A couple who was kidnapped outside their Carapichiama home thanked God for saving their lives yesterday.

Terrance Rampersad and his wife, Lutchmin, both 52, said they were abducted outside their Orange Field home after returning from a birthday celebration dinner with family at about 11 pm on Wednesday.

Lutchmin told police she was released in some bushes in the Gran Couva area. She managed to get help from a passerby, who took her to the police station. She was then taken to the Couva District Hospital and then at about 3 am and returned to her family.

Lutchmin was told she was being freed to organise $30,000 for the safe release of her husband. She was warned not to go to the police otherwise Rampersad would be killed.

However, Rampersad escaped from his abductors in Penal at about 5 am. He told police officers that when he thought it was safe he “made a dash for it.” Rampersad, who was wearing a white-coloured shirt took it off and threw it away while he hid the overgrown bushes. He remained there for a while and waited for the men to leave the area. During his escape, Rampersad told police that the men fired several gunshots and threatened to kill him if they had found him.

Rampersad made his way to the M2 Ring Road where he flagged down a passing police vehicle. The officers took him to the station where they made contact with the Anti-Kidnapping Squad’s investigating officers, who were at his home at about 6 am.

Police confirmed that they went to the two locations at Gran Couva and the M2 Ring Road yesterday. At the latter location spent shells were recovered.

According to a police report, at about 11 pm the couple arrived at their home in their SUV when a silver car stopped behind them. As Rampersad came out his vehicle he noticed the men coming up their driveway. He attempted to warn his wife but they were ambushed.

The couple was taken and bundled into their SUV by one of the men, who then drove off with them. They were then transferred to another vehicle along the southbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and their SUV was left abandoned at the side of the road. Rampersad’s vehicle was later recovered by police.

The couple was then driven to a bushy area in Gran Couva where Rampersad’s wife was released. It is believed Rampersad was moved from Gran Couva to another area unknown in Penal before he managed to escape. The silver car used by the kidnappers is believed to be a stolen vehicle.

The couple is said to be resting at their Orange Field Road home last night.

Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad are continuing investigations.

Two men who police said were wanted for murder and other crimes were shot dead during a reported shootout with police yesterday in Malick, Barataria.

The police identified the dead men as Obika “Beaker” Roberts, of 6th Avenue, Malick and Nkosi “Mauby” Mitlan.

In response, residents at Malick yesterday blocked the road at Upper Seventh Avenue near the house where the men were killed in a fiery protest.

However, their protest action was short-lived as Fire officers from the San Juan Fire Station extinguished the blaze and police took control of the situation. No one was arrested.

The residents disputed the police’s version of the shooting and called for a thorough investigation.

Family members said they intend to lodge a report at the Police Complaints Authority today.

Asked about the photos in which Roberts was seen posing with high-powered rifles and wads of cash, one family member said that it was not their business what he did or did not do.

“Everybody has to live out here you know,” the relative said.

Roberts, police said, was wanted for murder and possession of high-powered weapons and ammunition. Mitlan was recently released from prison. He was also a suspect in several gun-related murders.

According to a police report, at about 7.15 am officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force were conducting anti-crime exercises when they went to search a house at Seventh Avenue, Malick.

As the officers were approaching the house, the police report, said, they were fired upon. The officers returned fire, shooting and wounding two men. The injured men were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said they recovered two revolvers and several spent shells at the scene.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said he has instructed that the land which was “granted” to acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodat Dulalchan by letter in Felicity “be terminated.”

Three people have been suspended pending an investigation by the Public Service Commission into the issue of the land— Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Angela Siew, Commissioner of State Lands Paula Drakes and the Deputy Commissioner of State Lands Bhanmatie Seecharan.

Rambharat told the T&T Guardian yesterday that he has been informed that an investigator had been appointed to probe the matter but he had personally not been contacted on the investigation.

Asked what would happen with the parcel of land which Dulalchan had been granted in Chatoorie Street, Felicity, the Minister said: “He was given a letter and in that case, he has been out in the public. I read what he has been saying. But I have also given instructions that whatever was granted to him that it be terminated.”

Dulalchan was selected by the Police Service Commission as the top nominee for the post of Police Commissioner. A parliamentary Special Select Committee is examining the process used by the PSC in coming to that decision.

Whether the land will be returned to the Felicity four farmers who had been occupying the parcel of land previously, he said: “is a decision for Cabinet to make as part of it is dealing with a large block of land in that area.”

There was, he said, a second matter involving residential land. He said “it has to do with a residential parcel of land in Arouca. It does not involve Dulalchan. This involves a residential parcel and similarly permission to occupy being given by letter.” He had also directed that that be terminated.

Asked if this was normal, he said,“absolutely not.”

He said for what had happened in both cases “there must be serious breaches of procedure and practice for that to happen. That is unprecedented action in my experience.”

Both matters brought to his attention “raised red flags for me. Both matters were shocking to me and caused me to conduct an investigation and it was on the basis of those investigations, I submitted the report to the Prime Minister.” In that report, dated February 1, Rambharat told the PM he had “lost trust,” in the senior officials.

The investigation was prompted by a letter which Rambharat got from farmer Selvin Mahabir who indicated that he had occupied the land in Felicity for close to 14 years which had been given to Dulalchan and felt he had a right to the continued occupation. Investigators from the Ministry were assigned to probe the matter.

Dulalchan registered as a farmer with Agriculture Ministry’s County Caroni Extension on October 2, 2017. This was days after he obtained approval to occupy the State Land.

Farmers Satesh Maraj, Bhola Ramdass, Dindi Tarbanie and Mahabir were said to be displaced as a result of Dulalchan being granted the State Land at the Bernard Road Food Project.

The three senior officers were subsequently suspended. He said it appeared that the approval of the land to Dulalchan “had been fast-tracked and that proper procedures were not adhered to.”

Rambharat admitted he was “shocked because it is quite a process especially when you consider the backlog that we have and the way in which things take a long time.”

He said he himself had been complaining about the bureaucracy, “things take so long to happen and then I see things happen very quickly and it is not something that brings me satisfaction.” He said: “I feel if things could be expedited and it could be done quickly it should be done for everybody.”

It was on that basis, he said, that he launched the investigation.

Asked how the issues relating to land had been affected by the suspensions, he said, the Deputy PS Farook Hosein has been acting as Permanent Secretary and senior public officers at the land management division had been handling matters in the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands.

Pending the outcome of the investigation into the trio’s suspension, he said, “the Public Service Commission is looking at making recommendations for appointment to get somebody to act,” he had been following up regularly to ensure that the situation is addressed.

Rambharat said he had been working to “make sure that what we have in place was very clear,” to ensure that proper procedures were followed.”

He said he has a meeting every Thursday after Cabinet that involves the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, PS, Deputy PS and from time to time other ministers are invited, people from the EMA, maybe the Regional Corporation and Town and Country, depending on what we dealing with.”

Matters relating to land, he said, “require a collaborative approach, by collaborating we ensure that we follow a particular process and procedure. All these matters have to go to Cabinet. That is the oversight that is involved, given what happened.”

The two children who survived the La Brea quadruple murders have been getting counselling to help deal with the trauma.

Their father, Ronsworth Chapman, told the T&T Guardian yesterday that as his children, ages 12 and eight respectively, did not know when the horrible murders of their mother Abigail Jones Chapman, their sister Olivia, their landlord Michael Scott and their sister’s friend Michaela Mason had taken place even though they were in the upstairs apartment where the crime was committed.

Chapman said the children Kacey and Amy were taken from Scott’s apartment before the bodies were found and taken to his home in La Brea.

On Wednesday afternoon, he said he sat them down, together with relatives and church members and told them of the deaths. He said while they cried and will cry more in the coming weeks, they were coping well.

He said the counsellors attached to the Police Service’s Victim and Witness Support Unit visited them on Wednesday. As he organised to have the funerals done next week, the children were spending time at a relative’s home.

“They know it is a loss, but they will not be able to fully assess what has transpired,” Chapman said.

He smiled as he spoke about Olivia, saying she was a very likeable and fun-loving person who would make any group of people laugh.

“She was a young lady with a lot of potential to accomplish a lot of incredible things. She loved music, she liked drawing and she started from a very young age. She has been swimming at the indoor arena in Point Fortin since primary school.”

Describing the murders as unfortunate, he said: “When I looked at the history of things, this should not have happened.”

He said he saw the suspect a few times at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in La Brea and never thought he was capable of such violence.

On Tuesday, La Brea police discovered the bodies of Jones-Chapman, Olivia, Mason and Scott at inside an apartment at Khani Settlement, Sobo Village, La Brea.

A group of men who worked with Scott reported to police that they went to Scott’s home after numerous calls to his phone went unanswered. When Woman Sgt Taitt and Cpl Ramsaran, arrived at the house, they found Jones-Chapman’s other two children, Kacy, 12 and Amy, eight, in Scott’s apartment.

They forced open the door to Jones-Chapman’s apartment and found Scott’s body was slumped behind the door with his head bashed in. Jones-Chapman, 41, a Spanish and Physical Education teacher at the Southern Academy of the Seventh Day Adventist, La Romaine and Olivia, 16, a Point Fortin East Secondary School student, were found beaten to death in the living room. Mason, 14, in the kitchen with her throat slit.

The family of the lone suspect wanted for the murders of Abigail Jones-Chapman, her daughter Olivia Chapman, landlord Michael Scott and friend Michaela Mason, is hoping that he is caught alive.

Up the yesterday, the suspect, whose alias was “Snake Man,” had not been found by police. Relatives believe he may be hiding in East Trinidad.

Homicide and National Security Ministry investigators visited the suspect’s family in Gonzales Village, Guapo yesterday as they continued their search.

Anthony Mathison said while he heard that his relative was responsible for the murders, he couldn’t say what happened or why.

Mathison said the suspect’s mother fell ill almost immediately after learning of Tuesday’s murders and his alleged involvement. When the T&T Guardian visited the home, officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, were taking a statement from the suspect’s mother.

“She is just taking it on, worrying up herself. She has a goitre and she is worried. I am too, I am worried and shocked by it. I was not expecting this so I don’t know I can’t say. Since he left here, I have not heard anything from him. We are not getting in contact with him and his phone is off so it has to be something, but only God knows what,” Mathison said.

He said the suspect only came to the family home on occasions as he was staying with Jones-Chapman’s apartment at Khani Settlement, Sobo Village, La Brea.

He said the suspect was a mason but last worked as a security officer. He confirmed to the officers that they had family in Lopinot and Arima, along Pinto Road, Demerara Road and Jacob Hill.

A Customs Officer was yesterday charged for allegedly receiving a package containing US$149,960 in cash.

According to a police report, the money was concealed in seven packs of Haynes vests.

The seizure took place at the Amerijet Caribbean Express Bond in Piarco.

The Grade II Customs and Excise officer with over 13 years of service, identified as Radesh Ramnath, 44, of Penal, allegedly went to the Bond just after noon on Monday to collect a package which originated from North America.

The officer was charged with importation of prohibited goods and importation of concealed goods to deceive Customs officials.

A 35-year-old man was killed and his girlfriend shot while they were walking along a road in Enterprise on Wednesday night.

The man identified as Avinesh Boodoo, who was shot multiple times died while undergoing emergency treatment at the Chaguanas District Health Facility. His girlfriend, whose name has been withheld by police, was shot in the knee. She was treated at the health facility.

According to a police report, at about 11.30 pm, Boodoo and his friend were walking along Bynoe Trace, Enterprise, when they were confronted by and shot by the gunman. The gunman managed to escape. 

Senior Counsel Martin Daly says the decision by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to seek the interpretation of the courts in determining the question of sabbatical leave for judges “is a very sensible and necessary decision,” given that it is “not simply a question of whether the CJ has that term and condition,” but “whether judges both present and future will have that condition.”

He said once something is awarded to the judges it cannot be taken back and the ramifications could be very costly, adding “that is a very sensible decision and I am very satisfied with that.”

However, he said he believed it was the “only course of action open to the Prime Minister because a genuine dispute had arisen about whether it is or is not part of the terms and conditions of the judges,” and the only place it can “authoritatively be determined is the court.”

On the issue of the vacation leave, Daly said the Prime Minister’s surprise at the 35 weeks accumulated leave the CJ claimed to have entitlement to was understandable. He said while it is written in law and laid down in black and white, “it is difficult to see how you could have an allocation, given what is written in law, how you could have nine months inside unless you were accumulating leave apparently in defiance against the prohibition of accumulation.”

Unlike other senior counsels who spoke with the T&T Guardian, Daly was not surprised the PM did not move to invoke Section 137 of the Constitution.

“I don’t think the time for disclosure of 137 has arisen,” Daly said.

He explained that if the PM is going to move under Section 137, “there are some preliminary procedures and protocols that he has to observe and I don’t think we can expect him to tell us at this stage that he is going that route. He may be going that route, he may not, but I think it’s expecting too much for him to show his hand on that.”

But Daly said it was unclear whether the advice the PM sought from senior counsel separate from the Attorney General was “on 137 or something else. But I think it is entirely right, given all the things that the AG had been saying, that he take his own look.”

According to Daly it was “far too premature and ill-advised for the AG to keep saying that the threshold for 137 had not been reached.”

Daly would not go as far as saying the PM had no confidence in the AG, but said it was a “sign that the AG needed to be a bit more discreet with his pronouncements.”

Even though Chief Justice Ivor Archie has changed his sabbatical leave to vacation leave, Government is still seeking the courts’ interpretation on whether sabbatical is really an entitlement for judges.

And Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley now has a new concern for President Anthony Carmona to consider about Archie’s vacation leave — whether it’s lawful also.

Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing on Archie’s controversial sabbatical leave - the basis and authority for which Rowley has disputed with Carmona — Rowley said Cabinet had objected to Carmona granting Archie’s sabbatical leave without Cabinet authority.

And if the Chief Justice is going on extended vacation leave, we draw the attention of other office-holders that there are laws governing these developments,” the PM said.

Among reasons for seeking court ruling on the sabbatical issue, Rowley revealed, is conflicting legal advice. He said one set of senior counsel advice was received by the Attorney General and another was received by him.

He said the Cabinet was told yesterday the senior counsel advice the AG received showed there is a case for sabbatical leave to be accessed. But Rowley said (local) independent senior counsel advice which he received independently was different.

He refused to identify his SC, but said he was following the advice since the peculiarities of Section 137 — facilitating a probe to see if a chief justice has misbehaved in office — is an action to be taken by a prime minister alone.

He said he sought the independent advice but not in relation to Section 137. But Rowley noted the situation is unfolding.

Rowley said he wrote to Carmona again yesterday volunteering his advice on the matter and noting in his letter the sabbatical matter “is now a looming constitutional crisis.”

He said he also spoke to Archie, but added that in the new position of Archie’s vacation leave it was critical that “... both these officers take note of the written conditions laid down in law, in so far as use/access of leave by members of the judiciary, including the chief justice.”

He said the law spells out how leave should and shouldn’t be applied.

Rowley said he’d been taken aback by Carmona’s recent letter citing the SRC’s report as the basis for the sabbatical leave. He said the terms/conditions for office holders paid by the Exchequer require such authority for payments lying with the Cabinet. He said the SRC report favoured the sabbatical “in principle,” but it wasn’t part of SRC’s specific recommendations.

Rowley said according to the advice he got, there’s no provision for sabbatical by the SRC. Therefore, he said Cabinet felt there’s no authority to allow the CJ to go on sabbatical.

“Had he proceeded there would have been consequences of one kind or another,” Rowley hinted.

After Cabinet discussions on the matter, he said it was felt the President had no authority to arrogate power unto himself himself, nor had the CJ authority to change the terms of any judge.

“Such authority lies with the executive and as head I’ll guard that zealously,”Rowley declared.

“This development was wholly unnecessary and needs to be dealt with frontally and decisively.”Rowley said he therefore told Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi to take steps to have the courts interpret the sabbatical issue to clarify - in the face of contrary opinion - whether there’s legitimate expectation of anyone in the judiciary to access it.

Carmona’s letter to Rowley on the issue had said Archie had legitimate expectation on the sabbatical.

Rowley particularly cited Archie’s statement - on changing sabbatical to vacation leave - which indicated the CJ was reserving his option to access sabbatical leave.

So the sabbatical story is still alive. In light of what the President and Chief Justice acted upon in this, it’s imperative it be clarified,” he said, adding Archie was causing the matter to be tested.

Rowley said the court aspect didn’t mean suing anyone, but seeking ruling. He added the sabbatical was about changing terms/conditions and there was a “serious cost” on terms/conditions of state employees and that authority lies with the executive.

Asked if the court ruling will have any potential impact on any decision by Rowley on Section 137, he said, “Not that I know if. It’s meant to ensure no ambiguity with accessing sabbatical leave by members of the judiciary.”

On whether it would be a conflict if judges in courts ruled on such a matter affecting judges, he said there’s a “court of last resort” to deal with such issues.

CHALLENGE TO CJ VACATION

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley Rowley yesterday said the matter of Chief Justice Ivor Archie's vacation application is purely in the realm of President Anthony Carmona to determine whether the law on terms/conditions of vacation is observed by those accessing and granting such leave.

He said Cabinet has no role in Archie applying for vacation. However, he said he had noted to Carmona in his letter, the law that applies to terms/conditions for members of the judiciary.

"It's for them to conduct themselves according to the law," he added.

Rowley's letter to Carmona noted Archie's claim to using a portion of his vacation entitlement based "upon his purported entitlement to accumulated leave of 35 weeks."

Rowley added, "I trust that as a judge, the honourable Chief Justice and Your Excellency, both in our current office and as a former member of the higher judiciary, have borne in mind the provisions of Section 3 of the Judges' Salaries and Pensions Act and Section 6 of the Judges (Conditions of Service and Allowances) Regulations (No 2) regarding respectively the definition of 'judge' and the accumulation of vacation entitlements."

Rowley said he trusted Carmona has or in due course will receive a new request from Archie to go on vacation leave on the basis of accumulated leave and that there will be a recommendation for an acting CJ.

Rowley added, "I await your invitation to consult on this recent development ..."

The T&T Guardian understands that Carmona has been reviewing the CJ's new request to go on accumulative leave after he received the correspondence on Tuesday. Supreme Court judges said yesterday that it was unusual for judges to accumulate leave since their vacation coincides with the court's vacation.

The PM also said yesterday that he'd received no complaint on Archie in the context of Section 137. Whether he still has confidence in Archie serving as CJ, he said when that changes, he'd let people know.

Rowley said the situation wasn't a constitutional crisis, but if not properly handled by those duty bound to handle such matters, it can "get out of control."

He said one way or other there'll be a CJ or acting CJ for Monday's swearing-in of the new President Paula-Mae Weeks. (See Page A5)

On Carmona's tenure Rowley said (with a laugh), "We survived it.. I don't want to be the person marking that paper...sometimes you need historical perspective..."

The distribution of public invitations for Monday’s inauguration of T&T’s first female President Paula-Mae Weekes is said to be “slow” but Members of Parliament are hoping that it increases over this weekend.

T&T Guardian understands that all MPs were given 50 invitations each to distribute to their respective constituents to attend the ceremony, which will be held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim said not everyone seemed interested in attending the event but added that he found that “mostly women accepted invitations, due to it being the first female President.”

“I distributed 30 to the councillors, three were given to staff and 17 will be distributed to the general public over the weekend,” Karim said.

Couva North MP, Ramona Ramdial said that as a woman, she is happy to witness the inauguration of T&Ts first female President.

“It’s history in the making, just like it was in 2010 when the country elected its first female Prime Minister. For all young girls and women aspiring to high public office this is definitely a boost,” Ramdial said.

“Once again the glass ceiling has been shattered with respect to the Office of President, which has been male dominated in the past. I also wish to see Madame President tackle the most pressing problem for women these days which is domestic violence and abuse; education and awareness; training and legislative reform is required to deal with the issue,” she added.

Ramdial said she passed on the invitations to her councillors for distribution but admitted that not many people came forward showing an interest.

“Probably over the weekend people will decide. Only about five persons would have taken to attend so far. The invite is for 10 am on Monday, so for many that time is hard with school and work, et cetera,” Ramdial said.

Weekes was elected unopposed by the Electoral College comprising members of the House of Representatives and the Senate as the country’s sixth President on January 19 and received her instrument of election at a brief ceremony at the Parliament Chamber on January 27.

Members of the public who want to witness the historic inauguration have been advised by the Office of the President that they must present an invitation for the function.

Invitations are available at the offices of the 41 MPs, or at the box offices of the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa) and Southern National Academy for the Performing Arts (Sapa).

The dress code for the inauguration ceremony is formal wear or business attire.Members of the public with invitations will be accommodated at the North Stand of the Savannah.

Gates to the entrance for the public will open at 7 am on Monday. The inauguration ceremony starts at 10 am and all guests are required to be seated by 9 am.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday queried if lands at the St Augustine Nurseries which have been earmarked for a Government housing project has been transferred to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

She said she did a search on the land registry website but found nothing, as she came to the conclusion that Government wanted to keep the terms and condition of those lands a secret.

Persad-Bissessar raised the issue during her contribution of the Registration of Titles to Land Bill, stating that she did several online searches on the website to find out if the Commissioner of State Lands had transferred the nurseries lands to the HDC, as this would have been mandated by Cabinet, following the decision by the Government recently to use the land to build houses.

“So when you talk about condominiums in Aranquez is that what you want to build at the nurseries? Is that you do not want me to see what are the terms of that particular document that I cannot search it even on the electronic site. It cannot be found.”

Persad-Bissessar also pointed out several clauses of the bill the Government claimed they amended, showed no substance.

She said she had serious concerns with Clause 20 Section 73.

In the past, Persad-Bissessar said the clause stated that “any person” could have gone to the land registry and look at land documents manually, which has since been changed to an “attorney” who they would now have to pay to do a title search.

“What you have done you have made an amendment so they can do an electronic search. The system is not working. And up to today, I tried. I tried last week. I tried before I come. It is a hit and miss. Which poor family has a computer to run a search? So you remove that right of the honorary citizens? Why are we propping up the lawyers to make more on poor people who want a search?”

Persad-Bissessar said every citizen should be allowed to have access to the manual records at the land registry.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodat Dulalchan is adopting a wait and see approach following a decision by the Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat to reclaim several acres of State land in Felicity which was granted to Dulalchan by the Commissioner of State Lands.

In an interview yesterday, Dulalchan declined any comment on the matter.

“You will realise that all through this last month and a half I have not been saying anything and I will just leave it at that for the time being,” when asked to comment.

Asked whether he had been asked to vacate the land which he had fenced, Dulalchan again declined comment saying only “let’s wait and see how things play out.”

He declined to comment on whether he was under investigation or whether the allegations had affected his job.

“I serving the country for the last almost 38 years to the best of my ability,” and had given “my all to the service.”

Dulalchan emerged as the top nominee of the Police Service Commission for the job of Commissioner of Police after a lengthy and expensive process. A parliamentary Special Select Committee is examining the process used by the PSC in coming to that decision.

Asked whether he felt that the recommendation had anything to do with the complaint made against him to Rambharat by farmers who had been occupying the land, Dulalchan again declined comment.

He said he remained focused on his job which was to protect and serve the people of this country.

“I have a couple more years to give and I will continue to work assiduously,” he said.

Dulalchan said he was committed “to continue to give of my best because I believe I have a duty to support all the police officers from top to bottom because we have a job to reduce crime and to reduce the fear of crime in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Three top officials have been suspended pending an investigation by the Public Service Commission into the issue of the land, which was “granted” to Dulalchan by letter—Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Angela Siew, Commissioner of State Lands Paula Drakes and the Deputy Commissioner of State Lands Bhanmatie Seecharan.

BACKGROUND INFO

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, in an interview on Thursday, said for land to have been allocated by a letter “there must be serious breaches of procedure and practice for that to happen. That is unprecedented action in my experience.”

Red flags were raised when Rambharat received a letter from farmer Selvin Mahabir who indicated that he had occupied the land in Felicity which had been given to Dulalchan, for close to 14 years and felt he had a right to the continued occupation. Investigators from the Ministry were assigned to probe the matter.

Rambharat subsequently submitted a report to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in which he indicated that he had “lost trust” in the officers. It was on the basis of that report that the three officials were suspended.

Dulalchan registered as a farmer with Agriculture Ministry’s County Caroni Extension on October 2, 2017. Days after he obtained approval to occupy the State land.

Farmers Satesh Maraj, Bhola Ramdass, Dindi Tarbanie and Mahabir were said to be displaced as a result of Dulalchan being granted the State Land at the Bernard Road Food Project. But whether the land will be returned to the farmers, Rambharat said: “Is a decision for Cabinet to make as part of it is dealing with a large block of land in that area.”

More than 10,000 chairs have been laid out for the inauguration ceremony of the country’s first female President Paula-Mae Weekes on Monday at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

These seats will be for members of the public, politicians, members of the Judiciary, Cabinet ministers, Opposition members, diplomats, officials from various Government ministries and Weekes’ family and friends.

Confirmation came from the ceremony’s events manager Brinsley McKay who up to yesterday was busy putting measures in place for the 90-minute ceremony at the Savannah yesterday.

At least 90 per cent of work has already been completed with the remaining ten per cent to be completed by Sunday night for the historic swearing-in ceremony.

Four large screens, two each on the North and Grand Stands, were installed for viewing by attendees, while the front of the North Stand was draped with the national colours of red, white and black.

Work crews from the National Carnival Commission were seen mopping, sweeping, dusting and placing chairs on the stands.

The Grand and North Stands, McKay said, can each accommodate 5,000 guests, but will be “catering for over 10,0000 people for this historic event.”

At the start of the ceremony, McKay said the Defence Force will welcome the arrival of Chief Justice Ivor Archie, (by then) outgoing President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who will be seated on a small metal stage which has already been erected in front of the Grand Stand.

A salute will be taken for “His Excellency Anthony Carmona” which will be followed by the National Anthem, invocation and the Bishop Anstey High School and the All SAaints Anglican Church choirs will deliver a medley of songs. The President-elect is a former student of Bishop’s and she was a former Chancellor of the Anglican Church.

McKay said Weekes will be seated by 10 am among special guests in the executive area of the North Stand which has already been lined with gold and red fabric upholstered chairs.

Weekes will join the PM, CJ and Carmona on stage to be sworn in as the country’s sixth President, following which there would be a parade and a guard of honour by the Defence Force with the national flag flying in the background.

Thereafter, McKay said, Weekes will deliver her maiden speech, which is expected to be the longest part of the programme.

For the past three weeks, McKay has been working around the clock with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, Defence Force and President’s Office for a smooth flow of the ceremony.

McKay and Office of the President communications adviser Theron Boodan were unable to say how many people received invitations for the historic event.

“All invitations have gone out at NAPA, SAPA, the Port-of Spain City Corporation and MPs in their respective constituencies. I can’t say how many invitations were sent out,” McKay said.

McKay said preparations for the event have been going according to plans “so we expect everything to be in place for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony.”

UNC MP Rudy Indarsingh yesterday lost out on his bid to have Parliament’s Privileges team investigate PNM MP Anthony Garcia who Indarsingh claimed cursed him in the Parliament’s tearoom recently.

House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George said a prima facie case had not been made out to facilitate an investigation by the Privileges Committee.

In a letter on the matter to the Speaker yesterday, Couva South MP Indarsingh said the alleged incident occurred in the Parliament’s tearoom last Friday before the Parliament session began.

He claimed Garcia displayed “threatening intimidating behaviour” towards him and he was verbally assaulted by Garcia as he dealt with the issue of the closure of the Balmain Presbyterian School.

Indarsingh said Garcia’s threatening language and abusive behaviour fell beneath the standard of conduct for MPs and was “regretful and reprehensible.”

But Annisette-George, in her ruling said, “I have read the submission of the Couva South MP and the accompanying attachments. I have also noted the reports on this incident that have been published in the media.”

“I have given serious consideration to this matter. I have also carefully reviewed the relevant literature on cases like this. Further, I have taken particular note of the fact that the Member for Couva South admitted in his submission that, without hesitance, he responded to the Member for Arima in an appropriate fashion so as to protect himself.”

“In the circumstances, I find no prima case of breach of privilege in this matter,” she said. 

A Caribbean Airlines (CAL) aircraft that will be put as an addition to its airbridge fleet is expected to arrive this weekend.

According to CAL’s head of corporate communications, Dionne Ligoure, the aircraft will operate daily and will provide 1,088 extra seats.

Over 400 ferry passengers have been accommodated in CAL flights in the first two days of its collaborative effort.

This was confirmed by the T&T Inter-Island Transportation Company’s Manager, Marketing & Public Relations Vilma Lewis–Cockburn.

In a release, Lewis-Cockburn noted that on Tuesday 195 ferry passengers were flown from Port-of-Spain to Tobago while 100 were put on flights from Tobago to Port-of-Spain.

On Wednesday, 52 passengers were accommodated on flights to Tobago, while 112 were brought to Piarco.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian very briefly during a telephone conversation, Lewis-Cockburn said “operations are running good at this time.”

“The Port Authority is grateful to Caribbean Airlines for accommodating all persons with confirmed ferry tickets at this time,” Lewis-Cockburn stated in the release.

A video released to social media yesterday showed vehicles still parked in the Cabo Star cargo vessel at the Port-of-Spain Port. A male voice narrated that the vehicles were unable to be driven out upon docking of the vessel yesterday morning by its respective drivers as they were still awaiting on standby for flights to Port-of-Spain from Tobago.

CAL issued a release yesterday giving a breakdown of domestic operations for Thursday:

It said:

The total number of flights operated: 40

• The total number of seats provided: 2,892

• Total number of confirmed ferry passengers transported: 268

• Actual number of passengers carried 2,653 of this figure 1,286 were stand-by passengers

It said by the end of yesterday, it was projected that 48 flights will operate, providing 3,436 seats.

Today 36 flights will operate, providing 2,448 seats and tomorrow there will be 44 flights, with 3,300 seats.

Ligoure reiterated that its domestic operations have been enhanced to support the number of passengers affected by the disruption of the ferry service, “and to reinforce its regular schedule on the air bridge.”

“The airline continues to operate its core schedule and is also adding seats daily to facilitate seamless travel between T&T,” she added.

The Port Authority and the airline are expected to continue its collaboration until March 22 to ensure that persons holding confirmed ferry tickets are accommodated on CAL flights.

The Port Authority’s representatives also remain posted at both the Piarco International Airport and the ANR Robinson International Airport from 7 am to 7 pm to assist customers.

MORE INFO

To access air travel with the confirmed ferry ticket, customers are advised to use the following process:
• Step 1–Confirmed Ferry ticket in hand
• Step 2– Check in at airports
• Passengers only–Go directly to the Caribbean Airlines Domestic Counter and present Ferry ticket- Valid photo ID required
• Passengers with vehicle–Check in at PoS or Scarborough Passenger Terminal
• Place vehicle on Cabo Star–Berth #3, Dock Road, PoS or vehicle area at Port of Scarborough
• Access PTSC bus at GSS PoS or Scarborough Passenger Terminal
• Check–in at Piarco or ANR International Airport
• Step 3– Airport await flights to/from Tobago
• Step 4–Boarding
• Step 5–Arrival at destination

Three police officers from the La Brea Police Station have been suspended pending an investigation into their alleged failure to investigate a domestic violence report filed by murdered teacher Abigail Jones-Chapman.

The T&T Police Service sent out a release yesterday confirming the suspension with immediate effect of Sgt Rosalie Joseph-Taitt, Cpl Vierendra Ramlal and WPC Nailah Homer while an investigation is being conducted by the Professional Standards Bureau.

The release said acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams made the decision after reviewing a complaint from Jones-Chapman’s family and record from the station.

“Commissioner of Police (Ag.), Stephen Williams, on Thursday 15th March, 2018, requested from the Assistant Commissioner of Police—South, copies of all reports, statements and all relevant documents relating to the investigation of a report made by Abigail Jones-Chapman, at the La Brea Police Station, on March 8th, 2018,” the release said.

“These reports, statements and documents were perused and the Commissioner of Police has suspended from duty, with immediate effect, No 13381 W/Sgt Rosalie Joseph-Taitt; No 16835 Cpl Vierendra Ramlal and No 19496 WPC Nailah Homer, pending the completion of an investigation into an allegation of neglect of duty, to be conducted by the Professional Standards Bureau.”

Jones-Chapman, 41, was one of four people who were killed in Sobo Village, La Brea, on Tuesday. Her daughter Olivia, 16, her friend Michaela Mason,14, and landlord Michael Scott, 70, were also discovered dead in an apartment building at Kanhai Settlement. It is believed that Scott, who lived upstairs, heard a commotion and went to the other three victims’ assistance but was also killed.

Scott and Jones-Chapman were beaten to death, Olivia was beaten and stabbed and Michaela’s throat was slit.

Five days before these horrific murders, Jones-Chapman had reported to the police that she was assaulted and threatened by the suspect, whom she had once shared a close relationship. Her mother Christine Jones said the suspect, who lives at Guapo, attacked her daughter with a knife. Jones said the suspect also told her daughter the fate of Margaret Ragoobar-Gueverra, who was killed by a relative who also tried to kill himself in Sangre Grande last month, should have been hers. Jones said Olivia had berated the suspect after the incident last Thursday. She said the police told her daughter they were going to pick up the suspect, but they never did.

Meanwhile, in its own release on the matter yesterday, the Police Complaints Authority said it had noted the TTPS’ decision to suspend the officers for alleged neglect of duty in dealing with Jones-Chapman’s report.

Noting it will continue to monitor the case, the it said: “The PCA hopes that the expeditiousness displayed by the Acting Police Commissioner will be emulated by officers who are expected to act in relation to reports, including those concerning domestic violence.”

Several calls to Jones’ cellphone yesterday for a comment on the latest police action went unanswered.

The suspect also remains on the run.

Seales: Time for national discussio

Police Social and Welfare Association president Michael Seales says they stand ready to support the officers who have been suspended. However, he admitted last night that they had little information on the circumstances behind the decision.

“What the association has learned so far is that those officers would have done their duty and they would have sought legal advice and would have also submitted a file to their seniors,” Seales said in a telephone interview.

“What the association finds passing strange is that the officers themselves have been suspended. What the association wants to now do is to particularly partner and call on the Law Association for some suggested ways to respond to these issues of domestic violence. The association is satisfied that what has been put in place for a police officer to respond to, in terms of procedures and protocols, is not adequate enough for when mere threats are made, for what can happen after that in relation to an investigation and if at all you can subsequently charge the person that has perpetrated the offence.”

He said the association believes domestic abuse should be discussed at the national level, adding they are willing to work with the Law Association to show the public “from the position of the policemen how their hands are tied behind their backs in relation to the adequate response to the issue and not only an adequate response to the issue, but how the law impacts on that response.”

He said the association wants a meeting with Williams to discuss what led to his decision to suspend the officers.

The wife of murdered T&T Defence Force Sergeant Ken Palmer believes her husband would have been alive today had the police investigated previous reports against the alleged assailant.

Speaking at a relative’s home yesterday as she comforted her two children, Radica Pooran, 40, said for the past four years her husband had been provoked and harassed by the alleged assailant and they had made several reports to the police.

“They (police) did not do enough, otherwise this would not have happened,” she said.

Palmer, 42, who had 20 years service, was shot several times following an altercation at his Rampersad Trace, Dalloo Road, Gasparillo home around 6.15 pm on Thursday. Another man related to the suspect was also shot and is in a critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Wiping away tears as she recalled the incident, Pooran said her husband was provoked. She said the suspect stopped his car on the road and asked her husband, ‘What you looking at? Yuh see something to look at?’ She said her husband replied, ‘I not on allyuh today boy, I not on that.’ She said the suspect reversed the car, pulled out a blade and attacked her husband.

“Ken tried to brakes, he ran under the house and took up a piece of iron to defend himself. There were three other brothers who also came and saw him (Ken) with the iron, they came with bottles and boulders and started to launch shots at Ken.”

Pooran, who was on the steps looking on with their children, said, “Ken tried to defend himself with the iron, but one of the brothers jumped on him and he couldn’t move the iron any more and the one with the blade thought it wasn’t enough, so he ran home straight into his mother’s house and came out with the gun. He didn’t stop to do anything, when he ran out with the gun he just keep shooting, shooting until he reach up on him.

“When he reach up on him Ken didn’t have any way at all to cover himself from the shots, it was in plain sight, it was then and there he shot him and his brother because his brother was in front of Ken cuffing him.”

She said when her husband got the first shot he told her to take the children inside. As she was rushing up the steps, she saw her husband fall to the ground. She said the assailant also fired three shots at her, but missed her.

“They (the assailant) always thought he would do something so they always threatening him, throwing talk and molesting him, but he never do nothing, he never rush out to do them anything.”

She said the harassment started four years ago with the cutting of her water line. She claimed in 2006 the assailant also robbed her. Pooran also complained that when she went to the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, a female regiment officer took her husband’s national identification card and gave it to her husband’s relatives, whom she does not share a good relationship. She later viewed her husband’s body, but claimed the regiment officer told her the military was taking control of his body.

“I understand that they have to do military rites for his funeral, but you can’t tell me that the military taking over and he has a common law wife with two kids.”

Up to midday yesterday, she said no one from the military had contacted her. She described her husband as a very caring, helpful joyful person who did not deserve to die. She said her husband was planning to celebrate their daughter’s birthday next week and to discussiontake the children to visit their sick grandfather in the US.

Contacted yesterday, Defence Force senior public affairs officer, Flight Lieutenant Monique Sprott, said the wife’s complaints would be investigated. Sprott confirmed Palmer’s military identification card was in the military’s possession. She added that the T&T Defence Force empathises with the family and was working with them to arrive at a solution that is comforting to all. She also expressed condolences to the family on behalf of the TTDF.

The office of Chief Justice Ivor Archie remained silent yesterday on just how he was able to accumulate more than nine months vacation leave, which runs contrary to the regulations governing salaries and pensions for judges which specifically states vacation leave cannot be accumulated.

Archie’s office issued a press release this week indicating he had withdrawn his application for six months sabbatical leave and would instead be proceeding on 35 weeks unutilised vacation leave, part of which would be used for his intended sabbatical in Washington DC.

But members of the legal fraternity have questioned how the man who heads the judiciary could have accumulated so much leave, since he ought to know the law better than anyone else.

Archie, who took the oath in January 2008, is currently embroiled in a number of controversies and became the first sitting CJ to institute legal action against the Law Association, which represents the thousands of lawyers in the country. That matter, involving an investigation into allegations in the public domain against Archie, will be heard in the Court of Appeal on April 10.

Yesterday, Martin Daly SC said this appeal now takes on significant relevance. He said “if restraints are lifted,” at the end of the day the Law Association may recommend “strongly and publicly to the Prime Minister that he needs to invoke 137 of the Constitution, so in the scheme of things that appeal is a most important event.”

But there is currently a controversy about the accumulated leave.

Senior attorneys told the T&T Guardian that for Archie to have accumulated so much leave, it would have meant that in the ten years he has served as Chief Justice “he has been acting in breach of the regulations which govern such leave.”

Efforts to get responses from Archie’s office were unsuccessful. Emailed questions to Court Protocol and Information Manager Alicia Carter-Fisher seeking answers on whether the CJ had to work through the prescribed vacation periods and if so, whether she could provide details went unanswered.

Members of the judiciary and the legal profession told the T&T Guardian the CJ should clear the air on how he could have accumulated so much leave.

Daly said he was concerned about “the startling claim that he has a number of days inside or weeks inside that amount to eight or nine months and that is very startling because if you add up all the leave to which he is entitled, on the most generous construction you don’t arrive at nine months.”

What it means, he said, is that the CJ “must have in his calculation leave that he carried forward or accumulated from previous years and Regulation 6:02 says that you can’t accumulate leave.”

Avory Sinanan SC said he agreed Archie needed to clear the air on the issue given what the regulations prescribe.

Regulation 6:02, which deals with judges’ conditions of terms and service, details that in addition to Christmas and Easter vacation, judges of the Court of Appeal are entitled to six weeks vacation per annum and in the case of a Puisne Judge four to six weeks vacation per annum respectively in alternate years.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has written to President Anthony Carmona reminding him of the regulations. In his letter dated March 15, 2018, the PM said, “I trust that, as a Judge, the Honourable Chief Justice, and Your Excellency both in your current office and as a former member of the Higher Judiciary, have borne in mind the provisions of section 3 of the Judges Salaries and Pensions Act and section 6 of the Judges (Conditions of Service and Allowances) Regulations (No. 2) regarding respectively the definition of “Judge” and the accumulation of vacation entitlements.”

The T&T Guardian understands the President has sought legal advice on the issue in light of the PM’s letter. Efforts to find out whether the President had responded to the PM yesterday were also unsuccessful.

Seven people were killed in less than 24 hours between Thursday night and yesterday evening, taking the murder toll to 117 for the year.

In Arima, police said at about 9 am yesterday, residents heard several gunshots at Ackbarali Street, Malabar.

Police who were called to the area found Dexter “Satan” Keegan, 43, bleeding from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Arima District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said Keegan was well-known to them and he was a suspect in several murder cases and was also wanted in connection with firearm offences.

Earlier in the day, two men were shot dead while at Windy Hill, Arouca. They were identified as Lyndon Sutherland and Shervon Clarke. Sutherland, police said, had addresses in Arouca and San Juan. A motive is yet to be determined for the double murder, but police believe it is gang-related.

Shortly after 6 pm on Thursday in Gasparillo, soldier Sgt Ken Palmer, 42, was killed during an altercation with a male relative at his home at Rampersad Avenue, Dallo Road, Gasparillo.

Labourer ambushed, slain

Construction worker Samuel Mc Quilkin was gunned down as he drove into his driveway on Thursday night.

Police said Mc Quilkin, 37, of Swan Quarry Road, Valencia, died in his vehicle after he was shot in the chest and arm around 8.55 pm.

PCs Monsegue and Checkley, of Valencia Police Post, responded to reports from residents of gunshots in the area. When they arrived they found Mc Quilkin slumped behind the wheel of his white AD Wagon.

He had on his seat belt and the engine was still running.

A party of officers from the Sangre Grande station, led by ASP Renales and Insp Christopher Fuentes, of the Arouca Homicide Bureau Region II, and Cpl Randy Castillo also visited the scene.

Neighbours described Mc Quilkin as quiet person who is seldom seen about as he left home early and returned at night from work. He was separated from his wife and was living alone. Police said they have no motive for the killing, but believe he was ambushed.

Homicide officers from Arouca Region 11 is continuing investigation.

Mc Quilkin’s killing was one of seven within the space of 24 hours between Thursday evening and yesterday, taking the toll to 117.

Stabbed by co-worker

Police are investigating the murder of Kyle Bridgelal, 24, was allegedly stabbed by a worker during an argument yesterday.

Police said they received a call shortly after 4 pm of the incident, which occurred at Ajodha Road, Cunupia.

Dead after home invasion

Southern Division police are investigating the murder of 33-year-old Alex Loney.

According to reports, around 10.30 pm Loney’s mother, Laurel, was awakened from her sleep at their Winston Mahabir Street, Pleasantville home by her son’s screams. His screams were followed by two gunshots. Police said the mother became afraid and hid under her bed. About 15 minutes later, she checked in her son’s room and found him lying in a pool of blood. There was a gunshot wound to his head.

Police said Loney was known to them. He was the 15th murder victim in the division.

Work continued yesterday at the Queen's Park Savannah (QPS) to ready the venue for tomorrow's inauguration ceremony of T&T's first female President, Paula Mae Weekes.

Along with the 10,000 plus chairs that have been laid out and the national colours draping the bandstand, workmen were seen setting up tents along the concrete driveway that leads to the paved area where the historic 90-minute ceremony is due to take place.

Although the gates to the QPS remained locked yesterday, a handful of workers were seen wiping chairs and setting up other decorations in the North Stand.

Four large screens, two each on the North and Grand Stands, were installed for viewing by attendees, while the front of the North Stand has been draped with the national colours of red, white and black.

Officials said they will be catering for over 10,0000 people who wish to witness Weekes's installation.

Weekes, who will be seated by 10 am among special guests in the executive area of the North Stand, is expected to join the PM, CJ and Carmona on stage to be sworn in as the country’s sixth President shortly thereafter.

Following this, there would be a parade and a guard of honour by the Defence Force. Weekes will then deliver her maiden speech.—Anna-Lisa Paul