In the light of recent reports of human trafficking, including that of children in T&T, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) the Children’s Ark has partnered with the Victim and Witness Support Unit and other agencies to launch an awareness programme to sensitise and educate the population regarding this scourge.

The Children’s Ark will also be hosting its fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, on Friday titled Batting for Children.

In an interview on CNC3’s Morning Brew yesterday, the Children’s Ark founder and president, Simone de la Bastide, said the initiative would focus on communities, schools and other spaces and would also use various means to get the message across including print and electronic media.

De la Bastide said she was inspired by Maiti Nepal, a non-profit organisation in Nepal dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking.

“Back in June someone sent me a very powerful video of a Nepalese organisation that specifically deals with trafficking of children and young girls. 

I have made contact with the organisation and through that the board had discussions with Victim and Witness Support Unit, Childline, and other agencies regarding child trafficking and we made the decision back in July to implement the awareness regarding child trafficking.

“We are not involved in the policing of child trafficking in any way. It is strictly the awareness and prevention that the Children’s Ark is about to embark on,” de la Bastide said.

Members of Maiti Nepal, she added, were supposed to attend Friday’s fundraiser but were now expected to come to T&T next May. She also called for better compilation of data so as to assist in the fight against this particular crime. 

Expressing concern over the apparent prevalence of human trafficking she related an incident where a strange couple walked up to a child in a park in Westmoorings.

I don’t think our stats are really up to date. There was an example of a little girl in Westmoorings...and we heard of that because we know the people.

“Where this couple, well-dressed, lovely, big car went into the park. The child was sitting there and a strange lady went up to her, asking her questions...where is your mum and dad and when the child said my dad is sitting over there, the couple got up and they walked away, and that sort of thing probably happens and we do not know about it.”

She said another woman who runs a home for street children questioned the whereabouts of street girls, adding that data on this was not taken into account. 

Head of the Victim and Witness Support Unit, Margaret Sampson-Browne, who also appeared on the show, said studies have shown that while the boys remained on the streets the girls were forced into brothels.

Saying that the unit has thrown its full support behind the Children’s Ark initiative, she said once people became aware of the many negative factors of human trafficking, more incidents would be reported.

“Human trafficking is alive in T&T and we have to be aware of it,” Sampson-Browne said.

“We have now labelled human trafficking but prior to that was prostitution. Human trafficking has been in existence since time immemorial. 

Now in T&T we have identified human trafficking and adding the support necessary for those being trafficked including the children, young girls and the males.

“Human trafficking carries a wide scope of ills ranging from sexual exploitation to domestic servitude as persons entering the country are made to work in homes and private industries as servants, in stores, security agencies and are hoping for a new life...a place where they can find some peace and people are abusing those privileges,” Sampson-Browne added.

She said to date the data has shown there has been one report of child trafficking relating to domestic servitude

“But I think the aggression of the Children’s Act and the components of the Counter Trafficking Unit...we would see more reports because it is happening right here in T&T.

“It is just that people may not have identified it as child trafficking. They have placed a label on it so as a result of labelling it in a particular way you find people would not look at it or feel the need to say something but the penalty of not reporting child or human trafficking or if you are charged and convicted...the penalty is severe, ranging from property being seized to thousands of dollars in fines. 

T&T needs to get so incensed about this whole child-trafficking situation, especially about child sex trafficking because we have to protect our children,” Sampson-Browne said.

Last Saturday, members of the Human Trafficking Unit raided a club in Penal and arrested 22 female nationals from the Dominican Republic, believed to be victims of a human trafficking ring. 

A Syrian-born man and three male Trinidadians, who police suspect were the middle-men in the trafficking operation, were also arrested.

Last month, a 30-year-old Tunapuna man was arrested after police raided a brothel in Tacarigua. 

Four women were arrested, two of whom claimed to have been held there against their will.

Supt Hendron Moses later called on young women to be wary of advertisements placed in the media about job opportunities, since police believed this was one of the major ploys used to lure women by human traffickers.

The Privy Council has been asked to respect the decision of local judges to strike down a novel constitutional challenge over the repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act. 

Lead counsel for the State, Peter Knox, QC, made the call yesterday as he began his submissions in the final appeal of two businessmen and a company accused of fraud in the construction of the $1.6 billion Piarco International Airport, who would have benefitted from the short-lived legislation. 

“Give weight to the opinion of the local courts because they are more familiar with their Constitution,” Knox said as he addressed the five-member panel of law lords at the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court in London.

Knox first admitted that the right to an automatic discharge afforded to the group of people and companies who applied under the legislation would have been infringed by its repeal in September 2012.

However, he stated the measure taken by Parliament to correct its oversight was proportional and reasonably justifiable in the circumstances.

“There is no legitimate expectation that Parliament would not change its mind. Now they are back on trial with all their usual rights and protections,” Knox said. 

While he admitted that public outcry over the potential impact on the Piarco case triggered the repeal, Knox claimed Parliament was more concerned about the effect on future corruption investigations, which by their protracted nature may have benefited from legislation. 

“It (Parliament) was not motivated by a desire to get them, it simply recognised that Section 34 was not a good law,” Knox said. 

Responding to claims by the lawyer for insurance company Maritime General and its former executive Steve Ferguson, Michael Beloff, that the repeal infringed on the independence of the Judiciary by instructing it to disregard his clients’ pending applications, Knox said that determining automatic discharge applications provided by the original act was not a core function of the court.

The statement prompted the interjection of two law lords, who appeared to disagree. 

“Is giving effect to a defence afforded to a person not a core function?” Lord Anthony Hughes asked.

“The fact that it is recently introduced does not preclude it from being a core function,” Lord Jonathan Sumption added. 

Knox maintained his position as he said: “The legislation imposed a novel defence by removing it, the court’s power to determine guilt or innocence in these cases is restored.”

Knox also knocked the appellants’ criticism of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard who admitted to advocating for the repeal after public outcry over media reports on its early proclamation on August 31, 2012, and its obvious impact on the Piarco cases.

“There was nothing wrong with his actions as this was an extreme case. I understand that it may be the biggest fraud case in the Caribbean. Any minister of justice would be troubled by this,” Knox said.

“Was the Minister of Justice?” Lord Hughes said in obvious reference to then Justice Minister Herbert Volney, who was removed as a Cabinet minister over his alleged role in the early proclamation of the legislation. His sarcastic comment was followed by muffled laughter from several of his colleagues. 

Knox is expected to complete his submissions this morning and will be followed by attorney Ian Benjamin who is representing Gaspard, who was added to the case as an interested party. Beloff and attorney for businessman Ameer Edoo, Michael Fordham, QC, will be allowed to respond before the panel reserves its decision in the case.

There is a need to review and discuss the Parliament Standing Orders in order to avoid the abusive language and slurs of the past few weeks.

This was the view expressed by social activist Hazel Brown during a telephone interview yesterday.

Brown’s comment came on the heels of an offer from the T&T Association of Psychologists to share skills and professional training with government and political leaders.

The association described the language used in Parliament as “homophobic, prejudicial and abusive.”

During the budget debate several MPs received public criticism after using offensive language.

“I dont know whether training is the solution,” Brown said.

“The people in the Parliament are not stupid. What they need is for more discussion and consensus around the rules and standing orders of the Parliament.”

T&T is not unique when it comes to unbecoming behaviour of MPs in the Lower House.

In several countries, debates sometimes lead to physical confrontations.

Kosovo, a country located in the Balkan region with a population of 1.8 million, saw its opposition disrupt parliament by throwing tear gas in the chamber last week.

Brown said the discussion was happening internationally as to acceptable behaviour in Parliament and T&T could use the opportunity to be a model for others to follow.

She said she believed women in Parliament could make the difference as they were more likely to be agents of change. 

The psychologists association said it deplored the recent use of homophobic, prejudicial and abusive language among our political leadership. 

“As such, our membership is available to share our skills and professional training with our government and political leaders, in enhancing the leadership and personal competencies required for a twenty-first century progressive, caring, and visionary society.”

The association described the use of ‘picong’ during parliamentary debate as a longstanding cultural tradition. 

The association said picong lost its value as insightful, witty banter, when it was used intentionally or unintentionally as a vehicle to perpetuate prejudice, personal insult and debasement. 

“The use of language is also a reflection of our understanding of ‘self’ in relation to the ‘other’ in our culturally created socio-political environment. Some even argue that there is no ‘other’ within the human family and we define ourselves and not our target, when we engage in verbal and malicious taunts.”

RALPH BANWARIE

In a twisted series of events that unfolded in the Sangre Grande area last weekend, a 62-year-old retired nurse was killed after returning home from the wake of an 11-month old baby, who died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

An autopsy on Monday revealed that Savitri Juteram died from acute asphyxiation after a towel was stuffed in her mouth by someone who broke into her Jacob Coat, Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande home, on Sunday.

An attorney-at-law, who practises at Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court, said he was shocked upon learning of news of Juteram’s murder. He said the woman had reported that she had a case pending against a man, charged with harassing and stalking her. The case was scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday.

Police investigators said Juteram was attacked by someone she knew as she had no marks of violence. Police believe the woman fought with her attacker in a bid to escape but was eventually subdued.

Police, responding to a report of robbery, found Juteram, who lived alone, unconscious and her house ransacked at around 12.15 am. 

The mother of five was described as a hard working, kind and respectable woman who cared for her children.

Her son, Nishen Juteram, said his mother graduated in England as a nurse and returned to work in Trinidad. At her retirement and commitment to duties, she received contract employment at EWMSC, Mt Hope, as a nurse.

He said he had spoken to her a few hours before her death. 

Other relatives of Juteram said she returned to the workforce after retiring to keep active. They believe her attacker struck after she left the North Oropouche home of Ramesh Ramnath, a police officer, whose son, Mikyle, died at a daycare on Friday.

At the Forensic Science Centre, St James on Monday, Nishen said his mother’s killers will be brought to justice. He said his mother knew the Ramnath family and went to lend support to them. 

On her way back, the grandmother of seven dropped off one of her cousin’s at Sangre Grande before heading home. 

She was later found gagged and tied and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Sangre Grande District Medical Hospital, the same hospital where she had been employed before retiring two years ago.

Ramnath, who was also at Forensic Science Centre on Monday, after doctors at Eric Williams Medical Science’s Complex discovered what appeared to be bleeding in the abdominal cavity during the child’s autopsy, said he dropped off his child at a day care not too far from his home on Friday. 

According to an autopsy report, the child died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen. However, it is still undetermined whether the injury was sustained maliciously or accidentally. 

Ramnath said around midday he was telephoned and told that his child was not breathing and that he should get to the Sangre Grande Hospital. By the time he arrived, his first-born child, who would have been one year old on November 2, had already died.

“Parents out there need to be mindful we need to look at the signs. If I looked back at the past there was probably signs that he was trying to tell us and we probably didn’t take note. Right now I am just studying if I had paid more attention then I would not have been here standing here today saying this,” Ramnath said. 

“The officers not sure what happened, the baby sitter not sure, right now we just hoping for answers. 

“I wouldn’t say it was negligence because I don’t have any knowledge and she didn’t share info and I don’t want to believe that. 

“I wish I could have kept him in my arms and never gave him anywhere else. He was a healthy baby and never even needed to go to doctor or anything. Every check up they kept on saying he was a healthy bouncing baby boy.”

To daycare owners, Ramnath said: “Be careful and be aware. Pay attention and take heed of everything. If I could erase time and go back I would have been an even better father, I am no longer a father now.”

T&T recorded its fourth confirmed death from the highly contagious H1N1 Influenza (swine flu), which accounted for over 14,000 deaths worldwide in 2009. 

According to a copy of a death certificate obtained by the T&T Guardian yesterday, Siparia mother Cherrie Ryce, 46, died of swine flu at the San Fernando General Hospital last Saturday after being warded there for just over a week. The death certificate certified by Prof Hubert Daisley stated the cause of death as “H1N1 influenza, diabetes mellitus and type 2 hypertension.”

Now Ryce’s relatives are calling on the Health Ministry to probe a possible cover-up at the hospital, saying she may have contracted the virus while staying in a ward that medical staff labelled as an “infectious ward.” Ryce’s sister, whose name was withheld because of her job, said she was told there may have been other swine flu-related cases and deaths at the hospital for the year. 

A staff member at the hospital said there were suspected cases of swine flu and when patients die, their cause of death were given as pneumonia. After Ryce’s death, her daughter, Jennel, and ten-month-old grandson, Isaiah, were quarantined at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital for three days having visited her on October 14.

The sister said Ryce was unable to walk properly due to an injury sustained in a childhood accident. She said Ryce was an outpatient at the hospital for years as she suffered with diabetes, hypertension and other ailments, and was even warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after slipping into a coma.

Recently she underwent an eye surgery and due to medical complications, she was enrolled in a clinic. She explained that when Ryce went to the hospital for a schedule clinic appointment on October 8, she was doing well and had no symptoms of the cold or swine flu. She added that her sister has never left the country and had no foreign visitors in recent times.

Based on her medical condition, further tests were needed and Ryce was admitted to a ward where she said patients and doctors wore mask. 

“Even while she was suspected of having H1N1, the doctor at ICU told us there were other cases at the ward where she was and even one at ICU. We were told that there were cases of H1N1 since the last administration but when patients die, they put the cause as pneumonia,” the sister said.

She added that when another sister visited on October 10 with her new-born baby, staff there told her that the child was not allowed because it was an infectious ward. On October 14, Jennel and Isaiah visited Ryce at the hospital.

Ryce’s sister said: “It was Saturday when the pathologist found out her cause of death. He told Jennel to check her son out at the ward because he got the cold after visiting his grandmother. She took him to casualty where she waited for two hours before the doctor called her.

“They gave the baby a nebulizer, took blood from him and quarantined both of them in a room at the teaching hospital by themselves.

“They told her that she had to remain there until Sunday when a special doctor would come to see them. For three days doctors came wearing special suits. They pushed food through a hole for them to eat until they were discharged on Monday evening.”

Ryce’s sister said Jennel and Isaiah returned to the hospital for a review yesterday but doctors told them more tests needed to be done to determine whether he has swine flu. 

Contacted yesterday, medical director of SFGH Dr Anand Chattergoon said he was unaware of the death and would be speaking with Prof Daisley to learn more. He said he tried contacting Daisley yesterday without success.

Pandemic
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 14,286 people died worldwide during the 2009 swine flu pandemic of which there were 237 deaths in Central America and Caribbean region. Barbados confirmed four cases; Cuba, one; Dominican Republic, 93 and Jamaica, 33. One death was confirmed in Trinidad, with several other being treated for the virus. 

However, there were several other suspected deaths in 2009. There were also two confirmed swine flu deaths in 2013.

Deyalsingh: We are on top of it
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said he was informed of swine flu risk yesterday and a statement would be made soon by acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Clive Tilluckdharry. However, he said he would keep a keen eye out as he allowed medical experts to do their jobs, saying his role as minister was to set policies.

“The acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, at a heads of departments meeting this morning brought us fully up to date and he will be making a statement soon. 

“We are on top of it but my way of managing the ministry is that those closest to the issue will be the one making statements but I will be keeping a close eye. It will be derelict of me if I don’t,” Deyalsingh added.

More info
Ex-health minister: Be on the alert
In a media release yesterday, former health minister Dr Fuad Khan Recently said there was a resurgence of the H1N1 virus in India and other parts of Asia in the past month which has infected thousands and may have caused a dozen deaths in that region. He said it was imperative that local authorities be on alert given T&T close ties with countries in that region.

“Though we have suffered casualties of this virus during the pandemic in 2009, under my guidance, the Ministry of Health took steps to ensure that our health facilities were fully equipped to treat with this disease should it ever pose a threat to our nation and prevent any further loss of life. 

“At this stage there is no reason for panic, for as long as those counter-measures are enforced and we as a national community remains vigilant for both ourselves and our neighbours, the citizens of this country can remain safe and protected from this virus,” Khan said. He said the Immigration Division should also be on alert to conduct screening of people coming to T&T from the affected countries as well as prepare medical facilities to dispense vaccination and treatment of the disease.

He also advised that anyone traveling to or returning to the South Asian region should be aware of the potential risk of swine flu and seek vaccination, practise proper hygiene and monitor symptoms like the seasonal flu as the virus is contagious. He added that young adults and pregnant women were at high risk of contracting the disease.

Yesterday morning, when most people were either at work or on their way, two gunmen in Laventille took the opportunity to murder an unarmed, mentally challenged man in front his mother.

According to Supt Shakib Mohammed of the Port-of-Spain Division, Mosi Porter, of Pleasant Terrace, John John, Laventille, was waiting on transport to Port-of-Spain less than 100 metres from their home when Porter was attacked. Mohammed said around 9 am two gunmen with bandanas on their faces walked up to mother and son and shot Porter, 23, and ran off. 

Police say Porter may have been killed because he assisted his mother by selling in Port-of-Spain, which is considered Rasta City territory, a rival gang to the “Muslim Gang”. Porter’s killing has taken the murdered toll to 351 for the year. Mohammed added that the gunmen timed their attack as there was an increased police presence in the area following a shooting on Tuesday when a man was shot in the mouth. 

Speaking with the media opposite her home yesterday, Munroe said she had two choices concerning her mentally challenged son, leave him on the streets in Port-of-Spain or take him home. A simple decision for most but a fatal one for the mother of four. Porter, she said, used to sleep on the Brian Lara Promenade after fleeing his Point Fortin home.

He was forced to sleep there after gunmen chased him out the area last year. Not wanting to return to his South home, Porter wandered the capital. Munroe said she could not leave her son “looking like a vagrant” so she brought him back home but monitored his every move, thinking that no gunman will attack him as long as she was around. 

Munroe said she begged the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to relocate her following her son’s near death experience last year but had been told that the matter was being addressed. She added that since moving to the area she lost touch with her children who refused to visit her at her new home.

Independent Senator Hugh Roach has called on National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to clear the air on whether citizens’ phone are being “tapped” in T&T following concerns about this. “We need to be very careful about transgressing people’s constitutional right to privacy and freedom,” Roach added on the issue in yesterday’s Senate debate of the 2016 Budget.

Noting the budget allocation for National Security, Roach wondered if that was properly used and if the assets at its focus were really reaping the benefits. He said for the last couple years he had noted friends and colleagues coming to speak to him, often removed the batteries from their cellphones and put them in their car to prevent intrusion on their privacy.

Roach said he did not know how prevalent that was and if it was real but he had been very distressed by it since he had worked in countries where the technology was readily available for a person sitting in a car to listen to someone’s phone in a house. He said he did not know if that technology was in T&T and was being used by local security. 

But, Roach said, he would like the Parliament to get an account of what exactly the position was regarding T&T’s national security sector and whether they have the capacity for listening to people’s conversations, if so, on what basis and what it was being used for. 

Roach added: “I’m not a drug dealer, I do not traffic in women, I don’t know why they will want to listen to my conversations. I don’t know anyone who calls me that deals in these things...narcotics.

“But certainly there must have some truth to it since too many people have come to me and practised that (removing phone battery) and I find it very distressing. We need to get to the bottom even though we are engaging in setting up a national security structure.” 

As a concern about government expenditure on national security, he said he wanted to hear from the minister at some point on what in fact was the position, what was being used and if it was valid. Roach, who is wheelchair-bound, also expressed concern about adequate facilities to accommodate the disabled to navigate in T&T.  

He cited, for example, the Parliament which he said lacked facilities for the disabled, including to allow him to move around to come near the Senate President’s chair for discussions or for him to get into position to head sessions in the event that need arose. Since Parliament has not rectified that travesty, he hoped all senators one day would attend in wheelchairs to experience what a disabled person went through.

Roach said he did not consider the budget “doom and gloom” or having draconian measures. He said economic challenges facing T&T presented an enormous opportunity to recalibrate operations and social order.

Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London said Tobago homicide officers currently have some encouraging and promising leads with respect to the killing of British lawyer Richard Wheeler and his Trinidadian-born wife, Grace.

Speaking at the post-Executive Council news conference yesterday London said following a conversation with Assistant Commissioner of Police for Tobago Garfield Moore he was confident that the murders would be solved. He said: “All of us in Tobago must abhor senseless and vicious acts like that and we have a responsibility to ensure that we do all in our power to guarantee  this is not something that is going to be repeated in Tobago. 

“ACP Vincel Edwards, who is a Tobago-born officer who is now in charge of homicide, he and a team have come from Trinidad, working in collaboration with the Tobago police officers to ensure that they bring a speedy conclusion to the investigations. 

“The latest reports are that they have some promising leads, some encouraging leads and I am hopeful that they would be able to bring the perpetrator to justice in the shortest possible time.” 

London said Tobago’s situation was changing and urged Tobagonians to be more vigilant. He also said citizens had the responsibility to assist the police in solving serious crimes, despite out of the five instances where foreigners were attacked, only one has been solved by police. He said, there should be no blame game. He added: “It is always easier to throw the blame and say that they are not doing enough. 

“My question is why are the murders not solved and I always make the point that the more senseless and motiveless a murder is, or an act is, the more difficult it is to solve because not to  have a motive to go on, you don’t have anything on which to base the judgment. 

“That is why I am saying in many of those cases is the information which the police get from persons who are not police officers, that assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice

“There are times when they can do better, there are times when they can perform better but I am not going to sit here without knowing what the facts are, and just simply bashing the police” he said.

London said the THA was prepared to deal with the backlash that might come from a negative tourist advisory. However, he said, each country has challenges with crime but how a territory dealt with it, would determine the outcome. He said the THA and the police was on top of the situation
He added: “We have to let the world know that we are on top of the situation. We will not be able to prevent every incident but that it is not an environment in which incidents like these are encouraged, facilitated or likely to happen on a regular basis.

“I think that is the reality in which we have to face but I am accepting the fact that when something like this happens, you have got to be realistic, there is going to be some fallout.

“How you treat with it and the signals you send and the level of intensity and sensitivity with which you treat with it, those are the kinds of things that will determine whether your markets would see things as manageable,” London added.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on the Wheelers today.

Other murders
• In 2008, Anna Sundsval, 62, and her companion Oke Olsoon chopped to death in Bon Accord. Nationality: Swede. Status:  Unsolved.
• In 2009, Murium Greene, 59 and Peter Green, 65, chopped and left for dead in Bacolet. Nationality: - British. Status: Unsolved.
• In 2009,  Peter Taut, 56; nationality: German. Status: Solved.
• In 2014, Hubertus Keil, 74, and Birgid Keil, 71 chopped to death on Bacolet Bay. Nationality:  German. Status: Unsolved

The killing of attorney Richard Wheeler and his wife, Grace, at their home in Tobago will be listed in the UK's travel advisory to T&T, says British High Commissioner to T&T, Tim Stew, yesterday. The couple, who lived at their home in Carnbee, Tobago, for 16 years, were found by a gardener with chops to their heads, necks and arms.

In an telephone interview yesterday Stew said the update was expected to take effect from today. A check of the advisory  which was described as "still current" as at October 21, 2015 said:

 "Most visits to Tobago are trouble free but tourists (including British nationals) have been robbed. The inability of the authorities to catch and prosecute offenders remains a concern.

“Incidents of violent crime in Tobago are rare but two German tourists (Hubertus Keil, 74, and his wife Birgid Keil, 71) were murdered on 22 November 2014 on Minister’s Bay in the Bacolet area."

Stew said: "There is a factual revision of the travel advisory which reflects that these murders have taken place. We already have advised UK visitors to take care and we provide them with the facts and of what has happened and that includes the murders." He said law enforcement support from the UK had not yet been sent to assist local police but emphasised the UK was willing to lend support.

"While the investigation is underway I would not say anything to hamper that investigation but I welcome the seriousness which the police and the authorities are taking this terrible event. 

“We are ready to lend any assistance in the matter but at the moment we have not sent any UK officers," Stew added.

Senior Supt Joanne Archie, assigned to the Tobago Division, said while the police were exploring all angles, they could not say for a fact whether couples in Tobago were being deliberately targeted.

While admitting that the crime situation was worrying, she said: "We are looking at all avenues and all information. It is a fact that couples are involved... we do not want to pronounce it yet until we really have something that will tell us it is directly targeted to couples." 

The murders made regional and international headlines and were reported by several media houses, including the BBC and the Daily Mail. 

Theresa Hadad, the private attorney of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, has received a lucrative state legal brief. The disclosure was made in the Senate yesterday afternoon by Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge during his presentation to the debate on the Appropriation Bill.

Sturge, an attorney, whose gun was trained on the AG for most of his presentation, said lawyers senior to Hadad in the AG’s office were reportedly concerned about why they were by-passed in favour of her.

Sturge also called on the Attorney General to say whether lawyers appearing for the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) in the Opposition’s election writ were rewarded with State briefs and what the fees were.

Al-Rawi, contacted for a response, said he was in a meeting in Paris and it was 9 pm. He confirmed Hadad was hired for the State’s matter involving Rajaee Ali who is incarcerated at the Port-of-Spain State Prison on gang-related charges.

Attorney Gerald Ramdeen, representing Ali, brought a matter against the State seeking to have Ali removed from his present place of incarceration to another, Al-Rawi said.

However, Hadad was hired only after every single other State attorney refused the brief because of safety concerns, he added. He said the Ali matter was an emergency application made in the Court of Appeal and State attorneys categorically said they were unprepared when asked by him to handle the matter.

“Every attorney refused. The only attorney available at the time was the instructing attorney (Hadad). The matter is a very sensitive one and being handled very carefully,” he said.

Acting AG, Stuart Young, also gave a fiery response to Sturge in the Senate. Repeating what Al-Rawi told the T&T Guardian, he gave kudos to Hadad for “doing what is right and accepting the brief.” Young deftly avoided mention of how much Hadad was being paid by stating that the PNM was going to change the fee schedule for attorneys so they were paid hourly.

Al-Rawi also responded to statements made by Sturge about 1 Alexandra Street, Port-of-Spain. 

In response to the Government’s charge that the contract for the outfitting of the building at 1 Alexandra Street by the last administration reeked of corruption, Sturge told the Senate that $45 million in taxpayers money was paid to Al-Rawi’s father-in-law for the rental of the property, even while it was empty.

Al-Rawi, confirming his father-in-law was the landlord, said everything was above board. He said that was not the issue. The issue was the questions over the outfitting contract. Young, in the Senate, described Sturge’s disclosures as a “cowardly attack on someone who was not there to defend himself.” He said there was absolutely nothing wrong paying rent for an empty property.

The rental agreement on the building had been in place since 2009 and since 2010 the Government has been paying $8.2 million annually in rent, at $690,000 a month, for the empty building in addition to $927,360 a year for security.  

NJ Nahous Investments Ltd is the company listed at the building. Directors include Nazem Nahous, Jinan Nahous, Michael Nahous, Gina Nahous-Hajdar and Mona Nahous-Al Rawi, Al-Rawi’s wife.

School officials yesterday blocked media workers from covering the anti-bullying launch initiated by Princes Town MP Barry Padarath at the Iere Village Government Primary School. 

Padarath, who addressed the media outside the school gates, said he was informed that it was the school’s policy that media workers were not to enter the school without permission from the Education Ministry. “I don’t want to drag the school into a political issue so I quite understand their position. At another point in time, I will organise other anti-bullying initiatives,” Padarath said.

He added: “It is a primary school, I didn’t invite the media and I was told the policy of the school was to not allow the media on the compound. I abide by that. I understand that children’s privacy has to be respected and we should not be politicising any issue using the medium of children.” In his address to the pupils, Padarath said he spoke about discipline, respect and tolerance.

Saying the anti-bullying initiative was the “genesis of something great,” Padarath said within the space of two years, five people committed suicide in Mathilda, Princes Town, because of bullying. He said scores of people had contacted him pledging support for his initiative. However, Padarath said he was disappointed that his parliamentary colleagues—Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Youth Affairs Minister Darryl Smith—did not come onboard.

“They have demonstrated by their actions that they are unable to uphold their oath in office to serve all manner of people,” Padarath added. He also called on the Government to give its position on bullying and to say whether it would support anti-bullying legislation.

Padarath said he intended to speak to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to bring anti-bullying legislation in Parliament. He also said he was willing to work with any other representative or organisation with the intention of raising awareness on the anti-bullying campaign, including youth pioneer Jeremy Rodriguez. 

Since he announced his drive, Padarath was criticised by Rodriguez’s family for politicising the anti-bullying campaign.

The Privy Council has reserved its judgment on whether the repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act was unconstitutional.

Postponing the court’s decision to a date to be decided, Lord David Neuberger yesterday said he and his four colleagues needed time to consider the appeal that was presented by businessmen Ameer Edoo and Steve Ferguson and insurance company Maritime General, who attempted to use the law to escape prosecution for fraud related to the construction of the Piarco International Airport.

Most of yesterday’s hearing was devoted to the role of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard in advocating for the repeal after the early proclamation of the clause on August 31, 2012.

Responding to claims by the trio’s lawyers that Gaspard acted improperly by attempting to influence the outcome of his office’s biggest cases, his lawyer Ian Benjamin claimed that advocating for laws for the improvement of the justice system was within his remit.

“The director was at all times acting within his constitutional, statutory and common law powers to take steps and give advice designed to restore the confidence of the T&T public in the adminstration of criminal justice,” Benjamin said.

Stating his client felt the legislation, which sought to clear a backlog of cases, was ineffective, Benjamin said: “As far as the director was concerned it had a negligible positive effect because it only impacted on 47 cases.” He also said his client had a responsibility to address the public furore which followed media reports on the potential impact of the legislation on high profile corruption cases. 

“The events gave rise to speculation and the media went so far as to call for the Government to explain whether it colluded to pass Section 34 in favour of the Piarco accused. 

“I am not suggesting that there is any substance in the speculation, I’m just saying it was in the public domain,” Benjamin said.

Lord Jonathan Mance appeared to agree with Benjamin’s suggestion that the case was limited to Parliament’s decision to repeal and not to whether or not Gaspard unfairly influenced it through communications with then attorney general Anand Ramlogan. When granted the opportunity to respond, Michael Beloff, QC, who is representing Ferguson and Maritime, claimed that Benjamin understated his client’s role.

“What he did was not an academic exercise. It was a calculated effort to defeat the Piarco defendants,” Beloff said. He was also dismissive of Gaspard’s duty to the public.

“He must allay public concern but should not be swayed by public opinion,” Beloff said.

In addition to Gaspard’s involvement, the trio is also alleging that Parliament infringed on Judicial independence as by repealing the law it removed the court’s power to determine cases already filed before it.

The trio is among 42 persons and companies who filed motions under the legislation which were rendered null and void after the repeal in mid-September 2012. 

The majority of the applicants including several former Government ministers are facing charges arising out of the $1.6 billion construction project. The controversial clause gave persons, whose trials for specific offences had not started after 10 years after the crime was allegedly committed, the right to apply to have the case dismissed. 

Most filed constitutional motions challenging the repeal with the trio's cases being elected as test cases which will determine the fate of the others. 
• December 2011: The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act is passed by both Houses of Parliament.
• August 31, 2012: Section 34 is proclaimed.
• September 9, 2012: Under the headline “Piarco airport cases to be dropped,” T&T Guardian reports that those charged in the Piarco Airport corruption case may be able to have the charges against them dropped as a result, since the charges were laid more than seven years previously.

Among them are UNC financiers Steve Ferguson and Ish Galbaransingh.
• September 12, 2012: Parliament sits to repeal Section 34.
• October 2012: 42 applicants under Section 34 file constitutional motions claiming their rights were infringed by its repeal.
• April 2013: Justice Mira Dean-Armorer delivers judgment in three of constitutional motions being used as test cases. Dean-Armorer dismisses all eight grounds raised by the three applicants. 
• May 2013: The three applicants file their appeal of Dean-Armorer's judgment. 
• October 2013: Court of Appeal hears submissions on the appeal for four consecutive days. 
• June 4, 2014: Court of Appeal dismisses the appeal, rejecting all grounds raised by three appellants.
• October 19-21, 2015: Privy Council hears final appeal in case and reserves judgment.

The culture of the motoring public in T&T is not changing, despite the increasing number of road deaths. And according to Transport Commissioner Wayne Richards, this inability to change is a “bad thing.”

Speaking at the launch of Transportation Standards for T&T at Goodwill Industries, Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook, yesterday, Richards again urged: “We need to drive within the speed limit and we need to speak to our friends, family and children to drive within the speed limit.”

The programme, which is a collaborative between the National Training Agency (NTA) and the Institute of Defensive Driving (IDD), was rolled out to relevant stakeholders in the industry, including the Licensing Division, the Ministry of National Security, insurance companies and the private transport for schools association.

Chairman of the IDD, Byron Thomas, explained that although several institutions, such as Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and the Defence Force, have already employed the IDD’s services more public and private sector participation was needed.

Revealing that the programme was new as it sought to train motorists in advanced driving operations, Thomas added it was being offered as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certification course by the NTA.

Calling on the Government to lead the way by introducing the programme into its respective ministries, Thomas said the small group of 15 retirees who run the programme were ready and willing to share their time and expertise with interested people.

Stressing the IDD’s instructors were highly trained and qualified personnel, Thomas said they were seeking to attract younger instructors to their complement of staff.

Adding that interested members of the public can access the course for $500, Thomas said the focus would be to “equip an individual with the skills and underpinning knowledge to drive safe and responsibly on the roads.”

He said: “You will also be able to apply the skills and knowledge you learn when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle. This is a skills competency programme that will assess an individual’s capability.”

He said insurance companies also had a role to play as they should make it mandatory for all drivers to now acquire a defensive driving certificate before applying for coverage.

Pointing out that licensing officials also had a role to play in examining younger drivers, Thomas said: 

“These instructors are not trained to teach, coach and assess people at the same time. It is a business and they push them through as quickly as possible, without the skills, without the knowledge, without the attitude, without the understanding of the process as to what is involved.”

However, that was disputed by Richards who responded that while “we support the programme, it has to be noted that the Transport Commissioner and the men who test drivers, under me, are certified so therefore the learning public will get that benefit.”

President Anthony Carmona joined hundreds of mourners yesterday in bidding farwell to his former colleague, retired deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Clyde Seepersad, remembering him as an excellent attorney and magistrate. Carmona paid tribute to Seepersad, who died on Saturday, during the funeral service at the Susamachar Presbyterian Church, San Fernando, yesterday. 

Seepersad was the father of High Court judge Frank Seepersad. Reminiscing on his early days as an attorney in the DPP’s office, Carmona said Seepersad was the one person to welcome him with open arms. “When I started my professional life as a lawyer, the one person who welcomed me with open arms was Clyde and he did not do it in any kind of patronising manner.

“He did not do it in a way that made you feel uncomfortable. He was just being the person that he was,” Carmona said. Seepersad’s eldest son and namesake, Clyde Seepersad Jr, eulogised his father in a touching piece that left many in tears. He told mourners that his father’s love for law led him to the love of his life, his mother Champa.

He recalled the afternoons spent with his siblings and father, doing homework and studying at their Siparia home. “As soon as Panorama (news) was finished, he would take off the television and sit with us, working on his case files as we did our homework. 

“When Frank and I were writing CAPE exams, he would wake up early every morning, so we could study with our minds fresh and then go outside with us to exercise and poor Andrew and Carol were forced to go along with us.” He also recalled many trips to the beach and family outings that his father orchestrated.

“Every weekend we would go out as a family, to the beach, on road trips, you name it, daddy always took the time for us to be together as a family,” he said. When he left the podium, Seepersad was overcome with tears and had to comforted by his youngest brother, Andrew. Seepersad was honoured in 2012 by the Law Association for 50 years in practice. 

He was also a former director at State-owned oil company Petrotrin and a member of National Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

KEVON FELMINE & KALIFA CLYNE

Public outrage over the abuse of a toddler in an online video eventually helped police arrest a 32-year-old suspect and his 21-year-old Jamaican common-law-wife. 

The cops stormed a Vistabella apartment and arrested the two after cyber technology narrowed down the area where they were staying and residents in the community gave them a tip-off after recognising the main suspect from seeing him in reports on the incident the night before in the media and in online posts.

The couple, who were hiding out at a friend’s apartment at Manjack Street, were preparing to leave for another location around 1.25 pm when detectives found them. 

Both were taken to the San Fernando CID and were awaiting transfer to the Child Protection Unit in the Northern Division. They both face charges related to cruelty as provided for under the new Childrens’ Act.

The troubling video uploaded to social media and later aired on television showed the man abusing his two-year-old step daughter.

In the two-minute, 12-second video, the man is seen slapping the crying child to the ground, each time she refused to drink her milk, even blaming her for the abuse. He later told the woman he did not need to beat the child like that as her mother knew she did not like that kind of milk.

Relatives allege that the man, who last year lost his child while his wife was six months’ pregnant, is accustomed abusing the child. The incident took place at his St Joseph home on Tuesday during one of the child’s regular visits, as the couple occasionally look after the little girl. 

Since the video aired, Southern Division operational teams had been conducting surveillance on the couple after they got word that they were hiding out in the Marabella district. 

When cyber crime specialist PC Harrypersad pinpointed the location, San Fernando CID officers — PCs Bacchus, Mungal, Goddard, Rampersad and Snaggs  — stormed one of the upper apartments of the two-storey building after a man matching the description of the male suspect came outside briefly. 

According to police sources, the couple spent the night at the apartment belonging to a friend and had already packed their bags to leave. The tenant of the apartment was not home at the time. 

A Nissan Sunny B-15 parked in the yard, which police believed was used by the suspects, was impounded to the San Fernando Police Station.

PM outraged

The incident was discussed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press conference at the Office of the PM, St Clair.

Rowley said he was speaking specifically to the issues of gender and children and hinted at a possible expansion or reorganisation of the Cabinet portfolios to place a bigger emphasis on the issues of gender and children in light of the case.

Referring specifically to the video of the abuse of the young girl, Rowley said: “I don’t know if that horrendous video, it is being said it is local, but the treatment of that child by an adult reinforces the concerns of all of us that many are facing some horrible conditions and the focus ought never to be lost or thought to be lost and if it is in the area where children’s issues are to be focused.”

The gender portfolio currently falls under the Ministry of Social Development.

He added: “While going through that in my mind in the last few days there was an incident last night (Wednesday) that crystallised for me the need to maintain a focus at the national level and ensure there is participation on the national level on issues relating to children.

“If the views are that such issues are lost in the Cabinet configuration then I certainly want to look at that again and I am going to do that and if some adjustment is required to effect greater focus then that would be part of the exercise to accompany adjustment.”

Also contacted yesterday, president of the Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women, Hazel Brown, said she was happy at the news of  Rowley’s announcement. She said stakeholders had been quietly discussing the issues and had agreed there was need to consider the placement of the gender function.

“We have been formulating a justification for its location in the ministry of planning,” she said.

She said within the Ministry of Planning gender issues could be reflected in many areas, including labour, education or energy.

“I am pleased,” she added.​

Another mother is calling for justice after her baby died at a day care centre in Diego Martin. Three-month-old baby, Anastacia Phillip, was the second baby to have died in the past six days while in the alleged care of babysitters.

Mother Tiffany Phillip, 25, now wants answers as to how her child died on Wednesday at the Diego Martin day care run by a husband and wife. She went to Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne with her story yesterday seeking an intervention.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian afterwards, Phillip said she dropped off her baby at the day care at about 9.30 am and went to work.

 She said while on duty at Redlight Grill, Port-of-Spain, she received a phone call at about 2 pm from her mother, Allison Lloyd, who told her something was wrong with her baby.

“Imagine no one from the day care called me. They called the child’s grandmother and told her to tell me to come quick that the baby not breathing. When I reach my baby was already in the ambulance.

“There was something hooked up to her toe, hand and belly and they were trying to resuscitate her but nothing,” Phillip said with tears rolling down her cheek.

She said baby Anastacia was taken to the St James Infirmary where medical practitioners tried unsuccessfully to revive her.

“They tried pumping her but nothing. They sent something down her throat maybe to shock her but still nothing. My baby died,” Phillip added.

She said the autopsy is scheduled for today as the pathologist assigned to the Forensic Science Centre,  St James, was in Tobago yesterday attending to the double murder victims Richard and Grace Wheeler.  

Phillip, who is a single-parent, alleged she was told the person in charge at the day care left her baby in the care of two other people that day (on Wednesday).

“I do not know who those two persons are but up to now I am still waiting for the owner — the woman and her husband — to come and talk to me. They are choosing to talk to my mother but not me and I want to know why,” Phillip said.

Phillip is expected to lodge an official police report at the West End Police Station.

Efforts to reach an official at the day care for comment yesterday were unsuccessful. 

On Friday at about 11.30 am, Ramesh Ramnath said he dropped off his 11-month-old son, Mikyle, at a day care, not far from his North Oropouche Road home, when he received a call that his baby was unresponsive. 

Homicide detectives have held three people, among them a woman, in connection with the killing of British lawyer Richard Wheeler and his Trinidadian wife Grace. The suspects are in their 20s.

The announcement was made by Assistant Commissioner of Police Homicide Vincel Edwards who was selected by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams to head a special investigative team to probe the double tragedy. 

He was speaking at a special police news conference at the Scarborough Police Station yesterday. 

The female suspect and one of the male suspects are from Tobago while the other male detainee is from St Vincent.

Edwards said: “We have done tremendous work in this investigation at this point. We have had a number of leads and this has caused us to have at least detained three persons who are persons of interest that can assist us in our investigations. 

“The investigation is ongoing and as we speak there are persons out there on the field doing a number of different things.” 

He said the trio were held in the south western part of Tobago on Wednesday, but was hesitant to say if they were connected to the Wheelers in anyway, or if they were linked to any of the murders involving foreigners on the island. 

He also refused to reveal if a murder weapon was found. He noted the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard would determine the way forward in the matter.

Responding to questions posed to him about reports of a serial killer perpetrating the acts against foreigners living in Tobago, Edwards said the Police Service was doing its just due.

“We are still conducting investigations. We have not yet completed this investigation, so it’s exceedingly difficult to say whether or not they are serial killers but the investigation is ongoing and if such information has come to hand we will make it public,” he said.

Negative tourism advisories have already been updated about Tobago as a tourism destination. Cautioning tourists to be vigilant when visiting the island for the fear of them being under attack by locals. Edwards said the Police Service was doing all in its power to make the island safe. 

He also said no foreign assistance was sought to investigate the Wheelers’ murder and the Police Service was working assiduously to bring the case to a successful conclusion. 

Tobagonians have chided the police for the resources being pumped into cases, and the attention given when foreigners are killed, opposed to when a local was murdered.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is doing its best to make every place in Trinidad and Tobago safe and this includes foreign nationals, locals and even visitors, so there’s no indication relative to that. 

“I can assure you whether or not it’s a foreigner or a local or a visitor, we will expend as much resources as practically possible to bring it to a successful conclusion,” Edwards said.

He said all of the other unsolved murders and acts perpetrated against tourists had not gone cold. He said the Cold Case Team in Port-of-Spain reviewed all murders and the relatives of the individuals were being kept abreast of the situation. He also dispelled the belief that the Police Service was under pressure to solve the case.

Richard and Grace Wheeler were hacked to death in their home at Riseland Gardens, Carnbee, between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Grace’s throat was slit while Richard received multiple chop wounds about the body.

An autopsy was conducted by pathologist Dr Valerie Alexandrov at the Scarborough General Hospital mortuary yesterday morning.  

The report revealed  the couple died as a result of blunt force trauma and chop wounds. Despite a $100,000 reward being offered, police officials say they received useful information from the public and the award was still available.

Former UK High Commissioner to T&T Arthur Snell took to social media to knock personally the Police Service regarding the apparent lack of action in solving crimes against foreign nationals in Tobago.

Snell also made it clear yesterday his comments were no longer that of a British official but rather his personal views, adding that statements made by him were also in any way representation of the British High Commission or the British Government.

Richard Wheeler, 73, a lawyer, and his wife Grace, 67, an estate agent, were hacked to death at their Carnbee home on Tuesday.

The international newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, described the incident as the “latest in a series of unsolved attacks by machete-wielding assailants against expatriates and tourists on the island.”

Wheeler suffered slash wounds to his head and arms and his wife’s throat had been cut.

Areas of their house, including the living room and a bedroom, had been ransacked.

Peter and Murium Green were also slashed and stabbed in Tobago in 2009 and are suing the State for £200,000. Their attacker has never been found..

Their German neighbours on the island were murdered last November.

Hubertus Keil, 74, and wife Brigid, 71, were butchered in Bacolet, near where the Greens had their holiday home. Nobody has been charged.

Regarding the unsolved murders, Snell, who posted a tweet, said: “There have been a spate of murders and attempted murders of foreigners in Tobago, not one of which has been detected.

“In my discussions with TTPS (T&T Police Service), I was shocked at the casual, leisurely manner with which these cases were handled, allowing them to run into the quicksand and the unsolved pile. Sadly, I can't see any reason why this case will be any different.

In response to a tweet that Senior Sup of Tobago Division Joanne Archie assured that the Wheelers’ killings would be solved Snell said: “No doubt, as vigorously as the investigation into the Keil murders... or the Greens’ attempt... or the Swedish couple...”

Meanwhile, the UK advisory to this country has been updated as it mentioned, not by name, the recent murder of a British national in the Riseland area.

The advisory also recommended its nationals to “maintain at least the same level of security awareness as you would in the UK and make sure your living accommodation is secure.

“Don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear eye-catching jewellery. Use a hotel safe to store valuables, money and passports. Petty theft from cars is common.

“Villas, particularly those in isolated areas, should have adequate security, including external security lighting, grilles and overnight security guards.

“Don’t walk alone in deserted areas, even in daylight. This includes beaches like Englishman’s Bay, King Peter’s Bay and Bacolet beach unless you are in an organised group. Consult your tour operator if in doubt.

“Be vigilant at all times and carry a mobile phone with roaming capability for use in emergency.”

The advisory included pre-existing warning of a high level of gang-related violent crime in Trinidad, particularly in the inner city neighbourhoods east of Port of Spain’s city centre...Laventille, Morvant and Barataria. 

“This crime tends to occur within local communities but can sometimes affect visitors.

“If possible, avoid travel outside major populated areas late at night and before dawn. There have been incidents of violence and fatal accidents caused by erratic driving to and from Piarco International Airport, particularly on the Beetham and Churchill-Roosevelt Highways and Lady Young Road,” the advisory said.

PNM backlash! That’s the view of Opposition UNC Senator Wayne Sturge after a picture of   himself with a jersey up, pants open and showing off his Superman briefs was circulated in the public domain minutes after he finished criticising the PNM Government in the Senate on Wednesday.

He said: “I believe it was pure and simple PNM backlash for the matters raised in the  Senate. 

“The person who alerted me to it minutes after I finished my (Senate) contribution was a PNM councillor who’s on my Facebook page and he indicated to me who put the picture into the public domain. 

“It is so obviously a backlash but if this is what they do and if it’s the best they can do, then pathetic.”

Sturge at Wednesday’s Senate budget debate had queried a brief given by the Attorney General’s office to the private attorney of AG Faris Al-Rawi, one Elizabeth Hadad, and had also raised other issues, including a $45 million rental of 1, Alexandra Street from Al-Rawi’s father-in-law and whether attorneys appearing for the Elections and Boundaries Commission in the UNC’s election petition challenge were rewarded with State briefs.

After subsequent circulation of his “Superman” picture, Sturge said the picture had been taken at a “lime” at his home, either at Christmas 2012 or Carnival 2013, and was posted by him on his Facebook some time after as a joke.

He added: “I would not have been a senator at the time.

“It didn’t remain on my Facebook site for very long. In the interim, I’m told a certain lawyer who sent me a ‘friend’ request on Facebook, was the one who stole the picture off the site and made use of it.