Security has been beefed up at the Maximum Security Prison, Arouca, after reports surfaced that emissaries of a Latin American drug cartel were planning the escape of alleged drug trafficker Edmund Quincy Muntslag. Muntslag, 29, of Suriname, is accused of involvement in a drug trafficking operation in the United States with alleged co-accused Dino Delano Bouterse, the son of Suriname President Desi Bouterse.

Muntslag is charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the US. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. A senior police source said yesterday that since Muntslag was arrested in T&T a week ago, security has been beefed up because of heightened concerns that the drug cartels could infiltrate local prisons. Prisons officers say they suspect there is a plot for Muntslag’s escape. 

“Security services are on high alert for any attempted prison break, as police officers have allegedly been approached by various emissaries to assist in facilitating the escape,” a senior source said yesterday. “The US authorities are taking no chances as drug lords have managed to escape from police custody before.” Muntslag appeared in a local court on August 30 unrepresented and asked for a translator. The Central Authority Unit in the Ministry of the Attorney General offered to assist.

Muntslag’s mother has reportedly flown in to visit him, but prisons officials are keeping a close watch as he is being treated as maximum security high-risk prisoner. He was arrested by officials assigned to Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearm Bureau (OCNFB) and the US Drug Enforcement Agency when he landed in Trinidad on August 29 in transit to another country, presumably Latin America. 

Muntslag is charged with conspiracy to import and distribute more than five kilogrammes of cocaine into the United States. The investigation by the US authorities has been the subject of international press reports because of his close links with Bouterse’s son. “This arrest represents a significant breakthrough in an international investigation that focused on a major cartel responsible for drug trafficking between South America and the United States,” the source said.

AG mum on details
Contacted on his cellphone yesterday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said he could not divulge details of Muntslag’s arrest. “The work of the Central Authority is extremely sensitive and confidential. I can confirm that he has been arrested and detained but I am not at liberty to disclose anything further in relation to this matter,” Ramlogan said. Asked if Muntslag will be extradited to the US, Ramlogan said he could not discuss that issue.

A report from the US Attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York also confirmed that Muntslag was arrested in Trinidad in late August. However, local authorities initially said they had no information on Muntslag’s arrest. Contacted yesterday, a press officer from the US Attorney General’s department said: “We do not know if there is any further information except what was released in the statement, but we will check and send you an e-mail.”

Head of Interpol in T&T, Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, also denied knowledge of Muntslag’s arrest yesterday. “I don’t know anything about it. If there is a person wanted by the US police, they will communicate with us,” Williams told the T&T Guardian. “There are official channels to do this and the US authorities have not communicated with us. Right now I don’t know the circumstances of his arrest or where he was arrested. I have no knowledge of this at all.”

Asked whether he will be investigating Muntslag’s whereabouts, Williams said no. “If the US wants to get someone extradited, they will call us.” Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard also said he did not know anything about Muntslag’s arrest or whereabouts. “This is news to me,” he said in a text message. 

Told that international press reports from Reuters, the Latin American Tribune and the Associated Press had reported Muntslag’s arrest, Gaspard said he would check, although he suspected that the information might be confidential. A message was sent to the US DEA’s Special-Agent-in-Charge of the Special Operations Division, Derek Matz, who assisted in the case, but no response was received up to last night.

Alexander McLaren, Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, also said yesterday he would make some inquiries into the matter. Efforts to contact Prisons Commissioner Martin Martinez were also unsuccessful, as calls to his cellphone went unanswered.

US drug link

A report quoted by the Latin American Tribune stated that on July 27, Bouterse, 40, of Paramaribo, Suriname, conspired to import cocaine into the US. Bouterse was arraigned in a Manhattan federal court before US Magistrate Judge James C Francis IV last Friday. He was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and carrying a firearm or destructive device during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. 

In the indictment, it was stated that as part of this conspiracy, Bouterse caused a suitcase containing ten kilogrammes of cocaine to be transported out of Suriname aboard a commercial flight, and in the course of engaging in the drug transaction, possessed an anti-tank weapon. Bouterse’s father, Dési Bouterse, is a former army officer and military dictator who was elected to office in 2010.

The prosecution is being handled by the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant US attorneys Edward Y Kim, Michael D Lockard, and Adam Fee are in charge of the prosecution.

GUARDIAN REPORTERS

Homicide detectives are investigating the murder of a toddler they suspect died after a severe beating on Monday. Two-year-old Kimora Roopnarine died at the Chaguanas Health Facility hours after an attendant at a daycare near her Phyllis Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas home, found that she had difficulty breathing and called a male relative to collect her. 

According to reports, the child’s mother took her to the daycare around 7.15 am on Monday and a close male relative was called to pick her up later that day after she was found in difficulty. The man told police that Kimora was crying when he put her on the bed and upon checking 20 minutes later, he found her unconscious on the floor. She was taken to the health centre where police said an initial examination revealed she had no marks of violence on her body.

However, an autopsy done by pathologist Hughvon des Vignes at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, revealed that Kimora died as a result of blunt force trauma to the chest, which broke two of her ribs. No one was arrested up to late yesterday, but police were interviewing several people. WPC Paulette Elcock and Sgt Poolaram of the Chaguanas police are investigating.

Homicide detectives are investigating the murder of a toddler they suspect died after a severe beating on Monday. Two-year-old Kimora Roopnarine died at the Chaguanas Health Facility hours after an attendant at a daycare near her Phyllis Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas home, found that she had difficulty breathing and called a male relative to collect her. 

According to reports, the child’s mother took her to the daycare around 7.15 am on Monday and a close male relative was called to pick her up later that day after she was found in difficulty. The man told police that Kimora was crying when he put her on the bed and upon checking 20 minutes later, he found her unconscious on the floor. She was taken to the health centre where police said an initial examination revealed she had no marks of violence on her body.

However, an autopsy done by pathologist Hughvon des Vignes at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, revealed that Kimora died as a result of blunt force trauma to the chest, which broke two of her ribs. No one was arrested up to late yesterday, but police were interviewing several people. WPC Paulette Elcock and Sgt Poolaram of the Chaguanas police are investigating.

Caricom chairman and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says no decision was taken on the issue of decriminalising marijuana in the region. She was speaking during yesterday 27th meeting of the Caricom Bureau at the Noor Hassanali Conference Room, Parliament Building, Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

Among the other Caribbean leaders attending were Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque also attended. Gonsalves had written Persad-Bissessar seeking to have the matter addressed.

Noting that the issue of decriminalising marijuana was raised by Chief Justice Ivor Archie on Monday at the opening of the new law term, Persad-Bissessar told the news conference that some 16 states in the United States have (legalised) marijuana/cannabis for health purposes. She said, however, the Caricom leaders “were of the view in our preliminary discussions today that we’ll need much further research (on the issue).”

The Caricom chairman said the bureau “has tasked the Caricom Secretariat to do research with respect to the medical issues as well as on the legislative and legal issues.” 

Persad-Bissessar said in T&T, the National Drug Council has been addressing the issue of legalising marijuana for medical purposes. She said the group had developed a concept paper which will be given to the Caricom Secretariat for further discussions. “So the decision is no decision was reached on that issue, except to say further research is needed, much more consultations in each of our countries with various stakeholder groups.”

In February next year the research will be presented by Caricom Secretariat to the Caricom heads. On the issue of reparation to Caribbean states for slavery and the slave trade, Persad-Bissessar said each Caricom leader would speak about the matter when they addressed next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. She said the Caricom states would pursue “diplomatic rules of engagement as we seek to repair the damage that would have been done to our countries through the slave trade and slavery.”

She said the objective was to ensure that everyone benefitted. “It is not that we are seeking compensation per person but to repair the countries so every member of our lands will benefit, should we be successful in this bid,” she added. Gonsalves told the news conference reparation would not only benefit Caricom states but Europe also. 

He said the claims for reparation for native genocide and slavery “connects with the legacy of these crimes against humanity and the extent which those crimes have contributed to the current state of underdevelopment.” He said the intention was for Caricom states “to work with the former colonial powers in Britain, France and Holland in a non-confrontational way and to be part of a developmental dialogue in going forward.”

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the People’s Partnership Government welcomes a healthy debate on the need to legalise marijuana. His comment was made in the wake of a call by Chief Justice Ivor Archie for the drug to be decriminalise. Saying the CJ was clearly thinking outside of the box, the AG said there were very powerful arguments for and against the proposal. He said while there were medical benefits for using marijuana, there can be medical and social problems if it was abused.

Ramlogan said some people argued that “easy access with a legal stamp of approval could lead youths to increase their usage of marijuana.” The minister said the legal benefits were “well documented and should not be ignored for those who fell into that category of patients.” He said alcohol and cigarettes were legal commodities and have not resulted in any dramatic increase in usage was debatable.

Ramlogan said “easier access, which will come if something is legalised, can arguably encourage persons to double-dip.” However, he added, it would not be sociable acceptable to see someone having an alcoholic beverage and smoking marijuana in a bar. He said the CJ had a valid point when he spoke about the cost benefit analysis to decriminalising the use of marijuana.

He said decriminalising its use also would free up and would remove the stigma for many youths of having an unnecessary criminal record. Ramlogan said there were, however, practical challenges to the proposed measure. He said the Government “will facilitate the debate.”

Chairman of the board of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Philip Marshall yesterday presented Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai with its proposed new business plan. Howai, while attending the 27th meeting of the bureau of the conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, issued a brief statement on the report at Tower D, Office of the Parliament, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain. 

He said he was intending to get a preliminary overview but because of the Heads of Government meeting he was only now receiving the report. He said the technocrats in the ministry would receive the document and then a subsequent meeting would be held with the board after which questions would then be answered on the new business plan. The meeting is expected to be held within the next two weeks. 

During his budget presentation last Monday, Howai announced the removal of CAL’s fuel subsidy for international flights but later announced a $400 million injection into the airline which would facilitate its restructuring. Howai also said in his presentation the airline must move toward a financially sound business model for positioning the airline in targeted segments of the global tourism market.

PM of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves, at a press conference after the Heads of Government meeting, thanked PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the removal of the subsidy. Gonsalves said it was well-known that the subsidy was contrary to the multi-lateral and service agreement under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. “The subsidy has been removed so there is now a level playing field,” he said. 

Gonsalves said of the $400 million injection into CAL: “Clearly, the injection of equity to capitalise an airline would not be a prohibitive subsidy under the multi-lateral and service agreement under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.” The leaders of the Governments of the Caribbean islands also agreed to the establishment of a Transportation Commission comprised of member states of T&T, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam and Antigua, Dominica and Bahamas, all owners of airlines within the region.  

“We also want this Transportation Commission to look at maritime transport as well,” Persad-Bissessar said. An Economic Commission will also be established, Persad-Bissessar added. 

The suggestion to abolish jury trials for all criminal offences has received mixed reviews from members of the legal fraternity. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the proposal was nothing new as it was discussed with Opposition members during crime talks three weeks ago at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. 

Ramlogan, who said he took a note on the issue to Cabinet a year ago, described the proposal as a “revolutionary change for the criminal justice system.” He, however, admitted the initiative should be introduced on a phased basis. “I favour a phased approach and perhaps an introduction with violent crime, gun-related and drug-trafficking offences in the first instance,” Ramlogan said, during a telephone interview yesterday. He said once public confidence was gained then the initiative could be extended.

Speaking at the opening of the 2013/2014 law term on Monday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie suggested the abolition of jury trials for all criminal offences as opposed to just for serious crimes. He complained jury trials were too expensive and inefficient. Archie urged the removal of jury trials would improve the criminal justice system. 

Contacted yesterday, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal said the reason to abolish the trials should not be done to ease the backlog of cases alone. She said: “I think there are others reasons. If it is that the jury trial system is not functioning, as it is desired, then that will be one basis for abolishing it. “But remember you have this system of jury trials which we inherited from the English since time immemorial. I don’t think it is something that should likely be abolished.

“It has to be assessed properly for what offences. It is not something I suggest could ever come across totally.” She drew reference to the United Kingdom, where jury trials have been abolished for serious fraud cases. She added: “They have opted to go for judge trials because of the technical nature of the matters.” The notion of being tried by peers also has been entrenched in society, Seetahal said. “Persons have been saying that they trust the jury system more because of being tried by their peers.

“Should that be supplanted by one single judge when you are dealing with something as sacrosanct as the liberty of the citizens... so that is really a serious matter,” Seetahal said. Saying public’s perception was also critical to the success of the initiative she added there were instances where “some judges have shown themselves in the past not to be as “sound as you like.” Attorney and public relations officer of the PNM Faris Al-Rawi yesterday welcomed the suggestion by the Chief Justice.

Al-Rawi who practices civil law said he had witnessed reforms in the civil justice system through aggressive implementation of “reformed civil procedure rules and tighter application of the judiciary’s tolerance for delays in the system. “I am also well accustomed to a judge as a sole arbiter. There is clear logic and merit in the Chief Justice’s considerations as to the abolition of trials by jury,” Al-Rawi added. He said the PNM was considering the party’s position in relation to “this issue and larger reforms.” 

A 32-year-old security guard was among two men who were murdered in west Trinidad between Monday night and yesterday morning. In the latest incident, security guard Ramesh Ramlochan was found yesterday morning strangled to death at the Ministry of Food Production’s compound, Chaguaramas. According to reports, around 7 pm, police received a report of that a man was lying unconscious between two buildings on the Western Main Road, Chaguaramas. 

A team of officers, led by Insp Thomas, responded and followed a trail of blood from the car park. Police said Ramlochan, of Mohammed Street, Pasea, Tunapuna, was dressed in his uniform and had a wound to his head. He also had several marks of violence to his body. An autopsy yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, stated he died as a result of strangulation. Police said Ramlochan may have sustained the head wound while struggling with his attacker. 

Homicide detectives said they were informed that Ramlochan had recently been receiving death threats in relation to a land dispute with relatives. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, 27-year-old Akiel Bolton was shot dead at his Diego Martin home on Monday. Police said around 10 pm, Bolton’s 63-year-old father went to visit him at his house at Waterwheel Road, Diego Martin.

Police said the elder Bolton became worried after his son did not return his calls. When he eventually gained access to the house, he found his son lying in his bed with a gunshot wound to his chest. Bolton lived alone. Investigators said Bolton was well known to them and had a criminal record for drug-related offences. Detectives of the Region One Homicide Bureau are probing both murders. 

Veteran calypsonian The Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) is out of a coma. He is conscious and responsive, a statement from his wife, Margaret Francisco, said yesterday. Sparrow was warded in a Queen’s hospital in New York last week after he was found comatose at home. The statement said Sparrow was being monitored and further updates on his condition would be provided.

It added: “We are pleased to inform the fans of the Dr Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, and the population at large that he is conscious and responsive.  “He is being monitored and we are hopeful that he will continue to progress further. We are specially grateful to the doctors and nurses for their professional and attentive caring for him. “We also wish to express our profound appreciation for the prayers and outpouring of well wishes from all concerned and will issue further updates as it becomes necessary.” 

Sparrow, who celebrated his 78th birthday on July 9, gave an hour-long performance in July alongside Black Stalin at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), Woodbrook. The social networks have been flooded with people from across the globe extending best wishes to the Calypso King of the World.

Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh is seeking a two-year ban on hunting as an immediate intervention was necessary to end the exploitation and depletion of wildlife. He is seeking to increase the fines for illegal hunting from $2,000 to $50,000 and a term of imprisonment. The announcement came hours after scores of hunters gathered outside the Forestry Division, Long Circular Road, St James, for licences to hunt as the season was set to open on October 1.

The minister’s suggestions came via a press release in which he called for a review and amendment of the existing National Wildlife Policy to ensure sustainable management of wildlife resources. “We have become addicted to the over exploitation of wild animals which will eventually lead to extinction if action is not taken immediately,” the release stated. Singh, responding via text message, said there were 407 illegal hunting camps and the ministry would be clearing all of them. 

The release noted that there have been several public consultations regarding the National Wildlife Policy and recommendations were received from various organisations, including the Confederation of Hunters Association, earlier this year. The intervention followed information from various studies that suggested the wildlife population was being over exploited which would result in the depletion of natural resources, the release claimed.

Outside the Forestry Division yesterday, hunters, while waiting for the licences for the upcoming season, signed a petition seeking the intervention of President Anthony Carmona. “No hunt, no vote,” they shouted, as they displayed stickers to support their cause. Buddie Miller, official delegate on behalf of the confederation, said they would use all legal means necessary to get hunting licences.

Miller said six years ago the University of the West Indies and the Wildlife Conservation Committee brought in software to estimate the amount of animals in the wild. However, Miller said, the results of the data were never tabulated. He said though there were over 10,000 hunters who purchased the licences some of them did not take part in the hunt. Executive member Yussuf Ali said it was a normal practice that two weeks prior to the season for the hunters to purchase the permit. 

“Up to this day none of us are able to get permits at all,” he added. Ali said they were sport hunters and looked forward to the season. “We went on and wrote the Prime Minister and did not get a response. Why target the sports hunter?” he asked.

An unnamed political party has already “locked down” $5 million worth of airtime from local media companies for elections and has also pledged $1 billion for the election campaign to remove the People’s Partnership administration from office, says Works Minister Suruj Rambachan. Rambachan made the claim during his contribution to yesterday’s budget debate in Parliament. He did not identify the political party to which he referred, or who led it.

He, however, began and ended his address with criticism of former colleague, Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner—now Independent Liberal Party leader—as well as the PNM in between. On the “mystery” party that had pledged $1 billion to remove the Government, Rambachan added: “I really wonder, I really wonder...whether this money has been pledged from five Cayman Islands’ accounts of 25 firms that is owned by family members of this political party.”

PNM MPs Paula Gopee-Scoon and Alicia Hospedales, listening all agog, declared: “Not the PNM!...no, absolutely not the PNM!” Rambachan added: “(Yes) very startling news—$1 billion pledged to remove this Government...from 25 firms where family members are directors.” “I wonder if all of these companies and directorships have been declared to the Integrity Commission?” he asked.

“That’s why we need legislation dealing with campaign finance reform; some people have very, very interesting subterfuge objective why they get into politics.” Rambachan then pointed to the March 3, 2012, Parliament record of former works minister Warner’s address in the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister. He said Warner had spoken about how he had removed him (Rambachan) as Chaguanas mayor and that Warner had said PP members had an “investment” in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. 

Rambachan, however, said Persad-Bissessar couldn’t be “bought, sold, traded and was incorruptible. “Maybe the Chaguanas West MP is accustomed to buying and selling people and maybe that was what the problem was...maybe he thought he could have control,” he said. “There was no ‘cabal’ when he acted as Prime Minister on five occasions. But he’s not there and suddenly there’s a ‘cabal.’”

Rambachan also said Warner had accused him of discriminating against Felicity and other places regarding his ministerial work. He reeled off a list of work done by his ministry in Chaguanas West, including 13 drainage projects worth $21 million in Beujcal and paving of 34 roads in Chaguanas West. “This accusation is very, very, vicious...It’s meant to turn people’s minds against me, but I am a performing minister and fair to everyone,” Rambachan said.

“I wouldn’t have the Chaguanas West MP create any image that this minister is someone who is against any particular group or area in T&T. The records are there to show.”

The petroleum testing laboratory at the Caribbean Industrial Research Unit (Cariri) will remain closed indefinitely until an investigation is completed after a chemical explosion last Friday. In an e-mail response to the T&T Guardian on Monday, Irma Burkett, corporate communications officer of the institute which is located on the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus, said, however, that Cariri’s other services to its energy sector clients would not be interrupted.

“No testing and analyses will be possible in this lab...however, the main petroleum/energy lab (in adjacent building) was not affected by the mishap, and can therefore still provide other services to our clients in the energy sector,” Burkett said. During a standard analysis of crude oil samples in the petroleum laboratory last Friday, one of the samples ignited and caused an explosion around 11.15 am. It left two technicians injured with burns about their bodies.

The technicians were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, for treatment. One of them (a woman) was released the same day, while the other was moved to another facility, but has since been discharged. “The female was taken home, but the Cariri management decided (as a precautionary measure) to have the male employee admitted to a private hospital for further observation..He has since been discharged,” Burkett said.

“They have both been granted leave to rest and recover fully.” She said there were meetings and inspections carried out by Cariri’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) team on Monday, while a team from Occupational Safety and Health Authority visited the facility yesterday. Investigations are ongoing and Burkett said the institute might review its emergency response procedures as a result of the first-time incident.  

“The institute is always willing to improve upon procedures, and would consider reviewing its HSE protocol and emergency response plans, if necessary,” she said.

Today is the final day for potential voters to get their names on the revised list of electors if they want to cast their ballots in the October 21 local government elections. Chief Elections Officer Ramesh Nanan yesterday urged members of the public who were not clear as to their status to make good use of the opportunity to ensure their names and addresses were properly recorded.

“Go and check your name, particularly those of you who are eager and anxious to vote, so you will have no difficulty on election day,” Nanan said during a telephone interview. During the electoral registration period (September 10-18), electors, first-time voters and especially those who had changed their names and addresses, were advised to visit their registration area office or call the commission’s hotlines, 6271516/0745, to make the relevant enquiries.

Nanan said it was too early to tabulate the data from the various districts to determine the response. He added: “I cannot at this time give you a precise figure as to the number of persons who would have visited during this electoral registration period. From the registration point of view, we are not seeing any great increase in terms of regular normal transaction.”

He said the voters list as of September 10, indicated 1,036,313 were eligible to vote in Trinidad but that figure could change as they took into consideration the transactions over the past ten days and transactions that were not dealt with prior to that date.

Herbert Volney will resign as St Joseph MP Monday.

A two-page press release issued this morning by the Office of the St Joseph MP said the seat "will be vacated on Monday, September 23, 2013".

On September 9, House Speaker Wade Mark declared the St Joseph seat vacant after Volney had resigned from the United National Congress (UNC). Volney had 14 days to legally challenge or accept the Speaker’s ruling. 

But the release suggested the embattled MP does not intend to pursue legal action, although he "disagrees with the ruling of the speaker" that invoked the procedure to declare his seat vacant.

The letter also suggests that he will not run for a second term.

"The Member expresses his gratitude to the constituents of St Joseph for their support and joins prayerfully for the election of a worthy successor."

However, he described the matter as one "of great constitutional importance" and "a cause for civil societies and the law bodies to take up".

The letter was signed by the Manager of the St Joseph Constituency Office of the Member of Parliament, Mark Dolsingh.

Another diplomatic dispute between US and Venezuelan authorities has spilled over in the public domain.

The US is being accused of taking too long to give Venezuela permission travel through U.S. airspace. However, U.S. authorities are insisting that proper procedure was not followed by the Venezuelan government.

A brief letter issued this afternoon by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-of-Spain said, "The U.S. Department of State wishes to correct the public record on certain claims by the Venezuelan government. Venezuelan Government officials aboard a Cuban-registered aircraft sought permission to pass through U.S. airspace over Puerto Rico en route to Europe without following proper diplomatic clearance procedures.

"The Government of Venezuela made a request for diplomatic clearance for their aircraft to enter U.S. airspace with one day’s advance notice.  Diplomatic flight clearances are required to be made with three days advance notice. Although the request was not properly submitted, U.S. authorities worked with Venezuelan officials at the Venezuelan embassy to resolve the issue. U.S. authorities made an extraordinary effort to work with relevant authorities to grant over flight approval in a matter of hours.

As a result, we notified the Venezuelan authorities of the approved over-flight request the evening of September 19."

Meanwhile, Latin American news site Prensa Latina today reported, "A US State Department spokesman said today that Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro's plane had been granted permission to fly over Puerto Rico, on his trip to China. However, the U.S. State Department tried to justify the delay with the pretext that the request was not filed in time, adding that authorities were negotiating with officials from the Venezuela embassy to solve the problem.

"According to the U.S. report, State Department officials made an effort to work with competent authorities in order to grant flight approval within hours, and as a result, the Venezuelans were informed last night that the permission was granted.

"Venezuela's Foreign Minister Elias Jaua denounced yesterday Washington's denial of the pertinent authorisation so that the plane in which Maduro will travel to China today could fly over U.S. airspace, specifically over the territory of Puerto Rico. After hearing the Caracas complaint yesterday night, Bolivia's President Evo Morales said he would propose that the presidents of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America boycott the U.N. General Assembly next week, in New York, in protest over the incident.

"Morales requested that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States hold an emergency meeting to consider the incident. The Bolivian president was a victim of a similar action in July, when France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal canceled the flight permits of Morales' airplane, returning from Moscow, Russia.

"The measure was taken under the unfounded suspicion that the aircraft carried former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, pursued by Washington for revealing a secret espionage program."

The corruption scandal involving Canadian conglomerate SNC-Lavalin is now giving Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal sleepless nights. Moonilal’s predicament comes as the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) has given SNC-Lavalin the all-clear to build the $1 billion Penal hospital and rehabilitation centre at Clarke Road, based on the findings of a due diligence review. 

This has already sparked public outcry from the Opposition, which has called for the immediate cancellation of the deal in the wake of the announcement on Thursday that more SNC-Lavalin executive are facing international corruption charges arising from activities in Bangladesh.

Moonilal, whose portfolio includes the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott), said yesterday that despite the findings of the CCC review, it was possible to terminate Government’s dealings with SNC-Lavalin because of the international bribery and bid-rigging scandal which continues to plague the Canadian conglomerate. “We are very concerned with each and every development on this matter,” Moonilal told the T&T Guardian.

“Thankfully, we are at phase one and the issue of change of contractor is very much alive. We are not pleased by what we are reading. In fact, this matter has caused me sleepless nights.” Asked whether the contract will go ahead, he added: “I will meet with Udecott early next week to take a decision.”The due diligence review was done by the CCC to determine whether SNC-Lavalin had the financial, managerial, technical and ethical business capabilities to execute the project. 

SNC-Lavalin and 100 of its subsidiaries have been banned by the World Bank from bidding on contracts funded by the bank because of the current corruption scandal. However, in a letter obtained by the Guardian, CCC president Marc Whittington told Udecott's chairman Jearlean John that everything was above board with the company. 

“SNC-Lavalin has taken the necessary steps to prevent further illegal or unethical business practices, in line with international guidelines and best practices in the prevention of bribery and corruption,” Whittington wrote. Based on the review, Whittington said: “There is no evidence of any unethical business practices from SNC-Lavalin’s involvement in the Penal hospital project for phase one (the development portion) or phase two (execution).

“There is a high degree of confidence that SNC-Lavalin’s internal controls will ensure that the Penal hospital construction will be well managed.” Whittington said the CCC was “pleased to now be in a position to move the project to the next stage.” He added: “We provide the assurance that SNC-Lavalin has demonstrated to us their commitment to professional and highly ethical business practices.” Whittington said the CCC was prepared to present the results of the review and continue negotiations on the project. 

On May 1, 2012, Udecott signed a framework agreement with the Canadian government to design the hospital at Clarke Road, Penal. Contacted yesterday, John said she had received the CCC report this week. She had written to the CCC twice before about the due diligence review. “I will have to see whether there is any merit to meet. If they completed the due diligence review all they have to do is send us their report,” John said. 

Rowley wants contract stopped

Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley has called for an end to the contract. “SNC-Lavalin seems to have qualified in the eyes of this Government, as a corrupt company,” Rowley told reporters during a walkabout in Point Fortin on Thursday night. “We get the impression that Government is excited to deal with SNC-Lavalin because they have been told, and there is information that SNC-Lavalin pays bribes, so they are excited.”

Rowley said the people of T&T should insist that all dealings with SNC-Lavalin be terminated. “How could a company that is banned by its own government even be considered for doing a contract, far less a government-to-government contract?” Rowley asked.  “Our Government should be ashamed of jumping into that arrangement rather than examining it carefully.” He said while Canada is T&T’s closest partner, T&T’s Government must be careful.

“We are very surprised that the Canadian government will allow its name to be called in such an arrangement. There is no way we will ever be comfortable that we got a good and honest deal with SNC-Lavalin,” Rowley said.  “A company like Lavalin is cause for concern and we are demanding that the Government stop the project and start from scratch with proper arrangements in place.” Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert has filed a motion in Parliament to discuss the issue.

What is the CCC

Established in 1946, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) is a federal crown corporation mandated to facilitate international trade on behalf of Canadian industry, particularly within government markets. According to the CCC’s Web site, the corporation’s business lines are structured to support Canadian companies contracting in a variety of industries and sectors. Under a government-to-government arrangement with Canada, the CCC has the authority to select any contractor based on a due diligence review.

In an earlier interview, Moonilal said the T&T Government will benefit from preferential rates and conditions and this was why it embarked on this project with the CCC's approval.

SNC's links in Trinidad

Checks by the T&T Guardian showed SNC-Lavalin has been previously involved in projects at state-owned Petrotrin. On its Web site, SNC-Lavalin said it was responsible for establishing a new ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) facility that forms a key part of Petrotrin’s clean fuels upgrade programme. 

The unit was designed to process 40,000 barrels of diesel a day to meet stringent North American fuel specifications. SNC-Lavalin listed its scope of work as “management of engineering, procurement, construction, health and safety, quality and commissioning aspects of the project.” 

Spotty record 

In April this year, the World Bank slapped a ten-year ban on SNC-Lavalin Inc, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin and its affiliates, from bidding on projects funded by the bank because of a scandal over bribes. A joint investigation by CBC News and Toronto’s Globe and Mail found a division of SNC-Lavalin had been using a secret internal accounting code for bribes on projects across Africa and Asia for years, according to former employees. 

A 36-year-old woman appeared in court yesterday charged with receiving $5.5 million using a bogus document tendered to the Office of the Prime Minister. Gail Francis pleaded not guilty to the charge when she appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court. She is jointly charged with her husband Raymond Francis, who has not yet been arrested.

Attorney Martin George represented Francis. It is alleged that Francis, a housewife of Millford Road, Scarborough, Tobago, and her husband, trading as Francis Rentals Limited, received the sum after tendering a forged document which purportedly emanated from the Office of the Prime Minister to a bank. The offence is alleged to have occurred between March 20 and 22.

Francis was denied bail after the police prosecutor indicated that they had not yet completed a tracing. Francis is scheduled to return to court on Monday.

Let the debate on the appointment of former Independent senator Dr James Armstrong and attorney Roamar Achat-Saney as members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) begin. That’s the position of leader of government business in the House of Representatives, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, in the wake of concerns expressed by former head of the Public Service, Reginald Dumas, about the qualifications of the two for the jobs.

Dumas said the Constitution says PSC commissioners must be “qualified and experienced in the disciplines of law, finance, sociology or management.” He said while Achat-Saney was an attorney, there are already two lawyers on the PSC—Addison Khan and Martin George. Chairman of the PSC Professor Ramesh Deosaran is a sociologist. Armstrong is a development planner, has a first degree in environmental design, a master’s in urban and regional planning and a PhD in developmental planning. 

Dumas said none of the new nominees of the President appear to be experts in finance or management. But Moonilal said the Government did not see any problem with the President’s nominees. “We will proceed. I have been in contact with His Excellency and we believe that the constitutional requirements have been met,” Moonilal told the Guardian yesterday. Questioned further, he said debate on the matter will take place during the next sitting of the House. No date has been announced for that sitting, however.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, in a separate interview yesterday, said he had not seen the CV of Armstrong “to assess the scope and breath of experience and qualifications to determine whether he has met the constitutional criteria.” Ramlogan said, however, that he was aware Armstrong had a “distinguished and enviable record of public service that straddles several areas and disciplines.” 

The AG said: “If there is ground for concern, I have no doubt that His Excellency can in fact revoke his nominations, as there is no appointment until Parliament gives its approval.” He said the matter was in the “twilight zone between the Office of the President and the Parliament approving the proposed nominations.” Ramlogan said, however, that the President was “normally quite meticulous in these matters.” 

But Dumas insisted yesterday that the “primary responsibility has to be borne by the President, because it is he who put the names finally to Parliament.” “The President should be more vigilant in the execution of these matters,” Dumas told the Guardian, adding that only people skilled and experienced in finance and management should be nominated for the final two PSC positions.

Trade, Industry and Investments Minister Vasant Bharath says by December this year the Port Authority will have the capacity to scan some 200 containers per hour. He said the Government recently purchased the $25 million scanner through a grant funded by the government of China. “We expect delivery and operation of the scanner by Christmas 2013,” he told legislators.

Bharath was contributing to yesterday’s Senate debate, Tower D, Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, on the 2014 national budget, which was presented earlier by Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai. He said the funds were available to the Government for more than ten years but not accessed by former governments.

Bharath said the Government was about establish seven industrial parks at central and south Trinidad. He said the industrial parks are to be “rolled out by December 2014.” He said there were also plans to establish dry docking facilities at Sea Lots. He said the project was being undertaken with Trinidad Dry Dock Company Ltd. He said China Harbour was conducting a feasibility study for the project and the report will be available at the end of this month.

Bharath also said the Solid Waste Management Company Ltd was looking at a joint venture and a private sector company for the disposal of all waste. He did not name the joint venture company but said the project related to the removal of waste at the Beetham, Forres Park and Guanapo landfill sites. He said the lands were expected to be returned to the Government after six years.

The minister also revealed that the former Business Development Company approved more than 878 loans over its ten-year existence but only 157 were repaid. He the total value of the loans was $58.8 million and only $2.18 million was recovered.