A Charlotte Street fruit vendor was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after he was shot in the neck by a stray bullet from an alleged gang-related shooting yesterday.

Nigel Nandlal, 44, was said to be in critical but stable condition up to late yesterday. He was selling at his fruit stall on Inn Hing Supermarket’s compound, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, just after 2 pm when he was hit by a stray bullet that came from the vicinity of the nearby Duke and Charlotte Street corner.

The Port-of-Spain CID received a report that there was a bottle throwing incident near the area around 1 pm, where the bullet came from, prior to Nandlal being shot.

CID said a gunman returned a little after 2 pm and fired indiscriminately at people in the crowd and Nandlal was an innocent bystander.

Pedestrians, shoppers and vendors scampered for safety.

A vendor called on Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez to provide police protection for Charlotte Street vendors as he had promised.

The search is on to fill four senior positions including that of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the beleaguered special purpose State enterprise—the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL).

The three other positions that the EFCL is seeking to fill are that of senior legal officer, internal auditor and legal officer.

Over the past few months, the EFCL has been hit with claims of alleged corruption, nepotism and mismanagement which are currently being probed by both the Attorney General’s office and the Ministry of Finance’s central audit division.

Following these allegations Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi met with the board to examine matters including “fair play, honesty, integrity, questionable dealings and the avoidance of corruption (real or perceived)” in the awarding of contracts.

Also reported was alleged questions on “the circumstances surrounding the award of contracts to Junior Sammy Group of Companies for two schools in New Grant and Barrackpore.”

Last month, EFCL chairman Arnold Piggott resigned, citing family commitments and “the protection of my reputation and family name”.

Days later, EFCL director Christopher Brathwaite resigned for “confidential” reasons.

Ricardo Vasquez replaced Piggott as EFCL chairman as a new board comprising Clyde Permell, Dean Burgen, Cedric Neptune, Marvin Gonzales and Imamuddin Baksh was announced.

The EFCL was established as a Special Purpose State Enterprise by the Government on March 11, 2005, and started officially operating on August 2, 2005.

According to its website, the EFCL “is a project management organisation that delivers, repairs and maintains educational institutions from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) level to the Primary and Secondary levels.”

The closing date for applications for the four senior positions was on Friday. The main position to be filled is that of CFO who will be “responsible for planning directing and controlling financial functions for the company.”

The CFO will report to the general manager.

Denis Cox is currently the EFCL’s acting general manager and CFO.

The CFO’s key responsibilities include the overseeing “the management and coordination of all fiscal reporting activities for the organisation including preparation of financial statement and budgets, reports of funding agencies, development and monitoring of organisational budgets.”

The CFO is expected to “provide comptrollership functions in order to ensure finances are managed according to legislation, policies, and procedures and generally accepted accounting principles.”

The responsibilities of the CFO also include ensuring accurate and timely reporting to stakeholders and following up on auditor’s comments concerning finances and operations and oversee required action to address deficiencies.

The senior legal officer “will assist in planning, organising and preparing the work programme of the Unit/Division. Duties will include appearing in court, providing legal advice and opinions and drafting legal documents on the more complex legal matters involving the Organisation.”

While the internal auditor is “responsible for planning, executing and reporting on operational, financial, regulatory and compliance related audits/reviews of EFCL. The Internal Auditor will report to the Audit Committee of the Board and administratively to the General Manager.”

The Government stands to lose EUR$2.4 million (TT$18m) in European Union (EU) aid if it delays further in meeting country objectives in the EU’s Climate Change and Sustainability programme.

THe Government signed on to a five-year EUR$8.4 million (TT$64.7m) aid programme to be completed between 2013 and 2018, however due to the change from the People’s Partnership administration to the current People’s National Movement (PNM) administration and a shift in policy, the country could see at least some of that aid money disappear.

Head of the EU delegation to T&T Mr Arend Biesebroek, in an interview with the Sunday Guardian last week, said while the EU was committed to providing support to the country, time was running out.

The Environment Programme’s objective was to support T&T in the pursuit of a low-carbon development path through the implementation of several key sector policies.

These include: the National Environment Policy, the Forest Policy, the Protected Areas Policy and the National Climate Change Policy.

The Government has already received EUR$2.13 m (TT$16m) as a fixed disbursement with no corresponding indicators.

However, a second tranche of EUR$2.4m, which should have been disbursed when the country met its 2015 indicators, has been withheld.

That tranche was linked to the Government’s work on modernising the protected areas management system through legislation.

“I think this Government didn’t want to do that. They wanted to maintain the responsibility for forestry within the Ministry of Agriculture. But because this was part of the policy programme and it was not done, we could not disburse,” said Biesebroek.

“The second part of the programme, we don’t know yet because we are looking at performance in 2016.

“The Government still needs to submit its progress report. We received some indication that the goals would have been met.”

He said while the Government had indicated there was a shift in policy thinking, the Ministry of Planning had also indicated that the overall objective remained valid.

“They still believe it is important to reduce pollution, they just want to go about it in a different manner, so I have said I am willing to make a proposal to Brussels to review the programme and set new targets so that we could define a new concrete objective, that fits within the overall objective of the programme. That would then be paid at a later date.”

Biesebroek said the Government needed to make a proposal based on their policy thinking, what they wanted to achieve, how they wanted to achieve it and how it can be measured.

“Unless Government makes a proposal, the money would be lost. Ideally, a reformulation of the money that was not disbursed must be done and implemented before June 2018. That is under discussion but the technical assistance team is already working with local authorities. Time is running out, though. They still need to submit it, we need to run it to our headquarters for approval and the Government needs to implement it, all before June 2018.

An email was sent to Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis on Thursday but the Sunday Guardian did not receive a response up to late yesterday.

PNM POLICY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

According to the PNM’s 2015 manifesto, now official government policy, the Government intends to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies to safeguard those most affected.

The Government policy also highlights reconnecting people with nature by increasing the acreage for green public spaces and enhancing our physical amenity to promote the enjoyment, cultural and spiritual enrichment of all citizens.

The promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources including wind and solar as the means to increase energy security and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to power our economy is also outlined in the policy as well as awarding financial incentives to ventures that create jobs and businesses in green financial products, renewable green energy and improved resource efficiency.

The Government also looks to increasing research and develop training programmes in state of the art technologies in energy including small-scale energy systems for application in local and rural communities, homes, schools and other institutions in the country and establishing a clear action plan for waste management that promotes local recycling.

While the contracts for employees attached to the Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme better known as the TT Food Card will expire on July 31, the programme is expected to continue.

In a media release, the Ministry of Social Development said it had neither terminated nor retrenched contract employees, as had been reported in the media and sought to assure the public that there would be no interruption in, or discontinuation of payments to eligible Food Card recipients.

The release said the contracts of approximately 103 employees attached to the programme was soon to expire and in keeping with established practice, the affected employees were formally notified of the impending expiration of their three-year contracts.

The employees were also reminded of the need to ensure that performance appraisal reports were completed.

According to the release, finalisation and sign off of the performance appraisal report by the permanent secretary was a requirement for finalisation and payment of the contract gratuity.

From August 1, the Social Welfare Division will administer the programme via its central office and 14 regional offices.

The release said this would help to ensure that there was a more holistic, integrated and effective approach to the delivery of the ministry’s grants and services.

In a separate release, the ministry committed to continuing sustained efforts to put the required structures and strategies in place to meet the stipulations of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was ratified in 2015 as well as the 2030 development agenda.

The release said the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities would serve as a blueprint for advocating the cause and meeting the specific needs of the growing population of persons with disabilities.

The ministry took its series of public consultations on the Revised Draft National Policy on Persons with Disabilities to Chaguanas on Friday, where Minister of Social Development and Family Services,Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn said the Ministry remained committed to engaging the national community, with particular emphasis on people with disabilities, in a conversation which would lead to a comprehensive and an all-inclusive National Policy on Persons with Disabilities for T&T.

According to the release, Crichlow-Cockburn said feedback from the consultation would be critical to developing an action plan for the implementation of the National Policy.

Professor Brian Copeland was officially inducted as the ninth principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine campus on Saturday.

In his inaugural address, Copeland said he was hopeful that the Government would give some consideration to the steel pan industry for an opportunity for economic diversification.

He said, “I am hopeful that given the renewed focus on innovation and an element of the current Government’s national development strategy some consideration will be given to the steel pan industry for an opportunity for economic diversification.”

He said The UWI had embarked on its five-year strategic plan, a critical mission that will pilot its transformation to an institution that will lead Caribbean societies to near utopian scenario.

The ceremony was held at the Daaga Auditorium, St Augustine and was followed by a reception.

Copeland said, “At the St Augustine campus, we have identified two major initiatives for immediate implementation. The first seeks to reform our core education processes to become much more efficient and relevant but increase access to a wider range of individuals and significantly, the underserved.

“The target is a holistically trained graduate who will be a model citizen of near utopia.”

The second initiative, called “innovation imperative” will see the creation of an innovation eco-system.

He said the strategic activity was of the highest priority.

He also thanked former prime minister Patrick Manning for his contributions.

Copeland was named pro-vice chancellor and principal designate on April 29, last year. He assumed office on July 1, 2016. He will serve for a five-year term.

In his tribute, president of the University of T&T Professor Dyer Narinesingh said Copeland was a respected colleague who worked tirelessly for the holistic advancement of the country and the region.

“This is evidenced by his pioneering and innovative work on the steelpan, but moreso, in his distinguished teaching and administrative career - nurturing minds and changing lives through the medium of education.”

President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said when Copeland tenanted “the corridor of power” at the engineering block, he advocated principles of respect, fairness and accountability.

“Now that he has migrated to the Office of the Campus Principal we expect him to continue to uphold these principles and ensure even more critically that they are institutionalised within our university.”

Among the others bringing greetings were president of the Guild of Students Jonathan St Louis-Nahous, president of The UWI Alumni Association (T&T Local Chapter) Jerry Medford, chairman of the National Gas Company Gerry Brooks, chairman of the Campus Council Ewart Williams and Minister of Education Anthony Garcia.

Guests included President Anthony Carmona, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and several government ministers.

Describing the penalties for illegally blocking watercourses as laughable, chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation (SRC), Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said they will be embarking on a “name and shame” campaign against errant landowners.

Supervising the third day of flood relief works in the Mon Desir and Fyzabad communities yesterday, Ramadharsingh said the $1,000 and $1,500 fines for breaking the law were not deterring landowners and developers, who stand to gain millions from the sale of their properties. He said Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has agreed to look into the existing legislation with an aim to strengthen, but the corporation will move a motion calling for parliamentary action to become urgent.

“This law will take some time to come into effect, because there is a parliamentary agenda and this may not be as high up as it should be. While those laws are on the books, the fines are $1,000 and $1,500. When a man or a woman is developing 10 acres of lands and plans to sell them for millions of dollars, they laugh off these fees. These are comical to them, but this situation that occurred with these families and others is not comical at all.

“People suffered here for days and weeks because of many issues: The building of the highway, the dislocation of the communities, the fracturing of the drainage system and also with private developers. Therefore, we are going to take a no-nonsense approach. I’ve spoken to some of my colleagues, councillor Deryck Bowrin and others, and while the law is being proclaimed, we are going to develop a plan to name and shame some of the people who are errant, who are not following the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and who by doing that will cause severe hardship in times of calamity and disaster to the simple law-abiding citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” Ramadharsingh said.

On Saturday, Sinanan told the Guardian that 75 per cent of flooding in Trinidad was man-made, through pollution of the watercourses and illegal land developments. Since Friday, several communities along the South Western peninsula have been under floods. Silver Stream Road, Fyzabad and National Mining Road, Mon Desir were severely affected. Ramadharsingh said the floods were caused by the construction of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension Project, in which the contractor redirected a river. He said a land developer had diverted a river around his properly and narrowed the channel in the process.

Water remained in the community up to yesterday and Ramadharsingh estimated that it was down to 10 per cent. While the communities were returning to normalcy, he said the work done will only help to reduce the level of flooding should heavy rains return. He said a new drainage project will have to be done.

Attorney Jonathan Bhagan has renewed his call for the amending of T&T’s sex offender registration laws.

Bhagan’s call came on the heels of a 30-year-old man, identified as Sunil Sawh being arrested and charged for sexual touching of a six-year-old boy while at a church located at Marc Street in Chaguanas. That incident occurred about one month ago, however, Sawh was only identified by the boy on Thursday morning.

Bhagan, in a statement, challenged all religious institutions to ensure that their staff is equipped with the training and knowledge necessary to assist victims of sex crimes.

He added that religious leaders and their support staff needed to be mindful of sensitive cases where instances of rape or sexual violence occur within their congregations.

“Every major religious institution should codify a policy to deal with victims of sex crimes. The aim of such a policy should be to encourage an atmosphere of openness and honesty where victims can come forward and receive the support necessary to make reports to the police,” Bhagan said.

“It is my strong belief that all persons who are given access to children in Sunday School or Daycare Centers should be thoroughly vetted. A police certificate of good character should be requested in most cases, and the person’s name and previous names should be searched online on the US Sex Offenders database,” he added.

“This issue raises the importance of amending T&T’s sex offender registration laws, which, he added, at present does not deal with offenses committed outside of our jurisdiction. It is morally imperative that every person in a position of leadership do their utmost best to end the scourge of sexual abuse in our society. We must be willing to make every sacrifice to protect our nation’s most vulnerable, particularly our children,” Bhagan said.

Meanwhile, communications manager at the Children’s Authority of T&T, Cheryl Moses-Williams sent out a warning to parents and caregivers saying that it is dangerous to leave children unattended in places and with people whom they may consider harmless.

The advice came just as children begin their July/August vacation.

The authority noted that perpetrators of abuse tend to frequent places where they can have easy access to children.

“As such, the authority is urging parents and caregivers to pay close attention to the adults their children interact with and to keep an open line of communication with children, so that they feel comfortable informing them of any inappropriate incidents,” Moses-Williams said.

Parents and guardians were also asked to allow their children to enjoy the holidays and not be placed with the burden of caring for their siblings.

“Too often unfortunate incidents take place when children are left to care for each other,” she added.

The authority has also advised that according to Section 4 of the Children Act, 2012, a person can also be charged with neglect for exposing a child “in a manner likely to cause that child suffering or injury to his physical, mental or emotional health.”

The authority commended members of the public who have highlighted cases of child abuse and urged others to report all incidents or suspicions of abuse to the Police at 999 or to the Authority’s hotline at 996 or 800-2014.

More than 300 citizens from across the country have benefited from disaster relief after losses incurred following the passage of Tropical Storm Bret on June 19.

Cheques valued at a maximum of $10,000 were presented by Social Development and Family Services Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn to many of the recipients between July 1 and July 4.

Some residents received cheques valued at less than $10,000.

The cheques were handed out in record time to help affected residents replace basic items lost during the disaster and to help them return to a sense of normalcy in the shortest possible time.

Many people lost furniture and other household items and even their roofs during the passage of the storm.

Cheques have been distributed to 27 affected residents from the Tunapuna/Piarco, Sangre Grande (149), Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo (71), Diego Martin, San Juan/Laventille (16) and Siparia (68) Regional Corporations respectively.

Giving “sanctuary” and representation to contract and public officers who feel they’ve been victimised by the Government. “Our target market are those who feel they’ve suffered social injustice from this Government. We’re committed to ensuring this doesn’t take root. There’s a growing list of potential cases,” Maharaj, former PP Food Production Minister, added. 

The Social Development Ministry has stated it’s “neither terminated nor retrenched contract employees. The ministry stated the contracts of the 103 will expire on July 31. From August 1, 2017, the Social Welfare Division will administer the programme via 14 regional offices. The said affected employees were formally notified of the impending expiration of contracts, and reminded of the need to ensure Performance Appraisal Reports are completed.

“Finalisation and sign off of the report by the permanent secretary is a requirement for finalisation and payment of the contract gratuity.” Maharaj said if those workers are so inclined, STU would represent them. He said the union was conceptualised last year after some Food Production Ministry workers couldn’t get representation on issues.

“ We saw other issues in state enterprises including Caroni Green Ltd or with people being sidelined simply because they worked well under the PP administration. I was approached by several people to form something to assist in representing and defending against perceived unlawful/political dismissals.”

In some cases Maharaj claimed the Government was paying two people to do the same duty with one on suspension with full pay and another person doing their job. He said this was affecting some officials in Namdevco, the Sugar Cane Feed Centre, National Lotteries Control Board and farming sector.

He said STU registered earlier this year, operates from attorney Jagdeo Singh’s Fortis chambers. Maharaj, a management expert, said STU’s legal advisers are attorney Kyle Takalalsingh and former industrial court judge Dinesh Rambally. Pro-bono work will be done according to the case.

Majority CL Financial shareholders intend to add two more of their directors to the CLF Board at a special July 26 meeting and they’re prepared to take legal action against Government if it tries to block the meeting, says Carlton Reis.

This, following Government’s refusal to accede to the shareholders’ June 2 request to remove its directors from CLF’s Board.

Reis is a representative of Dalco and CLF significant shareholder Lawrence Duprey. Reis is also part of United Shareholders Ltd (USL) which is dealing with Government on the Clico/CLF issue. The shareholders represent 63 per cent of company share capital.

Reis detailed majority shareholders’ latest push in their bid to regain control of CLF companies as he responded on Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s concerns about the Clico/CLF issue last Friday.

After a Caricom summit, Rowley reportedly listed several issues including Government’s objections to handing back CLF companies to parties who felt they’re “entitled to it” and payments owed by T&T to regional stakeholders concerning Government’s 2009 bailout of collapsed insurance giant Clico.

Former Clico CEO, Cladius Dacon, also took issue with Rowley’s comments.

Dacon said, “The shareholders still own the company. Is the PM saying the company has been nationalised as this is the logical conclusion if they argue the majority of shareholders don’t now own the company? “

“He can object all he likes but the shareholders’ rights are protected by T&T’s laws — or is the Prime Minister taking advice on T&T affairs from Venezuela?”

Majority shareholders’ last year began bidding to regain control of CLF companies when they approached Government to repay the debt owed from the 2009 Clico bailout. In May, Finance Minister Colm Imbert estimated it may be as much as $27 -+billion.

A shareholders’ agreement on the bailout between the Government of 2009 and the CLF parent board allowed Central Bank management control of Clico while Government held majority directorship on CLF’s board.

Government’s four CLF directors are Rolph Balgobin (chairman) Kirby Anthony Hosam, Terrence Bharath and Ingrid Lashley. CLF interests are represented by Albert Tom Yew, Fredrick Gilkes, Trevor Marshall.

But majority shareholders said the conditions necessitating the agreement no longer exist, Clico is solvent and Central Bank should relinquish management control. They submitted a repayment plan to Government last year and didn’t renew the agreement which expired last August.

They said they received no response from Government on the plan. Shareholders — via USL — wrote Government last month requesting removal of Government’s CLF directors and stating intention to hold a special meeting to add more directors.

However, Government queried USL’s status and didn’t remove its directors. With the standoff, majority shareholders are doubling down on action.

Reis added,”Our attorneys replied on USL but we’re no longer focusing on Government’s directors. Instead, we wrote CLF’s Board on June 20 seeking the special annual general meeting to add two more of our directors to the board. The board agreed to have the AGM, July 26,”

“ If Government tries to block the AGM, we’ll take them to court on the basis of oppression. The two additional directors will be myself and USL’s Kirk Carpenter,”

“Once additional directors are appointed, a due diligence study will be done to ascertain exactly how much we owe Government. We’ve always said we want to repay what’s owed— locally and regionally. We have funding. At no time, did we say we don’t want to pay . We tried to settle this since last year,”

“Government hasn’t sat with us to discuss payment. Instead Clico/CLF companies have been treated like state enterprises. But they’re private companies and their shareholders have been ignored and oppressed. We want to settle and get our plans going to stimulate the local/regional economy and create jobs,”

Reis claimed an eighth CLF board director (ex-CEO Marlon Holder) was fired “illegally” last month.

On the PM’s claim of “ parties wanting to renege now by refusing to sign”, Dacon said,

“Failing to renew a renewable contract isn’t ‘reneging.’ It’s the right of either party to the agreement. Successive administrations have reneged on unwritten commitment to bring this to an end within reasonable time.”

“Government’s failure to fulfil even the most basic objective of the agreement - honouring obligations to policyholders - has led to shareholders’ intervention. Not extending the Shareholders Agreement is the right of CLF owners.”

On Rowley’s claim “$24B of taxpayers’ money” was involved in the Clico issue, Dacon said, “Minister Imbert indicated he didn’t know the accurate figure. Is $24b the net amount owed? Is it the amount before acknowledging repayments? Has it been audited?”

“Is the figure based on Section 44 control or does it include discretionary trading in financial instruments? How much is carried in Clico’s books as being owed under the bailout? Why is Central Bank not stating their figure since they control Clico? People have been asking these questions for eight years without proper disclosures from government.”

On Rowley’s view regarding “challenges which weren’t there before”, Dacon added, “There are no new challenges. The PM either didn’t understand them or failed to deal with them,”

“ After eight years of control with no prospect of resolution ,10,000 policyholders are still awaiting payment of benefits there’s been obstruction of any attempt to obtain information by the public or company owners.”

Dacon said, “The ‘quagmire’ the PM claims exists on the issue, is of Government’s making and will continue as long as government retains control. Good governance demands this be ended, but government refuses to discuss this or negotiate,”

On claims Government took steps to bailout Clico,” he added,”This was a bailout until the Dookeran Plan. After, it became an exercise in extracting as much value as possible from the company without repaying taxpayer or policyholder.”

“The only way out of this chaos is, remove the company from Government, arrange for agreement on what’s owed to taxpayers with a plan to repay it and return the company to compliance with laws/regulations from which it’s exempt while under state control.” 

Staff at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital have been exposed to a high risk of contracting infections as the central sterilization unit there has been dysfunctional for over four years.

Recently, the last of four sterilization machines broke down leaving workers unable to sterilize medical instruments. The washer equipment, for example, has not been working since 2013.

Photos reaching the T&T Guardian showed scores of surgical scissors, blades and scalpels, as well as medical clamps are being dumped or stored in buckets after use instead of being immediately sterilized and re-packaged to send back up to the various wards and operating theatres for further use.

Photos also showed piles of medical waste, stowed away in bio-hazardous-ready bags, in a dump den located at the back of the hospital’s mortuary awaiting proper disposal.

A staff member at the unit, who did not want to be identified for fear of victimisation, said that not only staff and patients at the hospital were at risk of infection, but also those at the various health centres throughout the North West Regional Health Authority.

“We do all sterilization for all the health centres in the region, so it’s a widespread concern. It’s gross, unsanitary and unhealthy for all who come in contact with these instruments,” the staff member said.

“For over four years two of the machines broke down. The third one broke down and then would be temporarily operational but more times its down. Then over the past two months the fourth machine broke down and the unit is left now without sterilization machines.”

The staff member added: “Sometimes we are forced to manually sterilize the instruments to have them packaged to send back up to the wards and theatres, but it is very risky for us to even do that where our health is concerned.

“It’s a hell hole inside of here and it has been here for years, since the time of the last government.”

Another staffer admitted that numerous reports have been made during the last administration’s tenure in office and even this present one, but noted that “all those reports seem to have fallen on deaf ears and blinded eyes.”

Up to yesterday, the T&T Guardian was told that the situation remained the same despite a “surprise visit” made by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and the chief executive officer (CEO)Sheldon Cyrus on the Eid Holiday (June 25).

“No one knew the Minister was coming and when he came into the unit and he saw the state it was in he was so shocked and certainly not pleased, but up to Friday the bags are still overflowing at the dump den and the used instruments waiting to be sterilized are still in the buckets,” the staffer said.

When contacted for comment on the issue, Deyalsingh admitted that he was disturbed and disappointed over what he saw during his surprise visit and solely blamed the executive management for the current situation.

“When the kitchen staff protested I decided to go and see for myself, so I only contacted the CEO one hour before my arrival. At the kitchen I noticed total neglect. At the Sterilization Unit, the same thing,” Deyalsingh told the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview.

“While there, I was also given a tour by an orderly of the Accident and Emergency Department and its minor operating theatre. It is in a shockingly bad condition and I realise that all this has been happening for over five years.

“All the requests to the executive management and the last board over the past five years have been ignored. The hospital’s administrator is to be blamed for all this.”

Deyalsingh said as minister, until he can get the executive staff to deal with the issues he is now taking the responsibility.

“My management style is to allow people to do their jobs before I intervene. In this case, I accept this responsibility to fix all these minor infrastructural problems and other issues. Whilst minor, if they are not working properly it could have major consequences and it’s not going to cost millions but a few thousands of dollars.”

With respect to the Sterilization Unit, Deyalsingh said purchase orders have already been sent out to get the required parts to repair the machines.

He also gave the assurance that the medical instruments are being sterilized “using other machinery.”

“There is no risk of infection, but that does not excuse what is going on there. I am disturbed and disappointed that the pleas of healthcare workers have been ignored for five years but it will stop with me.”

Last month, at least 50 workers attached to the hospital’s kitchen also protested over the conditions they were being forced to work in. They complained that they were not being supplied with proper utensils and appliances to carry out their duties.

With a few days to go before deadline, property tax form submissions are still at a trickle and a few people in some locations have even asked to get back information they’ve already submitted. This was confirmed by senior Valuation Division (Ministry of Finance) officials yesterday as the last week for submission of forms by residential owners, gets underway. Deadline is Friday July 14.

Initial deadline was May 22. Due to a “rush” by the public to submit forms, this was extended to June 5. Legal action to block the exercise was mounted by the Opposition which lost the bid. The court ruled forms could be submitted voluntarily, but were not mandatory and the ministry should advertise information on the issue. Deadline was then extended from June to July 14.

Yesterday, valuation supervisors confirmed since announcement of the last extension, and the court’s ruling, submissions were only a trickle and this hadn’t increased up to last week.

“It’s very, very slow at various offices, just trickling. In most places numbers every day are under 100 people. Outlying offices, south, central seem to have a much slower flow also.”

“A few people in some areas even asked back for their forms and information they submitted. That happened in Port-of-Spain and a couple other areas,” they added.

They said the lighter numbers could also be due to the fact the division has obtained more staff and there’s no crowds accumulating waiting to be attended to. But supervisors also believed the slower flow was due to further impending legal action by the Opposition, legally challenging the property tax since September.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert, said in May 150,000 forms were received in the first few weeks of the exercise. Government is targeting 400,000 residential owners.

A soldier is among two people arrested in connection with armed robbery in which comedienne Nikki Crosby and other customers were relieved of valuables at Artie’s Meats, Four Roads, Diego Martin, on Saturday.

The two suspects were placed on several identification parades yesterday and were expected to be charged with the offence last night. Once charged the men will be taken before a Port-of-Spain magistrate later today.

According to a police report, at about 2.30 pm masked men entered the establishment and robbed customers. They then ordered everyone onto the floor and proceeded to relieve the customers and workers of their personal valuables, including items of jewelry, cellular phones, and cash.

The men also stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register before escaping.

The men were later held by police after a shootout. Officers also recovered a firearm.

Investigations are continuing.

Crosby said she felt “traumatised and violated” by the incident, but she was grateful to be alive.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that there may be some changes to the Opposition line up in the Senate.

She said so while delivering the feature address at Eid celebrations hosted by Ummah T&T, a local Muslim Lobby Group. It was held at the Felicity Diplomatic Centre, Rasheed Avenue, Felicity, Chaguanas.

Persad-Bissessar later told the media she planned to make some changes wherever she legally can. The former prime minister said she cannot get rid of elected MPs, councillors and aldermen or to make changes to the national executive of the UNC.

She said, “I intend to make some changes come September and during the course of this period we would be working very hard to put structures into place. I have already instructed every MP to hold a budget consultation seminar in their constituencies, we are also preparing our briefs and I intend to meet stakeholders, again for budget consultations. Specific changes you shall see come September.” Persad-Bissessar dodged questions when asked if there would be a return to the senate of persons who had been in the Senate during the PP regime as Kevin Ramnarine or Devant Maharaj.

She said the party is on election footing following Saturday’s death of PNM councillor Pernell Bruno, who held the Barataria seat on the San Juan/ Laventille Regional Corporation. Persad-Bissessar offered condolence to Bruno’s family. She said this would trigger a by-election “We would go on election footing for that by-election.”

She also told the gathering that she was upset by the Government’s decision to make students who had scored less that 30 per cent in the SEA exams to resit the exams in 2018.

She said the policy since the Basdeo Panday UNC regime (1995-2001) that was carried thorough by the Patrick Manning administration was to ensure that all children enter secondary school.

Persad-Bissessar said this move now by the Ministry of Education was a retrograde step in the education system and could inflict some level of mental anguish on the students who had to resit. Persad-Bissessar also criticised the Government for cancelling the programme to give laptops to Form One students.

She said the people who are behind the closure of the programme are the ones who can afford laptops for their children while leaving those who cannot at a disadvantage.

Legal action is being taken to challenge what is being described as the “unlawful, irrational and unreasonable” decision of the Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) to refuse funding to two children suffering with blood disorders - Shannen Luke and Terrance Chandoo.

Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge yesterday filed an application for judicial review of the “policy, interpretation and decisions” of the CLFA, based on its rejection of the application of funding for four-year-old Luke and five-year-old Chandoo earlier this year. Each child’s surgery cost $1.2 million.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and senator Gerald Ramdeen, with instructing attorney Sean Sobers, are the legal team leading the action.

According to the application filed, the decision to refuse funding to Luke and Chandoo is contrary to the provisions of the Children’s Life Fund Act.

The Children’s Life Fund is a charitable fund established by the government under Persad-Bissessar in November 2010 by Act of Parliament - Act No. 12 of 2010. The CLFA was the body bestowed with the responsibility to operate, manage and administer the Children’s Life Fund.

According to the CLFA’s website, the authority “ensures that all eligible applicants to the fund are carefully considered by a team of highly qualified specialist doctors and medical social workers to ensure that the ‘Best Care Plan’ is determined and carefully executed. The CLFA’s first priority is the well-being of the child and his/her family.”

In April, the families of Luke and Chandoo sought to access that funding. Chandoo, who was born on June 30, 2012, was diagnosed with a blood disorder known as Beta Thalassemia Major when he was eight months old. Luke, who was born on April 11, 2013, was diagnosed with the same disorder when she was nine months.

The only cure for the disorder is hematopoietic cell transfusion, which is not available in Trinidad and Tobago. Both children’s parents identified the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy, as a centre for a haploidentical bone marrow transplant surgery at approximately TT$1.2 million, which does not include the related expenses associated with the surgery and after care.

On April 4, Luke’s parents made an application to the fund for help, while Chandoo’s parents did the same on April 6. Both applications were rejected.

According to the CLF, a clinical assessment determined that the children’s medical condition was “not life threatening” as required by Section 19 (e) of the Act, the judicial review document stated. In addition to this, the parents had already paid the hospital for the surgeries in early May and the fund “does not allow for reimbursement”.

Sturge’s application is arguing that the CLF’s decision, “if left unchallenged will directly affect the ability of many persons to access funding from the Children’s Life Fund and this may affect the ability of the board to properly and lawfully discharge its statutory power.”

On April 24, a pre-action protocol letter was sent to CLFA chairman Dr Aritza Fernandes. Affidavits by Sturge, Dr Ramesh Mathura and Chandoo’s mother Alicia Chandoo were also filed at the San Fernando High Court.

​

“Let’s talk...”

That’s the invitation which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday extended to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. He wants to meet with her within the next week on “selected matters of national interest.”

Last night Government officials signalled the issues may likely include - apart from the matters concerning the judiciary - campaign finance reform, crime and other national issues.

Around 6 pm yesterday, the PM’s office announced Rowley had written Persad-Bissessar extending the invitation.

OPM stated he requested “... a private meeting for preliminary discussion on selected matters of national interest. The matters selected are, in the view of Prime Minister Rowley, areas in which the Opposition should be engaged.

“It is proposed the meeting take place between July 12 and July 19, 2017 in a suitable room at the national Parliament. The request is being made against the backdrop that Parliament is currently in recess.”

Speaking at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at the Bamboo Presbyterian school last night, Persad-Bissessar said she received the PM’s letter and would accept the invitation.

She added, however, that there are a few things she wanted to discuss with him, especially the crime issue, T&T’s economy and to “let him know he’s brought T&T to its knees.” Persad-Bissessar also said she’d want to suggest to Rowley resolve the impasse within the judiciary and that a tribunal be established to deal with the Ayers-Caesar matter to “determine who is telling the truth” in that.

She noted that she’d sought a meeting with Rowley one year ago on the crime situation, yet one year later nothing had materialised. She said she hoped some of the things she asked for a year ago will now materialise.

The Prime Minister’s initiative follows statements he made last Friday on several issues - which may require Opposition help - when he returned from Caricom’s annual summit.

Rowley hinted Parliament may have to be recalled from its current recess for a special session regarding solutions to issues in the judiciary.

The judiciary’s problems stem from 53 criminal matters left undone after former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar accepted appointment as a High Court judge before she was forced to resign. The judiciary has stated all of her matters must be restarted, but the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office says it’s burdened by the cases.

The handling of Ayers-Caesar’s High Court appointment by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) in April is another facet of the judiciary matter. It was compounded further last week when JLSC members Justices Humphrey Stollmeyer and Roger Hamel-Smith resigned.

Last Friday, Rowley had said it was his “unadvised guess” the judiciary issue may become one for the executive to deal with at some point. He said he’d seen correspondence which indicates “that this matter may only be solved by resort to the Parliament.” If that was so, Rowley added, it was “for office holders involved in this matter to bring it to a head and have it dealt with, even if it means the Parliament has to come back into special session.”

Rowley had also said he was “about “ to approach the Opposition for discussions outside of the Parliament on campaign finance reform. He said Government recently discussed the matter of “progressing the national discussion” on campaign finance and was about to initiate it.

GOVT WILL NEED OPPOSITION SUPPORT—RAMDEEN

On where Government may be headed on the judiciary’s issues with Ayers-Caesar’s 53 unfinished cases, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said Government had noted the need for general law to deal with issues such as those cases.

“We’ve been getting stakeholder commentary on the issue,” Al-Rawi said.

One of these commentaries had the potential for legislative intervention, he added, noting the Prime Minister’s statements last Friday,

Yesterday, UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen said Opposition support will likely be necessary for any legislative solution to the issue concerning the 53 cases.

“It’s clear any legislation the Government brings to Parliament on the issue, will apply only to those (53) people affected, therefore Opposition support will be required for passage,” Ramdeen said.

Law Association president Douglas Mendes meanwhile said other states have legislation that deals with situations concerning partly-heard matters where judges have retired or have died and there are some legislative provisions that take up the slack.

“But I’m not sure what the Prime Minister has in mind. We’ll have to wait and see,” Mendes said.

Last Friday, President’s House assented to legislation for trial by judge alone. This was passed in Parliament recently. The legislation allows the option of trial by judge rather than jury, but doesn’t debar jury trials. It must now be proclaimed by Cabinet.

Two teenage suspects were still being questioned by police last night in connection with a stabbing attack at MovieTowne, Mucurapo, on Saturday.

The teens were held by police yesterday, hours after the attack on a 15-year-old boy. Videos and photos of the attack on the teenager at the popular cineplex went viral on social media yesterday.

In the video, patrons can be seen scampering for their safety after a scuffle broke out and a group of men attacked the teen. One of the attackers is then seen dealing the victim several stabs with an object before running away. The victim was taken to hospital where he was later treated for stab injuries to his upper and lower back and shoulder.

A short while later, police detained two teenagers along Mucurapo Road and took them to the St James Police Station for questioning. Both suspects, aged 17 and 18, are from the St James area.

The victim later told police he was confronted by a group of men he did not know and a scuffle ensued, during which time he was stabbed. The victim was still at hospital in a stable condition last night.

Speaking to CNC3 last night, MovieTowne chairman Derek Chin said he was quite disturbed by the attack and hoped the victim would recovery quickly. He said with the school vacation just beginning and crowds expected to increase significantly, they will increase security at the venue to ensure patrons’ safety in future. He said this would include undercover police officers.

In an unrelated matter, the body of a man was found in Sea Lots around 6 pm yesterday. The man was not identified up to last night. Police said he is of African descent and was wearing a blue and white jersey and blue jeans.

CASTRIES – A Caribbean Airlines flight made an emergency landing at the Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia on Sunday after the pilot alerted authorities of an engine fire.

Caribbean Airlines sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that emergency services at the airport were placed on alert and were all on location when the plane landed safely just after 3 pm.

Officials at the nearby St. Jude Hospital said they were notified of the emergency and activated the necessary protocols to deal with the situation.

None of the 68 passengers on board were reportedly injured.

The plane’s intended destination and point of origin are unclear.

No official statement on the incident had been released by CAL up to last evening.

(CMC)

One of the four suspects held by police in connection with the kidnapping of San Fernando businessman Gregory Laing appeared in court yesterday charged with being in possession of a quantity of Laing’s ransom money.

Justin Superville, of Picton Road, Laventille, was denied bail when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court charged with knowingly being in possession of $2,500, the part proceeds of the ransom paid for Laing’s release.

Busby-Earle-Caddle agreed with police prosecutor Insp Wayne Mohammed, who strongly objected to bail for Superville, as he pointed out he was currently on bail for eight criminal offences which allegedly occurred in March. Neither Busby Earle-Caddle nor Mohammed went into details of the previous charges, except to say that they were firearm-related. Mohammed also noted that investigations were still ongoing and Superville may still be charged with additional offences related to kidnapping.

Superville’s lawyer, Criston J Williams, said while bail was denied he hoped investigators and the police were ready to begin the case as soon as possible.

Mohammed said there were eight witnesses against Superville, but that the case could only begin when a prosecutor is appointed from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Superville, who is also being represented by Chelsea John, will reappear in court on August 7.

Superville was one of the seven suspects detained on July 1, two days after Laing’s kidnapping.

Three of the suspects, including Superville and a 17-year-old girl, were arrested at Alicia’s Palace in Maraval, while the others were arrested at their homes in East Port-of-Spain. The teenager, whose six-month-old baby boy was with her at the time of her arrest, and another man were released by police last week.

Last Friday, Superville and another suspect, an imam and CEPEP foreman, filed habeas corpus applications asking police to justify their detention for over a week. High Court Judge Ricky Rahim did not find police’s detention to be unlawful, but ordered that they be charged or released by 11.30 am on Saturday morning. Superville was charged by the deadline, while investigators decided to release the other suspect, who cannot be named as he was not charged. The three remaining suspects remained detained by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit up to late yesterday.

Laing was kidnapped around 3 am last Thursday as he was opening his family’s Puff N Stuff Bakery at Circular Road, Vistabella. His family also owns Tradewinds Hotel in St Joseph Village, San Fernando. Almost an hour later, his brother received a phone call from someone demanding a ransom of $270,000 for his safe return.

Police traced the call to the Beetham Gardens and immediately began conducting searches in the communities in East Port-of-Spain for the missing man and his abductors. As police intensified their search, Laing’s relatives delivered the ransom in two payments — $30,000 at a track in Beetham Gardens and later $240,000 near TATECO (Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission) Credit Union in Barataria. Minutes after the final payment was delivered, Laing was released unhurt along the Beetham Highway.

President of the Prisons Officers Association, Ceron Richards, fears that Sunday’s jailbreak in Guyana is a disaster waiting to happen at the Port-of-Spain State Prison.

Attorney Israel Khan SC also described it as a minefield and a ticking time bomb.

Richard said two things that could trigger a stand-off and jailbreak at this prison were lack of security measures and the city’s ageing facility.

He was commenting on the stand-off between armed inmates and prison officers in Guyana’s Georgetown Prison, which left one prison officer killed, seven others injured and four prisoners escaping.

Chaos broke out at the prison after armed inmates took control of the facility, setting it on fire.

Ask if the Port-of-Spain State Prison, which was built in 1812 could face a similar situation, Richards said yes.

“But of course, we had a jail break in July of 2015 which resulted in the death of three individuals. Of course, it is extremely worrying. It is not far fetched in our country. And if that is any indication as to what can happen in the service, that question goes without saying. We have to look at these things as serious trends. When anything happens in the Caribbean and Central America it could have a domino effect. It can spread to other countries. We have to be mindful of that.”

Richards said things had to be implemented at this prison to secure and monitor its 700 inmates some of whom were considered dangerous.

“Over the years we have been clamouring for a number of security implementation...all those things have fallen on deaf ears. If not most of them. We have always stated that the Port-of- Spain Prison is faced with health and safety challenges.”

While the structure had been deteriorating, Richard said, things could be done to improve the building’s internal system and make it OSH compliant for its 200 prison officers.

He said the association had asked for additional CCTV cameras be installed at the nation’s prisons.

“You cannot have high security establishments and don’t have basic security equipment.

“No Government so far is up to the challenge of having that type of facility built. When we had the money to build the prison it was not done. Now we have no money we are faced with all sorts of excuses, he said”

Richards was not in support of the capital city prison being shut down since there was no alternate location.

He said moving the prisons to an already overcrowded Maximum Security Prison was not an option, since the facility did not have a proper alarm system.

In going forward, Richard said the association would enlighten the public on its growing challenges this month.

Weighing in on the issue, Khan said prisoners didnot need guns and ammunition to have a jail break. “All that is required is a box of matches which is so accessible in prison and easy to conceal,” he said.

Faced with massive overcrowding and inhumane conditions, Khan said a few frustrated prisoners “might just lose it and all hell would break lose. They cannot get a day in trail. Everything might come to a climax. Don’t think they are not looking on to the 52 part heard matters that are pending and then going to court and can’t get a trial.

“Trinidadians have a tendency to copycat, what happened in Guyana might very well be patterned here,” Khan said.

Khan said the fact that prisoners were still relieving themselves in pails and toilet paper was not readily available meant “this could be a disaster waiting to happen. It’s a ticking time bomb.”

Former inspector of prisons, Daniel Khan concurred with Richards.

“When your neighbour’s house is on fire you should wet yours.”

Khan said within recent times every minister in charge of prisons had recommended “the shut down of the Port-of-Spain Prison. I supported this recommendation every time it was made and documented such in my 2012 report.”

In that report, Khan stated that the extent of upgrades were needed in order to bring it to a standard in which humane, hygienic and sanitary conditions prevail would make it economically infeasible to continue its operations.

“It is also recommended that an engineering team be established that would visit each prison with a view to determining its current state of each prison and give recommendations on improving the structure of such buildings.”

Calls to acting Commissioner of Prisons Williams Alexander’s cellphone yesterday went unanswered.