanwhile said Government should have sought other options besides closing down CGL. He said if there was bad management that should have been dealt with so that the workers would not have suffered.

Chairman: $2m payout

CGL chairman Jerry Hospedales says 77 workers (63 farm workers and 14 monthly paid) were terminated in yesterday’s exercise, with workers with tenures of six months and up receiving ex gratia payments.

He said payments totalling close to $2 million comprised of a cash alternative to their vacation leave, 45 days service in lieu of their notice and a fortnightly pay based on the calculations under the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act.

Hospedales said many of the employees had worked in the company for less than a year. However, three employees are being kept to assist in the liquidation and finalising the closure.

Employees said CGL was left with almost a year’s supply of hot peppers and paw paw for export. But Hospedales said in order to ensure that the existing crops were not lost, they had kept 19 employees to man the Mon Jaloux and Union East estates from April 20 until the Ministry of Agriculture provided further instructions.

CGL CEO Sharma Lalla meanwhile maintained there was no basis for Government to close the 30-month-old company. He said the improvements that had been made in this time were unparalleled in the agriculture sector.

He said CGL had made a profit in 2016 and audit reports which are due soon will prove him right.

Last month, Government announced the closure of CGL, which was formed three years ago under the People’s Partnership administration.

During a post-Cabinet media briefing, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said CGL was spending $6 million to produce 700,000 peppers and faced private sector competition. He said Government should instead support farmers to grow peppers.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said CGL had a broken business model and had poor performances over the last three years. He said for the 2015 financial year, CGL reported revenues of just $700,000 while administrative expenses, including salaries, cost taxpayers $6.7 million.

A recommendation has been made to the Ministry of Education (MOE) by the National Primary School Principals Association (NAPSPA) for a change in the school hours for primary school pupils as one way to further reduce injury and indiscipline among students in schools.

Although Education Minister Anthony Garcia has described the idea “one which merits great consideration,” he agreed that it requires extensive consultations with major stakeholders such as the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) and the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) before any permanent changes can be effected.

Admitting it would be a change in policy at the ministerial level, Garcia yesterday urged persons not to rule it out as the Ministry of Education continued to explore various ways and means of minimising the incidents of violence and indiscipline among students.

Speaking with reporters following a mid-morning meeting with the NAPSPA executive at the ministry in Port-of-Spain, Garcia insisted, “There has been a decrease in the incidents of violence and indiscipline in our schools, but we do not want to stop there.”

“We want to ensure that we continue to do everything so that our schools will be safe places where our principals, our teachers and our students can operate,” Garcia went on.

Articulating their support was NAPSPA president, Cogland Griffith, who sought to explain how the suggestion was conceptualised.

He said, “As regards indiscipline, we can adjust the lunch hour. The lunch period is the teachers’ time and we want to respect that, but we feel that if we have a shortened lunch period, we can reduce the incidents of indiscipline and violence at the school.”

Revealing that information had been taken from some private schools in Trinidad where the lunch hour had been reduced to just 30 minutes, Griffith said, “They have seen a reduction in the violence and some of the primary schools on pilot project who have done that successfully have seen a reduction.”

He said the 30 minute break would facilitate students having lunch in the classroom, before going out to use the washroom and returning to class.

Griffith said changes to the school hours would also allow teachers to leave school earlier, “They are getting home earlier and have time to prepare.”

He said this would also facilitate a more integrated approach where after-school programmes and home-work centres could be introduced and run by persons from within the community, thereby increasing the vested interests of those in and around the area.

Pressed to say if the idea had been proposed to teachers, Griffith replied, “I could see most teachers welcoming that, especially if they live far away from the school.”

Assuring parents that students would continue to have two 15-minute breaks during which they could socialise with each other, Griffith asked, “Do you prefer their hands are broken if that is the socialising they do? They have time to play. There are programmes in the school itself that allows for all of that such as physical education, character development and a host of other things that is for them.”

Pointing out that times had changed, Griffith said, “We need to give things time to develop,” adding that after-school programmes would cater to persons who remain after school is dismissed.

“People are willing to partner with schools to come in and do things voluntarily. Whether we believe T&T to be a bad place, there are people and agencies just waiting to come in. Drama, cricket and cub-scouts are free and for persons in certain communities who do not want to be there after a certain time, they can be out of there by 4 o’clock, but we have to give it some time.”

Garcia is set to meet with all school principals very early during the next term and Griffith is hopeful that other issues such as funding, the curriculum, and student/teacher support will also be discussed.

Discussions yesterday also centred around the 2018 National Test which was currently under review; the format of the Secondary Entrance Assessment; the move by the Ministry of Health to completely ban soft drinks and other beverages high in sugar from schools; the role of sports and its impact in the classroom; and the standardisation of school reports in order to facilitate the easy transfer of students throughout the system.

On the topic of reducing the consumption of sugary drinks, Griffith proposed, “We have an alternative. We feel that it shouldn’t just be removing it directly but incrementally.”

In January, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced a ban on soft drinks at all government and government assisted schools as part of their attempt to reduce childhood obesity and tackle the early onset of non-communicable diseases.

Bans were also introduced on sport and energy drinks, tea, coffee and milk-based drinks with added sugars and artificial sweeteners.

Commending primary school principals for the yeoman service they provide in addition to ensuring the smooth operation of their respective institutions, Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr. Lovell Francis said they had witnessed some innovative measures being introduced at schools in Tobago, which they were eager to replicate in Trinidad as strong leadership was a critical component needed to successfully run a school.

Francis said they had begun experiencing success with the Morvant/Laventille Improvement Project, evident by the fact that the Port-of-Spain and Environs school district had begun recording lower level of violence and indiscipline among students within the past year.

He attributed this to strengthened relationships with parents and community personnel working together to tackle the roost causes of juvenile delinquency, adding that it would be impossible to keep increasing the numbers of guidance counsellors and social workers.

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Principal Association not happy

Unhappy with the continued suspension of the principal of the Mayaro Government Primary School, Andy Paul - NAPSPA is calling for a speedy resolution in the matter which is still under investigation by the Ministry of Education.

Paul was suspended earlier this month, following an incident at the school in which a student’s arm was broken.

Providing an update following yesterday’s meeting, Griffith said they were “comforted” by the discussions relating to the matter.

However, he admitted, “We still feel that there has been a breach in process and we are looking forward to a speedy resolution of the matter.”

Paul was reportedly instructed by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to cease reporting for duty while an investigation was conducted into the circumstances surrounding the injury suffered by a student on February 1.

The suspension was allegedly done in accordance with provisions of Regulation 88 of the Public Service Commission Regulations Chapter 1:01.

School security working

Satisfied with the current level of safety and security in primary schools, Garcia said, “They evidence shows that what we have in place is in fact working, in spite of what is being said otherwise. We have been able to secure a reduction in the incidents of indiscipline among our students both the primary and secondary level and the data supports that.”

Garcia blasted naysayers who criticised claims by the ministry that suspensions were down as a result of stricter measures when he said, “It isn’t statements we are making just as we pull them out of a hat.”

On Tuesday, TTUTA officials dismissed the ministry statistics as they said it was not a true reflection of what was happening with students in the system, as they claimed school principals had been told to reduce the number of suspensions being handed out.

Griffith said there continued to be isolated cases being highlighted in the media, which had served to create a public perception that students were out of control and that violence and indiscipline was not being properly addressed.

Chairman of the T&T Veterinary Association Dr Nicholas Mackenzie and the chairman of the Animal Welfare Network, Patricia Green, are in support of a proposal to ban the use of fireworks in residential districts across the country.

The suggestion was made by the chairman of the Joint Select Committee on Social Services and Public Administration, Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir, during yesterday’s meeting at the ANR Robinson Room, Parliament, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port -of-Spain.

Mahabir said the Summary Offences Act provides for a $400 fine to be imposed on anyone caught exploding fireworks within 60 feet from the road in a residential area.

He suggested that the distance be increased to 120 feet. He said that would effectively prohibit residents from exploding fireworks in residential areas.

“Fireworks should not be allowed to be deployed in residential areas,” he suggested. Mahabir said if the proposal was made law “ it means, de facto, no resident shall be able to explode these devices.”

Mackenzie said he was in support of the measure.

Earlier, he said the problem was the indiscriminate use of fireworks in the country, insisting that it should be properly regulated. General Manager, Legal, Compliance and Enforcement at the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Gayatri Badri Maharaj said the proposal may have a positive impact but insisted that the fine should also be increased. She said the EMA was effectively the last resort for dealing with the fireworks problem. She insisted that the EMA was willing to do all it could to assist in addressing the problem.

Green said Mahabir’s proposal may discourage the indiscriminate use of fireworks in the country. She insisted that the fine for breaches should also be significantly increased .

“A change in fine will be more useful. The (existing) fines are ludicrous. A small box of fireworks costs $400,” she added.

She said there was a significant increase in the indiscriminate use of fireworks in communities from Divali to New Year’s Day as citizens celebrated specific occasions.

It was noted that there was not a problem with the Independence Day fireworks display at the Queen’s Park Savannah because there were no houses with animals nearby.

She said in recent years there had been a proliferation of pets being injured as result of the fear cause by fireworks

Mackenzie said the animals, including dogs and cats, suffer distress, fear and anxiety when they try to escape during fireworks explosions.

He said he was aware of “dogs that have jumped 8 feet fences because of fear alone,” adding that “dogs by nature are frightened of flight so they try to survive. Dogs have jumped through glass windows and have been severely injured or even died” during fireworks displays.

He explained that when fireworks exploded a dog or cat was only focused on taking evasive action.

He said: “It is just for survival so there is no reasoning to what they do when they try to escape.”

He also said the animals suffered as a result of fireworks related injuries that were malicious such as cats that have had fireworks strapped to their heads or legs and similarly dogs, iguanas and birds.

“It is absurd that we have a number of reports of malicious cruelty to animals,” he said.

Works and Transport Minister, Rohan Sinanan, proposed that a special police unit be set up to ensure there were no breaches of the noise pollution legislation.

He also recalled his horse jumping over an 8-foot fence and running from Manzanilla to Mayaro after a fireworks explosion

There are differences of opinion among criminal defence attorneys over the new criminal procedure rules implemented by the Judiciary on Tuesday.

Attorneys polled by the T&T Guardian were split in opinion on the potential effect of the rules which are intended to reduce delays in the criminal justice system. The rules are meant to work in tandem with legislation currently before Parliament to abolish preliminary inquiries and to allow for plea bargaining and jury-less trials. In addition, there is a new procedure for prosecutors and defence attorneys to follow for the conduct of criminal trials.

During case management conferences, after indictments are filed in the High Court, both parties are now required to fill out forms listing all the legal issues in the case which need to be addressed before the start of the trial.

Accused persons are now required to state at the preliminary hearing whether they wish to rely on a defence and whether they will be calling defence witnesses.

Judges have a discretion to penalise prosecutors and defence attorneys who do not follow the rules and miss deadlines without applying for extensions.

Judiciary-appointed case progression officers are to be assigned to all cases to monitor their progress.

Senior criminal defence attorney Mario Merritt said he had several issues with the rules which he claims are biased against accused persons and their attorneys.

“They say it will speed up the process but to me it will do the opposite and slow it down because if you put another cog in place before you get to actual trial, the bureaucracy will naturally slow down the actual event happening,” he said.

Merritt has used the rules in several test cases selected by the Judiciary over the past year and is also critical of the new requirement that accused persons disclose their defence.

He told the T&T Guardian: “I find that this is an unfair situation. The playing field has never been level. The State has always had the freedom to withhold information that they think we don’t need and I think that is unfair especially in light with them saying there is no ambush anymore.”

Merritt said the rules will have a negligible effect on the backlog of cases in the system as there are no provisions to address the shortage of defence attorneys in the country.

“There are a lot of complaints about the criminal bar but they fail to recognise that in fact there are a few criminal attorneys manning a whole lot of cases.

“You will get situations where attorneys will have to do three and four cases at the same time, because if you are good, people would want you,” Merritt said.

He also complained that there wasn’t training for all parties before the rules were introduced.

“They would say there was actual group discussion but it is always a selected few on the committees and not the actual practitioners who are in the trenches every single day,” he said.

Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, who regularly serves as special prosecutor for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in high profile cases, had a different opinion.

“I don’t think we could have continued practising the way we have been doing and expect the backlog to be reduced,” he said.

“It is a refreshing step that is not going to be the sole answer to the backlog but will significantly help.”

While he acknowledged that there would be issues in implementation, Peterson said he is confident they will be addressed.

“As best as you can draft the rules, it is only when you implement them the areas that can be tweaked will become apparent but that is not a reason against the implementation of the rules,” he said.

He said similar concerns were raised when rules were introduced for civil litigation in 1998.

Peterson said concerns about disclosing an accused person’s defence are unfounded.

“That kind of mutual disclosure has been practised in other jurisdictions and what it does is narrow the issues, so you do not spend forever figuring out what the issues are and what is contentious and disputed,” he said.

What should have been a fun school vacation for 15-year-old Luke Israel Rolle ended tragically on Tuesday when he was accidentally hung while swinging on a tree.

Rolle, of Springvale, Claxton Bay, was enjoying the company of cousins at his grandmother’s Forres Park home around 11.3o am when the tragedy happened.

The children went to a samaan tree atop a hill, several hundred metres behind the house. According to police, the children were accustomed playing on a swing made from nylon rope, which was attached to a tree branch.

While swinging, Rolle slipped and his neck got caught in the rope.

The form four student of the Marabella North Secondary School was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead. Couva police, including Supt Curtis Paul, Sgt Honore, Cpl Pierre and WPC Corban went to the scene. So far, investigations have suggested that his death was accidental.

There was silence among Rolle’s cousins yesterday as they were left traumatised.

Their grandmother Marilyn Richards-David said she complained about the children swinging on the rope before but no one took her seriously. The rope has since been cut and none of the children have returned to the area.

Richards-David said that Rolle had just returned from purchasing bread at a nearby parlour and told her that he wanted to go up the hill to meet the other children. When they were finished, Rolle stayed behind to have “one last swing.”

While he was there, his mother, Elizabeth Richards tried calling his phone to tell him to come home.

When he did not answer, Elizabeth called Richards-David.

“I sent my other grandson Elijah to call him. He came back and told me that Luke was swinging and not answering. His mother called again so I sent my granddaughter to go tell Luke to come now because his mother was calling him. She came back down and told me Luke was swinging and not answering. She said he had the rope under his neck,” Richards-David said.

Even at this time, Richards-David said she did not believe anything was wrong and even the children did not see that Rolle was in distress.

Now upset, Richards-David went to fetch Rolle herself with the intention of giving him a good scolding. But before reaching the tree, Richards-David began screaming.

“When I was going up, I saw him still and his foot was not touching the ground. I called out to him because it was not looking like he was dead. I thought he had just put the rope there and was playing.

“When I called him three times and he did not answer, I bawled and ran to hold him. My other grandson ran up the hill and took him down.”

Paramedics had detected a pulse but Rolle was dead by the time he reached the hospital.

Richards-David said everyone was confused as to what happened but maintained Rolle’s death was accidental and not suicidal. She described him as a happy, well loved and well behaved child.

“I know for sure that it was not suicide. He was well treated and he was a very nice child.”

An autopsy yesterday said he died of a broken neck.

Members of the public travelling between Trinidad and Tobago will not have to hold any strain when the Super Fast Galicia leaves the inter-island ferry route on Friday.

This is because the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has organised a replacement ferry - the MV Provider - to pick up the slack almost immediately this weekend.

Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and PATT chairman Alison Lewis made the announcement a joint press conference yesterday.

They also revealed that a barge, named the Transporter, will also be put into service between the islands.

The daily rent of the MV Provider, which is scheduled to make its first sailing on Sunday, will be US$14,500 (TT$97,150) while the Transporter will cost between US$8,000 and $10,000 (TT$53,000 to $67,000). However, both vessels will have a longer sailing time to Tobago than the Galicia, which takes five hours.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi also announced at the press conference that he is considering legal action against Transmed, the owners of the Super Fast Galicia, for repudiation of its contractual agreement. The AG said he will make a determination on this matter by tomorrow.

In a text message to Guardian Media Ltd, Al-Rawi, who is now conducting a probe into whether there may have been any wrongdoing in the Galicia deal wrote: “The issue being looked at arises because there was an agreement for 18 months with an expiry date in October 2017. I am currently reviewing all aspects of the procurement of the Galicia, including all contractual arrangements and will provide a clear opinion with recommendations as to the accountability with alacrity.”

Having sought a legal opinion on the matter, Sinanan said during the press conference that there was an 18-month contract in place between Intercontinental Shipping - the provider and PATT to use the vessel, which had to be signed off. He said this arrangement was changed in January because Intercontinental wanted a five-year contract instead. In March, Sinanan said they received a letter from the charter to stop the Galicia’s service since they wanted a five-year contract.

“Intercontinental sent a letter stating that they are going to pull the vessel on so and so date. That has to go to the Attorney General to see if there was any breach of agreement based on advice from senior counsel on this matter,” he said.

Sinanan said contrary to what was put in the public domain, he had no information that the Galicia had a month-to-month contract and files were still being sent to the AG for review.

“I thought that was unacceptable. What we would have in Trinidad was a vessel that came in for six months remaining here for eight years. It’s an arguable position.”

If Government had signed this new arrangement, Sinanan said taxpayers would have had to pay “an additional $300 million without a tendering process.”

This led to Government putting out tenders to obtain a vessel, which would close on April 24. The long term plan, he said, is for Government to buy a cargo vessel which would take 30 months to build and get to our shores.

In 2014, the then People’s Partnership government approved $56 million to lease the Galicia, nine days before it received board approval by PATT.

While the revenue obtained from the Galicia was estimated at $15 million, Sinanan said the annual cost to operate the vessel was $50 million.

He also said that there were problems with the Galicia even before it even came to Trinidad. A report on the vessel, Sinanan said, showed two strengths and five weaknesses, as was reported exclusively in the Sunday Guardian.

“However, I did see a report that the vessel is most suited. That to me is another question that has to be answered. The time lines in this whole scenario does not make sense,” Sinanan said.

“A key point here, is that we have paid an attorney to find a vessel in the billing. That attorney was also a tenderer…. did not submit a tender but was invited to tender. After paying the attorney to find a vessel we ended up with a broker who went and charter a vessel and came back and charter the vessel to us.”

Sinanan said they were now questioning exactly who PATT rented the Galicia from.

“The Government subsidised this by a couple hundred per cent. It is nice to say to get the private sector involved. Is the private sector going to subsidise this by 400 per cent? The answer is no,” he said.

“If we charge the real cost of the transportation, then nobody would be able to afford goods and services in Tobago. We have to work with what is on the table. I know the people in Tobago are suffering.”

Seamless transition Sunday

PATT chairman Alison Lewis gave the assurance that from Sunday there would be a seamless transition in getting cargo to the sister isle.

From a list of ten providers, Lewis said three were short-listed. On Tuesday, she said a tender’s committee did an evaluation and two vessels were selected and recommended to the ministry to transport cargo.

“This is an interim situation and therefore it would be anywhere from six weeks to two to three months. We expect that we would be using the Provider probably…for a month in the first instance with an option for two to three months if needed. For the barge it would be in the vicinity of a month with an option for another month,” Lewis said.

Of the two vessels, Sinanan said the Transporter is a Trinidad-owned barge, while the MV Provider will arrive on Friday.

From Trinidad to Tobago, the Transporter, which will carry construction materials and heavy equipment, will take ten hours, while the Provider, which has a seven to eight-hour sailing time, will be used to transport container cargo and perishable goods, Lewis said.

Asked if the ministry expected criticism from the Tobago Chamber of Commerce about the length of time the barge would take in getting cargo to Tobago, Sinanan said PATT would have to schedule the sailing times to ensure there was no shortage of materials.

“Based on the economic situation the country has found itself in, we may have to look at getting sea transportation at a cheaper cost. And speed means money. So it is something we would have to look at.

“If we have to carry sand, gravel and blocks and spend four hours longer... but it is 50 per cent cheaper in terms of transportation…whether the country wants to look at that. We have to fix this problem once and for all,” Sinanan said.

Up to April 13, 2017, 3,155 people were owing the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) over $106 million.

This was the figure disclosed by HDC managing director Brent Lyons at a Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) meeting in Parliament yesterday.

The HDC was summoned by a parliamentary committee chaired by Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe and comprising Opposition and Government MPs and senators.

Responding to a question on debt collection, Lyons said 79 per cent of the HDC’s mortgage portfolio is in arrears. He did not elaborate on this statement.

Asked about the HDC’s recovery efforts, he said letters of notice are sent to tenants occupying houses who are in debt, giving them seven days to respond. He said this letter system was put in place over the last five years or so. However, he said the response from occupiers was not entirely encouraging.

HDC divisional manager, finance, Inskip Pollonais, said debt collection agencies are also hired to help in recovering arrears, but not all the money comes to the corporation. He said people claim they pay the debt collectors but some of the recovered money stays with them (the debt collectors) and some comes to the HDC.

Pollonais said the HDC is now planning to review its arrangements with debt collectors.

However, Lyons pointed out that the HDC is not into the business of putting people out of houses.

“The objective is to help you get back on track,” Lyons told the committee.

He said the HDC policy is to ask those in debt to come in and talk and they offer payment plans to the delinquent tenants.

Lyons also disclosed that there are also over 1,000 HDC units either illegally occupied or simply abandoned. He said there are “live accounts” for some of these units. He said half of these units are “illegally” occupied by second, third and fourth generation people whose relatives were allocated houses.

Asked about the HDC’s housing stock, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Marion Haynes, said she was unable to say.

Asked how long she had been acting permanent secretary, Haynes said since February 2017. She said the substantive permanent secretary was on vacation and promised to provide the information in writing.

180,000 applicant database

But Lyons, who was sitting close to Hayes, had the answers ready. He said the HDC’s current stock is 5,600. He said most of those units are under construction and 1,000 are available for distribution. He added that over 180,000 applicants are on the HDC’s database waiting for houses.

Bodoe asked the HDC officials to comment on a Memorandum of Understanding signed recently by a Canadian company and a local firm to provide 100,000 houses.

Hayes said the Housing Ministry had no input in that MOU but it will definitely impact the HDC, given its mandate to provide housing. She said no public/private partnerships (PPPs) for the construction of houses are happening now.

Lyons, cutting in, said early in 2016 the HDC advertised for expressions of interest for PPPs. He said the response was very encouraging and the HDC will soon embark on Requests for Proposals.

The PAAC also heard the HDC has had auditing challenges for years, was not up to date with its accounts and could not provide information in this area.

Hayes also could not say whether agencies under the Housing Ministry, like the East Port-of-Spain Development Company and New City Mall, have been up to date with their accounts.

The Housing Ministry received an allocation from the Government of $1,112,107,000 for this fiscal year.

Asked about the ministry’s strategic plan, Hayes replied there was none at present but said they were looking for a consultant to help out with that.

This caused committee member Wade Mark to become alarmed. Quoting from Proverbs in the Bible, he said where there is no vision the people perish.

“I am alarmed after 20 months the ministry does not have a strategic plan.”

Efforts yesterday to reach Housing Minister Randall Mitchell to lend clarity on some of the statements made by ministry and HDC officials at the PAAC were unsuccessful as he did not answer his cellphone or return calls.

Despite being abandoned by a female relative and living in squalor in a house overrun by rats, two-year-old Arti Gajadhar has never lost her innocent smile.

While her father Andy Gajadhar struggles to put food on the table, Arti spends most of her days playing with him inside their ramshackle house at Hilltop Drive, Springvale, Claxton Bay.

The rats sometimes nibble on their toes at nights and Gajadhar said he is very afraid his only daughter will contract leptospirosis.

Oblivious to the dangers, the child plays near the rat holes, which are scattered under the loose, rotted floorboards of the one-bedroom ply-board house.

In several areas where the boards are missing, Gajadhar uses a mat to cover the holes. When it rains the roof leaks and Gajadhar has no choice but to huddle in a corner with the child until the rain subsides.

The house, which has an electricity supply, was built 12 years ago by Gajadhar’s father, Anthony Gajadhar, on the hillsides of a fast developing squatting settlement near the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Claxton Bay. The house is outfitted with a rotted fridge, a dysfunctional deep freeze that works as a storage container, a table, stove and a rickety wooden bed.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Gajadhar, a part time grass cutter, said he wanted nothing more than to have a proper place for his daughter to live.

“This child is my life and I would be very sad if something happened to her,” he said.

He said he became a single parent when Arti was a one-year-old.

“I could not even afford to buy milk or pampers for her. I cut grass for a living, but because I suffer from heart disease and diabetes it is difficult for me to work,” Gajadhar said.

He benefits from a government grant of $1,400 monthly but Gajadhar said this is barely enough to make ends meet.

“I don’t go out and beg because this is setting a bad example for her. I want her to have a chance at experiencing a good life, just as any other child,” Gajadhar added.

Saying he was careful never to leave Arti at home alone, Gajadhar said he places her in a car seat and takes her with him when he has to work. On days when this is impossible to do, Gajadhar says he leaves her with a trusted friend in Couva.

Gajadhar said he had applied to the National Self Help Commission since 2015 to get assistance.

“They came here three times and took photographs, but whenever I check back with them they say they lost my file,” Gajadhar added.

In a letter sent to the Office of the Prime Minister, an official from the Social Welfare Department made a plea for assistance on behalf of the Gajadhars. However, nobody ever responded after that. Gajadhar also said he went for assistance from his Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan, but despite promises no help came.

Rambachan could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Contacted yesterday, former manager of the National Poverty Reduction Unit and the Main People Issues Resolution Coordinating Unit of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Asauph Ghany, said he could offer no assistance because both units were no longer functional.

He asked corporate T&T to help. Anyone wanting to assist Gajadhar can call 276-1942 or 289-4494.

Artist Damian Agostini was brought to tears last week when he showed up at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, to find his artwork gone.

Agostini, who makes art décor and furniture with mostly wood, said he when he arrived at the site where he has his work on display, he was surprised that all his art pieces had disappeared.

In a brief interview yesterday with CNC3 yesterday, Agostini said he was an artist who wanted to “share his gift” with others.

“If I see a pile of wood I would put together what I saw in it. Last week I received the shock of my life when I didn’t see anything. It seemed like time stood still. I saw nothing, I didn’t see a note, nobody. I just walked across the street to get a different perspective,” he said.

However, Agostini said he was subsequently told by several eyewitnesses that the art pieces and furniture were moved by the City Police.

“I made a call and I heard they dumped it. It really broke my heart. I put everything in that, I even have blisters on my hand. It ripped me apart,” he said.

He said the cost of the goods was approximately $20,000.

“What concerns me is the customers who paid for it. I contacted my lawyer,” he said.

Agostini said the sales enabled him to pay his rent and buy food. However, he said he was told that he had broken the law when he contacted members of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation.

“I would move the stuff, they didn’t give me a chance. I was able to go, I really felt like giving up. I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong,” he said.

He said the pieces were bought by ministers, doctors, lawyers and other members of the public.

When contacted on the issue, Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez apologised and said he did not know how the issue was “dealt with.”

However, he added: “He (Agostini) puts his shop on a corner where there is traffic passing on a constant basis and he got started on the wrong foot. However, the police may have been on patrol and decided it was an eyesore or hindrance and if somebody could find themselves in an accident. He should have known better from the start before he did it.”

He added: “It’s obvious I feel for the gentleman, but at the same time we told vendors they can’t vend and they know they are not supposed to be there.”

Martinez said the corporation tries to uphold law and order and reduce crime.

Head of the Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front), Umar Abdullah, believes yesterday’s no-show of several Imams, senior police officers and Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan to yesterday’s peace initiative by former Unruly Isis members was a big disrespect.

The peace initiative, led by Abdul “Krysis” Wakeel, was title “T&T We’re Sorry…Be Better, not Bitter” and was held in collaboration with the Masjidus Salaam.

Wakeel, who shot into the media limelight recently after a series of videos with him laying threats and calling names of police officers allegedly involved in gangs went viral, was out yesterday handing out bouquets of flowers to motorists and passers-by, along with bottles of cold water, snacks to children and Islamic motivational posters as a form of restoring peace within the community.

“This is how we’re giving back to the community, as little as it is but it took a lot from me to put down pride and come out here,” Wakeel, who announced recently he was dropping his nickname, said.

Among those invited were Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr, Central Division head Senior Supt Kenny Mc Intyre and Gopaul Boodhan. But none of them showed up.

“Perhaps they had other more important engagements to attend to. We, however, consider this very important and their support is needed as a major factor,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah described this as a big disrespect, but said it will not deter Wakeel and his group from their peace initiative, including future peace events.

Asked how he felt about other Muslim factions staying away from the initiative, Abdullah said they indicated to him that they were more camera shy and didn’t even want their real names to be used.

Abdullah said there was a need for the guns to come off the streets and suggested there should be a gun amnesty.

“If there should be a gun amnesty, there is the need to offer these youths with something more powerful than the guns, empowerment. Give them responsibilities, look into areas that need fixing and ask them how it can be fixed and what they need to do and in that case we would be able to move forward,” Abdullah said.

Asked who he was, Wakeel said he was more like a religious leader in Crown Trace.

“I teach Islam, I lead them in prayer and I teach them how to pray. On a Friday, I give the Khutbah (which is a public Islamic sermon). That is what I do,” Hakeem said.

Asked if he wants to be a better role model to the young people, he replied “Yes. Those little youths look up to me and I want to be a better role model for them. I don’t want them to see me as a gundelero or a gangster and follow that, that is why I am changing to someone better so that they can see that and follow this new way.”

Asked what he thought of the poor support, Hakeem said: “We don’t expect that in one day it will happen. It has to have a perfect understanding and organised talk and that’s how it will happen.

“A lot of people are emotional because a lot of them have lost family members. This is a sensitive situation and we will deal with it cautiously.”

Gangsters should surrender

One of the invitees who failed to attend yesterday’s initiative was Enterprise Imam Morland Muakyil Lynch.

When contacted yesterday, Lynch said in order for peace to be restored in the community, the people who are responsible for all the killings should give up themselves to the police.

Lynch said several of his family members, including his son, Ackmal Lynch, were gunned down and Unruly Isis gang members were believed to be the perpetrators.

On July 22, 2015, Abdullah’s sons—Aqyil Lynch and Ackmal Lynch, 22—were shot by masked men at a construction site in Charlieville. Akmal died but Aqyil survived.

Lynch admitted that he passed by during the initiative and saw only Wakeel and one other person giving out the tokens. However, he said he did not believe their efforts were genuine.

“First of all, Krysis is not the leader of the Unruly Isis. There are five of them and none of them came forward and was seen out there today (yesterday). That gang has about 20 members and not even five of them came forward to participate because why? They are not coming out to support and give no support to Abdullah and them because he is not their leader,” Lynch said.

Efforts to reach Mc Intyre were unsuccessful yesterday as calls to his phone went unanswered.

Boodhan’s phone was answered by someone from his office who said he was in a conference. When asked if he was invited to the peace initiative and if so why did he not attend, the woman said they weren’t sure but promised to look into it and give a feedback.