Trini Post

The desperate search for a missing ten-year-old girl turned to near violence in the Laventille community yesterday, when scores of irate residents clashed with heavily-armed police and soldiers. In their bid to locate Tecia Henry, a pupil of St Rose’s Girls’ Primary School, angry residents blocked the major roads with burning debris, demanding swift and more efficient action by law enforcement officials. Tecia went missing after leaving her mother’s home on Essex Street, John John, around 7.30 am on Saturday. The child was sent to K and G Mini-mart, at the lower end of John John, to purchase a phone card and other items. She never made it to the shop.

Sitting in front of the parlour, which was closed yesterday, the child’s mother Diane was visibly distraught. She tried to comfort her 12-year-old twin daughters, Tia and Tamara, who sat at their mother’s feet shedding tears for their missing sister. According to Diane, the walk from her home to the mini-mart is a mere three minutes. “When I saw a certain time I sent one of her sisters to check on her. The owner of the shop said he glimpsed her going up Crook Street,” Diane said.

Believing the mini-mart might have been closed, Diana said she thought her daughter might have gone to another shop on St Paul Street, not too far from where the child’s grandmother lived. “I called the aunt, but they said she not around. I call everybody and they say she not around.” Diane said her daughter never ran away from home. “It was school and home; nothing else.” Tecia Henry was last seen wearing a pink and grey jacket, a denim skirt, a shower cap and slippers.

By:  GEISHA KOWLESSAR of Guardian

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Information Minister Neil Parsanlal says no new powers are being granted to the President under the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2009. Parsanlal said this yesterday in his contribution to the debate on the legislation in Parliament. He was responding to an earlier claim by Princes Town North MP Subhas Panday who said too much power was being granted to the President in the bill. Panday was referring to a provision which gave the Head of State the power to pardon someone guilty of money laundering and to return illicit assets confiscated by the State.

Parsanlal said the Presidential powers of pardon were not new. He said Panday’s claim represented “a personal attack and singular attack on the incumbent President.” He later slammed the Opposition, saying it had no moral authority to comment on the matter because of the “conduct” of its leader Basdeo Panday. Parsanlal’s criticism of Panday later sparked a heated exchange of words between the two, with Panday threatening to tell the nation about certain matters about Parsanlal on Mt St Benedict. “I can tell you what happened up on the mount, why you were not ordained as a priest, so you leave me alone,” Panday shouted across the floor. House Speaker Barendra Sinanan then asked MPs to refrain from provoking each other.

But the heated exchanges did not immediately subside. Parsanlal countered: “Mr Speaker, I have been raised in a house that says one must have pity on the afflicted, the conflicted and the convicted.” But even before he could complete that statement, Panday shouted: “I know what you could raise.” Panday later had to apologise on two occasions for his conduct in the House.
Parsanlal said one of the major objectives of the bill was to deal with the crime of money laundering in T&T. He later appealed to the Opposition to lend its support to the legislation.

Gopeesingh Speaks
Opposition support for the new crime bill did not appear to be forthcoming, as Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh said there was no evidence to show that passage of the bill would result in effectively dealing with the offence of money laundering. He said the Government had failed miserably in the fight against crime. He renewed his call for National Security Minister Martin Joseph to resign over the crime situation in the country.

By: Guardian

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From as early as next week, the newly implemented ttconnect mobile service will allow T&T citizens to use their cellular phones and the SMS text messaging service to receive traffic updates as well as other important news about the Fifth Summit of the Americas. Public Administration Minister, Kennedy Swaratsingh, made the announcement last Tuesday as he delivered the feature address during the official launch of the ttconnect suite of services at the Chaguanas Service Centre located at Gaston Street, Chaguanas.

Swaratsingh said users of the ttconnect mobile service would be charged a small fee. He said that in time the service will be expanded to grant members of the public access to a wider range of Government services. “By July 2009, the public will be able to access more ttconnect services using their mobile phones such as subscribing for state news and weather bulletins,” Swaratsingh said. He said that the entire ttconnect service comprises the ttconnect service centres, ttconnect Self serve, ttconnect Online, ttconnect Hotline and the ttconnect Mobile all of which will help to improve the image of the public service and improve customer service delivery.

There are six ttconnect service centres in operation at St James, Princes Town, Chaguanas, Arima, Tunapuna and Bon Accord, Tobago, and five self serve kiosks located at the Piarco International Airport, Hi-Lo Foods Stores, Point Fortin, Trincity Mall and the Gulf City Malls in La Romaine and Tobago. Through the services, citizens may apply for a wide range of services including their first electronic birth certificate, home improvement grants, admission into the OJT, MUST and other training programmes and in the near future the issuance of provisional permits and applications for passports, and student visas.

“Such a multi-modal programme of access will help in directly addressing citizens major concerns of choice, convenience, accessibility, timeliness efficiency and satisfaction with Government’s current levels of service delivery. “For the various ministries and agencies, the decongesting of their respective departments is expected to act as motivation and assist in efforts toward the better alignment of services to customer needs,” Swaratsingh said.

By: CORI BAYNES of Guardian

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Members of the US Secret Service and local law enforcement bodies are expected to be involved in all-day meetings today to synchronise security arrangements as the Fifth Summit of the Americas draws closer. A source close to the arrangements said the meeting, which began on Thursday afternoon was supposed to continue yesterday at 11 am. However, it was postponed until today.

The meeting, which will comprise selected local law enforcement organisations, will take place on the 13th Floor of the Financial Towers in Port-of-Spain. The source said security bodies dealing specifically with explosives, including their detection and dismantling, will be part of the meeting. These include the Special Branch, Bomb Squad, Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt) and selected members of the T&T Fire Service. With the summit just mere days away, the source said “pre-sweeping” operations have intensified.

These operations involve searches of hotels in Port-of-Spain and other places of interest, particularly for bombs. Following the meeting, the Gold Commander for the summit, assistant Police Commissioner Steve Waldron, is expected to be briefed. Waldron, the source said, was being advised by former UK police commissioner, Bob Bolton. Spouses of heads of state and delegates are expected to take part in a packed agenda, including an informal retreat at Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre Club at 10 am on Saturday.

By:  GEISHA KOWLESSAR of Guardian

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An electrician employed at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba appeared in court yesterday charged with possession of $1 million worth of compressed marijuana. Seven packets of marijuana weighing 56.4 kilogrammes were brought to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court in three crocus bags. The marijuana was wrapped in plastic.

Ezekiel Joseph, 29, of Harmony Hall, Gasparillo, was not called upon to plead when he appeared before Magistrate Melville Daniel charged with possession of the drug. He is accused of having the marijuana in his possession on March 31 at Harmony Hall.

PC Marlon Mahadeo laid the charge. In her bail application yesterday, attorney Michelle Rampaul, said Joseph was an employee at the Brian Lara Stadium. She said her client had seven children and another was on the way.
Daniel denied Joseph bail and remanded him to reappear in court on April 9.

By:  ANIKA GUMBS-SANDIFORD of Guardian

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For the second time in their controversial political relationship, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday stripped UNC MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj of the UNC’s lead spokesman position in the Parliament. After a group led by Maharaj and UNC deputy leader Jack Warner were involved in a fracas outside UNC’s Rienzi Complex office two Sundays ago, Panday moved to bring Maharaj to heel—stripping him of the portfolio of Opposition chief whip which Maharaj had held since the start of the term in 2007.

Panday appointed UNC Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq to replace Maharaj as chief whip. It was a case of deja vu for Maharaj who was stripped of the post of Leader of Government Business in the UNC administration of 2001 after Maharaj fell out with Panday and was fired as attorney general. In 2001, Panday replaced Maharaj as attorney general with UNC MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and placed then-MP Ganga Singh in the post of Leader of Government Business.

Commenting yesterday on the rift with the Maharaj/Warner faction and the 2009 rounds of “stripping,” Panday declared: “This party must be disciplined if it is to be strong enough to remove the PNM Government—that is the only way.” Panday confirmed that he had communicated with Deputy Speaker Pennelope Beckles on Maharaj’s removal and Rafeeq’s appointment. He said he informed Tabaquite MP Maharaj of the development by letter. Asked if Maharaj, Warner and others would be expelled or suspended for the recent fracas at Rienzi Complex, Panday said those who defied rules can be brought before a disciplinary team who will “decide their fate.”

However, Maharaj who was brought back into the UNC by Panday for the 2007 general election, said of his “new” position yesterday: “This (removal) was not unexpected. As I said last week—when we had anticipated it—we’ll use the backbench as the front bench to fight for the public. The party needs me more now. I’m not leaving UNC. “But it’s the first time in the political history of the Commonwealth that a chief whip was dismissed for a second time by the same person whom he served as prime minister and as opposition leader,” he said. “But I hold no acrimony and I go to Parliament’s backbench in love and peace.”

By:  GAIL ALEXANDER of Guardian

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Days before the resumption of hearings of the Uff Commission of Enquiry into the local construction sector, House Speaker Barendra Sinanan has ruled that Udecott must appear before the Committee of Privileges for breaches of Parliament. The Speaker’s ruling was given during yesterday’s sitting of the Lower House. It was in response to last week Friday’s matter of privilege, which was brought by Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

Gopeesingh raised the matter after Udecott’s publication of full page advertisements in two daily newspapers on March 7, responding to his statements while presenting a motion on the adjournment dealing with the level of healthcare in T&T. Gopeesingh’s original claim was made while presenting a motion on the adjournment of the House about the level of healthcare in T&T. He said then that Health Minister Jerry Narace had said previously that Udecott had now assumed responsibility for the construction of the Point Fortin Hospital.

“Imagine Udecott again, Mr Speaker? Udecott which you see in the Commission of Enquiry has been doing absolutely chaotic things and has been involved in so much corruption, non-transparency and non-accountability as far as expenditure of the local taxpayers’ money,” Gopeesingh had also said in the motion on February 27. Udecott said Gopeesingh’s remarks were “reckless and irresponsible,” and dared Gopeesingh to “repeat his spurious allegations outside the Parliamentary Chamber and to immediately report his allegations of corruption together with the relevant proof to the authorities, especially since contracts have not been awarded for this project, nor have construction works commenced.”

The Speaker said yesterday that Gopeesingh’s claim, last week, “amounted to contempt of the House and the publications attempted to intimidate him in the execution of his duties as a Member of the House.” Sinanan quoted Erskine May’s Parliamentary Procedures on the matter and then issued his ruling. “Having regard to the facts presented to me, and established parliamentary practice and procedure, I am satisfied that a prima facie, case of breach of privilege has indeed been made and accordingly I refer this matter to the Committee of Privileges for its consideration,” he said. This sparked loud desk-thumping from Opposition MPs.

Earlier, Sinanan denied St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath leave to have the demolition of squatters’ houses at St Joseph debated as a matter of urgent public importance. Parliamentary sources said the most likely sanction to be imposed if found guilty would be an apology by Udecott in an advertisement of equal size. No date for the meeting has been announced. Sinanan is chairman of the committee which includes as members, Colm Imbert, Pennelope Beckles, Stanford Callender, Christine Kangaloo, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Gopeesingh.

By: RICHARD LORD  of Guardian

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President George Maxwell Richards has referred the report of the application for the removal of Senior Counsel Israel Khan from the Commission of Enquiry into Udecott and the construction sector to Prime Minister Patrick Manning. The report, dated February 5, had been submitted by commission chairman Professor John Uff to Richards containing an application made on behalf of Udecott, to remove Khan from the commission. The application had requested that Richards exercise his powers to revoke Khan’s appointment to the commission on September 8, 2008.

But, in a one-page statement from the Office of the President yesterday, Richards said there were no grounds to warrant Khan’s removal from the four-man commission. He cited Section 3 of the Commission of Enquiry Act Chapter 19:01 which, in part, stated that, “In case any commissioner is, or becomes unable or unwilling to act, or dies, the President may appoint another commissioner in his place.” Richards said: “On the facts reported it is not the case that Mr Khan is or has become unable or unwilling to act as a member. Accordingly, His Excellency is of the opinion that the circumstances do not exist for the exercise by him of the powers invoked under the Act.

“Further, His Excellency has taken into consideration that such powers as are conferred by the Act are subject to Section 80 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as the supreme law.” Richards said he had “accordingly brought the report to the attention of the Honourable Prime Minister and head of the Cabinet.” It was Udecott’s lawyer Andrew Goddard, QC, who had applied to the commission for Khan to recuse himself forthwith because of his conduct while questioning Udecott’s chairman Calder Hart during a sitting of the enquiry on January 28 at Winsure Building in Port-of-Spain.

By: COREY CONNELLY of Guardian

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Villagers protesting the police killing of groundsman George “Ozzie” Ashby yesterday clashed with heavily armed policemen at San Pedro Road, Rio Claro, after the police seized their drums. Squaring off against the police, the protesters, who were beating the drums in a resident’s yard, unleashed their fury on the officers. But, they then settled for beating pieces of iron, buckets and bottles. There were no arrests.

The police, however, ensured protesters stayed off the roads as they engaged in a second day of protest action.Ashby, 52, a father of four, described by villagers as a good man, was killed in his car by police at Guaracara Tabaquite Road last Friday night. When Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj arrived on the scene villagers shouted for joy after he promised to use his political and legal resources to ensure that they get justice. Standing next to Asbhy’s 74- year-old mother Lucy, Maharaj said relatives asked him to intervene in the matter.

He said: “Based on what I was told, obviously the police killed this man and the question which arises is, did the police officer or officers who were involved committed murder? They should not hide behind an inquest. If there is evidence that there was a killing and a murder then the police have to take action.” Promising to arrange a meeting with acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert, Maharaj called on the Police Service to make a public statement on the incident. In the event that the police fail to act, Maharaj said he would put pressure on the Police Service, National Security Minister, Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions to take action.

By: SASCHA WILSON of Guardian

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams says the T&T Police Service has failed in some of its crime reduction strategies. Williams was addressing Special Reserve Police (SRP) at a long-service awards function at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, On Saturday.

Some 75 SRPs—whose service ranged from ten to 40 years—were awarded certificates. Having been put in charge of managing SRPs, Williams said while the T&T Police Service has recognised their contribution to the country, he felt a lot more needed to be done since the country was being confronted with serious challenges.
Williams said the TTPS “have had some crime reduction strategies that have failed over time.” The failure was made evident by the growing homicide rate, he said.

• In 1999, Williams said, there were 93 recorded murders
• In 2007, 391 people were killed,
• 2008 recorded the highest in history— 544 killings

“Do the maths and you will recognise the tremendous increase over time. “It cannot continue. Unless something special is done to change the course of events, Trinidad and Tobago will have challenges in all facets of society.” Among the areas likely to be affected, Williams said, were the tourism industry and business sector. He said the situation was not “unique to Trinidad… it extends throughout the Caribbean.”

Just back from a crime prevention forum in Jamaica, Williams said there was one common challenge that confronted the region—violent crimes. “Violent crimes is sweeping the entire Caribbean and “organisations like ours are almost at a loss on how to take charge of the situation.”

By: SHALIZA HASSANALI of Guardian

Prime Minister Patrick Manning confirmed yesterday that United States president Barack Obama will be attending the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain in April. America’s 44th president would join 33 other world leaders expected to attend the three-day summit. Manning also said the T&T Government remained fully committed to hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.The Prime Minister made the announcements in Parliament in response to criticisms levelled against the Government’s decision to host the upcoming event.

“This new leader in the White House (Barack Obama) has enunciated the need for the kind of diplomacy which brings people together,” Manning said. “Some two months after, it will be the first multilateral forum in our hemisphere at which he will have the opportunity to interact with his counterparts on issues affecting us all.

“We are, therefore, extremely honoured he will grace our shores to share, for the first time, his vision and hope for the future of the hemisphere. “The US, like the rest of the world, recognises partnerships are vital to dealing with economic, security, energy and environmental challenges.” Manning also said the prospects for a new engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean must not be downplayed. “The Government remains fully committed to the successful hosting of these two conferences,” he said.

By: KMICHELLE LOUBON of Guardian

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Member of the Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Sector Israel Khan SC told sacked trade minister Dr Keith Rowley he had failed to present any evidence of corruption against the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott). Khan indicated this during Thursday’s hearing of the Commission of Enquiry at the Winsure Building in Port-of-Spain. It was an intense second day in the witness box for Rowley as he was cross-examined by Udecott’s attorney Andrew Goddard QC and Senior Counsel Frank Solomon, attorney for Udecott’s executive chairman Calder Hart. Rowley had to answer several questions from the four commissioners including Khan.

The issue of the flawed process by which a contract was to be awarded to Hafeez Karamath Ltd for the construction of the Customs and Excise Building in 2003 was the matter being discussed. Rowley had earlier told the Commission Prime Minister Patrick Manning had ignored him when he raised concerns about that matter. Khan later asked Rowley if he was claiming in his statement that Hart was conspiring to make a corrupt award. Rowley responded: “I meant that the potential was there.” Khan again asked Rowley if he had any evidence of corruption, to which Rowley said, “I have made no allegation of corruption against any individual. Khan then asked Rowley if a contract was awarded to Hafeez Karamath to construct the Customs and Excise Building, there would have been corruption.

By: RICHARD LORD of Guardian

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Retired Chairman of Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) Ken Gordon says successive governments are responsible for the appalling standards in electronic media by granting licences without monitoring standards. While he welcomed the proposed Code of Conduct, he said it should be properly tailored to deal with the decline in standards. Gordon made these comments at a luncheon hosted by the Rotary Club of Maraval, at Singho’s Restaurant, Long Circular Mall, St James, yesterday.

To date, there are 37 radio stations in T&T. But Gordon lamented deplorable standards. “The canons of good taste do not appear to be understood, racism is promoted; excesses dominate; pronunciation is abominable, green verbs are the order of the day and standards have fallen on every side. “There is a terrible weakness in the electronic media. No efforts have been made to make people accountable for standards.” He said successive governments, dating back to the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), must be ascribed the blame, since they granted licences without enforcing standards.

Difficult to monitor 37 stations

Citing the proverbial closure of the stable after the horse had bolted, he said an effort was made to develop a Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct came in for blows, too. “It is inconceivable 37 radio stations can be effectively monitored across the board in a fair and equitable manner for the myriad offences which have been identified in the proposed Code.” While it could be done in T&T, he said the failure to enforce it was one of the greatest hindrances. “It is an absurdity to expect these 37 radio stations to be effectively monitored.”

By: MICHELLE LOUBON of Guardian

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Fired government minister Dr Keith Rowley on Wednesday denied having any personal dislike for Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart. His denial came as he gave evidence in the Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Sector and the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) at the Winsure Building in Port-of-Spain. He was being crossed-examined by Udecott’s attorney Andrew Goddard, SC, who put it to Rowley that he had “a personal dislike of Mr Hart that borders on the obsession.” Rowley responded calmly: “That is not correct, Sir.”

Goddard continued, telling Rowley he “cannot abide the fact that Mr Hart appears to enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister (Patrick Manning) while you…” Rowley interrupted shouting: “Nonsense!”
Rowley’s attorney Gilbert Peterson, SC, then objected to the line being taken, but commission chairman John Uff said: “What is being put is a perfect and proper questioning. I remind you that this is a public enquiry, it’s inquisitorial, it is not a courtroom.”
He ruled that it was important that Rowley answer the question.
Goddard repeated his question.

Rowley replied: “If what you are saying is that I am competing for the Prime Minister’s favour with Mr Hart, that is patent nonsense!”
The attorney then told Rowley that he appeared to loathe the fact that Udecott in a short period of time had began to transform the vision of the Prime Minister into some form of reality. Rowley responded saying: “Not really.” Rowley told Goddard if he was in possession of some of the reports about Udecott, “you too would be concerned about Udecott’s threat to the public purse.” Earlier, Rowley admitted that he was aware of the construction of a hotel as part of the Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain.

By: RICHARD LORD of Guardian

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Domestic tourism will be a priority in Tobago, says Chief Secretary Orville London. He gave the undertaking after voting at Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive School during Monday’s THA election. The election was contested by two major political parties—the PNM and Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP). Independent candidate Andre Phillips, of the Advocates for Good Governance (AGG), also contested the Bacolet/Mount St George seat. Preliminary results at 11p.m. revealed that the party won eight of the 12 seats up for grabs in the THA election.

Accompanied by his wife Bridget, a buoyant London arrived at the school promptly at 8 am to cast his ballot. Showing his stained, right index finger, he said while the PNM had enjoyed a “record-breaking campaign,” and was confident of victory, the next four years would be challenging ones for Tobagonians.

London made it clear that the global economic crisis would definitely impact on the island’s economy. He said: “And one of the things we would be looking at more carefully is emphasis on domestic tourism. “I think we have realised that over the past three to four years, there has been a significant increase in arrivals for Trinidad, and a lot of us don’t accept the fact that Trinidad is the second largest tourist market in the region, even Barbados.

By: Guardian