T&T Police Service (TTPS) head of corporate communications Ellen Lewis yesterday denied the police paid special attention to recovering Adrian Imbert’s stolen cellphone.

Lewis made the position clear following recent public outcry that the TTPS had shown apparent bias in recovering Imbert’s stolen phone because he was the son of Finance Minister Colm Imbert.

The swift recovery of the cellphone by officers has led to a furore on social media over the efficiency of the police in the case. Some individuals claimed law enforcement and justice were selective. Others held the view that all crimes should be investigated regardless, while others believed the phone was quickly recovered because it may have contained confidential information.

Last Friday, Imbert, 25, was robbed in Laventille after his Hilux pickup stalled. Two men pretending to be mechanics offered to assist, but later robbed Imbert of his $5,000 cellphone and wallet containing an undisclosed amount of cash.

It was reported that agents from two elite units of the TTPS began investigations surrounding the hold-up and senior officers also alerted detectives from Cyber Crime Unit to begin efforts to track the stolen cellphone. On Monday, police locked down several parts of Beetham Gardens and executed a search warrant at a house where Imbert’s phone was found, but no arrests were made.

Yesterday, Lewis confirmed that the phone was recovered.

But in relation to comments the officers acted swiftly only because a minister’s son was involved, Lewis said, “The TTPS has been making enormous strides with respect to its detection rate, as reflected in the successful closure of cases and the recovery of items reported stolen.”

She insisted that the police has had particular success with reports that involved electronic devices such as laptops and cellular phones. She said Imbert’s incident occurred in the Port-of-Spain Division and the Cyber Crime Unit would have requested assistance in tracing any device or crime using technology.

Told there was a public furore over the police’s quick recovery of Imbert’s phone, Lewis said, “I can say with certainty there was no special interest paid to this matter. None whatsoever. There are real examples of police successes where the use of technology was involved in solving crime…whether it be stolen computers, laptops, tablets and cell phones. We treat impartially and objectively with reports that come in relative to crimes that were committed.”

She said it was common knowledge the police, in the conduct of anti-crime exercises, would recover large quantities of cell phones from time-to-time.

“And our divisions would call on the public to identify and collect them. That is a fact.”

Lewis said mobile devices are also recovered when a suspect is known to the victim.

“So, therefore, the police is easily able to retrieve the items that have been stolen.”

Guardian Media Ltd messaged Imbert senior yesterday asking about his interaction with the TTPS and whether he believed his son was afforded any special treatment because of his status as a Government Minister. Imbert viewed the message but did not respond.

There has been a decrease of 10 voters for the electoral district of Barataria for next Monday’s by-election, while the number of voters for Belmont East remains the same according to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) revised list of electors.

The figure was given by EBC’s communications manager Dominic Hinds yesterday as the countdown to the July 16 election draws closer.

In the 2016 local government election, Hinds said 10,217 electors were registered with the EBC to vote in Barataria with Belmont recording 3,237 voters.

With the EBC updating its voters list in the last three weeks, Hinds said the figure has remained the same for Belmont with 3,237 registered voters, while Barataria saw a decline from 10,217 to 10,207- a drop of ten voters.

“This year’s revised list of electors is pretty much the same when compared to 2016,” Hinds said.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley advised President Paul-Mae Weekes that both by-elections will be held on July 16.

Six candidates will be contesting the electoral districts.

For Belmont the United National Congress (UNC) has announced Lianna Babb-Gonzales, the People’s National Movement (PNM) is being represented by Nicole Young and the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) has offered Felicia Holder.

Contesting Barataria is UNC’s Sharon Maraj-Dharam, PNM’s Kimberly Small and Christoph Samlal is PEP’s choice.

Nomination day was June 25.

Between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm, Hinds said electors will be able to cast their votes at 13 polling stations- eight in Barataria and five in Belmont.

The seats in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation and Port- of- Spain City Corporation became vacant following the death of councillors Pernell Bruno on July 8, 2017 and Councillor Darryl Rajpaul on November 18, 2017.

In the 2016 election, Hinds said PNM’s Rajpaul captured 724 votes in Belmont East. The UNC received 49. There were two rejected ballots. Taking home the Barataria district was Bruno who obtained 1898 votes. The UNC secured 1506 votes while there were 12 rejected ballots.

Hinds said the EBC’s has put all system in place for voters on Monday, refusing to say how much the commission has spent in training of officers and preparations.

At each polling station there will be a minimum of five polling day staff inclusive of a presiding officer and police officers.

Hinds said the rules for the by-election remain the same as political party cannot solicit votes outside polling stations and no cell phones will be allowed inside polling booths.

He said most voters would have already received their polling cards in the mailbox which they must take to the polling station.

If a voter did not receive a polling card in the mail, Hinds said one will be provided at the polling station they have been assigned to vote.

Hinds advised employers that they must grant their employees two hours off for voting.

This two hours excludes their one hour lunch meal.

He said any employer who fails to comply with the law can be fined $30,000 or imprisoned for 12 months.

Electors are advised to call the EBC’s hotline at 627-1516 or 0745 if they have any queries on polling day.

POLLING STATIONS

IN BARATARIA
Harmonites Pan Threate
St George’s College.
El Socorro Islamia Primary School.
St Dominic Savio (Barataria Boys RC Primary School.)
Barataria Anglican Primary School
Don Miguel (SDMS) Hindy School
Barataria South Secondary School
Barataria North Secondary School.
IN BELMONT
St Francis Boys’ College
Melville Memorial Girls AC Primary School
Belmont Boys’ RC Primary School
Belmont (St Francis) Girls’ RC Primary School
St Francois Girls’ College.

A mini mart owner was ambushed and robbed while at his business place in Wallerfield yesterday.

According to a police report, at about 6 am Michael Wilson, 38, was at his business, Happy Shoppers Mini Mart at Jacob Hill, conducting sales with a bread salesman when two men approached.

The men, police said, were armed with a gun and a cutlass. Police said the men robbed Wilson of two cell phones, an undisclosed amount of phone cards, cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Before leaving with their loot, police said, a confrontation ensued in which Wilson was shot once in the upper body.

The thieves also took the business place’s DVR for the CCTV surveillance cameras on their way out. Wilson was taken to the Arima District Hospital where he was treated and transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex in Mount Hope where he is warded in critical condition.

Investigations are continuing.

Homicide investigations are awaiting the conclusion of a post-mortem on the partially burnt body of an unidentified man before they take fingerprint samples in hope of identifying him.

A police report stated that around 8 am yesterday officers of the Fyzabad Police Station responded to a report of a body in a bushy area in Pepper Village. The officers went to an area near L&M Bar where they walked approximately 100 feet into bushes where T&TEC had run high tension wires. There, they found the body of a man of African descent in the early stages of decompositions.

The man wore a red t-shirt, a pair of black pants and had a kinky twist hairstyle. Police were checking their missing person database as they tried to identify the man, but was unsuccessful up to late yesterday. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fyzabad police at 677-7777, 555 or Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS.

Eight-year-old accidentally stabbed while playing with brother

An eight-year-old boy who was stabbed in the chest on Tuesday afternoon is recuperating at hospital.

A police report stated that officers of the Siparia Police Station were informed that the boy, who lives at Sennon Village, Siparia, was admitted to the Siparia District Health Facility with an object sticking out of his chest.

He was attended to by medical staff and transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital. Investigators went to the hospital where they met with a nurse who told them that the boy and his four-year-old brother were playing with a knife when he was accidentally stabbed. He was immediately taken for emergency treatment by his relatives. Investigators said he remained in a stable condition at the hospital yesterday.

As flooding remains a perennial problem in Debe, a couple is threatening legal action against a meat and produce company for blocking a watercourse which they said has led to water gushing into their property.

Even as residents of the SS Erin Road complained about the construction by Pawan Wholesalers Ltd, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Dr Allen Sammy said he could not comment that the issue as the Corporation has a matter pertaining to the legality of the structure in court.

In a pre-action protocol letter issued to the company’s owner, Ricky Sookdeo, retired public servants Chandradath and Karen Singh are claiming declaratory and or inductive relief as well as damages for nuisance.

Through their attorney’s Dipnarine Rampersad and Company, the Singhs said they suffer nuisance, including constant flooding as a result of the impeded drain, foul-smelling odor from waste products, rotten dry goods as well as the increase in vermin, including rats and stray animals, which come onto their property from the company located along the SS Erin Road. They are alleging that the company blocked and encroached on the drain under the purview of the PDRC which channels water from the main road and surrounding area into a nearby river.

The drain, which was a natural watercourse, was converted into a box drain around 1990 by the Unemployment Relief Programme. The letter alleges that on November 10, 2015, the company constructed a driveway using steel sheets over the corporation’s drain. It is alleged that the company later extended its stockroom over the drain and enclosed it with an iron frame and galvanize sheet without permission.

Residents told Guardian Media yesterday that the blocking of the watercourse was responsible for flooding in their community. The drains on both sides of the SS Erin Road were filled with almost a foot a slush and silt. Sammy said that the drains in the region are cleaned often, but some property owners have built on the drainage reserves, making inaccessible for workers. That was true in some cases, but residents also showed open areas and culverts that were blocked. While viewing the construction, one of Sookdeo’s relatives began to scold Chandradath for complaining, saying that he should mind his business.

Sookdeo said that he responded to the pre-action protocol letter in which he denied the Singhs’ claims. He said that the drain was passing through his property. However, he denied that they were causing the drain to be clogged, saying that every week he sends someone to clean it. He said that the only time the area was flooded was in 2017, due to Tropical Storm Bret. He said that the flood came from the other side of the SS Erin Road, where there was a clogged culvert.

The Private Secondary Schools Association says it is awaiting communication from the Ministry of Education on the proposed fee increase since the issue has not been brought back to the table for discussion and they are now questioning whether Education Minister Anthony Garcia understands the plight of the schools enough to make a case for an increase to the Cabinet.

Minister Garcia, for his part, says he is satisfied with the proposal which will be taken to Cabinet on Thursday for their approval.

Garcia told the T&T Guardian yesterday that ministry officials met with the Strategic Executive Team and looked at the recommendations that have been made by the Planning Division.

He said the team discussed the recommendations “and a note has been prepared for Cabinet and Cabinet will decide on Thursday.”

Garcia declined to say whether the quantum of the proposed fee increase was in line with what was recommended by the association, saying “at this point I am not in a position to disclose any information. I don’t want to prejudge any recommendation.”

But he said he was pleased with the work done by officers of the ministry.

Garcia would not hazard a guess as to whether the association would be pleased with the proposed fee increase saying: “I cannot say whether they will be pleased, all I can say is that the Ministry of Education did its work and the result of that work will be communicated to Cabinet.”

The association has proposed to the ministry that the current $1200 fee paid per child per term for students sent to schools by the Ministry of Education be increased to $5700.

Acting president of the Private Secondary Schools Association Leslie Hislop said it is the hope of the association that in taking a note to Cabinet on the issue, “the minister will also remember his commitment to these children.”

He said for some of the children the commitment may have been “as recent as last year while for others that commitment could be three to four years old.”

For the private secondary schools, he said, it has been 13 years now since the Government increased the fee to $1,200 per student, per term.

Hislop claimed that in a meeting with Education Ministry officials it was revealed that it costs the Government anywhere between $7,800 and $10,000 to educate a child in the public school system.

He explained that the cost of education involves significant costs including “teachers’ salaries, materials and supplies, maintenance of plant and equipment, janitorial and security fees.”

According to Hislop, the seven schools under the umbrella of the association had indicated to the ministry that the formula which is currently used to compute fees is “not feasible and that they cannot simply use a cost of living increase to compute an increase.”

Two days after he set himself on fire, SRP Gary Alexander has died.

Alexander, 62, of Jebodhsingh Trace, Fyzabad died during the early hours of yesterday having sustained second degree burns to 90 per cent of his body.

During an interview yesterday, his daughter Shanice Alexander, 25, said they were awaiting the arrival of relatives from abroad before organising Alexander’s funeral.

Shanice expressed disappointment over a story in another newspaper (not the Guardian) which claimed that her father was sleeping in a car prior to his death and that he killed himself following a dispute over property.

“The incident did not stem from a fight over property. He was never sleeping in his car,” Shanice said.

Describing her relationship with her father as abusive, Shanice said he had a drinking problem and despite serving for years as a police officer, he never received any help.

“Everybody talking now but nobody from the Police Service assisted him. Nobody ever rendered counselling to him and he needed it,” she said. Alexander’s common-law wife, Debbie Figaro, made numerous reports of abuse at the police station. On March 18, following a domestic dispute at their Jebodhsingh Avenue, Fyzabad home, Alexander was charged with two offences of assault, malicious damage and throwing a flammable liquid.

Shanice said after that incident, promises were made to help Alexander, but this never materialised.

“My father was always abusive. Everyone knew this. When my mom left him he would always promise that he would do better but then things would change and go back to what it was before. His drinking problem was part of it but when the situation happened on Sunday he was not drunk. He did this when he was sober. When he drinks alcohol he used to get on but when he didn’t drink, he was quiet.” Figaro said the family wanted to grieve in peace. “It is traumatic and this was how he wanted to go,” Figaro said.

Neighbour Desmond Alfred, said Alexander’s family was terrified of him as he threatened to kill them on many occasions.

“I used to try and talk to him but he never listened,” Alfred said. The neighbour, who witnessed the entire ordeal, said he could not sleep since the incident. Alfred said Alexander was in his garden and received a call, following which he confronted Figaroo and an argument ensued. He then jumped in his car, returned with a red plastic container filled with petrol and began throwing it on himself and his brown Kia Cerato.

He then locked himself in the car and set himself on fire. Moments later he came out and tried to extinguish the flames by lying in a drain. His son, Jacy, threw water on him and he was later admitted in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital.

The recent passing of the Anti-Gang Legislation may have stumped the intelligence gathering and investigative work of the T&T Police Service, forcing them to return to the drawing board on cases being made against key members of the criminal element. This is because officers cannot use information previously gathered on individuals before the bill was passed and assented to retroactively charge and prosecute them in the court today.

This was the startling disclosure made by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams during a joint media conference with the National Security Edmund Dillon and T&T Defence Force (TTDF) Chief of Defence Staff Hayden Pritchard yesterday at the Ministry of National Security in Port-of-Spain.

Williams pointed out the flaw when he was asked how successful the police had been in making significant inroads into the apprehension any gang members or persons involved in gang-related activities since the bill’s passage. The bill was proclaimed on May 28.

“We have learnt lessons of the past…while we do in fact have clear indicators as to persons who are involved in criminal activities and gang-related activities in T&T, we cannot go in a retrospective way and take evidence from the past and make a case out in the present,” Williams said.

He added: “That is part of the failure of the past…2011, when we did that most of the cases went down the drain.”

Williams, however, assured that they were currently building up cases against many people to ensure that when they do act in future, everything will be in place to take the entire process to the end.

“In the very near future you would see several persons being effectively prosecuted under the Anti-Gang Act,” Williams said.

Just after the bill was proclaimed, however, Williams, in an interview with the T&T Guardian, had disclosed that the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU) was keeping tabs on close to 2,500 suspected gang members across the country. He then described the legislation as a “major contributor” for the police in the fight against crime, adding he expected there would be “progress and improvement and consequently a drop in the violent crimes.” He did, however, also point out then that “there is no magic formula” to the crime problem.

In 2011, the then People’s Partnership government passed anti-gang legislation and more than 100 alleged gang members were arrested under a state of emergency in the face of a rising murder rate. However, all of these individuals were subsequently released and the state has been paying out millions of dollars in payments for the wrongful arrest of these individuals.

Williams and Dillon also condemned Sunday’s brazen attack at the Chaguaramas Boardwalk that left three people dead and three injured, including an eight-year-old boy. Williams assured the case would be solved and all the resources needed will be provided to homicide investigators.

In seeking to allay fears of the citizenry, especially youngsters, about visiting public recreational spaces during July/August vacation period in the wake of the attack, Dillon said there will be a collaborative heightened security measure between the police and soldiers, where they will be posted in malls, shopping centres, beaches and popular liming strips at Ariapita Avenue and St James. He also said that there will be round-the-clock aerial patrols by the Strategic Services Agency helicopters.

Williams also assured there will be an increase in stop and search exercises and roadblocks in a bid to relieve criminals of guns. He said police officers had seized 552 illegal guns so far this year, which was more than the same period last year. He said last year police seized a total 1,064 firearms.

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds says he will be guided by the acting Police Commissioner on the approach the Police Service is taking on the evidential requirement under the Anti-Gang law.

Hinds told the T&T Guardian that lawyers and the police service would have “studied the Anti-Gang law. The Police Service has worked in collaboration with the office of the DPP and they would have conducted workshops in order to understand the law and the evidential requirement.”

Hinds’ comment came hours after Williams said the police could not use intelligence gathered in the past against gang leaders and criminals to make a case against them today, and would instead have to build current cases against them. He said while the police “have clear indicators as to persons who are involved in criminal activities and gang activities,” they could not go in a “retrospective way and take evidence of the past and make a case in the present.”

During the debate on the Anti-Gang legislation, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi had presented an affidavit from Williams to the Parliament which made the case for the urgency of the legislation as a tool in the arsenal of the police. The Parliament was told the police knew the number of gangs and the names of gang members.

Yesterday, Hinds said while the law “is critical the evidence is also critical and therefore the police and prosecutors will know the evidence required in order to form a conviction under the Anti-Gang law.”

Hinds reiterated his position that there was a crisis, saying, “As a citizen what I do know is that the public is very, very concerned that those who are involved in the mayhem that we witnessed on the Boardwalk and at Erica Street in Laventille be put to an end.”

If it means dealing with the gangs, he said “the public is looking forward to its application and to get some relief and peace in society.”

Al-Rawi is currently out of the country and attempts to reach acting AG Stuart Young were unsuccessful yesterday as he did not answer his cell phone.

DPP Roger Gaspard was also unavailable for comment.

Also contacted yesterday, Criminal Bar Association president Pamela Elder declined comment until she saw Williams’ statement.

However, a senior member of the association, who did not want to be named, told the T&T Guardian “it’s a troubling statement that has to be carefully analysed.”

But Senator Gerald Ramdeen, who participated in the debate on the Anti-Gang legislation, accused the Government of “hoodwinking the population.”

“They misrepresented to the population and gave the population false hope that the passage of the Anti-Gang legislation will bring some sort of relief to the people and citizens of the country.”

He described Williams’ statement as a “cop-out.”

“It’s a feeble excuse for the failure of the TTPS to arrest, charge or detain a single citizen since passage of the legislation,” Ramdeen said.

Criminal attorney Wayne Sturge meanwhile said Williams was right about learning lessons.

“He is correct, in 2011 they used evidence prior to proclamation. The stupidity of the statement is if you knew who they were prior to the proclamation that does not change. In essence, you only have to present evidence that the police had someone who infiltrated a gang and was able to say this person was a gang member, a member of a gang turned state evidence and could identify other gang members.”

In both scenarios, he said, a month was sufficient. The Anti-Gang Act was proclaimed on May 28.

Sturge said a police officer could also give evidence saying he had been doing surveillance and had noticed persons doing things which suggested they were part of a gang.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says it is clear there are “people roaming on the streets who are cold-blooded killers,” but is making it clear the Government will “not concede that those who behave like this and endanger the rest of the population are to be left unattended.” He also says the Government will not use a state of emergency to deal with the escalating crime woes.

With the criminal element running rampant and the murder rate at close to 300, Rowley refused to concede that the Anti-Gang Bill, which was touted by his Government as a critical element in the fight against crime, had failed. Instead, he said “it has to be operationalised.” That means evidence must be gathered and prepared “if there are people engaged in gang activity you have to gather the evidence to prosecute them, it is an ongoing operation.”

Rowley described last Sunday’s shooting on the Boardwalk in Chaguaramas, which is in his Diego Martin West Constituency, as something “which should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”

Responding to some in his own constituency who said people in the area were being pushed into crime because of a lack of employment opportunities and other problems, including the lack of representation by Rowley, the PM said, “I am not going to make any excuses for the people who do that because all of us have challenges in this country.”

He said “for those of us who take up firearms and go to a location and determine to exterminate who they want to exterminate at the risk of everybody else, I condemn that in the strongest possible terms.”

He said it was clear there were “cold-blooded killers” roaming the streets “and to have gone to a place of that nature where they are children, there are grandparents there are adults and just fire indiscriminately, is something that ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”

Speaking on the CNC3 Morning Brew, the PM denied Government had lost the fight against crime despite daily growing murder and serious crime rate.

“We have not lost the fight against crime and we don’t intend to. We have to remain engaged because our lives are involved,” he said, adding it was clear that “nobody in this country is immune from the reckless behaviour of some citizens, many of whom behave like this because they have chosen crime as a way of life.”

He also dismissed calls for a state of emergency, saying, “We don’t know any state of emergency will be a reasonable response. We tried it before and it did not deal with the problem. We destroyed the economy, some of the problems we have right now started with the state of emergency.”

Finance Minister Colm Imbert yesterday admitted that the cellphone belonging to his 25-year-old son Adrian Imbert, which was stolen in a robbery last Friday, had sensitive personal information on it.

Imbert also denied he used his ministerial influence to get the police to investigate the robbery, saying his son was a crime victim who was being scandalised, demonised and vilified, while others are saying he should have been shot on social media and in other quarters.

Yesterday, Imbert broke his silence about the robbery and the swift recovery of Adrian’s stolen cellphone by officers, which led to a furore on social media.

Responding to questions posed by blogger and author Rhoda Bharath, which she subsequently posted on her Facebook page, Imbert explained that on the day in question, Adrian was driving a truck transporting water from the East to an event in the West when the vehicle broke down several times along the way as a result of a choked fuel line. He said it appeared that bandits had noticed the truck shutting down on the highway and followed his son as he later drove onto the Eastern Main Road in Laventille where the truck again shut down.

It was while waiting on the wrecker Imbert said “two men approached the truck and demanded money with menace. He gave them whatever cash he had and they also took his cellphone.”

He said Adrian’s wallet, which contained his ID card, was not stolen. “So the bandits did not know who he was,” Imbert added, saying he was thankful his son was unharmed.

After reporting the robbery to the police, Imbert said a statement was taken from his son.

Asked if he used his influence as Finance Minister to get the police to investigate the robbery, Imbert wrote, “Absolutely not. He (Adrian) called 999 and the police subsequently called me simply to get the location of the truck. We had no contact with the police since that Friday afternoon.”

Imbert said he learnt on Tuesday that the police were fortunate to get CCTV footage to identify the getaway car and the bandits involved, who he stated were known to the police. Pressed on if he insisted on the involvement of the

Strategic Services Agency or any elite police unit investigating the robbery, Imbert said from his understanding standard procedures were used.

“Nothing exceptional. As far as I know, there is no elite unit in the police and there was no manhunt, lockdown or any special attention. The Port-of-Spain CID, who just did their work in the normal manner and got a lucky break from the CCTV camera footage, are also being unjustifiably condemned when, in fact, they should be commended.”

Imbert said in the police’s search for the bandits they found Adrian’s phone, which he owned for almost seven years. He also revealed that the phone had sensitive personal information pertaining to him and his son.

“There is very sensitive information on it. Both of us. Naturally, as my son, we would communicate frequently.”

Imbert said there was a lie circulating that TSTT had shut down its entire network on Monday to facilitate the recovery of the stolen phone, but added that if this was done the phone could not have been detected.“I am flabbergasted at the ease at which the multiple fake news stories about this matter are being promoted and escalated and are morphing into madness. I also find it incredible that these fake news stories have incited public sentiments to the extent that the victim of a crime who asked for no special treatment and got none is being scandalised and vilified. It’s ridiculous.”

He said the accusation that his son used “his position to get preferential treatment” was simply not true.

Some of the fake news stories escalated to the point, Imbert said, where some callers actually said his son should have been shot.

“It’s disgraceful that fake news could create a fake scandal in this terrible way. I am amazed and saddened how the victim of a crime is being demonised based on multiple fake news stories.”

COPS: NO SPECIAL TREATMENT

Meanwhile, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) is also continuing to defend its investigation into the robbery during yesterday’s weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain.

Addressing concerns raised that Imbert had received special treatment, public information officer ASP Michael Jackman denied this.

Jackman said: “I don’t see anything unique in the issue you brought up. I can’t say whether police worked especially hard in this instance or in other instances.

“What I can say is police officers treat all matters that come under their purview and are reported to them with the greatest amount of seriousness.”

Asked if citizens could expect the same treatment if they reported cases of stolen cellphones, Jackman said it depended on the circumstances.

“Once a report is made to a police officer, as is standard procedure and it involves cell phones and other electronic devices, the investigator would make a request, if necessary, to the various sections and agencies within the TTPS to assist in locating such devices. Exercises would be conducted to secure those devices once a location has been given,” Jackman said.

Last Friday, Adrian Imbert, 25, was driving along the Eastern Main Road in Laventille when his truck stalled. Two men pretending to be mechanics offered to assist, but instead robbed him of his cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash. The phone was eventually recovered on Monday as police officers executed a search warrant at a house in Beetham Gardens. No one was arrested.

Media reports claimed that two elite units of the TTPS, including the Cyber Crime Unit, were enlisted to assist in tracking the location of the phone.

Several persons took to social media to criticise the TTPS for allegedly showing favouritism in the case because the victim was a minister’s son. (With reporting by Derek Achong)

A prison officer who walked into a robbery at a Chinese supermarket in Arouca attempted to run away but was chased down by one of the armed thieves. A passing colleague saw what was happening and in aid of the fleeing officer, took out his firearm and shot the assailant.

The bandit’s three accomplices, one of whom is 16 years old, subsequently surrendered to the prison officers. The wounded man was taken to hospital but died while undergoing treatment. Police said up to last evening the dead bandit remained unidentified.

According to a police report, at about 8 pm a prison officer, who had just completed his shift, went to Jun Lin’s Chinese Supermarket, located at the corner of the Old Golden Grove Road and Sawmill Street, which is within earshot of the Golden Grove Prison, to make a purchase. When he walked in the officer realised there was a robbery in progress and attempted to sneak back out of the establishment. It was at this point that he was spotted and chased after by one of the four bandits.

As the bandit pursued the prison officer he fired at him. The officer’s colleague, who was passing by at the same time, stopped to help and drew his weapon. On seeing this the bandit fired at him and he returned fire, hitting the bandit several times about his body. The three accomplices, who surrendered right after their cohort was shot, were then bound with tie-straps which one of the officers had in their possession and handed over to the police.

A team of officers from the Arouca Police Station, led by Inspector Greene, visited the scene and conducted inquiries. Several spent shells were recovered from the scene.

The two prison officers were not hurt in the incident.

Yesterday they came in for high commendation from Prisons Commissioner Gerard Wilson.

“I would like to commend these officers for their bravery and assistance in capturing these bandits under very trying and dangerous circumstances. I applaud their efforts and the will be rewarded appropriately,” Wilson said.

The officers were also praised by Prisons Officers Association president Ceron Richards.

“These two officers risked their lives and limbs and were able to apprehend the perpetrators. They must be commended for their alertness and the way in which they handled the situation,” Richards said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is awaiting confirmation on the full nature of Public Administration Marlene McDonald’s illness.

In a release issued yesterday by the Communications Ministry, it revealed that McDonald is “seriously ill” and still warded at the St Clair Medical Centre.

It stated that Rowley “is currently awaiting confirmation on the full nature of her illness.”

The release also disclosed that Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration Maxie Cuffie is expected back in Trinidad “by the end of this month.”

Mc Donald was admitted on Saturday to the private hospital for an existing medical condition.

This was the second time the Port- of- Spain South MP had to be hospitalised in the space of a month.

In June, McDonald was hospitalized after complaining of feeling unwell at a Cabinet meeting.

She was discharged after being treated for low blood pressure.

On Tuesday, Rowley had told listeners on a radio programme that McDonald was “seriously ill” and wished her a speedy recovery.

“Her ailment surprised us to the extent to which she has been away from work in the last few days. I haven’t seen her yet, but I have been getting reports on her condition,” Rowley said.

However, in a press release issued earlier yesterday by Sharon Felix, who works as an assistant in the Port-of-Spain South constituency office, it gave a conflicting report, which stated that the minister had been discharged from the hospital on Tuesday.

It stated that McDonald had visited the hospital on June 8 with a severe cough and other cold symptoms.

The release stated that having previously suffered a bout of bronchitis in 2013, McDonald was admitted to the hospital and while there, mucus was suctioned of out her lungs.

It further stated that McDonald was discharged from the hospital and resting comfortably at home.

“She will return to work after a few days sick leave, as recommended by her doctors.”

It stated that McDonald had expressed her heartfelt thanks to her colleagues, constituents and all others for their love and support during her hospitalisation.

The news of McDonald being discharged from hospital was aired on the midday news of several radio stations yesterday, including 1.95.5 FM Several calls to McDonald’s cellphone went unanswered yesterday.

Five men have appeared before a Sangre Grande Magistrate charged in connection with the murder of 53-year-old shop owner, John Samaroo.

According to the Police Service, Torrance Villafana aka ‘Bully’, 21; Justin Durity, 22; Javon Moora aka ‘Mickey’, 25; Ferdinand Moora aka ‘Ferdi’, 32; Bonifacio Moora aka ‘Chin’, 46; all of Guaico Tamana, Sangre Grande, face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, while Villafana is on the additional charge of murder.

The accused appeared before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland in the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court yesterday and the case has been adjourned to today.

Samaroo, the owner of J&J Mini Mart, also of Guaico Tamana, was outside his business place, when he was accosted by masked men on June, 21.

A female relative, who heard his cries for help, ran to his assistance when she was also attacked by a masked man who attempted to slit her throat.

The attackers then made good their escape and the woman was taken to hospital. The victim was later found dead with his throat slit. The five were arrested between July 1 and 7, 2018, at their respective homes and later charged after advice was received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul on Tuesday.

The investigations were supervised by Inspector Andrew Lawrence and Sgt Hezron Lynch of Homicide Bureau Investigations Region 2, while Cpl Daryl Seecharan, also of HBI Region 2, laid the charges.

Despite 60 minutes of rain unleashing severe flood waters in several communities last week, head of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) retired Captain Neville Wint says that the country is in a state of readiness for the 2018 hurricane season.

The bold statement came months after the ODPM was heavily criticised by citizens and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for its handling of Tropical Storm Bret and the Divali floods of 2017.

Such criticism led to former ODPM CEO, retired Col Dave Williams, resigning under public pressure.

Williams had described the Divali flood as “no big thing” but during a visit to flood victims in Sangre Grande and Mayaro, Rowley said he was convinced that the correct personnel was not in the ODPM and it was not prepared to respond.

At a media conference yesterday at the San Fernando City Hall auditorium to discuss Government agencies’ state of readiness for this season, Wint said based on lessons learned from 2017, both locally and regionally, the ODPM has made adjustments to the way it will approach disasters.

Although the OPDM was deemed to have failed during last year’s floods, Wint said they were also ready then and the impact of concentrated rainfall tested that readiness.

However, he said those who live in the river, on the banks and in the lagoons were impacted based on their action.

Wint said programmes have been improved along with numerous consultations with the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, the Ministry of Health and the various agencies which have critical roles in dealing with disasters.

The Ministry of Rural Development has ensured that shelters are ready and will be stocked with supplies. Steps will be taken to inform the population and the locations of shelters while management structures are being put in place.

Last year, there were people who were turned away or met locked doors at emergency shelters. While Wint hoped that there is no recurrence, he said that if the regional corporations are unaware that a shelter is supposed to be opened, there would be no resources allocated.

He said public education has been placed on the forefront and has begun with the publication of the ODPM’s Hurricane Guide on its website.

But while the ODPM is ready to respond, Wint said the country’s success in mitigating disaster also rests heavily with citizens.

“The ODPM is pleading with the population of Trinidad and Tobago to be extra vigilant this season, especially those persons living in low lying areas, conducting business or even recreation. We also appeal to persons to pay special attention to the forecast, information and bulletins being issued by the agencies so authorised to do.

“Notwithstanding the prediction of the 2018 hurricane season, it takes only one organised system to cause damage and as such, persons are reminded not to leave anything to chance. God is not a Trini,” Wint said.

Beside weather systems, he said that T&T was located in an earthquake zone and a reminder was given June 22 when a 5.3 magnitude earthquake 98 km West of Port-of-Spain shook the country.

“The state of the nation’s readiness to me is at a state where I am proud to say, we are ready. However, the severity of the impact will test our readiness. It will test not only the readiness of the responding entities but every individual in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Director of Environment Health in Municipal and Regional Corporations Jameel Mohammed said that municipal corporation bodies have cleaned 75 per cent of minor drains.

Just yesterday, Debe residents complained about the blocked drainage culverts and silty drain in their community.

Mohammed said that beyond cleaning, all corporations have drainage projects to be completed this year.

So far, corporations are in the process of distributing sandbags to its burgesses.

However, Mohammed said there needs to be a cultural change in terms of illegal dumping, littering and adhering the building codes.

In the farming community, he said farmers would block watercourses as an irrigation method to water their crops but would not remove the blockages in times for the rainy season.

Wint said these issues were a recurring problem and the Ministry of Works and Transport is engaged in a structured, Cabinet-approved programme to clean watercourses. He said homeowners should also use sandbags and take measures to protect their properties.

A father of three who is considered to be an outstanding person in his community has been fined $20,000 for being in possession of a loaded gun some 17 years ago.

Sankar Dwarpaul, 51, a driver and chiropractor, was remanded into custody on June 12 after a jury found him guilty on two charges — possession of firearm and possession of six rounds of ammunition.

In passing sentence yesterday, Justice Maria Wilson, presiding in the San Fernando Third Assizes, found that an appropriate sentence for the offence was six years, but after considering all the mitigating and aggravating factors she decided against a custodial sentence.

Dwarpaul, a driver, was arrested and charged on June 30, 2001. The State’s case led by prosecutor Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal was around 2 am Insps Harrysingh, Pierre and Smith observed a green Nissan Cefiro for which they had been on the lookout, at SS Erin Road, Duncan

Village, San Fernando. The car turned into the carpark of South Sea Restaurant and stopped.

The officers told Dwarpaul and another occupant of the car they had information that they were in possession of a firearm. When the officers searched the car they found a Beretta pistol with a magazine containing six rounds of ammunition in the console area between the two front seats.

Officers claimed Dwarpaul said: “I have it to protect myself because it have people want to kill me.”

Dwarpaul, who was represented by attorney Chateram Sinanan, said the loaded gun did not belong to him and he knew nothing about it.

During his mitigation plea, Sinanan presented nine testimonials from various people, including a temple president, retired police officer, councillor, sports group and a retired principal, whom all attested to his good character.

During the floods last year in Woodland and surrounding areas, Sinanan said his client’s home was used as a base to distribute hampers and bring relief to affected residents.

He said Dwarpaul was also involved in community activities in and around his community.

The judge also considered that Dwarpaul was financially responsible for his three children, one of whom attends university abroad, and he assists in caring for his mentally and physically challenged brother.

Dwarpaul was also a first-time offender. Although the offences are serious, the judge found that the brief time Dwarpaul spent in custody awaiting trial was sufficient.

However, the judge said this case was considered on its own peculiar and particular facts and is not to be used to justify a non-custodial sentence for similar offences. Wilson ordered him to pay $15,000 fine or in default serve three years in jail on the firearm charge and $5,000 or two years on the ammunition charge.

He has until November 15 to pay the fines.

Residential homeowners are responsible for the bulk of $604 million owed to the Water and Sewerage Authority by various sectors.

The authority’s Customer Service Manager Alan Poon King confirmed yesterday.

He gave the figure when the management of WASA appeared before Parliament’s Land and Physical Infrastructure Committee.

Poon King said homeowners owed WASA approximately $469m while private sector (commercial/industrial) customers owe $79m.

State agencies owed WASA $56m, he added.

WASA also owes contractors $342.4 million.

The authority’s chairman, Romney Thomas, said WASA had increasingly moved to sale of delinquent owners’ property to recover debt. But he said owners usually tried to arrange payment when WASA moved to sell a property.

One property will soon be advertised for sale by auction.

He added: “We’re not satisfied with the level of indebtedness especially concerning our financial circumstances.”

Poon King said about 50 per cent of WASA’s water supply was unaccounted for—being lost not only to leaks, but also by customer wastage and illegal connections which deprived people at the extreme ends of the system from adequate supply.

Thomas said he did not know exactly how many illegal connections existed, but had “suspicions.”

Thomas said metering was the best solution to prevent consumer wastage.

A 2016 feasibility study on the plan was done by a Canadian company.

Operations director Sherland Sheppard said there was 93 per cent water coverage throughout T&T— but not on a 24/7 supply basis.

He said there was only a 33 per cent supply 24 hours, seven days a week in Trinidad and 13 per cent in Tobago.

Thomas said WASA is trying to “inch up” to 100 per cent supply, 24/7.

Out of 13,000 leaks, he said, WASA had cleared up 11,000 since 2017 and about 2,700 were outstanding.

Apart from a Rapid Response leak repair plan, WASA CEO Ellis Burris said every day 160 leaks were reported and while WASA tried to fix them, others appear.

He said WASA was acquiring ground-penetrating radar among its plans to spot leaks.

The other solution, changing ageing infrastructure, would require changing 150km of its 7,000 km line network.

This would cost around $934million, but WASA lacks the funds. Most of its funds go toward employee costs, Rachelle Wilkie (Finance) said.

Replying to JSC member Rushton Paray’s complaint that WASA’s image was one of digging up roads as soon as they were fixed, Thomas admitted WASA was responsible for some damage to roads following pipeline work, but not all.

There is a backlog of 1,970 road restorations currently.

Dion Abdool (General Counsel) said 22 parties had filed claim against WASA concerning damage to properties by the authority and two regarding damage to vehicles resulting from WASA’s work.

Public Administration Minister Marlene McDonald has been diagnosed with renal/kidney failure.

The Port-of-Spain South MP has been hospitalised since Saturday. A statement from the Ministry of Communications indicated McDonald was being treated for an “existing medical condition.”

It’s the second time she has been taken to hospital in the last month. While it was initially thought she was battling pneumonia, a concerned source close to McDonald disclosed the true nature of her illness, saying she is in renal failure and now requires dialysis two to three days a week.

Guardian Media Ltd also understands that McDonald’s prognosis is complicated by her diabetic condition and she will need time to rest and recover.

Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood sufficiently and is accompanied by a number of risks, including anaemia, high blood pressure, increased risk of infection, fluid overload among others.

Calls to McDonald’s phone went directly to voicemail.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley appointed Senator Allyson West as McDonald’s temporary replacement at the Public Administration Ministry. He said this was done “given the nature of her hospitalisation and her ability to function in the assignment she is carrying.”

At the post-Cabinet news conference, Rowley did not divulge details about her health but he wished McDonald a “speedy recovery and a complete one.”

He also responded to conflicting information put out yesterday by the Port-of-Spain South constituency office, suggesting that McDonald had been discharged from the hospital. It contradicted a statement from the Communications Ministry which stated McDonald was still hospitalised.

“We cannot speak for any other than the Government’s communication that it made to the population,” Rowley said.

“The statements made by the Government would be based on information the Government has, which may be different from the information other people have.”

McDonald still remains at the St Clair Medical Hospital under medical care.

It now means two ministers from the Public Administration Ministry are facing serious challenges with their health and are now on sick leave.

Minister in that ministry Maxie Cuffie has been away from duty since last year after suffering a stroke. It is expected he will return to the country from the United States at the end of July.

What is kidney/renal failure

Kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. When your kidneys fail, it means they have stopped working well enough for you to survive without dialysis or a kidney transplant. In most cases, kidney failure is caused by other health problems that have done permanent damage (harm) to your kidneys little by little, over time.

When your kidneys are damaged, they may not work as well as they should. If the damage to your kidneys continues to get worse and your kidneys are less and less able to do their job, you have chronic kidney disease. Kidney failure is the last (most severe) stage of chronic kidney disease. This is why kidney failure is also called end-stage renal disease, or ESRD for short.

Diabetes is the most common cause of ESRD. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of ESRD.

Having one of the health problems that can lead to kidney failure does not mean that you will definitely have kidney failure. Living a healthy lifestyle and working with your doctor to control these health problems can help your kidneys work for as long as possible.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) usually gets worse slowly, and symptoms may not appear until your kidneys are badly damaged. In the late stages of CKD, as you are nearing kidney failure (ESRD), you may notice symptoms that are caused by waste and extra fluid building up in your body.

If you have ESRD, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. There is no cure for ESRD, but many people live long lives while having dialysis or after having a kidney transplant. (Source - http://www.kidneyfund.org/ )

Sea Lots community leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke and contractor Kenroy Dopwell yesterday prayed for the speedy recovery of their Port-of-Spain South MP, describing her as a mother to their community.

Both men said they were saddened by McDonald’s deteriorating health and would continue to ask God to deliver her from her sickness.

“On behalf of the community I would like to extend a speedy recovery to our MP. I hope she gets over whatever is her illness. We are still unclear what she is suffering from. All we have been asking God is to return her to good health,” Burke said.

This is the second time McDonald has been hospitalised in weeks.

In June, McDonald fell ill during a Cabinet meeting and was discharged after being treated for low blood pressure.

Yesterday, Burke said when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced on Tuesday that McDonald was “seriously ill” he became gravely concerned.

But on Wednesday Burke said his fears worsened when the Communications Ministry stated that the PM was awaiting confirmation on the full nature of McDonald’s illness. Only hours before, a press release from Mc Donald’s constituency office assistant Sharon Felix had stated McDonald had been discharged from the St Clair Medical Centre, where she had been admitted since Saturday for an existing medical condition. The statements from the constituency office and ministry led to conflicting reports.

As a result of McDonald’s illness, Rowley yesterday announced that Allyson West has been appointed to act as Public Administration Minister.

“It’s worrying to the whole community because everybody knows she is well loved and supported in here. Marlene has done a lot for us. We are all saddened by the news because the last time we saw her she was in good health,” Burke said.

Burke said he would not visit McDonald at the hospital but would send her flowers. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her,” Burke said.

Dopwell, a contractor and Burke’s neighbour, meanwhile said the situation that has befallen McDonald was unfortunate.

“The best we can do is send her text messages and pray for her. We tried calling her on her cellphone but got no response. This is not like Marlene. She would normally answer.”

In July 2017, Rowley fired McDonald hours after she took the oath as Public Utilities Minister when Burke and Dopwell turned up at her swearing-in ceremony at President’s House. Burke was held during the 2011 state of emergency and charged with being a gang leader. The charges were eventually dropped.

“It’s something worrying. She’s a mother to us…a mother to the community. We are lost for words. We were not expecting to hear such disturbing news.”

Last Sunday, Dopwell said constituents prayed for McDonald’s health to improve during a service at the community’s Open Bible Church.

“We have been praying for her constantly.”

He said in the 11 years McDonald has been representing the community much was achieved.

In a discussion with constituents yesterday, Dopwell said they made jokes about the Public Administration Ministry being jinxed.

“First Maxie Cuffie fell ill and he still outside seeking medical attention. And look, weeks after Marlene was appointed to the ministry she fall sick too. We were asking if the ministry blight or something,” Dopwell said.

Calls to Felix’s cellphones went straight to voice mail.

Five Guaico, Tamana men appeared in court charged with conspiracy to murder mini mart owner John Samaroo.

They appeared before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland in the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Ferdinand Mora, aka ‘Fredi’’, 32; Bonifacio Mora, aka ‘Chin’ 46; Javon Mora, aka Mickey, 25; Justin Durity 22; and Nickie Paradaisee, 35, were charged by Cpl Daryl Seecharan of Arouca Homicide Bureau Region 2.

A sixth man, charged with Samaroo’s murder, did not appear in court yesterday.

Samaroo, the owner of J&J Mini Mart in Guaico, went to empty garbage in a barrel on the outside of his business place when he was accosted by masked men on June 21.

The magistrate advised Ferdinand Mora to apply to a judge in chambers for bail while Bonifacio and Javon were each granted $300,000 bail to be approved by Clerk of Peace. Durity and Paradaisee were each placed on $350,00 bail, also to be approved by Clerk of Peace.

The accused men were reportedly arrested at their respective homes in Guaico, Tamana and later charged after investigating officers received instructions from the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Joan Honore-Paul.

RALPH BANWARIE