Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy John McIntyre believes legislative changes must be made if T&T and the rest of the Caribbean region have to successfully combat counter-terrorism and recruitment of ISIS foreign terrorist fighters.

Responding to questions from the media after donating two shallow search and rescue watercraft to the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation yesterday, McIntyre said counterterrorism was discussed at a meeting of all US ambassadors recently.

Saying he was very impressed with the full review that was done on regional counter-terrorism, McIntyre explained, “A lot of people were able to comment on it but the basis right now, the foundation is not up to the current situation and that’s why I think the laws have to change.”

Asked whether any agencies have been partnering with the US government to stop ISIS recruiting of foreign terrorist fighters, McIntyre said a full inter-agency approach was being undertaken to tackle this problem.

“I know there is a debate coming up, the ATA, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment, that was also a top topic for all of us, but with respect to Trinidad and Tobago, this is an island and a country of law and the solution to these problems is a legal solution. I think the Government, as well as the Opposition, has agreed that the current legal structure is not sufficient,” he said. (See other story)

He further explained, “When it comes to our efforts on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism, we have been working with the Government, the Opposition and the civil society and more, for quite a long time. It’s a full inter-agency approach, its always been that way but we can always do more and we will continue to do more on that front.”

Asked whether the talks were successful, McIntyre said yes.

“I think the response to the Carnival threat is a great example of the responsiveness as we noted in our press releases along with three other governments, we were very pleased with the work the Government did to disrupt that threat.”

With regard to the passage of the Anti-gang legislation, McIntyre said this was commendable.

“I think any time you change the legal structure to allow the authorities to have more tools at their disposal to deal with the issue, that’s great, as well as ensuring there’s civil society protection for those that are accused. That’s very very crucial but we understand, just like we in America, that crime can be a devastating effect on all, on a personal level, on an economic level and so I think that anytime you provide the authorities with tools, legal tools to do more, its critical and very beneficial,” he added.

He refused to say whether he was concerned about the tension between warring Rasta City and Muslim gangs in T&T, saying he did not want to comment on domestic security matters.

However, McIntyre described the partnership with the US government, T&T Government, Opposition and civil society as one of the best.

“You all have to realise we consider T&T a regional leader, it’s why we have to put so much effort in. It’s why we are here today on disaster response. We are your best long-term partner, we are here for the long haul, we are a partner, we are not trying to take stuff from you, we are your partner,” he said.

A 35-year-old mother of three, who had recently taken out a restraining order against a man she knew, was found dead in St James last night.

Police said there was a single gunshot wound to the head. Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is believed to have gone into hiding.

According to police reports, at about 8 pm officers acting on information received went to Dundonald Hill where they found the woman, who was identified as Nadine Smith. Smith was married five years ago.

Up to late last night investigators were still on the scene gathering details.

However, speaking to the T&T Guardian under strict anonymity, a close friend of Smith, who was very distraught, described Smith as a “gentle and loving soul”. She said Smith often attended church and was known as a “woman of serious faith”.

“She was the most humble person you would ever meet and her children were her world. She lived for them and to make them happy,” the friend said.

“It is so shocking and sad to know she had to go in this inhumane way.”

An investigating officer told T&T Guardian that Smith recently removed herself from an abusive relationship with a man she knew and added that she received several death threats afterwards.

Smith’s murder was recorded as No. 263 for the year thus far.

Investigations are continuing.

Fed-up of being neglected for years, residents of Laventille yesterday threatened to stage a major protest if their lingering plights are not addressed by their Laventille West Member of Parliament Fitzgerald Hinds.

The residents vented their concerns at Laventille Road in St Barb’s during a walkabout with the political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah yesterday.

Abdulah witnessed a number of issues they have been grappling with including deplorable roads, leaking pipelines, land erosion, lack of retaining walls, clogged drains and no bins for garbage disposal.

Abdulah said the MSJ proposed the social economy, where cooperatives can be established by the residents who have skills to do the work themselves, as one of the major complaints from residents was the lack of employment.

Taxi driver Nigel Cox voiced his displeasure at the state of the Laventille Road.

“We have been clamouring for the road…a lot of leaks and a lot of potholes. WASA digging up the road and not restoring it to its pristine condition,” Cox said.

Cox sent a message to the Government that if the road was not repaired for the new school term in September “there will be a massive protest. Hard to say, this it is a threat.”

Cox said the East-West corridor had been neglected by all governments, stating that the new acronym for MP was not Member of Parliament, but “Missing Person,” stating that this was what Hinds had become to them.

“We have been neglected for far too long and we can’t take it anymore.”

He said the PNM has been winning this seat for decades because of the elders’ vote but the youth can bring about change if they go to the polls.

“Let me tell you something…they (PNM) get accustomed giving people scrums. But the youth want the whole loaf of bread now. But after getting scrums for over 40 years it hard to give the whole bread. We don’t want no scrums again,” Cox said.

Carolyn John and Allison Bain, who live in the community, said with the rainy season in full swing they wondered when the drains will be cleared.

John pointed to one drain which not been cleaned in 43 years and claimed it was attributing to landslips.

But in response, Hinds said the issues raised “is not a static matter that can be resolved once and for all,” but was work in progress.

He said the matters raised by the residents can be tackled by Cepep, URP, corporation workers and employees of the Ministry of Works “and still the work is not being done which brings me to the general productivity malaise in this country.”

A Maloney man is moving to tackle the ongoing scourge of violence and extremism among the youths in his community by using theatre techniques to influence their behaviour and self-worth.

Derron Sandy, president of the Quays Foundation, was speaking yesterday at the official media launch of the Little Fire A Project to Counter Violence and Extremism at the Maloney Public Library in Maloney.

Sandy is hoping to inspire students at the Maloney Government Primary School.

Sandy, who was born and grew up in Maloney, is hoping to change the mindset of the youth through his programmes and change the stigma that has been attached to the community known as a criminal hotspot.

He said 35 students at the Maloney Government Primary School will benefit from the programme.

The programme, which costs approximately $120,000 and lasts six months, will cater to students 12 years and under. A total of 25 boys and eight girls were chosen to participate.

The participants will be facilitated by experienced theatre professionals, counsellors and motivational speakers. Other speakers will include soca artists and popular community leaders.

He said the students were chosen based on the recommendations of their teachers and the programmes will take part twice weekly after school.

“Little Fire as one of our theatre-based initiatives to directly seek intervention in the lives of about 30 high-needs children in the Maloney Government Primary School. I use the words high-needs instead of at-risk because as a poet I believe in the power of words. I believe that these children need a high level of creativity and ingenuity in order to begin to alleviate their impending risks,” he said.

Sandy said the programme will be replicated in other communities with Diego Martin possibly being the next region.

He said the students will have a Family Feud Event, that tests their knowledge on violence and extremism and a Wall Mural within the Maloney community.

“The Wall Mural, the message will define Little Fire as people doing their daily duties to contribute to a crime-free Maloney as a direct counter-narrative to extremism and a family storybook,” he said.

The programme will have four phases; Fire in the Heart, Fire in my House, Fire in my Community and Fire in my School.

Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy Adam Jagelski, who attended the event, said the embassy supported the initiative and urged members of the Maloney community to support the effort.

“The youths don’t have to grow up to be leaders. The youths are leaders now, we can give them opportunities and they will lead, we know this, we have seen this,” he said.

Jagelski said this was a good tool to give the youths an opportunity to deal with the trauma in their lives that life brings.

“I urge members of the community to jump in there and in partnership with the school and come together,” he said.

He said another reason was to give the youths the opportunity to see beyond and broaden their perspective.

Najja Copper, a teacher at the Maloney Government Primary for the past nine years, said the programme was a way for the students to express themselves and provide an outlet for them through theatre and arts.

Bail was yesterday denied to two Point Fortin men who were allegedly caught with three kilogrammes of marijuana in a car.

Sheldon Burnett, 38, a barber, and Marlon David, 50, a vendor, appeared before San Fernando Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

It is alleged that the officers attached to the Highway Patrol South stopped and searched a silver Nissan Sylphy, in which they were occupants, along M2 Ring Road, Debe, on June 16. The police allegedly found a black bag, containing three green plastic bags of marijuana in the car.

They were charged by PC Nathan Davis.

In his bail application, attorney Shalini Teekasingh said Burnett has nine children and no criminal record while David, a father of three, has previous matters for firearm, ammunition possession and marijuana offences.

Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan gave a description of the exhibits but he said the police could not check whether they had previous matters because the computer system was not working.

They were remanded into custody until Wednesday.

In the same court, security officer Anderson Legendre, 22, pleaded guilty to marijuana possession. He was arrested by PC Redhead who was on patrol with other officers on High Street, San Fernando, around 10.45 pm on June 16 when he observed Legendre glimpsing at them while walking away.

When confronted by PC Redhead, he said, “Yeah Boss, I have a lil knot.” When the officer found the marijuana, 28.4 grammes, in his pocket, he claimed he just bought the drugs to take to a reunion party.

Legendre told the magistrate he had stopped using marijuana but started back because he had relationship problems and also lost a child. Legendre, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence, was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine in two months or serve six months in prison.

Nation of Islam leader David Mohammed is challenging citizens to identify one practicing Muslim associated with a criminal gang in Laventille or any part of the country since Islam condemns criminality and gangsterism.

Mohammed threw out the challenge during an interview yesterday on CNC3’s Morning Brew show as he spoke about the ongoing conflict between the Rasta City gang and Muslim gang which has resulted in several killings within recent times.

Rasta City is reportedly based in Beetham Gardens and the Muslim Gang in Laventille.

In giving his views on the gangs, Mohammed said he did not believe that there was a war between them.

“You cannot have a legitimate war when you have conflict on two sides of a divide where they are not fighting for anything. Legitimate wars are fought over territory, real estate, land and resources.”

Mohammed said what has been unfolding was “ignorance and also illiteracy that are merged with a number of conditions within the society, particularly the economy and breakdown of the family. So I would not describe it as a war especially when most of these young individuals, whom some refer to as soldiers, are only killing members of their same army.”

Mohammed said the gangs are locked in a cycle of destruction, self-imposed genocide and self-hatred.

He said many people in Port-of-Spain can identify those who are associated with the Rasta City gang which the entire community seems to be embracing.

He put out a challenge to anyone “to show him one person who is a practicing Muslim who claims to be a member of a gang of Muslims. But no Muslim who is practising the faith claims to be part of any gang.”

He said Islam as a faith should not be associated with any kind of gangsterism because they congregate in societies, nations, movements or organisations but not gangs.

“The whole idea of coming together for criminal activity is condemned in Islam.”

Mohammed said when the Rasta City gang painted parts of Belmont in the red, yellow and green colours it was reported that there would be an all-out war after Ramadan.

“I rebuke the usage of the term Ramadan along with this petty gang violence on the street.”

He said the police was wrong to cover the colours since it represented the Ethiopian flag which symbolises unity of all African people.

“But it goes out in the media that that represents as war.”

Mohammed said there were seven gang related murders after the Anti-Gang Act was passed in both Upper and Lower Houses.

He said there was a need to fix the delay in court matters, since there are men in prison awaiting trial for years, stating that the country’s justice system was not working.

“There is no single institution within the society that we can pinpoint and say this is the entire problem. What we have to do is look at the relation and interconnectivity between all of the failing institutions, then you would see a clearer picture…starting with the family.”

He said if there are failures on the part of the family and education system and the workplace is unable to provide employment for these young men, then crime and the drug trade would catch those who fall through the cracks.

Mohammed said while the Government has been focusing on joint army and police patrols, equipment and technology, there should be a greater emphasis on the role and responsibility of positive male role models in this community.

The John Leotaud trained Jamaican bred three-year-old colt General JN will attempt to win the second leg of local racing’s “Triple Crown’ today—Labour Day in front of an expected large holiday crowd at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

He will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the American Triple Crown Champion.

The Jerry Narace owned horse will be a very short-priced favourite for the First Citizens Midsummer Classic over 1,900 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Last time out General JR won the Guineas most impressively and it will take a super effort by one of his rivals to stop him from entering the winner’s enclosure. He fairly beat the opposition out of sight last time out and this should be no exception.

Based on the form book, it looks like General JR will repeat. Kerron Khelawan will again have the leg up.

He will have to fend off the challenges of the Glenn Mendez trained Streaking Far which continues to improve and stablemate Dancin Deputy which will only improve.

In the co-feature, First Citizens Santa Rosa Dash over 1,200 metres, Thrice Horse of the Year Bigman In Town will return action as he seeks to win this event for the fourth time. Should Bigman In Town be back to his best then Khelawan will have a good day at the centralised venue. The Chester Roberts trained gelding is getting long in the tooth but has undoubted class. However, he will have to be at his best to stop the Mendez trained pair of Control Unit and Whisper Light which have both been getting back to peak form. Ricky Jadoo will have the leg up on Whisper Light while Dillon Khelawan will be aboard Control Unit for SIR Stables.

With First Citizens Bank sponsoring the day’s ten race card today, which had a record entry of 138 horses, Santa Rosa Park will be the place to be today.

Post time for the first event is 12 noon.

Come next September, at the beginning of the new school year, students could find their classrooms without teachers if the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) fails to commence negotiations with the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA).

This was the warning given to the Government by TTUTA president Lynsley Doodhai yesterday as he addressed workers at Avocat Junction, Fyzabad ahead of the annual Labour Day march.

“I want to let the Government know that after three years of waiting, teachers are getting impatient, teachers are getting restless, they are becoming frustrated and they are getting angry,” Doodhai said.

He said that since 2015, TTUTA submitted its proposal to the CPO for the collective bargaining period, 2014 to 2017 and to date, there has been no response. Since then, he said gas prices increased three times, food and transport costs went up while the standard of living of teachers had gone down.

Citing Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s presentation of the mid-year budget review, when he said, that the country “had turned the corner” and “we can see clearly now,” it was on that basis that Doodhai demanded that Government instruct the CPO to begin negotiations with the teacher’s union.

“I want to let you all know the TTUTA’s general council met in an emergency session last Thursday and took some very important decisions. If negotiations do not commence by September, in the new school year, you will see that teachers will take things into their own hands. I tell you, you may see schools without teachers in September.”

He said even retired teachers were suffering, having to survive on NIS payments and borrowed money from relatives. Meanwhile, teachers who have graduated with university degrees are working for years without being upgraded.

From former education minister Tim Gopeesingh to the incumbent Anthony Garcia, Doodhai said all the country got was an exchange. He said primary schools have not received subventions since March and are without basic items such as toilet paper and whiteboard erasers. He told the country that being red and ready or yellow and rising has done nothing for their cause.

Prisons Officers Association president Ceron Richards called on citizens to reflect on whether the $60 billion-plus spent on national security over the past decade has made their lives any safer.

Addressing trade unionists at Avocat Junction, Fyzabad ahead of the yesterday’s annual Labour Day march, Richards said that it appeared that a chunk of the annual national security budget had gone to private businesses, including the $80m bill to transport prisoners to and from the courts.

While that was taking place, he said, the prisons were falling apart and prison officers were suffering under unworkable conditions.

Richards said that the Carrera Island Prison was without water, lights and a vessel to transport officers to and from the mainland.

Since 2013, he said, the association has been begging for a proper alarm system from the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca, which would have cost the Ministry $4.5 million dollars.

He said in Tobago, very soon the prison would fall into the sea and although land had been allocated for the construction of a new prison, there had been no word from the State as to when construction would begin.

Senior police officers yesterday issued an alert to be on the lookout for three men dressed in police uniforms carrying out robberies in the Central Division.

This warning came on the heels of an incident yesterday at a TMall supermarket in Caroni where three men dressed in what looked like official police uniforms entered a Chinese supermarket at about 9 am.

Police said the men told the Chinese cashier to open a certain part of the establishment to “check on their books.”

Chinese workers, who were monitoring on the grocery’s surveillance system, became concerned and contacted the Caroni Police Station to verify the officers’ presence.

With no confirmation at the station and the Chinese nationals locked themselves in a room. The men, police said, left the grocery, located opposite the Frederick Settlement Business Park, and left in a while Nissan wagon.

Photographs of the three men were posted on WhatsApp Groups and Facebook yesterday.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, a senior police officer advised citizens to be aware of their surroundings and urged them “to contact the nearest police station should they get suspicious, especially when people dressed in clothing resembling police and soldiers enter their homes and business places demanding things or giving instructions. Identifications and documents should be requested.”

Investigations are continuing.

Authorities must review the methods used by women to protect themselves from abusive partners, including the granting of restraining and protection orders from the court, according to Adriana Sandrine Rattan president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN).

In the past two years, more than 50 women who obtained protection or restraining orders against their estranged husbands/partners are now dead, according to statistics from IWRN.

Rattan comments follow the latest suspected domestic violence murder which claimed the life of Nadine Smith.

Smith, 35, who was married five years ago, was found dead at Dundonald Hill, St James on Monday at about 5 pm.

According to a police source, the suspect, a close male relative was last seen by his relatives on Sunday night. The man, according to investigators, did not report to his place of work, which is located in Chaguaramas on Monday.

Police said Smith recently obtained a restraining order against the man as she had been a victim of domestic abuse, including emotional and mental abuse and had received several death threats.

And an autopsy today will determine how the mother of three was killed as there are now conflicting reports about what caused her fatal head injuries.

Initial reports suggested that Smith was shot in the head, however, investigators believe that it is possible that her head was bashed in with an unknown object. The autopsy will be done today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The woman’s children were taken by relatives to an unknown location, police said.

Rattan said the organisation has made the plea before for authorities to review the ways to protect victims of domestic violence since the current mechanisms were not working.

She said protection orders “only serves to infuse more anger into the minds of perpetrators almost like a gateway to commit their heinous acts.”

“Recently, one of our clients was followed into a church by the perpetrator with a restraining order in place,” Rattan said.

She said that the organisation notes that while restraining orders may sometimes contain specific instructions—including orders to keep away from the victims and have no communication —those rules are largely ignored as there is no police vigilance to monitors the whereabouts of the alleged abuser.

“Unless and until there is a holistic review of the content of these orders with guaranteed protection for the victims, the country would continue to lose our women tragically,” Rattan said.

She suggested that the legislative framework for restraining orders be reviewed urgently, with an assurance that provisions be made for the immediate arrest of perpetrators who choose to continue molesting or go within close proximity of the victim.

“In the current framework, victims with restraining orders are not safe with some of them ending up being prisoners in their own homes,” she said.

• Up to press time, investigating police officers were still looking for the suspect in Smith’s murder.

Victims of crime joined hands with residents of Central Trinidad in a march from Freeport to Chaguanas to denounce murders, robberies and home invasions in their district.

Over 200 people walked through drizzling rain along the Old Southern Main Road for over three-hours where they got support from residents who came out of their homes.

At the end of the march, Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie handed Sen Supt Inraj Balram, the head of the Police Service Central Division, a list of suggestions to implement to curtail criminal activity.

Dubbed the people’s march, the activity commenced shortly after 8 am at Three-Roads Junction in Freeport and ended at Woodford Lodge in Chaguanas, just off Ramsaran Street.

Tewarie had the support of Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan and Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan. Balram also led a large contingent of police officers, including acting ASP Richard Smith, Insp Dane James of the Freeport Police Station during the march.

The letter presented to Balram noted that between September 9, 2017 (when the PNM assumed office) to June 11, 2018, there were 35 robberies in the Caroni Central constituency, several of them involving bandits armed with guns.

“We also have had since 2016, about one dozen murders, several of them yet unsolved. The invasion of homes, churches and temples has been a recent phenomenon which has escalated over the last year,” Tewarie said.

“We need to take back our country from the criminals. We need to stand together and help build and work with the police in a constructive way to combat crime and deal with the criminals,” he added.

Boodhan said the people are upset and added that there should be the implementation of certain measures including a gun amnesty and joint army/police patrols and searches.

Speaking with Guardian Media, a police officer assigned to the Central Division’s Inter-Agency Task Force said that officers are very concerned over the type of weaponry being used by criminals and also, the growing use of technology by bandits.

“We got wind that these bandits are conducting surveillance, monitoring people’s movements, checking for camera systems and moving in to disable it and using hi-tech technology to jam internet signals and phone lines when they are ready to strike. People should be alert and report all suspicious activities, people and vehicles in their areas. Do not turn a blind eye,” the officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, warned.

Tewarie also sent out letters to the Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams.

T&T nationals who travel for the purpose of planning, committing, supporting or facilitating a terrorist act would—on conviction—be liable to a $25 million fine and 25 years in jail, under proposed anti-terrorism amendments.

The proposal is among amendments to anti-terrorism law contained in a report by a Joint Select team which examined proposals to strengthen the law. The JSC’s report laid in Parliament recently will be debated in Parliament today.

Muslims of T&T PRO Imtiaz Mohammed said yesterday representatives of a number of Muslims groups will attend Parliament to hear the debate.

“We issued a message to all Jamaats to see if their representatives would attend. Some confirmed they will. It is only proper that we hear the debate since we made submissions to the JSC and we understand changes have been made to proposed amendments —but we still have some concerns on a few things in the report,” Mohammed added.

Amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act were announced last year after a US television commentator spoke about T&T nationals joining the Islamic State (Isis) terror group. It was subsequently revealed in February 2017 by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon that 130 people—fighters and families—had gone overseas and joined up.

Minister in the Attorney General’s office Fitzgerald Hinds in last year’s Budget debate, said the current figure was 180 people.

After T&T came up with the amendments Caricom states—which revealed they were tracking 200 Caribbean nationals with international terrorist groups—also agreed to model their respective anti-terrorism laws on T&T’s. Up to recently US concerns were expressed about T&T’s high rate of recruitment by Isis, described as being the highest per capita regionally. This was during the US senate hearing for US Ambassador-designate to T&T Joseph Mondello.

Several changes have been made to the original amendments including proposed increases of fines/jail terms. 

However, focus has been maintained, particularly on those involved in, assisting/supporting/giving input on terrorist acts, recruitment, making chemical or other terrorist weaponry, collecting funds for terrorist purposes, carrying children to get involved in such activities, businesses involved in terrorist financing and on travel to designated/conflict zones.

The proposed amendment

Section 15A states that person who travels for the purpose of (a) planning a terrorist act (b) committing a terrorist act (c) supporting a terrorist act or (d) facilitating the commission of a terrorist act, commits an offence and shall on conviction on indictment be liable to a fine of 25 million dollars and to imprisonment for 25 years.

More info 

Last month it was revealed several Rio Claro T&T women- Anisa Mohammed and daughters Sabirah Kumar, Azizah Mohammed, Aiydah Waheed-Hasib—were each sentenced by a Baghdad court to 20 years in jail for Isis links.

They were among people held by Iraqi authorities last August after the Isis forces group’s ranks fell to international assault. The family, including their father Daoud Mohammed, had travelled to Syria, an Isis war zone, in 2015.

Father of the women, Rio Claro mosque Imam Nazim Mohammed said yesterday he has not had recent contact with them, but was certain Daoud Mohammed was dead.

Government officials said yesterday they have not sought information on Daoud Mohammed but are pursuing with international agencies to ascertain the whereabouts of the women’s children—a total of about seven under age 12—and their welfare.

The US government donated two dinghies to assist disaster relief teams with search and rescue operations at the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation on Monday.

The watercraft can carry up to five people each and will be used to assist people marooned by flooding.

The donation came even as thundershowers caused flash flooding in some low-lying districts.

The rainy season began at the start of this month.

Chairman of the Corporation Dr Allen Sammy said 60 per cent of the area under the corporation’s purview was located in the Oropouche drainage basin.

Unlike other areas, Sammy said, flooding in the Penal/Debe area took up to a week to recede.

He said based on official government statistics, farmers lost more than $3 million in losses while over $1.2 million in poultry was destroyed following devastating floods last year.

While residents were on standby for major floods this year, Sammy said he expected more flooding to occur as preventative action was not taken by the central government to clean major watercourses. He added that rising sea levels also posed a serious threat to coastal villages.

Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, John McIntyre, said he was familiar with the devastating flooding in the area.

He also said the embassy would assist in the construction of retention ponds in the area.

He said: “The US Embassy remains steadfast in our commitment to continuing our partnership with the Ministry of National Security for combined opportunities to collaborate in humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts throughout the country.

“During my two tours in Trinidad and Tobago, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating the floods can be in the southern region.

Heading into another wet season, it is essential that we do whatever we can with the resources available, to help mitigate some of the effects on families, businesses, and institutions to ensure public safety and security.”

He noted that during October 2017, the US Embassy took note of the responses of disaster personnel and wanted to invest in the corporation’s disaster preparedness efforts to decrease response time during times of crisis.

“Identifying these efforts as critical to the US Embassy and our partnership with Trinidad and Tobago, members of the US Embassy conducted a joint assessment immediately following the October 2017 floods with the assistance of chairman Allen Sammy, Debe-Penal Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit, and the TTDF Engineers. This assessment led to why we are here today: to present the corporation with two shallow search and rescue watercraft to assist the Disaster Management Unit to provide supplies and, when necessary, evacuate stranded families living in flood-prone areas in the Debe/ Penal Corporation,” he said. 

He added that the US Embassy would partner with other corporations to lend assistance in the future.

Flooding was reported in several areas on Monday including Chaguanas and Freeman Road, St Augustine. Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said his ministry was prepared to deal with any impact of floods this year.

The management of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) believe that its employees are responsible for the airline’s improved performance in the On-Time Performance (OTP) category.

CAL has been ranked 34th in the world for OTP for May 2018 by the United Kingdom-based air travel intelligence company Official Aviation Guide (OAG).

According to a media release from Caribbean Airlines, these latest statistics provided by the OAG show a “marked improvement” in CAL’s OTP globally.

“Thanks to the unwavering commitment of the airline’s employees, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure that its customers arrive at their destinations safely and on time.”

The On-Time Performances of more than 150 airlines were used to determine the ranking.

According to the OAG’s monthly flight review, CAL’s On-Time Performance for May was 85.6 per cent, based on 2,693 flights operated by the airline.

This places CAL, in which the Jamaican Government has a 16 per cent stake, in the top ten percentile worldwide.

OAG’s definition of On-Time Performance is a flight that arrives in under 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival/departure time, of which cancellations are also included.

CAL operates more than 600 weekly flights to 20 destinations in the Caribbean and North and South America.

CAL’s media release said OAG leverages the world’s largest network of air travel data to provide accurate timely, actionable digital information and applications to the world’s airlines, airports, government agencies and travel-related service companies.

Labour consultant Robert Giuseppi and a former president of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) does not believe that NATUC’s Labour Day march in Tobago reflects a new split in the labour movement.

“I agree partially with comrade Watson Duke, in terms of bringing that labour energy to Tobago. The people of Tobago are working class people and it is important to bring that spirit of unity on Labour Day. It is important to show the employer class that whether it is Trinidad or Tobago, the working class is united,” he told Guardian Media yesterday.

On Monday, NATUC president, Michael Annisette told Guardian Media that people who accuse NATUC of causing disunity in the labour movement are only about “speculation and bacchanal.”

He defended their decision to go to Tobago for Labour Day.

Giuseppi said that he is not happy with the current state of the labour movement as trade unions seem to be unable to perform their basic functions.

“They seem to have lost the whole spirit of organising workers.

The trade unions seem unable to attract new members.

There is the decline in numbers in trade unions worldwide and in T&T. T&T only has about just over 20 per cent of the workforce that is unionised.”

He added that union leaders must point out the benefits of being in a union if they wish to attract new members.

“They must understand clearly the whole idea of this thing is about job and income security. If workers do not have that, they have nothing. They will be semi-slaves through their entire working lives,” he said.

Opposition MP Rudy Indarsingh, a former president of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Union and a Minister in the last People’s Partnership government told Guardian Media that it was a “good idea” that NATUC spent this year’s Labour Day in Tobago but at the same time unity in the labour movement is important.

“It is good to say that the labour movement is reaching out to different geographical areas of T&T. Historically, I have always said that the catalyst for the labour riots started in Central Trinidad in 1934 on the Esperanza Sugar Estate.

There are areas of resistance historically in this country, whether is it Esperanza, Charlie King Junction and even in Tobago. I do not know if the strategy of NATUC is to raise the consciousness of workers in Tobago,” he said.\

He added: “I will always advocate for the unity of the labour movement to confront the ills and challenges that workers in the formal and informal economy face.”

The John Leotaud trained Jamaican bred three-year-old colt General JN justified all the hype and his very short-priced in the betting market with another impressive display to win the feature First Citizens Midsummer Classic over 1,900 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

In front of a Labour Day crowd, Kerron Khelawan made it look all to easy with the Jerry Narace 1-9 favourite.

When starter Carlton Ramsaroop sent the nine-horse field on its way for in the $170,000 purse event General JN broke alertly but Affirmative which was drawn in stall one wanted to be at the head of affairs. Passing the winning post for the first time Affirmative led from General JN which was ‘tanking along’ with Prince of BelleVue close up and just ahead of Streaking Far with Dancin Deputy tracking the pace. These were followed by Warmonger, Master of War, No Man’s Land with Just So contented to observe from the rear.

Going down the back, Miguel Vasquez aboard Affirmative attempted to up the tempo but Khelawan was motionless on General JN which was cantering over his rivals.

At the far turn Affirmative still, lead but only on sufferance as General JN moved effortlessly to join him at the head of affairs. These were followed by Prince of Belle Vue, Streaking Far, Dancin Deputy and Warmonger.

However, at the top of the straight General JN pulled his way to the front an opened up a two-length gap on Affirmative as Prince of Belle Vue rallied against the rail with Streaking Far closing ahead of Warmonger.

The race was put to bed in style as the three-year-old son of Forest Danger cantered clear without being asked a question to win eased down by four lengths from Prince of Belle Vue with Affirmative weakening back in third. The Glenn Mendez trained Streaking Far was a respectable fourth.

The running time for the event was 2:01.87.

General JN will now go the final jewel of the local racing’s ‘Triple Crown’ as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of the American Triple Crown Champion Justify.

In the co-feature First Citizens Santa Rosa Dash over 1,200 metres, the John O’Brien trained filly Pauseforacoors ran differently from her name as she never paused once the gates open. Brian Boodramsingh flashed her out of the stalls and though pestered by Princess Suri and Whisper Light for most of the way, she proved too good in the end. The Raroma Stable owned three-year-old filly quickened away impressively in the final 200 metres to beat Princess Suri and One for the road with Whisper Light occupying the fourth spot.

The disappointment in the event was Bigman In Town which trailed the field for most of the journey before finishing a well-beaten sixth and some 11 lengths off the winner.

Pauseforacoors registered the time of 1:12.28 on the sloppy main track.

Training honours on First Citizens Bank Day at the Races were shared between Glenn Mendez and John Leotaud.

Onward to T&T immediately - minus upgrades in Cuba.

That’s the next chapter of the Galleons Passage’s journey after acting Prime Minister Colm yesterday revealed that enhancement work contracted by the ferry’s seller couldn’t be done in Cuba as planned and the vessel is instead now coming straight to T&T.

The enhancement work will be done in T&T on a phased basis while the vessel does the Tobago ferry run “very soon.”

Imbert confirmed developments in Parliament yesterday while replying to Opposition queries on the status of retrofitting work on the vessel in Cuba.

The vessel, which left China in February, had been expected in April, May - then “soon”- as it encountered delays along the way due to weather, US inspections and other issues.

The enhancement work in Cuba was to have been the last aspect before its final port of call here in T&T.

In explaining the latest changes yesterday, Imbert said arrangements for enhancement work had two components - certain upgrade works to be done by the seller, plus upgrades to be done by the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) on behalf of Government.

“The seller had work to be done at his expense with his own arrangement on a contracted basis with the Cuban shipyard and Nidco also had work to do on a contracted basis in a separate transaction with the Cuban shipyard,” Imbert said.

“We’ve been informed recently that some of the materials and equipment that the seller requires to complete the enhancement work agreed to in the contract for sale of the vessel to Nidco; some of the materials and equipment, the seller is having difficulty transporting them from Australia to Cuba.”

He added: “Cuba is still an embargoed country for many countries. Cuba accepts shipments from some European states and doesn’t apparently, make it very easy for shipments from countries like Australia.

“The seller told us recently that although fabrication of one of the canopies had begun, they were having difficulty in getting an airline or shipping company to transport some of the remaining equipment and materials into Cuba.

“So Government has taken a decision to bring the vessel to T&T immediately and the work will be done in T&T, the boat will be put into service very soon and the enhancement work will be done on phased basis while the boat is transporting passengers to and from Tobago.”

Based on reports, he said some retrofitting work had been done in Cuba, but insisted the issue involved wasn’t a contractual responsibility of Government. “The seller, as part of the contract for purchase, had agreed to do certain enhancement work at Damen Shipyard in Santiago de Cuba. The works the seller had contracted to have done have been affected by the seller’s inability to get materials and equipment into Cuba - not the Government’s inability to get materials and equipment into Cuba.”

However, he said the enhancements were solely to make the vessel more comfortable.

In March, a Nidco statement advised that retrofitting of the vessel would occur over10 days during the layover in Cuba. This work included a canopy installation on the vehicle deck to protect against sea spray, additional anchor rings for securing vehicles on deck and sealing a gap between the ramp door and vessel hull. Some of the works would be paid for by the seller, as agreed pre-purchase, Nidco added.

Nidco said a decision was made to make other alterations while the vessel was in Cuba and these - costing $2.5m - would be paid for by Government. These involved installation of full canopies over the sun deck, additional washroom facilities, cafe/bar facilities, remodelling of urinals in the men’s washroom and installation of fixing rails for new contoured seating on the passenger deck. These modifications were being undertaken to make the vessel more suitable for its purpose, Nidco said.

In Parliament yesterday, Imbert didn’t say when the boat would leave for T&T, if it’s already on the way or when it would arrive here. He told the T&T Guardian via email afterwards that he’d check Nidco on this.

US$12M ON FERRIES MAINTENANCE

Works Minister Rohan Sinanan also gave the following information on the other Tobago ferries during yesterday’s Parliament sitting.
• T&T Spirit drydocking cost - US $10.9m
• T&T Express repairs and maintenance cost - US $808,117
• Period T&T Spirit was out of service - May 15, 2017, to April 16, 2018.
• T&T Express was in operation - May 12, 2017, to March 12, 2018.

A 26-year-old was who marked for death after a recent dispute over property was shot and killed in a drive-by in St James.

Chike Denbow, a mechanic, was gunned down while liming with a group of friends at about 8.30 pm at the corner of Alfred Richards Street, St James, when a silver Nissan Tiida vehicle pulled up alongside.

A man in the backseat of the car fired several shots hitting Denbow.

Denbow, of Clifton Hill Road, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, a relative said Denbow recently began construction of his house and since then “he always had clashes with people about the property and that piece of land where he started building.”

An autopsy revealed that Denbow was shot multiple times to his upper body. Relatives have called on police for justice. Denbow’s murder was the 264 person to be killed for the year.

Investigations are continuing.

A police officer who reported his gun stolen after he gave a stranger “a drop” is now being investigated by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).

According to a police report, the police constable said his personal firearm was stolen from his vehicle which was involved in a minor accident on Sunday.

The officer, who is currently assigned to the North Eastern Division, told investigating officers that he was driving his car along the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, at about 6 am when he noticed a “young” man walking along the roadway. The officer said he stopped and offered the man a drop out of the remote area. On reaching the pillars at Maturita Village the officer said he struck an animal crossing the road. He stopped his vehicle and got out to check on what he had struck and to see if his vehicle was damaged.

The officer claimed at that point his passenger stole his Glock 9mm pistol. He reported when he returned to the driver’s seat the man he picked up had gotten out and said he would take a taxi.

The officer said he did not realise his gun missing from a pouch he stored in a pocket of the vehicle until later that day. The officer also alleged that other items, which were also in the pouch, were missing.

The officer gave the description of the person he picked up to be of mixed descent, brown in complexion and about five feet six inches in height.

T&T Guardian was told that senior officers of the North Eastern Division, as well as PSB, are “looking into the matter.”

Investigations are continuing.