A jilted husband and his friend were sentenced to death by hanging yesterday, for soliciting and contracting a hitman to murder the man’s ex-wife and her lover for $30,000 some 11 years ago.

Basdeo “Bas” Ramlochan and Siewkumar “Bobby” Chankapersad remained stone faced yesterday when Justice Malcolm Holdip twice sentenced them to death, but their relatives broke down in tears in the San Fernando First Assizes. Their sobs, however, escalated into piercing screams as they stepped out of the courtroom.

It took the 12-member jury less than an hour to return guilty verdicts against both men, who went on trial in May for the murders of Sunita “Michelle Ramlochan, 29, and her common-law husband Rahim “Bam” Abraham, 46, a car dealer.

The State’s case was not that Ramlochan and his friend Chankapersad pulled the trigger, but that they sought out and hired a hitman to do the killings. The actual killers, who shot the couple in the bedroom of their Fyzabad home on the night of October 15, 2006, are still at large.

The evidence was that Sunita, Abraham and her 11-year-old daughter, who is also Ramlochan’s child, returned to their Kuldip Trace, St John’s Village, Avocat home around 11 pm after visiting the Divali Nagar site. They lived in a downstairs apartment at Sunita’s father’s home. Sunita’s father, who lived upstairs, told the police that five minutes after they got home he heard a bang and Sunita bawl “Oh God.”

The father then heard Abraham ask: “What you doing here?” followed by four to five explosions. The father started walking down the step, he said, when he saw two people going to the back of the house.

State attorneys Stacy Laloo-Chong and Anslem Alexander led evidence from police officers that Chankarpersad confessed to soliciting and paying a hitman, on behalf of his co-accused, to murder the couple. He gave the police an account of the role he played in the slayings.

The State also led evidence from a civilian witness (whose name has been withheld to protect him) that he was approached by Ramlochan on six occasions between 2004 and 2006 to help him find someone to carry out the murders. The witness, a security guard, testified that Ramlochan complained that he was having marital problems and his wife wanted to take his money, house and child. The State led evidence that Ramlochan and Sunita eventually separated and got a divorce. Another civilian witness testified that in 2006 Ramlochan complained to him about his marital problems and told him he paid a man he called fatman $90,000 to carry out the murders, but nothing happened. The man also testified that Ramlochan told him that Chankapersad arranged a meeting with a hitman and he (Ramlochan) took the hitman to where his ex-wife was living. He further testified that in October 2016, he was at Ramlochan’s home when he (Ramlochan) threw a bag containing $30,000 on a table, saying, “You think is joke I does be making.”

Ramlochan, who was represented by attorney Rekha Ramjit, did not give evidence, but Chankapersad opted to testify. He admitted to soliciting a man named Strong from Marabella to do the killings for $30,000 and arranging for him to meet Ramlochan.

Both accused were arrested and charged by detective Peter Ramdeen in December 2006. Chankapersad was represented by attorneys Bindra Dolsingh. The State called 21 witnesses and read and admitted into evidence the statements of seven other witnesses, including Sunita’s deceased father. Sunita’s mother, Elsie Beharry, also shed tears yesterday, but they were tears of joy that she finally got justice.

“My daughter was my happiness. This is all I wanted,” she said.

The independent investigation of the alleged swindling of $2 million from the payroll department of the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) has been placed in the hands of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB).

According to a TTDF source who wished anonymity, the investigations into the defrauding of almost $2 million in payments was moving swiftly, with investigators preparing to question several TTDF members whose accounts would have shown large sums of money being deposited into their bank accounts via their salary disbursements.

“The investigation is a very sensitive one, as it also involves high ranking members and also given the fact that it is believed that this has been happening for over a decade,” the TTDF source said.

“As far as I am being told, the seniors remain tight-lipped over this and members are being sworn to secrecy.”

In a release on Sunday, the TTDF said two privates and a civilian worker attached to the payroll department were questioned over the weekend and the matter was reported to the police. The TTDF has also launched its own investigation.

The T&T Guardian understands that the two members of the payroll department and a civilian worker, who is on sick leave, have been fingered in the investigation. It was alleged that a replacement for the ill worker found the discrepancy and reported it to his supervisor.

Meanwhile, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon is said to be awaiting a comprehensive report on the matter from acting Chief of Defence Staff Captain Hayden Pritchard.

Dillon is also said to have expressed disappointment in the TTDF, as it is known to be a well disciplined organisation and added that any kind of fraud in the organisation was a cause for concern.

Although Lincoln Boodoo’s lifeless body bore no marks of violence when he was found yesterday, his family remains confused as to how he died.

Boodoo, 64, was last seen at his Victoria Village, San Fernando home around 5 pm on Saturday. His body was found inside his white AD wagon on Pitmoon Street, Ste Madeline around noon on Monday. Thieves stripped the car of its tyres and headlights.

In an interview yesterday, his daughter, Natasha Boodoo said her father was accustomed to driving around on evenings. Lincoln was a father of four and grandfather of three.

“That was sort of his hobby, he would bathe and get dressed in the evening and go for drives,” Natasha said.

“So when he went Saturday evening no one thought anything of it until he failed to come back home.”

A report was made to the Ste Madeleine Police Station and Natasha said relatives launched their own search party as well.

“We reported him missing on Sunday because we knew he wouldn’t just go and don’t come back.”

It was Lincoln’s son, Sherwin, who found his body.

“It was my brother who find the car between 12 and one o’clock, when he find it, there were no lights and tyres on the car. Right now we don’t know what is going on because the entire situation is just so strange.”

Up to late yesterday evening officers of the Ste Madeleine Police Station were on the scene.

Officers from several special units of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) raided two Central-based car dealerships yesterday, where $100,000 in cash, one vehicle and forged documents were seized.

The T&T Guardian understands that one of the owners was still in custody last night assisting police in their investigations.

It is understood that officers from the Stolen Vehicles, Organised Crime and Narcotics, Criminal Investigations Department and the Fraud Squad conducted the raids from about 9 am. There were also officials from the Licensing and Customs and Excise Divisions. The operation was spearheaded by DCP Harold Phillip and ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw.

When contacted yesterday for comment, Hackshaw described the operation, which ended shortly before 6 pm, as a success. He, however, noted that the case was still an active one. He said they seized a BMW which was reported stolen while among the forged and fraudulent documents seized were forms for vehicle transfers.

T&T Guardian was told that after months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the two establishments, investigating officers believe that illegal operations have been taking place at the businesses.

Investigations are continuing.

Residents of Mahogany Drive, North Eastern Settlement in Sangre Grande were thrown into mourning on Sunday night, after one of their female neighbours was shot and killed by an unidentified man as she attempted to open the front door to her home.

Theodora Ayers, 49, of Mahogany Drive, North Eastern Settlement, was shot in her chest and hand and died while undergoing emergency surgery at the Sangre Grande District Hospital.

Ayers was a registered nurse who last worked at the St James Hospital and was the sister of Snr Supt Pamela Morgan-Hinds, who is attached to the Administrative Branch of the TTPS.

Police reports state that around 8.15 pm on Sunday, Ayers and her husband Glen, an electrical contractor, had returned home after attending a harvest at Tamana. Ayers came out their Nissan Almera and went to open the gate for her husband, but was approached by a masked man who whipped out a gun and opened fire. Ayers fell to the ground and her husband ran out the vehicle and ran to assist her.

Ayers’ husband and neighbours put her in a vehicle and rushed to the hospital where she died around 8.37 pm.

Neighbours yesterday told T&T Guardian she was a very friendly person and being a nurse, always assisted the children of the area and advised parents on the importance of healthy lifestyles.

“Ayers was very respectful and as nurse she was caring to all. Why would someone want to kill a loving nurse and individual?” neighbours asked.

Her husband was said to be traumatised by the killing.

The Ayers are the parents of one girl, who was said to have been stricken with grief at the hospital on learning her mother had died.

Police were said to have had a suspect in custody last night, but had no motive for the killing.

Visiting the scene were DCP Harold Phillip, ACP Blake Clarke, Snr Supt James (Homicide), Snr Sup Garth Nelson, Sgt Harper, PC Sankar and WPC John.

Insp Christopher Fuentes, of Homicide Bureau, Region 11, Arouca is continuing investigation.

Ayers’ killing brings the toll for the year to 285.

RALPH BANWARIE

Finance Minister Colm Imbert intends to “comprehensively” address issues concerning the sale of Buccoo Estate in Tobago, popularly known as No Man’s Land, later this week.

Imbert made the statement in response to a list of questions sent by the T&T Guardian yesterday, in the wake of issues raised by Clico Policyholders’ Group chairman Peter Permell over the exclusion of the Samaan Grove Development from Government’s valuation of the Buccoo Estate.

Imbert said “the relevance of these alleged ‘concerns’ needs to be examined since the Farrell valuation of the lands in question was procured in 2016 by the Central Bank in accordance with Section 44D of the Central Bank Act, and not by the Government.”

Permell made the call during a press conference on Sunday, as he produced a June 8, 2016 valuation report for the property, which was commissioned from GA Farrell and Associates Ltd by Clico’s board on instructions from the Central Bank.

At a press conference last Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley provided a valuation report of Buccoo Estate valued at $174.8 million, which he said the Government had purchased at market value. The 398.42-acre property, which is listed as one of CLF’s assets, was sold earlier this year. Each acre was valued US$65,000, bringing the total value to US$25,897,300. Rowley said the valuation was based on an analysis of 100 per cent of the common stock of Occidental Investments Ltd and Oceanic Properties, owned by Clico.

The property, which sits on prime real estate land, is earmarked to be developed by regional company Sandals Resorts.

Yesterday, Permell said there were four valuations for the land. He said Clico, in its estimated financial report last year, had valued the property at $187 million, Farrell’s report placed the value at $170 million, while the documents provided by Rowley tagged it at $174.8 million. But in its proposal to Government this year, titled Project Rebirth, international auditing firm PriceWaterHouseCoopers valued the estate at $867 million, Permell said.

He said CLF’s valuation represented the book value or cost price of the land and did not consider appreciation.

Saying there were clearly four varying valuations, he asked: “So what is the real figure of the land? The Central Bank has a lot of questions to answer and so too does the Government because they are the recipients of the assets.”

He said before any asset is disposed of, the Central Bank has to do a valuation via approval of Clico’s board.

“Remember the Government appointed the Clico board. Did the Central Bank, on its own volition, give instructions to the Clico board to do the valuation for the lands to be transferred? It is one thing for Central Bank to come up with a valuation that was bogus, but it’s another thing if they got instructions to transfer the lands to the Government.”

Permell said Samaan Grove Estate constituted 12.6 acres of prime land which had been previously valued at around $245 million.

On page 4 of the Farrell valuation report under the heading “Site,” it stated that “based on information provided by the client (Clico), the subject properties comprises four contiguous parcels of land, Golden Grove Estate 1 and 2 and Shirvan Estates 3 and 4, totalling 429.82 acres.

“This area, however, includes the Samaan Grove Estate Development of 31.23 acres which do not form part of this exercise and therefore has to be excluded,” the report stated.

The area of land that was valued, Permell said, was 382.33 acres according to the report.

Permell said for each square foot of land sold in the deal the Government got, it paid a mere $10.

“When we worked out the figure given by Project Rebirth it came up to $49 a square foot, which sounds to me like a more reasonable figure. Something is not right,” Permell said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is urging citizens they should never underestimate or forget the sacrifices and hard-won freedom of the enslaved African ancestors.

This was the message Rowley delivered to the nation in a press release issued yesterday by the Office of the Prime Minister in celebration of Emancipation Day.

Rowley said our enslaved African ancestors, who for more than three centuries were forcibly uprooted and transported from their homes in Africa to what was designated the New World of the West Indies and the Americas.

“While it may be argued that the scars of slavery are still evident in the economic underdevelopment of Caribbean territories and the psychological trauma experienced by descendants of the former slaves, it also cannot be denied that persons of African descent have achieved success in all areas of human endeavour despite the scourge of slavery.”

In T&T, Rowley said Afro-Trinbagonians continue to excel in academia, science, sport, and culture.

“Today we commemorate the struggle for emancipation and equality made by our African ancestors who knew that the road to freedom and dignity demanded persistently, and unyielding focus and clarity of purpose. We acknowledge the accomplishments and impact of persons of African descent on the continued development of our nation.”

Rowley said we should also remember that we cannot achieve greatness as a nation if we remain in the comfort of our “own space.”

The PM said we have to draw on each other’s talents, skills, and strengths.

“We cannot yield under the whip of internal and external challenges. Instead, we will be better able to weather the yoke of economic uncertainty through collaborative effort.”

He said learning from our history, we must create for each citizen a system of support and protection without regard for lines of separation based on class, colour, gender, economic status or religion.

“Let us all declare Emancipation Day 2017 the day we as citizens commit to honouring the memory of our African ancestors by creating a society free from brutality and based on justice, mutual respect and equality,” Rowley said.

Four people accused of breaking into a temple and stealing $24, 530 worth of cash and other items appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday.

Veronica Mohammed, 20, her husband Jason Balliram,23, Lakshmi Mahadeo, 23, and her husband Nicholas Hosein, 26, all of Diamond Village, San Fernando, appeared before Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the First Court.

Mohammed and her husband requested a maximum sentence indication, but the magistrate explained that the charge was strictly indictable which meant they could not enter a plea in the magistrates court.

“When people are prepared to go into a house of worship and steal. It is a very serious offence,” the magistrate said.

Under the Larceny Act, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

The charge alleged that during the period June 15 and June 21 they broke into the Shiv Mandir Divine Life Society at Diamond Village and stole five speakers, five speaker stands, two fans and a box containing $3,000.

The items belonged to the devotees of the temple. Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said the police recovered some of the items, minus the money and a fan.

They were charged by PC Andre. Asking for bail on behalf of Mohammed and Balliram, attorney Charlene Kalloo said the couple was unemployed and the parents of an 18-month-old boy.

She said Mohammed had never been charged before, but her husband had one previous conviction. Mahadeo’s attorney Chantal Paul said her client had a clean record, had two children, ages three and four, with Hosein and she is a housewife.

Attorney Frank Gittens, who held for Hosein’s attorney Ainsley Lucky, said he works in the transport business, was the sole breadwinner in the family and had two traffic-related offences for failing to produce his driver’s permit and driving under the influence. The prosecutor did not object to bail, but asked for reporting conditions.

The magistrate granted the women $25,000 bail each with a relative standing as their surety while the men were each granted $50,000 bail with the clerk of the peace approval. The men were also granted a cash bail alternative of $15,000.

They were all ordered to report to the San Fernando Police Station once per week.

Family members of bank employee Nikisha Winter-Roach are becoming increasingly worried as there has been no word on her whereabouts five days after she went missing.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian yesterday, a family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that they are fearful that something terrible has gone wrong with Winter-Roach.

“She disappeared without a trace. Not a phone call from her and what is even more strange for us is how she was last seen very early in the morning and the time of day that the missing report was made which was just a few hours after she was last seen,” the relative said.

It was reported that Winter-Roach was last seen last Wednesday at about 5.20 am at her home at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas.

A missing person report was made at about 4.30 pm that same day by close male friend of hers.

Winter-Roach worked at the Glencoe branch of Republic Bank.

Her manager, Michelle Palmer-Keizer told the T&T Guardian that she last reported for work the day before, on July 25.

“The bank is lending its support to both the police and Winter-Roach’s family, in the hope for her safe and speedy return.

“We shall continue to work along with the police as needed, and provide the necessary support to her family during this time,” Palmer-Keizer said.

Winter-Roach is of African descent and wears glasses.

She is five feet five inches tall, slim build, with a brown complexion and long blonde and brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a yellow top and a pair of long jeans.

• Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 800-TIPS or contact the police at 555, 999, 911 or any police station.

Members of the public are being urged to carefully exercise their buying power in the coming weeks by the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), who yesterday called for a boycott of 120 franchise stores and other business outfits owned and operated by the “elitist one per cent.”

In making the call during a rally in Port-of-Spain yesterday, JTUM president Ancel Roget said, “The time has come for us to take back power and place it in the hands of those who deserve it.”

Addressing the workers who participated in yesterday’s united labour march through the streets of the capital, Roget promised that trade unions would soon be circulating to members a detailed and extensive listing of the business establishments involved.

The “one per cent” phrase was first mentioned by businessman Mario Sabga-Aboud in June, during airing of travel star Anthony Bourdain’s segment on T&T in his culinary show Parts Unknown. Following public outrage over remarks termed insensitive and irresponsible, Sabga-Aboud later issued a public apology.

But yesterday, Roget told the crowd workers were the most powerful tool in generating revenue both in the public and private sectors, adding, “Joking time is over.”

He said without workers, employers would not be able to conduct business and realise a profit, and as such they should “prepare to take control and know where to spend your money.”

He said the trade union movement will be meeting within the coming week to finalise the list and advised members to get ready for battle as they would also be called upon to picket the various Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA) for advising employers on what he claimed was the wrongful exploitation of workers.

When the T&T Guardian called Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for a comment last night her husband answered and said she was unavailable and asked that we call back. Calls thereafter went unanswered. ECA chairman Keston Nancoo and president of T&T Chamber of Commerce Gabriel Faria were unsuccessful last evening.

Various union leaders also yesterday criticised the People’s National Movement for its handling of the economy thus far. Among them was Amalgamated Workers Union’s first vice president Michael Prentiss, who urged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to take a step back and re-evaluate the road his party was travelling. He said, “Pull yourself together, we are not happy. You have gone off course and you need to get back on track.” 

Police are searching for two men who were captured on tape robbing the Kam Wong Chinese Restaurant in Arouca on Thursday night.

Three video clips totalling one minute and nine seconds of the unmasked bandits were circulated on social media shortly after the robbery. The bandits, one armed with a gun, robbed customers and the owner of undisclosed cash and valuables.

One of the thieves, who was captured shoving a man and stealing a woman’s handbag, later carefully returned a bank card to a woman his accomplice had previously stole a cell phone from.

In the video, the man is seen gesturing to the woman, demanding her valuables, while she gestures that the other man had taken all she had.

After taking the money from the cashier and placing it in a bag, the thieves leave.

Police said last evening that they expect to arrest the men soon, since the footage “is very clean.”

Three female police officers accused of attempting to cover up a traffic accident earlier this year have been released on $100,000 bail each.

Inspector Jurneal Alexis, Sgt Natasha Morrison and Cpl Nicole Andrews were granted bail by Magistrate Aden Stroude in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court after being charged over the incident, which occurred on January 30.

Alexis and Morrison were charged with perverting the course of justice, while Andrews was charged with failing to take action knowing that a criminal offence was being committed. The three officers were not called upon to plead to the charges, which were laid indictably.

The officers were taken to the courthouse around 6.30 am in an apparent move by their colleagues to evade media personnel outside the court.

Also, instead of accessing their bail at the courthouse after their appearance, the officers were placed in a prisoner transport van by themselves and were taken to the Golden Grove State Prison.

Their bail was approved shortly after their arrival at the prison and they were allowed to leave with their family members. The T&T Guardian contacted T&T Police Service (TTPS) public information officer ASP Michael Pierre, who said the organisation would not issue a press release with the officers’ photographers, as done in other high profile matters.

According to the charges, on the date of the incident Alexis and Morrisson were driving in a vehicle assigned to the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) when it was struck by another vehicle.

While Alexis was driving the vehicle, Morrison allegedly reported that she was the driver as Alexis’ driver’s permit had expired. Andrews was the officer who took the report.

The officers were investigated by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) after another officer, who allegedly witnessed the report being made and refused to participate, reported it.

The officers were detained by detectives of the PSB earlier this week and placed on identification parades before the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that they be charged.

Alexis and Morrison were represented by Fareed Ali, while Andrews was represented by Cedric Neptune. The officers will reappear in court on September 1.

At five and a half months pregnant, Yudee Seepersad now has to find the strength to move on after her boyfriend was killed near his business, just outside the family’s St Helena home.

Seepersad, who believes the child she is carrying is a boy, spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, as she recalled hearing the gunshots that took boyfriend Ian Jordan’s life.

Jordan, 31 and his neighbourhood friend Dillon Samuel, 20, were gunned down Thursday night.

According to police reports, around 9.30pm a white Nissan Tiida pulled up near Jordan’s mini-mart at the front of his Herrera Road, Kelly Village, St Helena home and opened fire.

After hitting Samuel, the car stopped so that the killers could properly shoot at their target.

Police said last evening they had no definitive motive for the double killing, which has taken the murder toll to 286 for the year.

Seepersad, who also has a seven-year-old daughter with Jordan, said he was not involved in anything criminal and believed the killings may have stemmed from disagreements he had with people in the area who hated his strong personality.

“It was not a robbery, they didn’t come to do anything else but kill them. They come to do a job and made sure it was done,” Seepersad said.

“He was liked and respected but there were those who found him to be too strong. If he believed something is right there is no changing his mind.

“There were falling outs with people in the village, but he was not one who holds grudges.

But like whoever he got away with, probably didn’t let it go.”

She added that Jordan’s goal was to leave a legacy for his daughter, as everything he did was driven by the need to provide for her. She said it was their daughter who suggested that the mini-mart be named “Izzy” after her, but the couple never got around to doing that having opened on Monday and up to Thursday. She added that Jordan was a part time scrap iron dealer and farmer and would do anything legal to ensure his child had everything.

“I was just counting down the time for the birth of this child and now I have to be calm on top of this, and be strong for the family on top of this. Ian took pride in everything he did because he believed if he doing something he must do it to the best.

“To me it is very hurtful going in the parlour but I don’t want to close it down. I don’t feel brave now. Every car pass I feel threatened. I am uneasy,” Seepersad said as she wept and wiped the tears away with her hands.

Speaking earlier, Samuel’s mother, Cathy Simon, said her eldest child would have celebrated his 21 birthday in two weeks. She said her son, a customer service representative at Car Search, spent Thursday at home as he was not feeling well.

Simon said: “The only thing negative I thought might have happened to him was that he would be arrested for smoking marijuana. He was a quiet child, never gave any trouble, never arrested or nothing. I guess he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Samuel, of Rabindranath Street, Kelly Village, was eating a meal of fried chicken and fries when he was shot dead. His step-brother, Kenny Simon, was murdered six years ago while walking along Rabindranath Street. Samuel’s step-father, Renison Simon, said the two were killed in similar fashion and all he could do now is to cope as best as he can and move on.

For what purpose is Government ordering a probe of a private entity such as Dalco Capital Management and is this a witch hunt to persecute people regarding the CL Financial issue?

That’s the question which Carlton Reis (Dalco Capital Management Company Ltd) has posed to Finance Minister Colm Imbert following Imbert’s claims about Dalco on Thursday.

Imbert had said Government would be probing the transfer of shares from CLF, reportedly worth $10B by CLF significant shareholder Lawrence Duprey to Dalco and Reis for a mere $99.

Imbert also announced a second probe to determine how all profits from the companies under CL World Brands were being put into CL Financial to settle subsidiaries’ debts, and not being used to repay the 2009 bailout debt owed after Clico’s collapse.

But Reis in a subsequent statement noting Imbert’s warning about probe of the matter, said: “The company (Dalco) wishes to advise the Minister that it is a private company and owns shareholding in CL Financial and not the converse.”

“All company business is carried out with the upmost compliance with the laws of T&T and are done in full conformity with legal and accounting advice from reputable local and international professionals.”

“The timing of such investigations lends itself to the appearance of a witch hunt meant to intimidate and to persecute private individuals for standing up for their constitutional rights under the Republican Constitution of T&T.”

Reis added: “However, the company wishes to pose a number of questions to Minister Imbert including: under what enactment of law gives the Minister of Finance the power to order a probe into the private affairs of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago?”

“What body has Minister Imbert charged with the investigation into the sale of Dalco? Is it the Board of Inland Revenue and if so has the Minister sought legal advice on how to interpret his powers under this act?”

“For what purpose is the Minister Imbert acting in ordering a probe of a private entity and citizen of T&T?”

Reis queried how many other similar transactions Imbert had ordered probes into since he assumed the role as Finance Minister.

“Minister Imbert’s latest actions may be construed as arbitrary and may be seen as an attempt to trample on the enshrined principle of the separation of powers.

Reis reminded Imbert that section 4 (a), (b) and (d) of the Republican Constitution protects:

(a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law;

(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;

(d) the right of the individual to equality of treatment from any public authority in the exercise of any functions;

Reis added: “It’s shocking that Minister Imbert would claim CL Financial is insolvent and has more liabilities than assets one week and then the next week express such optimism about the value of company that owns 27 per cent of CL Financial.”

“Had the Government complied with the order of the Court to provide audited financials of CL Financial then there would be no need for such probes.”

Responding Imbert said yesterday: “The Companies Registry is a public forum. The records of all companies, whether private or public are available for any member of the public to scrutinise, either by walking in or going online.”

“The ownership of companies, and the transfer of shares in companies, and the capital value of shares in companies, of any kind, is public, not private.”

Imbert didn’t reply on who is handling the probes—whether forensic auditor, police, the Ministry’s Central Audit division or private contractor.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has advised that chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group Peter Permell has no contractual relationship with Clico and is owned no money.

In a press release issued yesterday, Imbert stated that he has taken note of a statement made by Permell yesterday that he was still a Clico policyholder and he wants the balance of the money due to him from Clico.

In response to Permell’s comments, Imbert said that the ministry’s records would show that on May 22, 2012, Permell accepted the former Government’s offer for the purchase of his Clico policies by virtue of Deeds of Assignment and Declarations of Trust in respect of two Executive Flexible Premium Annuities (EFPA) with Clico.

Based on Permell’s acceptance, Imbert said he received the sum of $75,000 in cash for each policy, with the rest being paid in bonds.

“Further, in May 2012, in full and final settlement, Permell also relinquished all claims to these policies and signed a clear and unequivocal waiver of all future claims against Clico with respect to these policies,” Imbert stated.

As a result, Imbert has been advised that Permell no longer has any contractual relationship with Clico, and, contrary to his assertions, there is no balance of money due to him from Clico whatsoever.

Permell in an interview on Thursday said Imbert’s claim that he was not a policyholder was incorrect.

“He’s either misinformed or doesn’t know what ‘cashed in’ means in the insurance context. There is a policy with my name on it either at Clico or the Finance Ministry,” Permell said.

He also rejected a statement made by Imbert that he was a “mouthpiece” for CL Financial shareholders.

Despite being criticised by the trade union movement over the years, former Petrotrin executive chairman Malcolm Jones remained unfazed because he knew he did nothing wrong.

So said his daughter Fay Blackburne, who described her father as a wonderful gentleman, a loving father and a great husband who contributed a lot to this country.

Jones, 74, succumbed to a prolonged illness at Petrotrin’s Augustus Long Hospital in Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday.

Over the years and even as recent as last year, Jones felt the wrath of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union which accused him of mismanagement of the state-owned company.

Jones had resigned in 2010 following allegations of misconduct. The Ancel Roget-led OWTU then staged a protest in front of Jones’ San Fernando home demanding that the government revoke his 2015 appointment to a State energy committee.

In an interview at Jones’ home in St Joseph Village, San Fernando, hours after her father’s death Blackburne said although her father was ailing he so loved this country that he still worked even though he was ill.

Asked if his troubles with the union had impacted on his health, she said, “It did not.

“He was not bothered by that because he knew what he did and he loved this country so much that he still contributed even though he was not well.”

She said her father was alert, pain-free and died peacefully. She said when they left him yesterday he was checking his email and playing sudoku.

Recounting his fondest memories about his former Presentation college schoolmate and close friend, Winston Rudder said Jones was like a brother to him. Rudder said he admired his honesty, integrity, brilliance and commitment to public service.

Recalling the last conversation with Jones on Thursday night, he said, “His mood was sombre, he knew he was very ill. The last thing he said to me was to tell my wife and daughter, who is his god-daughter, good night. And I told him to be strong and I will speak with him in the morning.”

The family has not yet finalised funeral arrangements. The grandfather of three is survived by his wife Brenda and five children.

Energy Minister:

Jones transformed T&T

Energy Minister Franklin Khan described Malcolm Jones as “a true pioneer whose dedication and commitment to the development of the domestic energy sector was unquestionable.”

In a statement yesterday, Khan said Jones’ career spanned over 40 years. The minister said during that period Jones “served with distinction” at the executive level in several State enterprises including his last tenure in 2009 as the executive chairman of Petrotrin.

“He was a member of a group of visionaries who transformed T&T’s energy sector into a world-class location and laid the foundation for the country’s economic development. As a country, we are indebted to pioneers like Mr Malcolm Jones whose contributions to T&T helped us gain international recognition as an important energy province and favoured site for energy sector investment,” the release stated.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, the entire energy fraternity and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to recognise the invaluable contribution that Mr Malcolm Jones made to our country and to extend my sincerest condolences to his family,” Khan stated.

As the municipal police moves to crack down on illegal parking and street vending in San Fernando from next week, calls are being made for a designated area for street vending and parking.

The calls were made following a walkabout by municipal police headed by Snr Supt Carlyle Huggins to sentisise business owners and street vendors along the main shopping area at High Street about the law.

Huggins, who in charge of the southern region spanning from Couva to Point Fortin said, “We are here on a walkabout on High Street just to talk to business community about the parking because we have a robust wrecking system in place. It started about two weeks ago, although we haven’t really wrecked much vehicles on High Street.”

Huggins said on Wednesday the officers did a cursory walkabout and observed that some people were parking their vehicles for the entire day, when the law provides only for the loading and offloading of goods.

He said another issue was illegal vending.

“We have a lot of parents shopping for school clothes, books, so the place is filled up. We want to speak to the people who are doing the illegal vending that they should not block the pathway. As a matter of fact they should desist from vending illegally on the pavements. If you observe some people have to step out on the road which is dangerous to their health. “

Huggins said they will be allowing the street vendors and business people a grace period to put their house in order.

“But, some time next week we will exercise zero tolerance,” he said.

He said this will be an ongoing exercise which will also be initiated at various areas in the southern region.

In response, Michael Prince, spokesperson for the street vendors, said, “We don’t mind they cracking down on street vending as long as they provide a place for the vendors to ply their trade.”

San Fernando Business Association president Daphne Bartlett said they support the police upholding the law but it must be on an even playing field. She said while the business community are being targeted for illegal parking she was yet to see a ticket issued to a street vendor for the same offence.

“I also want to say to the authorities we have no designated carpark in the southern city,” said Bartlett.

She said they were left without a carpark after the Chancery Lane multi-storey complex which was supposed to house the administrative building and carpark was converted to the Teaching Hospital. She suggested that a public area on along Penitence Street be used as a public carpark.

Bartlett also said the Association felt disrespected that San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello did not consult them before implementing the new traffic system which “is creating tremendous choas,” in the city.

The secretary of the Marabella Police Youth Club, her boyfriend and another man appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday charged with possession of a pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition.

Anisha Ifill, 20, of Marabella, and her boyfriend Jason Williams, 25, of Claxton Bay pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them by San Fernando Fifth Court Magistrate Kerianne Byer.

Their co-accused Lynte Prime, 25, however, asked for a maximum sentence indication (MSI) before he enters a plea.

The three were arrested on August 2 after the police stopped and searched a car they were in at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, and allegedly found a Beretta pistol and the 9 mm ammunition. They were charged by PC Mohammed.

They were all represented by attorney Frank Gittens.

Gittens said Prime, a labourer, is an expectant father and is in a common law relationship. Prime claimed a 2011 charge of assaulting his sister was dismissed, but it is still listed as pending on his criminal record.

Prosecutor Sgt Ian Sylvon objected to bail because Prime would have allegedly committed the firearm offences while on bail for another offence. The magistrate told Prime to produce a court extract at the next hearing when the MSI is expected to be given. Byer granted him $150,000 approval bail and ordered him to report to the St Margarets Police Station three times a week.

Ifill, Gittens said, also worked as a hairdresser, takes care of her five-year old godchild and has a pending matter for malicious wounding. The magistrate granted her $150,000 approval bail and a cash bail alternative of $45,000. She has to report to the Marabella Police Station twice a week.

Gittens said Williams, has a six-year-old son, is the sole breadwinner in his family and had no previous convictions or pending matters.

Williams was granted $100,000 bail with his mother as surety and ordered to report to the St Margarets Police Station twice a week.

The matter was adjourned to August 9.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wants labour leaders to acknowledge the reality and outcomes of T&T's straitened circumstances and return to the Tripartite approach enabled by the Government, rather than rely on threats, bombast, finger pointing and insults.

Rowley was responding to the demand made on Friday by the Joint Trade Union Movement for a meeting with the prime minister within the next two weeks.

Read his full statement below:

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
 
Far from the views expressed by some voices in the Labour Movement, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not unmindful of the stresses and strains exerted on the national population, especially those who face inadequate income earnings or who encounter the prospect of reduction in employment opportunities.
 
It is, by now, common knowledge that these unfortunate circumstances are largely the effects and results of our country's loss of very significant oil and gas revenues which the market no longer afford us at this time and until such time as we can make alternative arrangements for increased revenue growth or the market situation is reversed we will be required to act responsibly and try to do more with less than we have been accustomed to.
 
It is against this background that the Government has been resolute in trying to maintain, as far as we are able to, employment levels in the public sector and to keep a large social support programme in place, funded from the severely depleted revenues.
 
This Government acknowledges and respects the Labour Movement as it steadfastly seeks to highlight the plight of workers and the unemployed under the current difficult circumstances. It is against this background and with this commitment to all workers and the wider national community that very early in the life of this administration, the Government took immediate steps to open the door to a collaborative platform of discussion and dialogue between Government, Labour and the Business Sector.
 
This Tripartite, civil approach through the genuine efforts of this body, should provide the most meaningful forum to address the myriad challenges which ALL parties must face as we seek to overcome and survive the current economic crisis to which we have been exposed since 2015 and which is very likely to remain a factor in our circumstances well into the medium term.
 
The Government, with a wider responsibility for the entire population, would hope that the workers representatives would acknowledge the reality and outcomes of our straitened  circumstances and return to the Tripartite approach enabled by the Government, rather than rely on threats, bombast, finger pointing and insults, since these invectives would do little to assist us in treating with the harsh realities of our current circumstances as a nation in the midst of an economic downturn which is driven largely by our location in external markets beyond our control.
 
The Government is confident that if we air and address the difficulties together so that the burden is equitably shared by all, we would give ourselves the best chance to overcome the pressures and build the bright future that we all want for ourselves and as well as all others in the nation of Trinidad and Tobago which we so love, in good times and in periods of hardship.
 
                                  
 

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wants labour leaders to acknowledge the reality and outcomes of T&T’s “straitened circumstances” and return to the Tripartite approach enabled by the Government, rather than rely on “threats, bombast, finger pointing and insults.”

Rowley said this in a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, following a march by the labour movement on Friday ion Port-of-Spain, during which head of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget issued an open-ended ultimatum to Rowley to meet with the unions within the next two weeks or else.

Failing this, JTUM has signalled its intention to intensify action following Friday’s united labour march.

JTUM head Ancel Roget also called for the immediate removal of the “four non-performing ministers”, among them National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.

Rowley’s call for the return of labour leaders to the “tripartite approach” comes months after union heads walked away from the National Tripartite Council (NTAC) established by the Government to facilitate discussions among labour, private sector and the Government on national issues.

In his statement, Rowley said the invectives from the union would do little to assist us (the country) in treating with the harsh realities of T&T’s current circumstances as a nation in the midst of an economic downturn which was driven largely by T&T’s location in external markets beyond the State’s control.

“Far from the views expressed by some voices in the Labour Movement, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not unmindful of the stresses and strains exerted on the national population, especially those who face inadequate income earnings or who encounter the prospect of reduction in employment opportunities,” the statement said. The statement said Government acknowledged and respected the Labour Movement as it steadfastly sought to highlight the plight of workers and the unemployed under the current difficult circumstances.

“It is against this background and with this commitment to all workers and the wider national community that very early in the life of this administration, the Government took immediate steps to open the door to a collaborative platform of discussion and dialogue between Government, labour and the business sector.”

Natuc: We are ready

to meet with PM

National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) President James Lambert, in an interview yesterday, said a return of labour leaders to NTAC would form part of discussions if the Prime Minister acceded to labours request to meet within the next two weeks.

Lambert said it was necessary for Rowley to meet and have discussions and dialogue and then a decision can be made by the leaders of the unions.

“I don’t think we should return just because the Prime Minister asked that we return,” Lambert said.“We always acknowledge what the circumstances are. We are aware of what the economic situation is, but that does not deny the fact that we should meet and discuss.

“This is not the first time T&T has been in a situation like this and as trade union leaders we always resolve to meet amicably, take all into consideration and look for a solution. Let us dialogue and consult and communicate. Why is he afraid to do that? We asked and we are waiting on him to respond.”

Lambert said there were a number of issues which the unions needed to be addressed by the Prime Minister. He said labour leaders did not choose to withdraw from the tripartite council without good reason.

There were situations we felt were not in the best interest of the workers.

“The Prime Minister has to realise he is the leader, the PM of all the ministers. Natuc has written to him and gotten few responses. When he does respond he says meet with other ministers but we are ready to meet with the Prime Minister.

WHY UNIONS WITHDREW FROM NTAC?

The three trade union federations, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), the National Trade Union Centre, and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (Fitun) withdrew from NTAC in March because of what Secretary General, Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) Joseph Remy described as “blatant disrespect and disregard” shown “to the entire trade union movement” by the Government’s decision to dissolve the Tourism Development Company (TDC).

WHY NTAC WAS FORMED?

The Mission of NTAC is to give effect to commitments, as articulated in the Official Policy Framework of the Government, with regard to facilitating tripartite engagement, dialogue and consultation and to promote consensus building and democratic involvement among key stakeholders on national development issues.

The Chairperson of NTAC was Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson Regis

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Terms of Reference of

NTAC included the following:

1. Oversight over Implementation of Government policy as enshrined in Vision 2030.

2. Identification and review of Sustainable National Development Goals.

3. Development of a culture of Innovation, Invention and use of Initiative.

4. Enhancing the level of productivity in all sectors of national endeavour.

5. Development of a national campaign on productivity and proper work ethics.

6. Creation of additional job opportunities.

7. Maximisation of the use of science and technology.

8. Focusing attention on the needs of the poor, the socially displaced and the most vulnerable in our society.

9. The maintenance of industrial peace and harmony nation-wide.