A 60-year-old handyman and PH driver of Plum Road, Manzanilla has been charged with killing a 44-year-old mother of two, wounding her 18-year-old daughter and several gun-related offences.

Senior police officers said yesterday they received instructions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution late Friday to charge the man with murder, four offences of wounding, shooting with intent, shooting to endanger lives, possession of a firearm and ammunition and discharging a firearm 40 metres from a road.

He is expected to appear before a Sangre Grande magistrate today.

Savitri Narine was killed and her daughter, Nirrmalaa and three other people were injured after the suspect opened fire at Bobby’s Bar on Plum Road, Manzanilla on December 9.

Bar owner Bobby Ramsaran, a relative of the murder victim, and patrons Kurt Browne and Ivan Mc Kenzie were also injured in the attack. They were all treated and discharged. The suspect surrendered to the Manzanilla police the day after the incident.

Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte will meet with the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) board this week to address two areas that customers have been expressing dissatisfaction about—poor customer service and communication.

This was confirmed by Le Hunte yesterday, one day after Maloney residents staged a fiery protest along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway demanding that WASA restore pipe-borne water in the community.

The disruption in supply was caused by two severe leaks in the North Oropouche transmission main, Le Hunte said.

He said Saturday’s incident signalled to him “as much as we think we are communicating, we are not communicating as well as we should.”

Le Hunte said while WASA sent out numerous press releases explaining what was causing the shortage of water in Maloney, the resident claimed they were not notified and were left in the dark.

“Communication is a two-fold thing. You could say you are communicating. You have to ensure that the people receive the message,” he said.

However, Le Hunte said there are many ways people can be informed through advertisements in the newspapers and public service announcements.

Asked if the people were justified in their actions, Le Hunte said to not have water was a serious thing.

Yesterday, WASA’s chairman Romney Thomas gave the assurance that WASA will ramp up its truck-borne supply to serve communities that are affected by any major disruption in supply.

Thomas said apart from WASA supplying water through its trucking service to communities, the company will also retain the services of a few contractors to deliver water as well.

“We recognise that people will be doing more cleaning for Christmas and will need extra water. We have put things in place,” he said.

Thomas said even though Maloney was not on the schedule to receive water yesterday, they still got pipe-borne water.

The largest fireworks importer in the country FireOne Fireworks is recommending Parliament consider regulations for specific days and times for setting off fireworks— in what the company believes may be a win-win situation for everyone.

CEO Andrew Abraham appeared before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Social Services and Public Administration on Friday telling the committee that the “law that governing the fireworks industry is an explosive law that is 100-years-old and has not kept up with the industry.”

It was committee member Christine Newallo-Hosein who raised the idea asking Abraham whether he felt regulations governing fireworks in this country should mirror that of the UK which outlines provisions for fixed times for the display and use of fireworks.

Abraham responded, “definitely yes to that.”

He said “having fireworks set off on specific days and times will solve everybody’s problems, it will make the jobs of the Police and Fire Services easier as they will not have to distinguish whether it is legal or not. Once it is set off outside of the time they can act on it. All it will require is a neighbour to take a picture.”

This, he said, would be a “win-win scenario. The people who love fireworks if we give them a couple of hours on Old Year’s night, Divali, Independence, just a couple of hours then people who have pets and senior members of society can make provisions.”

But he said this will require that the law be strict enough, “if you break the law there must be a consequence and people will obey it. Right now what is the consequence? The police running down somebody who lighting fireworks, they get a small fine. It needs to be stricter,” he said.

Chairman of the committee Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir requested that Abraham submit his company’s recommendations to regulate fireworks use to the body. He noted that Parliament had the power “to ban fireworks altogether.”

But Abraham said that would be a mistake, “if there were an outright on fireworks,” he said, “we will go back to 1994 where illegal items take over the market and a product that is not safe gets into the consumer’s hands and an entire black market is created.”

Mahabir noted that “right now the options are not working for citizens. The decibel levels are not working for persons and last year the police reported there was a fire in Port-of-Spain where a (handicapped) person died. It is unacceptable. We need to address what we can do to ensure that is not repeated.”

In addition, he said, “someone lost a finger with a scratch bomb, the devices are now causing harm. We want to ensure the harm experienced by the population can be minimised.” He said the Summary Offences Act states cruelty to animals is an offence, he said in reference to complaints from animal rights activists about the dangers posed by fireworks to animals.

Acting Commissioner of Police Deodat Dulalchan admitted that regulation is important, “for us to bring it under control.”

Regulating the use, he said, could also take into consideration whether “if you purchase fireworks whether it is an offence to keep it in your possession or whether it should be taken back to the dealer.”

He said the police are hampered in their investigations despite complaints about noise because when they respond people are wary of giving information.

People who are affected by fireworks, he said, should call the police hotline 999, he said.

The CEO of the Environmental Management Authority says the authority has no jurisdiction over fireworks but is responsible for noise pollution and people who have complaints about noise can contact the hotline at 680-9588. That hotline he said is 24/7.

Several families in Woodland, one of the areas worst affected by severe flooding two months ago, will not be celebrating Christmas.

The residents are pleading with the Government to give them an early Christmas gift by fixing their roads, constructing proper drains and, cleaning and dredging the watercourses.

They say no amount of compensation will help them recover from their losses.

When T&T Guardian visited the area only a few houses were adorned with Christmas decorations while several families still had furniture and appliances destroyed in the floods discarded in the front yards.

They said their “spare” money and savings were used to purchase new furniture and appliance and repair their homes.

“It shaping up real bad and is just a few days away,” said resident Annette Sugramsingh.

“We have no Christmas here,” she said.

Sugramsingh and her daughter, who lives to the back of her house, lost furniture, appliances, clothes and other items.

Their homes were also left with extensive infrastructural damage after six days of the flood.

“My daughter has spent thousands of dollars in renting cars to go to work in Arima because her car get damaged in the flood,” she said. Sugramsingh, who also cares for her 82-year-old mother, said the compensation she got could not even buy a decent couch set.

“The Government should dig the road and put proper drains for us and clean the drains because if we get a few heavy showers we will get flood out again,” said Sugramsingh.

Welder/fabricator Stephen Harduar, who lives with his parents, said Christmas was the last thing on their mind.

“Our Christmas not shaping up good. We lost a lot of things and we did not get any compensation,” said Harduar.

He said the main road is in a dilapidated state.

“The main thing is if they could put proper drainage and dredge the river, it will help with the flooding,” he said.

Deonarine Ramlal, 64, who was forced to sleep in a pirogue for six days after his house was swamped by floodwaters, said: “I can’t see Christmas.” Ramlal, who lives with his daughter and son in law, said, “We have no money. We could barely buy food when the day comes.”

Ramlal said: “The river dredge enough here. What we need is for the river to clean. The grass is so thick that you could walk on the grass to cross the river,” said Ramlal. However, it is unlikely that the residents would get their Christmas wish.

Rivers assessed by ODPM

Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy said he was told that the Ministry of Planning and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management visited the area recently, but he has received no word about any plan to start work.

He said the major watercourses and the main road fall under the Ministry of Works Drainage Division and the Ministry of Agriculture.

In any event, he said the corporation does not have the funds to carry out the required scope of works.

Rosemarie Sant

The Law Association has retained two senior counsel to look into the issue of whether Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley can be approached to initiate impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ivor Archie. The association has decided to take the bold move because it says the public ridicule being heaped on the entire Judiciary as a result of the allegations are now so dire something needs to be done.

In a letter issued to members yesterday, a copy of which the T&T Guardian received, attorneys were told LATT president Douglas Mendes SC, senior ordinary member Elton Prescott and master Christie-Anne Morris-Alleyne met with the CJ to discuss the association’s concern over the current situation on November 30.

During the meeting, the CJ was told the association had taken note of allegations made against him, including that he allegedly discussed the matter of personal security for judges with a named person and that he had recommended/referred two or more individuals to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for accelerated housing grants.

The trio reportedly told the CJ the gravity of the allegations and his failure to respond to them up to then had brought his office and the Judiciary into disrepute. The CJ was also told the association’s council had “resolved to investigate the allegations to determine whether they are true or not.” The CJ reportedly told the trio he would think about the representations made.

Two weeks after the meeting and with accusations against him mounting, the CJ issued a brief public response in which he denied the allegations, although admitting he has from time to time recommended persons for HDC housing. Shortly after issuing the statement, the CJ yesterday left the country on private business.

In the statement to members yesterday LATT secretary Elena Araujo said the committee set up to investigate the allegations will report to the council on or before December 29 and two senior counsel will be retained to advise on the question of whether there is sufficient basis to refer a question of misbehaviour by the CJ to the PM for his consideration under Section 137 of the Constitution.

Araujo noted that upon receiving the advise from the committee, the association will convene a meeting of the general membership to “consider such advice and obtain directions as to the way forward.”

Meanwhile, there were calls for Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, as titular head of the bar, to recommend to the PM that Section 137 of the Constitution be invoked to set up a tribunal to investigate the allegations against Archie.

Contacted on the issue, however, Al-Rawi said, “There is nothing to cause the Executive to intervene in the matter.”

He added that there have been a series of allegations to which the Judiciary has responded.

Israel Khan Sc meanwhile told the T&T Guardian he did not believe the committee set up by the LATT “has the wherewithal to make any findings of fact in relation to the misbehaviour of the Chief Justice.”

Khan said it was “therefore incumbent on the Attorney General, in keeping with the oath he has taken to adhere to the Constitution of this country, to cause the Prime Minister to trigger Section 137 of the Constitution for the removal of the Chief Justice.”

If the AG fails to do this, he said “it will be an abdication of his responsibility and his duty.”

“He will be failing in his role as titular head of the Bar and the legal advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet of this country. The time has now arrived whereby they must trigger 137 to investigate the criminal offence of misbehaviour. There is sufficient material now,” Khan said.

Khan also renewed his call to the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate an investigation in relation to misbehaviour in public office on the part of the CJ.

Kizzy Bernard, the lone woman accused in the $5.5 million robbery at the Piarco International Airport, was yesterday denied bail by an Arima magistrate.

Bernard, 38, who is eight months pregnant, appeared before Magistrate Debbie Ann Bassaw charged with money laundering and receiving stolen money.

The charges arose from the December 6 heist.

The court was presented with a document verifying the Longdenville resident’s pregnancy to be in its third trimester. After being remanded in custody, Bernard’s matter was subsequently transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court for today (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, three others who were charged along with Bernard - identified as Kenol Singh, 35, also of Longdenville; Abdul Mohammed, 38 and Kevon Findley, 42, both of Diego Martin, appeared hours after before the same magistrate.

They were all charged with robbery with aggravation, whilst Singh was additional charged with money laundering and Mohammed and Findley for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The four were charged on Saturday night by ASP Edwards following instructions from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul.

The police have reportedly only recovered $250,000 of the loot.

The charges followed investigations led by DCP Crime Harold Phillip and included ACP Radcliffe Boxill and Sgt Anthony Williams along with officers from the Criminal Investigations Department in Port-of-Spain.

Singh, Mohammed and Findley were denied bail and remanded in custody to reappear on December

On December 6 around 11.25 am, four masked men, armed with high-powered rifles and dressed in camouflage clothing got out a heavily-tinted Toyota Hilux pick-up in the cargo bond area along Golden Grove Road, Piarco.

The security officers guarding the cargo cart with money belonging to First Citizens’ bank , which was being transported to Tobago banks, were accosted and the money loaded into the pick-up. The bandits drove past the the Piarco Police Station during their escape and the getaway vehicle was later found abandoned in Oropune Gardens, Piarco, which is a few minutes away from the scene.

A 48-year-old-man who was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for heckling and harassing women on the streets of Sangre Grande, was yesterday fined $6,200 by a Sangre Grande magistrate after pleading guilty.

Don James, of Coalmine, Sangre Grande, appeared before magistrate Erica Baptiste-Ramkissoon in the Sangre Grande Second Court charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.

According to police reports, James was getting up into women’s faces, trying to hold their hands and attempting to kiss them. Some of his victims later reported their matters to the nearby Sangre Grande Police Station.

Sgt Vekash Ramkissoon, Cpl Hanooman, PCs Satnarine Sankar, Baran and WPCs Pardaissie and Sundar responded and attempted to arrest the man.

James initially resisted but was finally subdued and taken to the station where he was charged by PC Baran.

James was fined $6,000 for resisting arrest and $200 for disorderly behaviour.He asked Baptiste-Ramkissoon for time to pay the fine and was granted a period of one month or will face six months in jail.

Justice Frank Seepersad yesterday granted a request by the East Port-of-Spain Development Corporation (EPoS) to freeze the assets of an employee and two of his companies to the tune of over $15 million.

The corporation took the civil action after a forensic audit allegedly uncovered that unauthorised cheque payments close to $16 million were made to Kirk Services Ltd, a trading company, of which EPoS accountant Solomon Lamb is a director, over a four-year period.

Lamb, Kirk Services Ltd and Lamb’s company Solomon Lamb & Associates Internal Audit & Management Consultant were named as defendants one, two and three respectively in the lawsuit.

The corporation asked the court to deal with its application as a matter of urgency, claiming there were instances of forgery of authorised signatures, fraudulent accounts for these payments, apparent manipulation or concealment of relevant records by Lamb.

Last Wednesday, Housing and Urban Development Minister Randall Mitchell, the EPoS line minister, issued a press release in relation to the matter.

Mitchell stated that a report was made to the Fraud Squad, but EPoS would also pursue civil action to recover the monies that were allegedly misappropriated.

He said the forensic probe initiated in November was prompted by financial discrepancies which were discovered in October.

EPoS management brought it to the attention of the board, who in turn raised it with Mitchell.

Yesterday, Seepersad, via video conference from the San Fernando High Court, granted the application to freeze the assets of the defendants to the tune of $15,225,871. 97. The defendants were also ordered to disclose all the particulars in relation to their accounts. The judge directed the parties to file their affidavits and adjourned the the matter to February 20, 2018.

EPoS was represented by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Almost two weeks after the death of transgender woman Keon Alister Patterson in Port-of-Spain, another transgender woman, Keil Lensay, was murdered in Debe yesterday.

However, police described Lensay’s death not as a hate crime but a crime of passion. Investigators said Lensay, 35, of St John’s Trace, St Augustine, was killed following an argument with her lover, who accused her of giving him Aids.

The killer stabbed her multiple times on the head, chest and neck before attempting to slit her throat. The incident occurred on the compound of the National Energy Skills Centre along the SS Erin Road. A witness who heard Lensay’s screams alerted police around 4 am and officers arrived in time to find Lensay’s body wrapped in a sheet and stuffed in a garbage bag. A 36-year-old security guard was immediately arrested by police.

When the T&T Guardian visited the scene, two female security guards sat on chairs opposite the NESC compound talking quietly. They said they arrived for duty around 6 am but were told a murder had occurred on the compound. Police cordoned off the area as Homicide processed the compound. Students who arrived for classes were also turned away.

Lensay’s death is the second transgender murder this month. On December 5, Patterson, 28, was shot dead at Nelson Mandela Park, Port-of-Spain. Her death was deemed a hate crime by police and Chief Justice Ivor Archie. However, one of T&T’s first transgender females, Jowelle De Souza, yesterday said she did not believe there were hate crimes against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in T&T.

“I have walked the streets as a transgender woman since 1987 and I’ve interacted with thousands of people and never once have I ever been the victim of a hate crime. I do not believe there are hate crimes in T&T against the LGBT community,” De Souza said.

She added that the deaths of Patterson and Lensay were sad, adding there must have been more which led to their murders.

But Colin Robinson, executive director of the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), who has been campaigning for the recognition of “sexual citizenship and gender justice,” yesterday renewed his call for legislation to give State protection to those with alternative sexual orientation. Saying violence is real, Robinson said many incidents go unreported because the victims are either too ashamed to go to the police or afraid of being exposed to their relatives.

He also said CAISO has been working with The UWI Institute of Gender and Developmental Studies, as well as the Police Academy, to bring about changes in how police treat members of the LGBT community.

Local authorities are moving to deal with issues concerning a group of Cubans - hoping for asylum in the US - after the group yesterday moved onto the United Nations’ property at Chancery Lane, Port-of-Spain.

Officials at the UN building called the police for the Cubans yesterday, but they did not budge at the end of the day.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has called a meeting for today with the UN office, Cuban Embassy in T&T, Living Waters and the T&T Police Service to ascertain the facts of the issue involving a 25-plus group of so-called Cuban “dissidents.”

The Cubans have been demonstrating on the pavement outside the UN’s PoS offices for most of the year, seeking assistance to obtain asylum as “political refugees.” When they first began months ago, the demonstration was confined to less than a handful of men sitting on the pavement near the office, holding a sign stating, “We Are Cuban Dissidents.” They appealed to the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help them.

The UNHCR is mandated to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. The UNHCR works via the local Living Waters community.

Over the year, the group’s numbers have grown, including women and children. Recently they settled into the Chancery Lane area, building small shelters with tarpaulins and boxes of possessions.

Yesterday, group spokesman Yusnel Reyes indicated security personnel attempted to move the group, which comprised 19 adults and five children, including babies. However, Reyes said they fled into the UN’s yard, staying there until late evening.

Last night, UNHCR protection officer Reuben Barbadio said the UN called the police yesterday morning as the group wasn’t complying with certain rules where invading private UN property was concerned. He said the group had peaceful right of demonstration “until now.”

“It’s been challenging, but it’s our responsibility to engage with them and ensure they don’t, for instance, put the children at risk. We kept on engaging them and they’ve now left (UN’s premises),” Barbadio said, admitting to a “stressful day.”

“We do our best to support them and help Government comply with UNHCR obligations.”

Reyes and other females in the group said they’d been demonstrating seeking UN assistance to be relocated to the US, since as dissidents they couldn’t return to Cuba.

One woman said they weren’t seeking resettlement here since they were aware T&T doesn’t offer political refugee asylum.

“We want to go to the US or Panama, Canada, Mexico,” she added.

Addressing the issue last evening, Al-Rawi said he’d called for a meeting today with the UN, Living Waters, Cuban Embassy and TTPS to get full particulars on this issue.

“Inconsistencies have emerged in some media reports. We know T&T is a point through which this group is passing and they want to move to the US. It’s a very interesting situation,” Al-Rawi said.

Barbadio, however, said some of the group want to integrate into T&T, but noted they have to go through a process with UNHCR to say why they came to T&T.

“They came to T&T for a series of reasons. We can’t grant visas for other countries - US, etc - our job is to help Government and Living Waters improve their situation while here.”

After dialogue, the NHCR will inform Government who’s been rejected or accepted as a refugee and who deserves protection or not.

However, he said UNHCR has some limitations, since T&T has no legislation for refugee asylum seekers and they’re only subject to T&T’s immigration law.

After several promises and hundreds of millions of dollars in expenditure, the Red House restoration project should be completed by November 2018.

The $440m project, which is being managed by UDeCOTT, “is going according to schedule.”

The update was given during a tour of the building yesterday.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who is also the chair of a Cabinet sub-committee overseeing several restoration projects, said he was “very pleased” with the progress made on returning the Parliament to its rightful home.

Work on the Red House began 19 years ago, with UDeCOTT assuming responsibility for the project in 2005. Six years ago, the Parliament relocated to its temporary home at the Waterfront Complex, Tower D, Port-of-Spain to accommodate much-needed repairs to the iconic building.

“I am very excited about the completion and what is going to be produced here,” Rowley told reporters.

He lamented the delays in completing the project and the amount of money spent over several years, saying “a lot of people got rich trying promising to refurbish this building.”

“Everything that is going on now is what should have gone on in the beginning,” he said.

A $600m administrative complex, scheduled to be part of the project, has been scrapped because of the State’s financial position. Instead, Rowley says Cabildo Chambers which is across the street will be converted to house administrative and other staff, as he acknowledged there is a need for additional space.

“The Red House alone cannot properly accommodate and service the Parliament,” he said, telling reporters once all tenants are at Cabildo have vacated, UDeCOTT will prepare the building to house the additional parliamentary support services.

Rowley admitted it was nostalgic returning to the building where he gave his first contribution when he entered politics, saying it took him a while to get his bearings.

The lone passenger ferry servicing the seabridge, the T&T Express, may remain in service until February, next year.

This as the vessel, which was scheduled to be taken off the route for dry dock today, has been granted approval to continue to operate by UK marine agency Lloyd’s Register, according to Port Authority officials.

The Guardian was unable to reach Port Authority chairman Alison Lewis on the issue but confirmation came from Micheal Annisette, of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union.

There had been concerns that if the T&T Express went on dry dock as planned this week the Ocean Flower 2, twice rejected for the seabridge, would have been brought into service.

The initial contract for the Ocean Flower 2 was cancelled in August after it arrived late, and although it was part of the bid round in September, it was not selected. Since then, the Port Authority reported to the Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan that it had been unable to find a replacement vessel. A four-member ministerial team including Finance Minister Colm Imbert is now leading the search for a vessel.

Annisette said he has received information that the T&T Spirit the other passenger ferry on the seabridge will be repaired in time for when the T&T Express goes out of service in February. He said the crankshaft for the vessel has arrived and the turbocharger needed to complete the repairs is due to arrive soon.

“Stand in line!”

That’s Oropouche East Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal’s response to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s threat of legal action.

Moonilal says “we are going by alphabetical order CEPEP, EMBD and now Rowley.”

But he said after being forced with withdraw statements linked to a document which he read into the Hansard of Parliament last Friday, he is now “compiling more information, with the intention of approaching the US authorities because I have no confidence in the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Moonilal’s statements in Parliament has prompted angry reaction from the Prime Minister who described his statements as “false and malicious” with a threat to sue not just Moonilal but those on social media who have repeated the comments and whom the PM has linked to the United National Congress.

Speaking to the Guardian, Moonilal said he had “no problem with Dr Rowley. He was not in Parliament and was not properly briefed. I never said he had a bank account or received money.”

He alleged that when the AG asked the Speaker to invoke section 48-6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament “calling on me to take ownership of what I said it was with the intention of them sending me to the Privileges Committee and perhaps having me out of the Parliament until 2020.”

Section 48-6 of the Standing Orders states ‘No Member shall impute improper motive to any Member of either House.’

But, he said, it was not his job to investigate matters “I simply raised it to bring it to the AG’s attention for him to investigate and follow the money.”

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has instructed his attorneys to pursue legal action against anyone who have published “false and malicious” statements made in the Parliament last Friday by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal.

The statements, which he said have been promoted via social media by people associated with the Opposition United National Congress (UNC), have to do with a statement Moonilal read into Hansard alleging corruption linked to the fake oil scandal at Petrotrin.

Moonilal said in Parliament: “The oil is fake, but the money is real, follow the money.”

However, as he read the contents of an email with details of a foreign bank account, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi intervened declaring that Moonilal had made a direct indictment on the Prime Minister. The Opposition MP reluctantly withdrew the statement.

In a media release yesterday, Rowley denied claims that either he or his wife had received wire transfers or cheque payments from or on behalf of A&V Drilling.

“Any and all statements, innuendoes or assertions however made by Dr Roodal Moonilal or any other person contradictory to this are nothing but patent falsehoods concocted by such persons as a deliberate slanderous conspiracy for self-serving political gain,” the release stated.

Noting that the board of State-owned energy company Petrotrin continues to deal with allegations of overpayment for oil, the release continued: “This Government’s track record against corruption speaks for itself and the Honourable Prime Minister assures that he will defend his family and his good name to the fullest extent that the law provides.”

Contacted for comment, Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Espinet said the investigation into the fake oil allegations is nearing completion and the company will be reporting soon on those developments.

Former general manager of Primary Health Care Services in Tobago under the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) Dr Mentor Melville has died after ailing for some time.

Melville 65, of Delaford, Tobago, was described as a medical icon. He died at the Intensive Care Unit at the Scarborough General Hospital on Sunday around 11.30 pm.

The T&T Guardian understands, that Melville underwent heart surgery in October while warded at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port- of- Spain General Hospital and calls were made for blood to be donated for him to undergo emergency surgery.

He was transferred to the Scarborough General Hospital last week Thursday, but subsequently died of multiple organ failure.

Melville had been a medical doctor since 1971.

He was known to be very vocal on healthcare issues in Tobago, citing that the health sector in Tobago was in shambles. On numerous occasions he called on the Minister of Health to intervene in the matter.

In 2015, his contract was terminated by the TRHA with without cause. Legal action was taken against the TRHA since the CEO did not provide a suitable explanation as to why he was fired.

In expressing condolences, former secretary of finance in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Dr Anselm London said even though the news was not a total surprise, it hit him really hard. He said Melville was an outstanding medical practitioner

“He was a tower of strength an exemplar to the medical fraternity as well as to other Tobagonians especially to those who yearn to climb the highest levels academic and professional excellence. Never fearful to express an opinion, but also willing to listen to divergent views. God has decided to take this tower of strength away from us. May he rest in eternal peace...I mourn his loss.” London said.

Melville also held the position of District Medical Officer and County Medical Officer of Health.

Former permanent secretary Roselyn Lauren Khan, who received a public service medal of merit gold award on Monday, admitted that the standards in the public sector have fallen.

Khan said sometimes workers settle for mediocrity instead of striving for excellence.

This was the view shared by Khan, moments after she was presented with a national award for public service by President Anthony Carmona at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

Questioned by the media about the state of the public sector, Khan said public servants needed to build stronger institutions.

Having worked with former head of the public service Reginald Dumas, Khan said one thing she learnt from him was setting high standards, working hard and giving your best.

“It was a joy to serve your country. I always wanted to make a contribution to society and country.”

Khan worked for five years as a permanent secretary in several ministries and served in the diplomatic service for 34 years.

Today, she said things have changed in the public service.

“I think institutions have kind of broken down. I think we need to strengthen institutions. We need stronger leadership at all levels in society. And people who are selfless in service.”

Khan said she was a bit “disappointed” the way the public sector had evolved.

“That standards have fallen. Sometimes I feel mediocrity is the new standard, “ said Khan, who retired seven years ago.

However, Khan said there were still good people in the public sector who still work hard and are dedicated to service and country.

“I am not going to give up hope. My dad always used to say it is better to live in hope than die in despair.”

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Stalking is a crime in T&T, yet Samantha Isaacs was stalked for months by her killer who terrorised her family before finally ending her life last Saturday.

And even though the necessary laws are in place, women’s rights activist Hazel Brown believes it is time for the community to work towards preventing incidents of domestic abuse.

Brown, former co-ordinator of the Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women, said in every community there are respected leaders who can act as mediators in cases of conflict.

She said the notion of “not getting into husband and wife business” must be abandoned as the community has the power to intervene and help families who are experiencing domestic problems.

“Even before it reaches to the level of violence, community intervention could work to help people,” Brown said.

She also called for a national gender policy and explained that there can be no proper enforcement of laws unless a national policy is adopted.

“The policy is at the centre of everything. For too long women’s issues have been sidelined. The media does not help because all you looking to do is sell papers. Nobody really cares what happens to the victims,” Brown said.

Nester Flanders Skeete, founder and chief executive officer of Domestic Violence Survivors Reaching Out (DVSRO) said T&T is failing its women and children.

Cases must be reported, she said: “Those turning a blind eye to persons in domestic violence are cruel, heartless and just as guilty as the abuser. Everyone’s eyes are wide shut and is only when another victim fall, everyone pretends to care. The media does an interview or two show some form of interested and on to the next story.”

Skeete called for training for first responders of domestic violence and said corporate T&T should invest in programmes for the abused.

However, attorney Kevin Ratiram, who has offered legal representation to victims of abuse, said the laws against domestic violence are well suited to prevent abuse and stalking is one of the things specifically catered for under the Domestic Violence Act under the heading of emotional and psychological abuse.

“The persistent following of a person from place- to- place and the besetting or watching of a person’s house is considered as abuse. Under the act a victim of stalking can apply for a protection order. If the applicant reports to police that there was a breach of that order, the police are empowered to arrest and charge the offender for breach of a protection order which is a criminal offence,” Ratiram said.

He said any police officer who fails to act when a report of domestic violence is made can also be charged.

“Perhaps it is about time we start prosecuting such errant police officers to ensure that in future officers do their duty under the act,” he said.

Ratiram said all protection order applications must be treated urgently and called for hearings to he expedited as quickly as possible.

Isaacs, 27, of L’anse Mitan Road, Carenage, was found semi-nude on a road near the Ocean View hotel in Carenage, bleeding from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Her estranged lover, Kahriym Garcia, of Upper Haig Street, Carenage, the father of her four-year-old son, was found dead at his home with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot injury to his head. Police said around 5 am Saturday, Isaacs’ body was dumped along the street by someone driving a black Hyundai Elantra.

Domestic Violence Act Chap 45:56

21(1) A police officer shall respond to every complaint or report alleging domestic violence whether or not the person making the complaint of the report is the victim.

Emotional or psychological abuse” means a pattern of behaviour of any kind, the purpose of which is to undermine the

emotional or mental well-being of a person including—

(a) persistent intimidation by the use of abusive or threatening language;

(b)persistent following of the person from place to place;

(c)depriving that person of the use of his property;

(d)the watching or besetting of the place where the person resides, works, carries on business or happens to be.

The Fire Service yesterday received a $37m Christmas gift of 17 spanking-new vehicles to boost their ability to respond more effectively.

While the president of the Fire Service Association Leo Ramkissoon welcomed the new fleet, he said there was a critical vacancy which needed to be filled to authorise ambulance drivers to operate legally.

In a telephone interview, Ramkissoon said according to Section 23 of the Medical Board Act, all institutions that offer pre-hospital emergency care must be guided by a medical director approved by the Ministry of Health. To date the Fire Service was void of a director, he said.

Ramkissoon said the call for a medical director had been made by the association for over two years after the law came into effect in 2014.

Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce acknowledged the need for a medical director was of “paramount importance” during the handing over ceremony at the Wrightson Road, headquarters and pleaded with fire officers to be patient.

He said his officers ought to be trained to the level of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), as required by the law, and is hopeful that one day they can be able to train future fire officers to be EMTs.

Responding to questions from the media, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said he could not give a timeframe for when the medical director would be appointed.

He said there have been talks with the Health Minister about the post, which has to be created within the Fire Service. He said that it should happen “within the shortest possible time.”

Asked what was the issue with appointing one, Dillon said that was better answered by Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh, but he would keep working on getting it done.

Ramkisson said apart from the officers operating outside of the law, there were other concerns that needed to be addressed.

He highlighted that in order for the Piarco and ANR Robinson International Airports to maintain their grade 9 status specialised aircraft firefighting equipment was needed at each airport.

He said the current appliances were old and are not adequate, having outlived their usefulness.

Of the 17 vehicles handed over were five water tankers, three water tenders, one emergency tender, a hydraulic platform and seven ambulances, taking the number of ambulances to 25 in the Fire Service.

Bruce said the emergency tender will be sent to Tobago while the Southern Division would receive the hydraulic platform.

He said the hope was one day the Fire Service would be equipped with a heavy-duty wrecker, renovated fire stations and restored fire appliances.

Dillon said the Crown Point and Roxborough fire stations in Tobago, Arouca Fire Station and Lady Hailes in San Fernando were on the cards to be refurbished next year.

He said the ministry also planned to acquire land for the construction of the Point Fortin Fire Station by then.

A mother of three accused of committing several armed robberies collapsed in court yesterday, after she, her sister and boyfriend were granted bail in the total sum of $1.3 million.

Maxine Marshall fell on the floor of the San Fernando First Magistrates' Court and suffered an apparent seizure as she and the co-accused were being escorted back to the cell area.

Instructing the court security to call the EHS ambulance, Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine inquired about Marshall's condition before she went into her chambers.

When Marshall's "seizure" stopped police officers helped her off the floor and out of the court to await the arrival of the ambulance. - SASCHA WILSON

A South Korean style taekwondo champion was yesterday fined $45,000 after he pleaded guilty to possession of over one kilogramme of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Leigh Young Lum Kin, 28, of Block One, Palmiste, who represents T&T and won a gold medal at an international competition on Sunday, claimed he was driven into the illegal trade because he could not land a good job.

Prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander told San Fernando Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine that the police had executed a search warrant at Lum Kin’s home around 12.10 pm on December 2. Under the steps in the garage area, the court heard, charging officer PC Dhoray found four jars containing 50 plastic bags of marijuana and another bag of marijuana. Lum Kim reportedly told police the drugs were his and no one else knew about it. The police also found a quantity of packets with marijuana, three scales and a quantity of cash, including US$2011, $10 Belize currency and TT$18,161 in his bedroom. The drugs weighed 1062 grammes.

Lum Kin told the police he collected notes, kept his US currency home instead of banking it and the Belize money was given to him by his mother. However, the officer took the money because he was of the opinion it was derived from the sale of marijuana.

PC Dhoray subsequently handed over the money to Sgt Marcelle, of the Financial Investigation Branch, who seized it under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Asking for leniency yesterday, Lum Kin’s attorney Frank Gittens said his client was suffering not from unemployment but under employment. Listing all his academic achievements and qualifications, Gittens said his client’s expectations and aspirations were high, but the only employment he could get were menial jobs which had an effect on him.

Gittens said his client, who does landscaping, was also the current light weight champion in taekwondo and had won several medals in local and international competitions.

He said his client, who came from a strong Catholic household and had a good upbringing, had embarrassed himself and his family and was remorseful.

The magistrate commented, “I think the global philosophy that nothing is wrong with weed is what is influencing a lot of our young people.”

The magistrate ordered Lum Kin to pay $10,000 of the fine forthwith and the balance by March 1. Told that there was a detention order for the seized money, the magistrate sent the matter to the High Court for a determination on whether the money should be confiscated.