Traumatised and withdrawn having been forced to evacuate their homes because of coastal erosion, residents of Bamboo Village, Cedros have been wandering through their devastated community, hoping unrealistically that the rest of their village will not fall into the sea.

Anthony Gunness, whose home went down in a 1,000 feet precipice caused by the erosion said he was very worried for his neighbours.

Even though eight families received keys to their new homes at an HDC site in Point Fortin which they would accommodate for six months, Gunness said some of them were still roaming the deserted village.

David Samuel and his family have been walking up and down that danger zone, hoping that their home will be saved, Gunness said. He said that another resident, Latiff Mohammed, whose house was on the brink of the sea remains traumatised and is in need of counselling.

“Right now people are trying to move all their stuff. We are getting some assistance from the Siparia Regional Corporation but our heads are still hot. People are worried. They want to know how they will move on from something like this. It is very troubling that one day you are happy in your safe comfortable village and the next day, everything you hold dear is gone,” Anthony said.

He called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to send a team of counsellors into the community to speak with traumatised residents.

“They have recommended that residents go for counselling in the office but the way things are going now, nobody will do that because they just cannot bear to leave their village. We want a counselling centre to be set up close to the Bamboo community so that people will not have to leave Cedros to get counselling,” Anthony suggested.

He also said that villagers submitted forms to access social welfare grants but so far the grants have not been prepared.

Contacted yesterday, councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh said not all the residents have qualified for social grants even though many of them lost furniture and appliances in their haste to move.

“People are hoping to move into their new homes at least by the weekend. We are calling on the Ministry of Social Development to speed up the process of approving grants so that residents can be comfortable once more,” Teelucksingh said.

He offered his office to the Ministry as a location to provide counselling services to the villagers.

Teelucksingh also said that the Housing Development Corporation’s managing director Brent Lyons has indicated that negotiations will begin with different agencies and private landowners to offer permanent resettlement for the villagers. While he commended the HDC, Teelucksingh said the Social Services Division needed to move more swiftly to deal with the issues.

On Wednesday, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell provided temporary homes to the affected residents at Lakeview, Point Fortin. Mitchell said the residents have been referred to the Social Services Division for further assistance. A source at the Ministry of Social Development said the applications are still being processed.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie has agreed to defer his scheduled departure on sabbatical to the United States tomorrow, so the issue can be cleared up by President Anthony Carmona.

Yesterday, acting President Christine Kangaloo confirmed that she had communicated with Archie and he had agreed to defer his departure.

The request for the deferral, according to a release from President’s House, was to enable further communication in relation to the letter which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley sent to the President on March 7. The PM is seeking clarification on the authority under which Carmona granted the CJ sabbatical leave.

Two senior counsel believe Carmona was duped into granting approval for the sabbatical leave.

Avery Sinanan SC said the letter the CJ wrote to Carmona on November 8, 2017, “gave the impression that he was applying to the President for the sabbatical,” but he said “he had already given himself the sabbatical.”

Israel Khan SC meanwhile said he was of the view there is no provision for the CJ to go on sabbatical, “so he misled the President under the pretext that he is entitled to go on six months sabbatical and the President, without checking, granted it.”

Khan said “this act of misleading the President is an act of misbehaviour in public office and brings the office of the President into disrepute.” He said he was of the view the Prime Minister should now move to “trigger a Section 137 investigation,” in order to ascertain whether “CJ Archie should be removed from office.”

In his letter to the President, the CJ informed Carmona that the Federal Judicial Centre in Washington DC had approved his application to be its visiting foreign judicial fellow for a period of up to six months in 2018. He pointed to the 98th Report of the Salaries Review Commission, which recommended that officers in the higher judiciary be eligible for a maximum of six months sabbatical leave after a minimum of seven years continuous service. In 2014, Archie said the judges of the Supreme Court approved “in principle”: a draft internal policy on the approval of sabbatical leave.

Archie said he was “seeking Your Excellency’s approval to be away from the jurisdiction on sabbatical leave from March to August 2018,” adding he will return in time for the opening of the 2018-2019 law term.

Speaking on CNC3’s Morning Brew yesterday, Sinanan said “having given himself the sabbatical, he was telling the President ‘listen I have this sabbatical, I want leave to be absent from the jurisdiction’, so the President’s approval was to give him leave to be absent from the jurisdiction not to take up the sabbatical.”

The CJ wrote to the President, Sinanan said, in accordance with Chapter 6:02 of the Judges Salaries and Pensions Act, which states that no judge should be absent from the country without the permission of the President. Sinanan said the letter to the President “was cleverly crafted. It gave the impression that he was applying for the sabbatical.” However, he said the President ought to have “exercised some kind of restraint” and informed the CJ it was “inappropriate for him to leave,” and refused the leave of absence.

Sinanan said Archie is the “foremost architect” of the “debacle” the judiciary faces. (See editorial on Page A18)

In light of all that has transpired, he said, “He has lost so much credibility I don’t think members of the judiciary, members of the fraternity and the public will have confidence in him continuing to lead the judiciary.”

Sinanan added that the Prime Minister and Government can no longer bury their heads in the sand and must act to “institute an investigation and say on the basis of the investigation whether the Chief Justice should be removed or not.”

A committee headed by Madame Justice Paula-Mae Weekes in May 2014 to look at the issue of arrangements for sabbatical leave for judges, prepared a draft policy document on the issue. Weekes is herself reported to have subsequently applied for sabbatical leave to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School, but her application was turned down by Chief Justice Ivor Archie. Well-placed sources say Weekes subsequently tendered her resignation.

While the CJ did not identify the judge who applied for a sabbatical, a release from Court Protocol and Information manager Alicia Carter Fisher yesterday acknowledged one judge had sought to “access the benefit but that application was deferred owing to exigencies of the service at the time of the application.”

In the face of a fire storm of criticism against the CJ’s decision to proceed on sabbatical leave, becoming the first judge to so do, Carter-Fisher sought to dispel claims there was no agreement on the issue of sabbatical leave.

The release quoted from the Hansard Report dated February 21, 2014, in the parliament debate on the Salaries Review Commission’s 98th Report. The release noted that Dr. Roodal Moonilal told Cabinet that “the Cabinet did agree to accept the recommendations of the Salaries Review Commission contained in the 98th Report dated November 2013.” The SRC agreed in principle to the proposal for the introduction of sabbatical leave for judges, the release said.

The report required that sabbatical leave required the administrative arrangements to be developed by the judiciary and in May 2014 the CJ appointed an internal committee comprising Weekes, Justices Maureen Pemberton, Hayden St Clair-Douglas and Ricky Rahim to consider development of an appropriate administrative arrangement to give effect to the sabbatical leave facility.

According to the CJ’s press release, “The report of the committee was submitted to the Chief Justice and to a meeting of judges and in July 2014 was agreed to in principle and thus comprises the administrative arrangement of the judiciary.”

However, emailed correspondence among judges in the period July 21 indicates there was never any agreement on the document and an email dated July 18 to the Chief Justice indicated the committee “never actually met,” since attempts to meet were “thwarted by the unavailability of one of the other judges.”

The email said the process used in the consultation on the document was via email from Weekes to other members of the committee, with an invitation for members to respond and add comments if they so desired. According to emails obtained by the T&T Guardian, the correspondence went back and forth and St Clair-Douglas was the only judge who did not respond, leading Weekes to observe that she took the “absolute silence” to signify “applause for each and every proposal.” Weekes said she was forwarding the document to all judges for their attention and comment. It was her intention, she said, to consolidate all contributions into a final document to be handed over at the judges meeting on July 23, 2014.

Peter Jamadar responded suggesting that since this document was issued on July 18 and the judges’ meeting was scheduled for the 23rd (five days later) and given that the committee had about two-three months to deliberate, that judges be given more time to consider the proposal and its implications. Weekes responded on July 21 indicating it “is entirely a matter for the Chief, whether at all, and for what purpose the report is discussed at Wednesday’s meeting.”

In her email to judges, Weekes made it clear that the report was not a “fait accompli, but a working document that may well be amended beyond recognition.” The T&T Guardian was told there was never any final agreement on the draft document, since the onus was on the Chief Justice to initiate the discussion and take the document forward. But that never happened.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is abiding strictly by the Constitution and isn’t taking chain up” on issues concerning Chief Justice Ivor Archie.

Rowley signalled this yesterday while replying to United National Congress MP Vidya Guyadeen-Gopeesingh in Parliament.

She’d asked if Rowley intended to heed calls from the Law Association of T&T (LATT) and citizens for him to intervene in issues concerning the CJ, including whether his sabbatical is valid. She noted the recent judgement indicating that the LATT - which had expressed discomfort over allegations of misconduct against Archie in the public domain - lacks the authority to investigate Archie.

Rowley said,”The only assurance I can give is that as Prime Minister, I’ll ensure that the responsibility of the Office of Prime Minister operates under the provisions of the Constitution and not calls being made by people who don’t understand the role of the Prime Minister and the provisions of the Constitution.”

But Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal told reporters that if Rowley had heeded the Opposition’s call during last year’s Marcia Ayers- Caesar matter - to invoke Section 137 of the Constitution - T&T might have been spared current developments in judicial quarters.

Section 137 facilitates processes to investigate if a chief justice should be removed from office.

On the current matter concerning Archie’s planned sabbatical - now on hold - Moonilal said, “You can only take a benefit that’s derived in a collective agreement as a condition of work or part of your contract. It’s unclear if a sabbatical is available to the CJ by virtue of the Salaries Review (98th) report. The CJ may want to explain the basis on which he went about this.”

Moonilal queried if it was an internal policy arrangement in the judiciary facilitating sabbaticals for the CJ or other judges.

“I find it hard to believe the Chief Justice of all people will act in a way that’s outside the purview of the law. You can’t assume a benefit that isn’t provided in law or your contractual arrangement with employers and the CJ is an employee of the state.”

Moonilal added it was similar to the case of Senate vice president Nigel de Freitas obtaining housing approved by Cabinet.

“That’s now before the Integrity Commission. Cabinet can’t change the SRC report and the Senate vice president falls under the SRC,” Moonilal said, adding he’ll raise a matter tomorrow about use of a Fyzabad facility for the Children Court.

WHAT JUDGES’ SABBATICAL DOCUMENT STATES:

According to the so-called policy document dealing with sabbatical for judges, which was worked on by a team headed by Justice Paul-Mae Weekes, which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, there were 19 judges, including the Chief Justice, eligible for sabbatical leave as at July 2014.

The document noted that if leave were granted one judge at a time, it would take nine and a half years for the judges to enjoy sabbatical leave. “At first blush,” the document stated “it would seem most convenient to have one Apellate Judge and one High Court judge on sabbatical leave at the same time.” It said there may have been need for short periods of over-lapping of one to two months.

A recommendation was made for the CJ to determine the approval for leave, taking into account the “exigencies of the court’s operations” and as far as possible that “priority is determined by length of service.” The definition for the leave, according to the document, should be that “the objective of the programme is to facilitate study, teaching research or another activity that will benefit the administration of justice and enhance judges performance of their duties.”

It was recommended that a system of acting arrangements be put in place to cover the period of absence of a judge on sabbatical leave given the “onerous workload both at the Court of Appeal and the High Court Level.” The document said such acting appointments should be handled with such care as to “not give rise to any claim of reasonable expectation in the acting appointee.” Such appointments would also serve the dual purpose to determining the suitability of the person for “later permanent appointment. Sabbatical leave would also be provided with full pay.

The issue of whether judges may engage in activities for which they are to be remunerated during their leave period was also addressed, with a view that judges “should not accept compensation for activities performed during sabbatical leave, but may receive reimbursement for their expenses,” since it was felt that the acceptance of remuneration may open judges up to “adverse comment.”

Judges were also cautioned not to engage in any activity that can be perceived to be in conflict with their core function as a judge, “they should not engage in any legal professional work, including advisory, whether locally, regionally or internationally.”

The document wanted a commitment from judges who proceed on sabbatical leave “to serve in the judiciary for at least 18 months after the expiry of the sabbatical leave period.” It also recommended that judges who proceed on sabbatical leave submit a report on activities undertaken during the sabbatical leave.

Applications for sabbatical leave were to be made “no fewer than six months in advance,” of the leave period to allow for proper administrative arrangements to be put in place. The application was also to state how the period of leave was to be spent and the expected outcomes as well as how it would benefit the judiciary.

The T&T Guardian was told that there was never any final agreement on the draft document since the onus was on the Chief Justice to initiate the discussion and take the document forward.

But that never happened.

A confrontation between a woman and her husband’s alleged mistress ended in bloodshed yesterday, after one of the women was stabbed during a fight in a pharmacy on High Street, San Fernando.

The commotion drew a crowd outside the pharmacy, Bartlett Drugs, who waited to see the women involved in the “fight over man.” The incident took place after 1 pm.

However, pharmacy owner Daphne Bartlett said a woman came into the store to purchase something. Shortly after, the alleged horner woman and her friend entered the pharmacy. They began arguing and it escalated into a fight, during which time one of the women was stabbed.

“I did not really see what took place, but I was hearing while I was doing the prescription and I heard screaming and a knife and different things took place. Apparently someone got stabbed as you see a lot of blood in the store.”

Bartlett said she saw the woman who appeared to be the wife bleeding from the stab wound lying on the ground with another “half naked” woman on top of her. The other woman was standing nearby.

“I did hear her saying to girl that she was married to the man for 20 years and you friendly with my husband,” said Bartlett.

However, she was disappointed with the police response.

“I have to say the police station is just two minutes away from this establishment and it took them at least half an hour to arrive here. They could have run 20 times back and forth. If it was a gun-play many more people could have injuries, some could have even died, because the three people involved were very upset with each other.”

She said what happened was a reflection of what was happening in society.

“It is just the society, everybody has anger and hate, tempers flare easily,” she said.

She said her staff was in shock over the incident. Blood and goods were spilled on the floor of the business place following the incident and they were forced to close for the rest of the day. The injured woman, who had blood over her face and clothes, was attended to by EHS technicians and taken to the San Fernando General Hospital. The other two women were taken into police custody for questioning. San Fernando police are continuing investigations.

The Anti-Gang Bill, 2018 was unanimously passed in the Lower House with a vote of 37 for and none against at 8.20 pm last night.

All 21 Government and 16 Opposition members who were present at the time of the vote backed the bill.

The only absent members were Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie and Opposition members Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Dr Lackram Bodoe.

When Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi piloted the bill yesterday, he said it was "déjà, déjà vu." He described the bill as a critical piece of law that would benefit the country in its fight against crime.

The bill makes it an offence to be a member of a gang, to be in possession of a bullet-proof vest, to participate in, or contribute to, the activities of a gang, to support or invite support for a gang, or to harbour or conceal gang members or recruit persons to a gang. Because the bill is inconsistent with Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution a special three-fifths majority of the members was required for it to be passed. The Government did not get initial support for the bill and it failed on on December 7, when 21 Government MPs voted for but 12 Opposition MP’s voted against it, with one abstention from St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar.

Yesterday, Al-Rawi said the T&T Police Service deserved the law to help them in their crime fight. He, however, warned that it will not be a "panacea" or a cure all for all of this country's crime woes. Since December 7 when the last bill was defeated there had been 131 murders recorded, he said, but only 39 of those were classified as being gang related.

Al-Rawi said when the Opposition initially failed to support the bill it was one of his "worst days in parliament."

Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was the only Opposition member to speak on the bill last night. Since the TTPS was adamant that the bill would assist, she aid the Opposition agreed to find a way to make it happen in a bi-partisan approach.

"When we did not support it, it was not out of spite, it was not out of malice, it was not out of ill will, it was always in the best interest of the country. And I want to make it very clear that when we did not support it, it was not that we were being unpatriotic, that was not the issue at all. In fact, we were being patriotic to protect the rights of the majority of the citizens of our country," she said.

One of the concerns the Opposition had was the bill's sunset clause.

The Government originally suggested a four-year sunset clause while the Opposition said a two year sunset clause would be better.

They agreed on the two-year period. The sunset clause means that the legislation will automatically expire after the two-year period and

an extension will have to be sought in Parliament.

The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote.

Deomatie Madoo begged her daughter Rachel Madoo to leave an abusive relationship with a man she met when she was 16, but Rachel always lived in the hope that one day her life would get better.

On Monday, Rachel lost that hope. Desperate and depressed, Rachel drank poison to escape her abuser and she died on International Women’s Day (March 8). Before dying, Rachel left a note begging for help. The note went viral.

Grieving relatives said her 17-year relationship was a turbulent one and the simple note she left while she lay on her death bed had dug a hole in their hearts.

The note read, “I live in an abusive relationship with (name called) for 17 years. I have a 13-year-old daughter whom he abused as well. He would beat me and tell me I always have a man until on Monday he came home cursing and beating me until I got fed up and drank poison. I am presently in Mount Hope and I need help. (Name called) works in the army and I fear for my life. Please, help me please. R Madoo.”

In an interview yesterday, Deomatie said both her daughters were victims of physical abuse, as a male relative took out his frustration on them as children.

“When Rachel was 16 years old she met the man who made her life a living hell. He had two young children of his own but their mother was never in their lives, so my Rachel took care of his two children like her own,” Deomatie said.

She explained that it was sometime after the relationship got serious that she realised the man was beating her daughter.

Describing Rachel as a pretty girl, Deomatie said the man was very jealous.

“He would blame her with every man who spoke to her. She lived in fear. I told her this was not the kind of life I wanted her to live because I myself was abused. I wanted what was best for my daughter,” Deomatie said in an anguished tone.

She said Rachel summoned up the courage to leave the abusive relationship on three occasions, but each time “that man would fool up her head.”

Deomatie said Rachel’s children loved her immensely and stood up for her when she was being kicked, dragged and cuffed.

“They would come home and tell us what was going on. But my daughter always said thing will get better, he would change,” Deomatie recalled.

She said last Saturday she invited Rachel and the family over to her home for a cook.

“They all came and we had a good time. I told them my heart not good and all I wanted was for them to live good. She told me that they sorting things out. I told them I don’t want bacchanal and trouble. He promised me that he will make her happy,” Deomatie said. However, she said the man would drink often and during bouts of anger would blame Rachel for any man that came around, even her own son and her own brother.

“It was a bad situation. I didn’t’t think she would commit suicide. I wish I could have helped her,” Deomatie said.

She recalled that last September, the man gave Rachel a beating and told her to pack up her belongings and leave. Deomatie said her daughter packed up, but a few weeks later returned to the man, only to die a few months later.

Police shot and killed a cutlass-wielding man who ran amok in a Sangre Grande mosque on Thursday.

Ashrudeen Hamid, 46, of Coalmine, Sangre Grande, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Sangre Grande Hospital after being shot hours earlier.

Police said around 7.15 pm, Hamid, who has a history of mental problems, ran into the Sangre Grande Masjid while prayers were going on armed with a cutlass and looking for one of the brothers. Several brothers scampered for safety and Sangre Gande Task Force police were called. However, when police arrived Hamid refused to drop the cutlass and tried several times to chop them as they drew near to him. Female Sgt Lopez, who was attempting to get him to drop the weapon, slipped and fell during the negotiation and he lunged at her firing chops. However, officers shot him.

The imam of the Cunapo Southern Main Road mosque, who preferred not to be named, said the incident was unfortunate. He said he knew Hamid had mental issues, but was not expecting such violent behaviour.

The female officer was later treated for minor injuries and was said to be still traumatised last night.

Relatives told the police the man is an out patient of the St Ann’s Hospital and has been attending clinic for the last 15 years.

PCs Ramnarine Charles, Williams Phillip and WPC Berkley also responded to the scene and ASP Revanales is investigating.

RALPH BANWARIE

UNC MP Rudy Indarsingh is reporting Education Minister Anthony Garcia to Parliament’s House Speaker after he alleged Garcia cursed him in the Parliament tearoom yesterday.

Indarsingh said he’s reporting the incident to House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George since it occurred within the precincts of the Parliament.

A very agitated Indarsingh told reporters the incident occurred in the tearoom around 1 pm prior to Parliament.

He claimed Garcia cursed him regarding the issue of the Balmain School which Indarsingh has taken up. Garcia recently said there was sabotage of sewer lines there.

Indarsingh said the alleged incident occurred in the presence of UNC MPs Lackram Bodoe and Rushton Paray and PNM’s Fitzgerald Hinds and Ancel Antoine.

Indarsingh said he’d been speaking to Hinds when Garcia entered the tearoom and became very “abrasive” to him.

“He said he’d lost all (expletive)g respect for me because I was lying about the situation at the school,” Indarsingh alleged.

“I told him nobody would tell me obscenities and I’d cower and be submissive. I cursed back, I wouldn’t lie, (but) I wasn’t remaining silent about this,” Indarsingh added, accusing Garcia of an “act of provocation.”

When Garcia arrived in Parliament, he told reporters. “I spoke to Mr Indarsingh and I asked him to desist from telling lies he’d been spreading. That was the extent of my discussion with him.”

Asked if he’d cursed Indarsingh, Garcia said, “He was using obscene language, not me - I didn’t use any obscene language at all.. uhhh-uhhh....that’s not true.

After Garcia contacted the T&T Guardian later in the evening, he again said,”I didn’t think he would have been serious, it was banter. When I came into the tearoom, there was a conversation between himself and Hinds and I joined in. “

“I told him I was disappointed in him, moreso as we share the same alma mater .We exchanged some words and he became agitated and that was it. I’m surprised to hear he reported I used obscene language - that didn’t happen,”

“He’d been advocating for the Balmain school where all sorts of things were found in the sewer. He’d said I needed to apologise to parents and I was spreading false information. I said the evidence was there and I was disappointed in the stand he’s taking and that was it.

Paray had told the T&T Guardian in Parliament there was a conversation between Indarsingh and Hinds, and Garcia walked in . He added there was slight banter and some obscenities were used on both sides,”There was a response, it was a bit unprovoked, Rudy’s visibly upset. It was uncalled for really.”

In the face of questions whether new Minister Marlene McDonald has been cleared by the Integrity Commission and police, Prime Minister Keith Rowley yesterday stood by his decision to reappoint her to Government.

Rowley deflected a query on the issue in Parliament yesterday.

He recently appointed McDonald a Minister in the Public Administration /Communication Ministry. It’s her third posting after two appointments and two removals.

UNC MP Barry Padarath yesterday asked if Rowley had received information from the Integrity Commission— which had been probing a matter against her— and/or the Fraud Squad that McDonald was no longer the subject of a probe and has been cleared of all alleged wrong-doing and misconduct.

Rowley replied, “The last time I checked, the responsibility for appointing people in the Cabinet lies with the Prime Minister and I’m not aware that it’s circumscribed by any correspondence to or from the Integrity Commission.”

Rowley didn’t comment on the police. The latter last week confirmed a probe was still on concerning McDonald and allegations regarding the Calabar Foundation.

On whether PNM MP Maxie Cuffie—recuperating from a stroke—continues receiving a ministerial salary indefinitely, Rowley said he hadn’t acted to change Cuffie’s ministerial terms and conditions.

Dismissing perception that Cuffie was being denied financial aid for his medical costs, Rowley said a decision was taken to provide assistance to a certain limit.

On Wednesday’s meeting with Muslim groups, Rowley said he’d tried to speak with as many persons as possible “on the responsible side.”

“I issued invitations and virtually all who were invited made it their business to attend. We had a very successful meeting.”

He added, its purpose was largely to deal with dissatisfaction and misinformation “being pedalled” after security services picked up people of interest recently.

“People were beginning to encourage members of the national community to accept or behave as though something specific had happened to them because of their religious persuasion,” he said, adding he immediately addressed the issue.

On Tobago business people’s proposed two-day shutdown, Rowley said he’d advise the island’s business people it would be better to “keep their businesses open.”

On September 7, 2015, the People's National Movement (PNM) swept into office on a platform of promises—chief of which was to reduce crime and tackle corruption. And even as the PNM marked two-and-a-half years in office last Wednesday, the public continue to cower in fear over the runaway crime situation while holding its breath to see Government's promises materialise.

Local experts and members of the public alike have found the PNM's performance thus far to be disappointing.

Business operators have been lamenting the declining economic realities as they struggle for foreign exchange in order to survive. Some citizens have been praying for lower food prices and to hold on to their jobs, while others have been left totally disappointed and disillusioned with the handling of the Tobago air and sea-bridge fiasco, which continues to linger.

Economist Dr Marlene Attzs said the PNM and by extension Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had both earned a "D" (referred to as Disappointment) for their performance.

Surveying certain sectors of society and the Government's response to burning issues such as crime, economic improvement, and unemployment, economist Indera Sagewan-Alli said there had been no significant improvements over 2017.

However, political analyst Dr Winford James was more generous in his projections as he applauded the Government for being able to achieve a "balance". He awarded them one point more than last year for overall improvements, bringing their score to six out of ten—ten being the highest score. "I will give them a seven on anti-crime management, a five on governance, and six on the anti-corruption thrust."

Political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath gave the Government a rating of four. "They've been inadequate on the handling of crime, they're lacking on good governance, and economic stagnation continues," he said.

Former public service head Reginald Dumas said: "I have to move from the six I gave them last year to five, the quality of performance has declined."

He added, "They've been inadequate on education, security, foreign affairs, tourism—especially regarding Tobago and transport issues, the environment, and conduct of Tobago House of Assembly governance.

"They're holding ground in energy issues. I give Finance Minister Colm Imbert points for effort as he had a difficult situation to handle—but they still have work to do. I would have preferred if they spent more time listening to Terrence Farrell (chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) and diversifying the economy instead of paying lip service there."

—reporting by Gail Alexander

Cabinet gets poor marks

According to Attzs, "when we talk about how a government has performed, we generally look at whether they have passed or failed."

"I can't go with pass because I think there is not a palpable sense in the country that things have improved in any great measure over the past three years the Government has been in office. A passing grade would have been as a result of a sense of improvement and accomplishment, and I don't think there is any sense of either.

"I also don't think the Government has failed in that the measure of success that would have allowed Government to make the kinds of improvements one would have expected to see would have been the availability of revenue, and this simply is not available in the quantum that we enjoyed on previous occasions."

On its overall performance, Sagewan-Alli said, "I don't think there has been any significant improvement from last year to this year."

Discounting its first year in office as "settling in," Sagewan-Alli said the second and third year was for satisfying "expected deliverables."

Economy—bleak future ahead

Predicting T&T was heading for another deficit budget, Attzs said a sense of stillness continued to envelop the local economic landscape and was characterised by reduced earnings and little revenue generation.

Asked about Government's performance, she said, "There is a disappointment in the economy. There is a disappointment among the people of the country that things are simply not happening."

Attzs said while the citizenry was happy Government had not moved to send home public servants, "my concern is whether or not this is a realistic commitment the Government has made."

She said in the current economic climate, the large public sector wage bill remained the Government's largest and most pressing expense.

"If the Government is not earning revenue, one has to wonder from where is the Government going to identify the resources to maintain that large wage bill it is faced with."

James, meanwhile, said T&T continues to maintain a firm position although it is under-producing in the oil and gas sector. He said this had enabled public servants such as teachers, fire officers, and police officers to remain employed.

He said while larger developments have not materialised due to a lack of funds, small-scale developments had begun.

James said, "The ability to keep the economy going, having regard to what Government had ultimately identified as the problem, must be a plus for this Government."

On the issue of diversification, Sagewan-Alli said, "This remains all talk and no action."

Declaring this could be ill-afforded at this time, she said, "This is one area where the Government's voice should be heard loudest because the real issues of growing unemployment and foreign exchange challenges need to be addressed in an aggressive manner."

Referring to the resignation of Dr Farrell as chairman of the EDAB, Sagewan-Alli described it as a "serious indictment" on the Government's part.

Crime to get worse

Anticipating that crime will continue to worsen, Attzs said the increasing murder rate was "indicative of a general kind of unease in the economy, along with a change in morals and values."

To be fair, Attzs pointed out, Government could not be held accountable for the change in morals and values.

"What they can be held accountable for and what people are looking to the Government for is the maintenance of law and order."

Attzs said when one looked at the holistic picture, "you get a sense that not even that is happening."

Sagewan-Alli agreed that "crime is certainly anywhere but under control."

"In fact, it has so worsened that I don't think there has been ever a time in T&T when the citizenry has felt so much under threat, so much fear and a sense of hopelessness in terms that this is going to come to an end any time soon."

She said the continued bungling of the process to elect a head of the T&T Police Service was one indicator of the Government's inability to restore the population's trust and instill hope for a better future.

According to James, although increasing the fleet of the protective services and building new police stations are tangible additions in the fight against crime "it is up to the institutions that exist for the management of crime to act."

He commended the TTPS for improvements in the detection rate and their efforts to confiscate illegal arms and ammunition, as he said someone had to be ultimately acknowledged for this achievement—whether it was through police efforts or government policy.

Education and health—No tangible improvements

Saying that no tangible improvements had been made since the PNM assumed office in 2015, Attzs pointed out that "there is an overwhelming sense of disappointment."

Attzs said the sense of under-employment should not be connected to the adjustments which were introduced into the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate) programme.

She said the fact that tertiary-level graduates were being forced to accept jobs they are over-qualified for, could not be directly linked to the changes in the Gate regime but to a lack of planning and short-sightedness when the programme was first introduced.

Commenting briefly on the health sector, Attzs said, "The people of T&T do not feel as if their lives are being improved."

Sagewan-Alli, meanwhile, said while health seemed to be making headlines because of drug shortages and poor service, "this has translated into some serious issues for the health system and we are not hearing any conversations about national healthcare systems."

In the area of education, James said T&T had been doing well before financial hardships forced Government to adjust the Gate programme. James noted that tertiary education was still accessible but at a greater cost now.

James said the Government had earned themselves a nine in the area of education.

Regarding health, James said the citizens continued to benefit from various initiatives. He awarded Government seven in this area.

Overall performance—middle class suffering

Even as the protective services continue to be confronted by angry mobs over a variety of issues, Attzs said that "on the heels of that uncivilized behaviour," there is also the issue of the increasing cost in the standard of living.

"You know there is hardship around the country because people are feeling it, notwithstanding the fact they have jobs, but the dollar is certainly not stretching as they would like it to."

Sagewan-Alli said this was an area where Government had definitely failed to make the grade.

"What the Government seems to be very good at doing is taxing the population in order to raise money, which in fact has not raised the revenue it hoped for and has only squeezed a citizenry especially the middle class, and this is the one who you would want to free up the spending power in as they are the ones who will spend and stimulate growth in the economy."

Sagewan-Alli said the public also continued to live in fear of increased utility rates.

She said the PNM's time thus far had been marked by "increased fear, increased worry in terms of where the hope is going to come from, and fear that I could lose my home and not be able to maintain my family and children."

No response from Govt

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young, Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Franklin Khan did not respond to messages from the Sunday Guardian on the PNM’s performance.

Prison Officer Aldrin Andrews became the lucky 'door prize' winner of two bar stools from Diamond Interiors while receiving his Executive Medical screening from the NCRHA yesterday at the St Joseph Health Centre.

Diamond Interiors came forward to show appreciation and support for our service men who have been doing their part to protect citizens and our communities, said Jacqueline Riley, executive director at Diamond Interiors.

"I want our service men to know that we understand, appreciate and support the work they are doing, and they must know that they are not alone as they have chosen a career path that many others would shy away from," added Riley.

Davlin Thomas, CEO of the NCRHA, said, "We want our prison officers and other service men to know that just as they are keeping us safe, we at the NCRHA will be doing our part to be our 'Brothers Keeper' by taking care of your health." He also acknowledged the work of the NCRHA staff, many of whom sacrificed their weekends to take care of our service men.

The Appeal Court is treating the hearing of the matter between the Law Association and the Chief Justice Ivor Archie no different to any other application before the court.

An urgent application filed by the Law Association seeking to overturn a ruling by a High Court judge to convene a Special General Meeting of the organisation this week to discuss a report relating to serious allegations against the CJ has been shut down.

Justice of Appeal Prakash Moosai sitting in camera at the Hall of Justice on Friday, postponed the application to April 10, where the matter is expected to be heard by three of the most senior judges of the Appeal Court.

If the Court of Appeal had to accommodate the sitting of the Special General Meeting on March 15, it would have meant that all of the matters already fixed before the judges would have had to be re-arranged to give the Law Association's application priority.

Given that the purpose of the Special General Meeting is to consider and approve a report of an investigative committee—comprising Queen's Counsel Dr Francis Alexis and Eamon Courtenay—which examined the allegations against the Chief Justice, the earlier hearing was not entertained, sources said.

Archie has been at the centre of allegations made by Dillian Johnson, his one-time friend, that he tried to obtain a contract to provide security for judges and state housing through recommendations from the CJ. Archie has admitted to assisting people, excluding Johnson, by making recommendations to the Housing Development Corporation but has denied approaching judges to change their State-arranged security.

Johnson, who has since fled to the United Kingdom, seeking asylum, has also claimed that the police was ignoring a report he filed of an attempt to kill him.

Johnson has since issued a public challenge to the CJ to produce the US forensic reports which allegedly prove Johnson's photos and WhatsApp messages are fake. He is also denying the CJ did "improper favours for him," alleging there is a "homophobic element" to the issues.

In a statement dated March 8 and issued through British Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Johnson also weighed in briefly on the six-month sabbatical leave the CJ is scheduled to proceed on from Sunday, saying "it looks like an attempt to evade public scrutiny and accountability." It was the only reference to the sabbatical.

On the issue of the US forensic reports which allege the photos and WhatsApp messages he produced are "fake," Johnson appealed to President-elect Paula-Mae Weekes to "require" Archie to make the report public. He said "it is in the public interest that the truth be established." Tatchell, who is driving Johnson’s asylum bid, said he supported this call to the President-elect. Archie deferred leaving the country on Sunday after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wrote to President Anthony Carmona seeking clarification on the issue of the grant of the sabbatical leave.

Archie, the T&T Guardian understands, has recused himself from determining the composition of the panel of judges given that he is a party to the lawsuit. Justice of Appeal Allan Mendonca has taken charge of this.

The Law Association has also made a request for a five-member panel to hear its case given that the matter in its view had great consequence. The five-member panel is usually reserved for matters which involve significant constitutional importance.

In its appeal, the association is claiming High Court Judge Nadia Kangaloo made several errors in her 19-page judgment delivered in Archie’s favour on Tuesday.

It is claiming Kangaloo misinterpreted the Constitution when she ruled it did not have the power to investigate the allegations against Archie before referring them to the Prime Minister to trigger an impeachment tribunal under Section 137 of the Constitution.

President of the Law Association Douglas Mendes SC and attorney Keith Scotland, who represented Archie, both declined to comment on the matter.

—with reporting by Rhondor Dowlat

Patients being treated for burns at the San Fernando General Hospital got a scare yesterday morning when part of the ceiling in the unit which they occupied fell in as they slept.

The Sunday Guardian was told that the burns units, which occupied an area in Medical Extension 1, had six patients at the time of the incident. Around 1.10 am, staff and patients, heard a rumbling before seeing pieces of the ceiling crashing down.

The South West Regional Health Authority said that four patients were warded in the unit at the time and neither they or staff were injured in the incident. As a safety precaution, the patients and staff were temporarily relocated to another area on Level 2 of the hospital where there were six vacant beds. The area was previously used by people being treated for blood disorders.

A media release stated that a construction team visited the unit to investigate and assess the area to begin repair works.

However, staff said that a water pump on the floor above Medical Extension 1 had been leaking for two days last week, saturating the floor of the hospital that was built since 1955. The water pump was installed on the floor to use in cases of emergency. Despite complaining of the water damage, they said nothing was done, which resulted in yesterday's incident. They said cracks have appeared on the walls and they are worried that the flooring could give way soon.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan says a tender will soon be advertised for a management company to take over operations of the Water Taxi Service and the Tobago sea-bridge.

After months of public discontent over the unavailability of the T&T Spirit and the T&T Express due to regular malfunctions, Sinanan said he was not convinced that there were in-house capabilities with regards to the maintenance of the vessels.

There have also been complaints about the slow pace of the Water Taxis, which also suffer the same issues. Speaking during a tour of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension Project in La Romaine yesterday, he said that like the Water Taxis, the T&T Spirit and the T&T Express have been missing their scheduled visits to the dry dock over the past two years.

He said the Port Authority and Nidco are working to find a way to ensure proper maintenance and the timely replacement of the vessels.

"If you notice there are a lot of changes taking place and very soon you will see all the changes. That is why there is now a tender going out for a new management company to handle these vessels because it has been clear to us that we do not have the capabilities of doing it. No one can convince me that we have the in-house capabilities of doing it," Sinanan said.

Following completion of repairs to the T&T Express, the vessel returned to operations on Thursday while the T&T Spirit undergoes sea trials. It is expected to resume operation by March 13.

The number of international tourists visiting T&T hit a record low in 2017.

That's according to a Trinidad Hotel Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) report entitled: Review of the industry–A data-driven perspective, which was prepared by THRTA CEO Brian Frontin.

The report was forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism on February 27, 2018, but according to Frontin, the ministry is yet to respond. The T&T Guardian attempted to reach the Ministry’s Communications Department for a response but efforts proved unsuccessful.

According to the report, international tourist arrivals to T&T stood at 394, 650 in 2017, declining from 408, 782 in 2016, and 439, 749 in 2015.

The data, which was sourced from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), confirms that over the past 17 years, there were only five years when the number of international arrivals to this country dropped below the 400, 000 mark—They were 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010, and 2017.

Frontin attributed the record-low international tourist arrivals to ‘multi-whammy’ hits.

He wrote: “More importantly, a direct correlation can be establised in the downward trend in international arrivals over the period 2015 to 2017, with the reductions in funding allocation by the Government to the Ministry of Tourism (particularly destination marketing budgets), along with the cessation of contracts of overseas marketing representation, closure of TDC and the president ‘non starter’ status of the replacement entity for Destination Trinidad—Tourism Trinidad Destination Management Company Limited.”

'Negative travel advisories'

Frontin also dealt with the negative international travel advisories issued by the US Embassy and Canadian High Commission in T&T as well as the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia, following the recent ISIS-linked terror plots pre-Carnival 2018.

The US, Canada, and UK accounted for 63 per cent of this country’s international tourist arrivals in 2016.

“With over 60 per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s international tourist arrivals originating from the three key source markets that have issued stronger travel advisories to their citizens regarding travel to our destination, the risk is patently clear,” Frontin said.

Frontin also examined international tourism arrivals to the UK, France, and Jamaica. He pointed out that despite the issuance of travel advisories by the US for the UK, France, and Jamaica, those destinations have continued to experience growth in their international tourist arrivals over the past two years.

“The data is clear and highlights that the outlook for the tourism sector in destination Trinidad is grim if continued dependence or performance expectations are placed on the Government, through the Ministry of Tourism and its relevant agencies,” Frontin concluded.

“The current emphasis on ill-structured ‘domestic tourism’ or ‘staycation’ campaigns, the frequent berating of tourism private sector investors, and the adopted posture of non-collaboration with and non-participation of the tourism private sector industry associations in destination management, boards, committees, or programmes, are all sufficient evidence of the need for the forging of a new pathway and model for the stimulation of Trinidad’s tourism sector.”

Frontin said the THRTA will continue to strongly advocate the Trinidad tourism sector possesses the main ingredients for success and can meaningfully contribute to the national economy.

Kristy Ramnarine, CNC3

A woman was fatally shot in her head for her chain and handbag while travelling in a (private hire) PH taxi on Friday night.

Her killer pretended to be a passenger travelling in the same vehicle as her.

Apart from taking her life, he also took her identification cards when he snatched her handbag making it difficult for police to identify her.

The incident took place on Wrightson Road around 7.30 pm.

According to police reports, the victim boarded a black Nissan Tiida PH taxi at MovieTowne, Invaders Bay, to go to into Port-of-Spain.

At Carlos Street, the driver picked up a man sporting a dreadlock hairstyle.

He sat in the back seat of the vehicle with the victim.

When the vehicle reached in the vicinity of Gatacre Street, the man pulled out a gun.

He attempted to grab the woman's chain and handbag.

The woman resisted and the gunman shot her in her head at point-blank range.

He grabbed the chain and handbag and fled.

The police and emergency health services were notified and the woman was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

However, she eventually succumbed to her injuries.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact the police on 555, 999 or 800-TIPS.

After a six-day trip to Miami, President Anthony Carmona returns to the country today having to deal with the current controversy over whether or not Chief Justice Ivor Archie can in fact go on a six-month sabbatical.

On Tuesday, news of Archie's sabbatical came to the fore after correspondence between Carmona and himself were leaked to the public.

In a letter dated February 26, Archie wrote Carmona thanking him for approving his sabbatical which was expected to begin today.

Archie was supposed to have flown out of the jurisdiction today, until August 31.

Archie wrote Carmona seeking the time off on November 8, last year.

He referenced the Salaries Review Commission's 98th Report dated November 13, 2013, as the authority on which he could apply for the sabbatical.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wrote the Office of the President seeking clarification on what grounds Archie was provided leave stating that SRC makes recommendations which are laid in Parliament and can be rejected, modified or amended by Cabinet.

Acting President Christine Kangaloo on Friday asked Archie to defer his leave until Carmona returned today.

Since then, email correspondence among judges in the period July 21, 2014, indicated that there was never any agreement and an email dated July 18 to the Chief justice indicated the committee established to consider the issue "never actually met" since attempts to meet were thwarted by the unavailability of one of the other judges"'

The committee established to consider the sabbatical arrangements comprised current president-elect then justice Paula-Mae Weekes, Maureen Pemberton, Hayden St Clair-Douglas, and Ricky Rahim.

Former Port Authority (Patt) chairman Allison Lewis is tight-lipped about her resignation from the Board of Commissioners yesterday. When contacted, Lewis said she had no comment to make, even before being asked a question.

During a tour of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension to Point Fortin yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said he had heard of Lewis' resignation but had not yet seen the letter. Sinanan said he plans to ask her to reconsider.

"Well, I have heard of the resignation. What I can say is that it is unfortunate if that happens, I will do whatever I can to try to convince Ms Lewis to rethink her position. However, if she doesn’t, I would like to thank her for her service. Ms Lewis has been a great asset to this country, not only as chairman of the Port but in her capacity as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. I have full respect for her, I think she has served this country well and I really do hope that she will continue to serve this country," Sinanan said.

Lewis, 63, a Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) awardee, also served as a governor of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund, director at the Central Bank, and now a director at Trinidad Cement Ltd.

It was rumoured that her resignation came after the Patt Board agreed that the contract for the Cabo Star not be renewed when it expires in a month's time. However, someone at the Ministry of Finance has insisted on a renewal.

A source close to Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday that the Patt does not report to the Imbert neither does he have anything to do with Lewis' resignation.

In March 2017, the former Patt chairman Christine Sahadeo resigned from the Board, and this was followed by Cabinet's firing of the remaining commissioners, inclusive of the deputy chairman Michael Patterson, Radha Permanand, Glen Wilson, Ken Wright, Melissa Alexis James, and Ferdie Ferreira.

Back then, Ferreira told the T&T Guardian that board members were constructively dismissed by Cabinet one day after Sahadeo tendered her resignation. His claim was denied by Sinanan, who insisted yesterday that the board members resigned and “we accepted the resignations.”

Within days, the incumbent Board of Adrian Beharry, Brandon Primus, Suzette Baptiste, Dexter Jaggernauth, and Tommy Elias was appointed.

Natasha Granger was still recovering from the stillbirth of her fourth child when death returned to her home and took her five-year-old son Pawaan yesterday.

Crushed by a falling wall while watering the tulsi plants he loved, Pawaan died in the hands of his father Mikahail Granger as he sprinted to the Fyzabad Health Centre for help. The wailing at the family’s home was disheartening as Natasha and her second daughter Preetie clung to each other in a hammock.

“Why he had to go away,” Preetie cried, but there were no answers from her parents who still looked in a state of shock.

Mikahail said that it was around 9 am as he and Natasha sat in the living room talking when they saw Pawaan walked to the front yard. Within five minutes, they were jolted by a crashing noise and saw a portion of a wall to the side of the house on Pawaan’s head while frozen in a seated position on the ground. He said that by the time they reached the health centre, Pawaan had already died.

“He was an extraordinary child. He might have been a futuristic person; somebody who would have seen things long before as he had a greater understanding of things at his age. He was an extremely intelligent child like his sister,” Mikahail said.

He said he believes his wife needed professional counselling as he does not believe he could help her through this type of grief. Natasha said Pawaan loved her plants and would help her take care of them and it just what he was doing when the wall felt.

She said she had an eerie feeling the past two days as an old man pointed his hand behind Pawaan’s head, in the shape of a gun and shouted “gunshots” three days. She said since then, she kept him close, but it was all in vain.

Pawaan’s grandfather Errol Bunsee, a builder, said the wall that fell was not constructed properly as the builders used mortar to bond the fallen wall into another that ran alongside the property.

Bunsee said even the colour of the mortar showed that it was not mixed properly. The concrete blocks were not properly tied in a laid, nor was there any steel or reinforcing columns to hold it in place.

Mikahail said they met the wall there when the moved into the rented house a year ago. Trained as a mechanic, he said he did not know anything about construction to have had an idea that the wall was not properly constructed.

He said the opposite wall was shaking so he warned his family to stay away from it. He said the fallen wall, which holds up a counter, was used by the previous tenants who were caterers.

Pawaan’s teacher at the Siparia Road Presbyterian School said he was a wonderful child, with great potential.

An autopsy has been ordered at the Forensic Science Centre today. Preliminary reports suggest that Pawaan suffered a fractured skull and broken neck. His death has been so far deemed accidental.