Social skills, empathy, social consciousness and a concern for equity are just as important to success as technical competence, newly appointed chancellor of the University of the West Indies Robert Bermudez has said.

“(UWI) must never forget our core purpose, the education of our youth, we cannot just produce certified young people, we must produce energised citizens with a social conscience motivated to change their world, the university must encourage student activism, discourse on the issues of the day and the freedom to develop their minds outside of the strict confines of their studies,” Bermudez said.

Bermudez made the statements in his inaugural address as UWI’s Chancellor during his installation ceremony on Saturday at the St Augustine campus.

Bermudez, the newly appointed highest office holder at UWI, described himself as the institution’s “Chief Servant”.

“This Daaga Auditorium named in the memory of a rebellious slave brings to mind a rebel of my time Makandal Daaga, a man who chose to identify himself as the Chief Servant, a description that resonates deeply with me as it captures what I believe good leadership to be,”

“So here I stand my fellow West Indians in these unfamiliar robes Chief Servant of the University of the West Indies.

Bermudez said during his entire career he followed three basic rules “stay focused on your core competence, keep your head down and keep your mouth shut”.

As chancellor he will now be “jettisoning these roles forever”, Bermudez said.

“I started life as a baker, and that is true, and to this day I still see myself as such standing here before you as the Chancellor of the University of the West Indies makes me marvel yet again at the vagaries of life ,” Bermudez said.

In the events opening remarks Vice-Chancellor Prof Sir Hilary Beckles said UWI will be opening its next campus in Antigua and Barbuda.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia has admitted that the suspension of the student from the Princes Town East Secondary School (PTESS) earlier this month, following social media posts about the school’s short-comings was “unwarranted.”

This, after the Ministry of Education conducted an investigation into the matter and found there was no basis for the suspension.

Although the Form Four student has already served the five-day suspension which ran from September 4 to 8, Garcia assured, “It will be struck from the student’s file. There will be no lasting evidence of this on his academic record.”

Although he declined to say if the investigation’s findings could result in action being taken against the Ministry of Education, other senior officials said the incident could result in a possible lawsuit, as the enforced absence was contrary to the student’s right to an education.

Garcia yesterday confirmed the Form Four student had not done nothing wrong when he posted about the school’s air-conditioning system regularly breaking down on FaceBook.

The post, which was made at 6.50 pm on September 1, advised incoming students to the school to expect such occurrences regularly and also challenged the ministry to respond to the situation.

Confirming that, “Only a school principal had the power to effect a suspension,” Garcia said the ministry is supposed to be informed of any and all such happenings.

Pressed to say if he was not informed of suspensions prior to them being given, Garcia said no.

However, he added that as head of the ministry, he would have to be consulted regarding any requests for additional suspensions.

Stressing the Education Act clearly outlined the reasons which could result in a student’s suspension and acted as a guideline for principals, Garcia reminded, “The suspension of a student is to be only in circumstances where he/she is exhibiting gross misconduct which could result in injury to other students and teachers.”

Urging students to exercise vigilance when posting on social media, Garcia said he was aware that parents were now using their personal accounts to post about problems at their children’s schools, as they now feared their children could face similar consequences.

The Ministry of Education said measures have been put in place to assist students at both the primary and secondary levels who scored less than 30 per cent in this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam.

As the new academic term heads into its third week, Minister Anthony Garcia said students under 13 who are repeating Standard Five, will be exposed to an enhanced curriculum which will focus on improving literacy and numeracy skills.

Of the 18,180 pupils who wrote the 2017 exam - 2,170 scored below 30 per cent, of which 803 pupils were under 13.

Garcia said curriculum officers and clinical supervisors have been assigned to assist teachers in the classroom, but to also monitor and review the progress of the students.

He revealed that periodical reports would be submitted to the District School Supervisor and forwarded to the ministry so individual and school progress can be recorded and analysed.

When the results were first announced in July, Garcia stressed, “It is not a case of we can’t find places for them. It is in the interest of those children to build on their foundation.”

Dubbed the Form One Initiative, Garcia said efforts at the secondary level included curriculum reform; increased emphasis on literacy and numeracy; special needs teachers; guidance officers and counsellors.

Adding that greater attention was being paid to areas such as sports, music, and visual and performing arts as one way to increase a student’s learning capacity, Garcia explained, “While we want them to learn in the classroom, it is equally important to provide other options which can peak their interest and create an enhanced environment for them at school.”

Garcia said the Student Support Services Division was charged with ensuring these students also receive personalised attention.

Defending the ministry against the public outrage that came its way when Form One teachers were given a “day off” on the second day of the new school term, Garcia said workshops had been organised across both islands in order to inform and update teachers on the new developments and ensure everyone clearly understood the revised position of the ministry regarding these students.

The Form One Initiative was conceived in response to data from the 2016 SEA exam which identified students about to enter the secondary school system with numeracy and literacy deficits - and found it was spread across 56 secondary schools in the seven education districts.

Diagnostic testing conducted to identify the specific content and skill gaps among pupils in Mathematics, English Language and Creative Writing found a total of 2,478 students with English Language deficits; 2,619 with Mathematics deficits; and 1,794 with both English Language and Mathematics deficits.

Words such as depressed, frustrated, despair, hopeless, worry and fear cannot truly described what the people of St Maarten are currently going through since its island was totally ravaged by the category 5 Hurricane Irma two weeks ago.

On Saturday, during a relief and support exercise with Caribbean Airlines, members of the T&T media got a first hand experience as to what the island was really like and what its people were really faced with.

The Dutch and French island was once known for its lush greenery hills surrounded by the nylon blue sea and ecstatic night life in the Simpson Bay area.

Now that island has become a stranger to its own native people.

One tour guide said: “It’s brown all over. Irma’s strong winds either uprooted all the trees or broke all the branches from off the trees…now everything is brown, dry and parched…lakes that we never saw because trees were in the way we now see.”

The very next day, after Irma’s disastrous landfall, there were seen 40-foot shipping containers, light aircraft, boats, yachts and vehicles strewn all across major roads, side streets, coastal areas and even along the runway of the Princess Juliana International Airport.

People along Wellington Road in Cole Bay spoke of their houses falling apart before their eyes. The wooden houses were now seen as stacks of harsh hay, similar to shredded wood.

One woman lost her house, her clothes and important documents. She resorted to alcohol. She thought there was no way out of the island. However, she was one of the fortunate 46 Caricom nationals who were rescued from the island on Saturday and brought to T&T on board Flight BW 3417.

Among the hundreds of people, who turned up at the airport from as early as 6 am, some complained of not having drinking water for days.

Sterling Bisquette told the T&T Guardian that he had not eaten in the past five days, “Not even a sip of water I get. No bread…biscuit…nothing. People loot out all the supermarkets…I want to get out of here back to my homeland, Dominica.” Bisquette was told that he would be placed on the next flight to Martinique, however, that did not happen for him on Saturday.

Horiel Hewitt, 29, a Jamaican national, her two-year-old daughter, Aliyah, and another relative, Patricia Marshall, who resided on the French side of the island for the past 17 years, said they lost all that they had in their house when the sea came up and washed it away.

“We are going back to Jamaica from Trinidad because we don’t have anything here again. I do not know when I will return to St Maarten,” Hewitt said.

Another passenger, who wished not to be identified, said he was quite disappointed of the relief response generally, “it is very hurtful to see that no food and no water that are being donated were being adequately distributed. The Dutch soldiers were seen rationing water by giving one-litre bottles per family.”

Caribbean countries need to pull together and help with the rebuilding and restoration of all the Caribbean islands that would have suffered tremendous loss during Hurricane Irma.

This was the call made by Caribbean Airlines (CAL), Head of Corporate Communications, Dionne Ligoure.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian on Saturday after the airline executed a relief and support effort to have 46 Caricom nationals, including Trinidadians evacuate from ravaged hurricane island, St Maarten. About 39 Jamaican nationals were also evacuated and landed in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday morning from St Maarten.

“No pictures or feeds or videos could have prepared anyone for what we saw today (Saturday). In all my time, it was one of the most fulfilling and humbling experiences of my career,” Ligoure said.

“You saw where in a matter of days people’s entire lives were changed. The opportunity here is that we now have a chance to pull together as a Caricom nation and help each other rebuild. This is a tremendous human-interest story. Yes, St Maarten is getting tremendous support from the Dutch and French armies but we have the opportunity to rally around the Caricom and the West Indies to ensure that the islands are rebuilt and restored and people’s lives return to a degree of normalcy,” she added.

Having had that corporate support from Dianne Hadad of Tobago, Dasani, RBC, Boeing, AerCap and the National Petroleum, CAL was able to execute a well-organised relief and support effort on Saturday.

“To all the other businesses who partnered with Caribbean Airlines in providing essential supplies to the people that need it the most...we thank you,” Ligoure said.

She also made special commendation to CAL’s team in St Maarten for their resilience. She said, “This could not have been anything easy. When they opened that door today (Saturday) and welcomed us to St Maarten there were smiles on their faces because they understood the human spirit.”

“CAL understand its role in connecting Caribbean people and serving this region,” she added.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is expected to disclose today whether it will launch an investigation into the attack on Guardian’s photographer Kristian De Silva or whether it will await the outcome of an investigation by the Police Service.

This comes on the heels of the Police Service indicating through its twitter account on Saturday that acting Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip had ordered an investigation into an allegation that am off duty police officer assaulted a De Silva.

Owner of A&V Oil and Gas company Hanif Nazim Baksh has claimed through media reports that De Silva did not identify himself as being a journalist.

This was the second assault on a member of the media taking photos of A&V Oil and Gas as last Wednesday, a reporter from another media house reported a similar incident of assault which occurred while standing on the public road.

In an interview yesterday, director of the PCA director David West confirmed to the T&T Guardian that a determination is to be made today whether the PCA would initiate a probe.

Pressed further to comment about the incident, West said as of yesterday the reports were allegations until the matter is investigated. West also confirmed that he was aware of the report that a photographer was assaulted but noted that they are only allegations until it is properly investigated.

Generally, West said the PCA does not support excessive force unto civilians by police officers, even excessive force unto journalists who are doing their work. The Media Association of T&T had stated that it was disturbed by the incident and called for the police to investigate.

A Woman Police Constable attached to the Valencia Police Post went into action yesterday morning and successfully delivered a baby girl at the mother’s Valencia home.

Both mother and baby were reported to be in good health and are now warded at the Maternity Ward at the Sangre Grande Hospital.

It was around 7.37 am yesterday that 10-year-old boy Kai Pierre ran to the Valencia Police Post to alert officers that his pregnant relative had been in severe pain and needed immediate help.

Cpl Samaroo, PC Elie and WPC Glenda Goora immediately responded and accompanied the boy to the house, which was located at the back of the police post.

When they arrived the officers heard Kathy Ann Alexander-Pierre, mother of Sabrina Pierre, screaming for help as her daughter was experiencing intense labour pains.

Wasting no time, Goora took charge of the situation with the assistance of her colleagues and organised a pot of hot water and sanitary napkins in preparation for the child’s birth.

After about 20 minutes, Goora safely delivered the baby girl and placed her on the bed next to her elated mother. The baby was named Sierra.

In the meantime, Goora and her colleagues had called for an EHS ambulance which arrived shortly afterwards.

After paramedics John Seepersad and Hanooman Bhola carried out their medical checks on baby and mother they were taken by the ambulance to the Sangre Grande Hospital.

Both mother and baby were said to be resting comfortably at hospital last night.

Goora told T&T Guardian she has experience as a midwife, noting this helps her with her police duties when such situations arise. In fact, she said this was third baby she had delivered in the line of duty. She said she gained her experience from family members who are in the medical field.

Alexander-Pierre said the baby came before time as her daughter had an appointment to attend the Valencia Clinic today.

She thanked the police officers who responded, especially Goora, who went about delivering the baby with little or no problems, adding she was amazed at the officer’s work.

“Response like this will knit the community and police and will restore some confidence and good relationship with police and the public,” Alexander-Pierre said.

Speaking on behalf of the Police Service yesterday, manager of corporate communications, Ellen Lewis, said, “This action of WPC Goora is simply indicative of the extent to which police officers serve citizens of T&T. The role of a police officer has expanded over time to embrace issues not confined to the enforcement or maintenance of law and order but now embraces day-to-day issues that have no bearing on law but appeal to the humanity to man.”

Lewis also referred to a recent case in which two police officers paid a utility bill for an ailing woman, after which the officers alerted the woman’s relatives about her medical condition.

RALPH BANWARIE

SHALIZA HASSANALI

On the heels of the irregular procurement process involving the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 vessels comes word that another contract at the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) is now engaging the attention of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Rowley made the disclosure at the JSC during his closing statements before committee members last night.

He said while PATT needed to pay serious attention to the maintenance of its cranes, another issue has surfaced involving the procurement of 25 tractor trucks which was not ratified by Cabinet.

“Procurements which were questionable resulted in the port paying for 25 tractor trucks at $1 million a piece and that was done without Cabinet approval. The port is in the process now of buying 25 tractor trucks at a time when the port’s business is contracting into oblivion.”

Of the 25 trucks, Rowley said the port had already received five of the vehicles. He said the biggest question was whether PATT should be buying these trucks or maintaining its cranes.

“But somebody got a nice business in tractor truck business, but money to maintaining the cranes is committed to the tractor trucks.”

Rowley said the ferry service was only part of the PATT’s overall problem.

“The bottom line is the Port of Port-of-Spain is in great danger because it is obliterated by business that used to come to Port-of-Spain,” he said, noting that business which the PATT once secured was now going to Jamaica and Santo Domingo.

He said PATT was in fact now being deemed irrelevant by cargo operators for a number of reasons.

“Not the least of which, what we are dealing with here in terms of the unacceptability of conflicts and corruption on the port.”

Rowley said the port in Port-of-Spain was losing its status and geographical location and the PATT needed to earn back that space.

“A handful of people could be prospering on the current arrangement, but the port is spinning off into oblivion and we have to intervene there.”

He said the PATT has to get serious with its business.

“Where it is clear that a drunken man on a galloping horse could see that there are serious problems at the port…problems that are of management, or maybe weak board because it is a state board of Cabinet that could be misled by the port and the board and the management, none of those put us in a good position. And I hope we come out of this better off and better able to address one of the challenges of this country…where hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent and we getting less and less.”

SHALIZA HASSANALI

shaliza.hassanali@guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last night accepted full responsibility for the ongoing sea bridge fiasco, but insisted the new Port Authority of T&T (PATT) board chaired by Alison Lewis has to treat with the “chronic unacceptabilities and conflicts” going forward.

“And I say all along, that today I am Prime Minister, I lead a Government… we take responsibility for what has gone on there under our tenure and what is going on there now," Rowley said, following his two and half hour testimony before the Joint Select Committee (JSC) which was chaired by Stephen Creese at the J Hamilton Maurice Room, Tower D, Port-of-Spain.

Having seen documents on the procurement of the Cabo Star, Ocean Flower 2 and the Super Fast Galicia, whose contract was terminated in April, Rowley said “inequity and irregularities” had taken place which can very well end up in a court of law.

Part of these documents would have been in the report recently submitted to him by sole investigator Christian Mouttet, he said.

While in Barbados in August, Rowley said what got him concerned was when a whistle blower contacted him, asking if he was aware the Cabo Star was owned by a Mexican entity called Baja Ferries. Rowley said the company had found out that T&T was on the market for a cargo vessel and its owners had communicated with the port and offered the vessel to the port management. He said the whistle blower provided two emails, which he read into the record.

“These documents are in the Mouttet report," Rowley said.

Rowley said the email was from one Oscar Romano dated May 25, 2017, and sent to leong@patnt.com

The email was addressed to PATT CEO Leon Grant informing him that the Cabo Star could be developed for charter shortly. A letter dated May 25 then followed the email, which was addressed to Grant, informing him of the need for a ferry for the sea bridge.

“Baja ferries has the possibility to offer our Cabo Star,” Rowley said Romano told Grant in the correspondence, which had an attached appendix outlining the ferry’s specifications.

The vessel at that time, Rowley said, was positioned in Mexico and could come to our shores in 12 to 15 days after departing from its destination. Rowley said Romano had preferred to enter into discussions directly with PATT if they were interested in the offer.

“When I saw these documents given, what was in the public domain and the media, I became very concerned, because what occurred to me is it that here is an owner of a vessel making the vessel available to the port and port not obtaining that vessel from the owner, but either allowing or taking steps to allow the vessel to be made available through a third party.”

The PM said he brought that matter to Lewis’ attention.

“I asked whether she was aware either from management or any form of any owner of the Cabo Star before Bridgemans Services and the chairman indicated that in the dealings with the Cabo Star there was never any other owner.”

Lewis also stated that she unaware of any correspondence coming to PATT from the owner before Bridgemans Services, Rowley noted.

While the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 were ratified by Cabinet, Rowley said he had full confidence the matter involving the sea bridge fiasco would be addressed. He told JSC members they would have to look at the evidence before them and make their findings.

“I hope we are turning a corner here with this inquiry and it is the intention of this Government to hold people accountable where they are located.”

Galicia agent not testifying

Prime Minister Rowley admitted that the state at the PATT, some of which had “far-reaching consequences,” was beyond the ferry service. He said he felt “out of this evil should come some good.”

The PM said what his Government has been dealing with did not start yesterday, “but we cannot allow it to continue.”

In fielding questions, Rowley was asked by member Wade Mark if it was high irregular for PATT to sign two charter party agreements for the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 without seeing the vessels. Rowley opted not to respond.

Rowley also thanked Mouttet, saying he had worked “pro borno” in putting together a compendium of the documents which will be forwarded to Parliament and made public.

Mark asked Rowley if Mouttet, who owns Agostini, had threatened to take legal action against the Government for being owed $140 million, which took place before his appointed in August.

“I have absolutely no knowledge of what my colleague has just raised," Rowley replied.

Rowley said he selected Mouttet based on his experience in the business community and competence “and I virtually had to twist his arm to get him to undertake the assignment.”

The JSC also told the PM that local agent for the Super Fast Galicia, Inter-continental Shipping Ltd's John Powell, had opted not to testify.

Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne has condemned the way in which police officers went to his Chaguanas-based studio in search of information related to a homicide yesterday.

Shortly before 4 pm, a team of officers from the Homicide Bureau, Guard and Emergency Branch, Southern Division and Chaguanas Police Station went to Alleyne’s studio, located opposite Medford Gas Station in Endeavour, Chaguanas, where they allegedly demanded access to the studio’s master control room, information technology department and a laptop computer.

Alleyne’s attorney Gerald Ramdeen said the police officers had no proper search warrant and in the end, could not leave with any equipment, including computer hard drives.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian in his studio minutes after the officers left following a through search of some of his equipment, including a computer, Alleyne assured that he was willing to assist and cooperate with any investigating officer in relation to any aspect of police investigations, “once their approach are along the lines of integrity and professionalism.”

“They don’t have to come in here to break down doors for information…what is that? It is not guns, drugs or any kind of weapons they are looking for…it’s information,” Alleyne said.

He said he intends to file reports to several agencies about the officers’ conduct, including with Police Complaints Authority head, David West and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Guardian senior photographer Kristian de Silva yesterday returned to the A&V Oil and Gas Ltd compound with police, as the probe into the attack by two men on Friday continued.

Lead investigator ASP Ruthven Hunte led officers from the Professional Standards Bureau, along with De Silva and Guardian senior reporter Sascha Wilson, back the company’s 26-37 Nazim Avenue, San Francique compound.

As De Silva and Wilson recounted the story of Friday’s attack outside the company’s gates, Baksh, whose company yesterday issued an apology in relation to the attack and invited media to a tour of the company on Thursday, came out and walked towards them. With an intense look, he said, “Tell them the truth. Tell them you were on our property.”

He suggested that de Silva should show police the footage from his camera. However, De Silva’s camera is a DSLR that only shoots still photos. Baksh also told officers the security cameras at the guard booth were not working and that he was ready to give his statement.

The other suspect in the attack, a corporal attached to the Siparia Police Station, was yet to be interviewed by investigators. Baksh’s relation to the officer stems through his daughter, Government senator Allyson Baksh.

The Cyber Crime Unit also took pictures shot during the incident.

Police have confirmed they are yet to interview the two suspects involved in the incident.

De Silva, who was put on sick leave and prescribed a regiment of anxiety medication, admitted he was sceptical about Baksh’s apology. He said it was only a day ago that he had read another article where Baksh stated: “He lucky I didn’t bounce him (de Silva) down.”

In Baksh’s apology letter, he maintained that De Silva was on his property and that they “exercised strict legal rights when the incident occurred.” De Silva has maintained he was on the roadway when he was attacked by the two men, with one of them attempting to bounce him down while the other, apart from a physical assault, destroyed his camera and damaged his eye glasses.

Nazim Avenue is also neither barricaded nor has signage stating it is a private road. There are also more than 10 dwelling houses on the road. Although officials at the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation could not say whether the road was under their maintenance, a contractor said he had conducted road repairs there in 2009 under the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The attack on de Silva was just one of three incidents where journalists’ lives were at risk while covering the fake oil fiasco in which Petrotrin was billed close to TT$80 million for oil it did not receive from A&V. Last Wednesday, CCN TV6 cameraman Phil Britton escaped serious injuries but his car was damaged when glass bottles were hurled towards him while he was recording in the same spot that de Silva occupied last Friday.

Several media practitioners are calling for a boycott of Baksh’s invitation to tour the company on Thursday. Expressing dissatisfaction at the apology, they said they do not believe it is safe to visit the compound and asked that Baksh relocate his press conference to neutral grounds.

Days after two separate attacks on media personnel from two of the country’s major media groups Guardian Media Limited and One Caribbean Media Limited, A&V Oil and Gas Limited managing director Nazim Haniff Baksh has issued an apology and is acknowledging the company has “an obligation” to co-operate with the “media, to facilitate and provide to the media and to the public, information in respect of the allegations levelled against it.”

But in a signed statement yesterday, Baksh, who has publicly admitted to the attack on Guardian photographer Kristian de Silva, is insisting members of the media entered the company’s San Francique, Penal, property “without its permission.”

De Silva sustained physical injuries and his camera was broken during an attack by two men on Friday.

OCM’s Phil Britton, a cameraman with CCN TV6, was also attacked when he visited the compound last week. A beer bottle was thrown at his car, breaking the glass on one of the windows.

A statement signed by Baksh and attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday extended “apologies to members of the media and in particular members of the media who were involved in the incident.”

The company said having received legal advice and “notwithstanding the strict legal rights which exist for the enjoyment of one’s property,” it “tenders its apologies and accepts it has an obligation in this matter to co-operate with the media to facilitate and provide to the media and to the public, information in respect of the allegations levelled against it.”

In a clear about turn to the hostile stance adopted last week to get media off his property, Baksh is now inviting media personnel to a one and a half hour tour with company officials on Thursday, at which time they will provide “relevant information” on their operations.

The now media-friendly company is also saying it will host a press conference on or before Saturday, where its attorneys, “together with an official with technical knowledge,” would answer questions.

A&V Oil and Gas is now the subject of an investigation following allegations it was overpaid to the tune of US$11 million for gas which was not supplied to state-owned Petrotrin.

The statement from the company said “the public therefore has a vested right to know the relevant facts and to make its assessment in respect of those allegations.”

The allegations were first made public by Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar two Sundays ago at a UNC meeting in Couva. A&V has since sent pre-action protocol letters to both Persad-Bissessar and Petrotrin.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan bears the blame for recent chaos caused by the Super Fast Galicia ferry’s exit from the Tobago sea bridge, says Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union president Michael Annisette.

“The vessel left under your watch—you should be man enough to take responsibility for the chaos. You can’t allow a vessel to leave T&T without having another in place and become forced to get another at any cost!” Annisette added yesterday.

Answering queries from the Joint Select Committee examining the ferry service at the Parliament building in Port-of-Spain, Annisette also said it’s unheard of for a Port Authority of T&T (PATT) board member to negotiate for a vessel, as PATT deputy chairman Adrian Beharry said he did for the “Atlantic Provider” and “Trinity Transporter” barge.

“I was shocked he said so. Questions must be asked who owns the barge and what’s the relationship with the negotiator of the contract?” Annisette said.

The Atlantic Provider and Trinity Transporter vessel were also hired under Sinanan’s watch.

Annisette said the Super Fast Galicia went through the normal procurement process. But concerning the current ferry issues, he said a probe should be done on how T&T had signed a charter party agreement for a vessel not yet in territorial waters and without having done sea trials.

Annisette questioned why one of the recent vessels was a roll-on/roll-off vessel when the PATT needed a passenger vessel.

“This raises red flags. But this was calculated for this result,” he said.

He said he and SWWTU executive spoke to Sinanan, warning him of the consequences, including of not signing the charter party agreement. But he said Sinanan told them “nobody was holding this Government to ransom.”

Until someone explained why the agreement wasn’t signed, Annisette concluded it was Sinanan’s fault. He also revealed that four months before the PATT hired the Atlantic Provider, international shippers had told him the vessel was coming,”but we were operating a vessel we knew couldn’t carry passengers.”

Annisette noted that Sinanan had said there’d be no barge.

“But a certain Port board member was walking around with information on the barge in his computer,” he told the members.

Annisette said he’d expressed his concerns to another minister he knows personally and also someone who “had the Prime Minister’s ear.” But Annisette said he felt nobody listened since he was perceived as a dock worker from the “University of Docksford and not part of the elite.”

He added the MF Panorama would have tendered to return to work locally if given the opportunity to do so.

JSC member Franklin Khan said PATT performance indicators are below international standard and the sea bridge was “disastrous.”

Annisette also denied allegations of sexual advances regarding female employees of an SWWTU-run company providing services on ferries. He said similar allegations had been sent to former Tobago House of Assembly leader Orville London, who subsequently apologised to him when the matter was examined.

Vision on Mission founder Wayne Chance is calling for adequate security at the Beetham Landfill after he was robbed there on Sunday morning.

Chance was robbed of his gold chain by a man after he went to the site with several former prisoners to dump garbage. However, several scavengers who were there, saw the incident and realised it was Chance, later managed to apprehend the suspect and retrieve the chain.

In an interview yesterday, Chance said when he entered the landfill’s gate there were police and security guard present. However, he and his group were soon approached by a group of men armed with various objects as they prepared to offload garbage.

“Some of the men were young and the oldest must be 21 start asking my men who they were and where they from so they could rob them. By the time I say that, a man come with a cutlass, one with a chooker and some had pieces of iron and one of them hold the cutlass to my neck,” he said.

Chance said one of the men then grabbed a small gold his chain from neck and “walked away casually.”

“My men became frantic and was going and get back my stuff and I told them to desist. The men from the dump recognise me and hold the man,” he said.

He said the suspect was later apologetic and said he made a living going to the landfill daily and making a hustle.

“Anybody is exposed to this situation and they robbing people. I was fortunate that they know me. Other people say it was a frequent situation and just drop their rubbish on the side there,” he said, adding that when he went back to the front gate there were neither police nor security there.

Saying he was disturbed by the incident, Chance said the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL) should be more responsible with security for the site.

“People just coming across the road who have no business other than robbing people there,” he said.

He said although the man held a cutlass to his neck the robbery was “petty,” but admitted it had a psychological effect on him.

“Whole night I reflecting on it. They could shoot you and they could rob you while you throwing out rubbish. It was not even money, but rubbish,” he said.

Contacted yesterday, SWMCOL CEO Ronald Roach said the matter was reported to them and the stolen item (chain) was recovered.

“We have met with Mr Chance who is assisting us in the investigations. SWMCOL employs both private security services as well as the police services to ensure the safety and well being of users of its sites. However, isolated incidents such as this one sometimes still do occur,” Roach said.

He said site users are reminded to exercise caution and to immediately report to the security services on site any incident or suspicious activity.

SWMCOL security advisor Nigel Sampson said security at the site had improved and promised such incidents would not occur again.

Also contacted yesterday, Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union (IGSWU) president Robert Benacia expressed his concern and said it was an unfortunate event.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie chose to shy away from the debacle caused by the short-lived judicial appointment of former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar as he gave his annual address to the nation yesterday.

Archie only made a veiled reference to the controversy, which largely overshadowed the performance of the Judiciary since it arose in June, as he spoke during the opening of the 2017/2018 Law Term at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, yesterday afternoon.

Describing his speech as anti-climactic from the onset, Archie mentioned the issue at the end, only to state that he was unable to comment on it.

Archie said: “It would be inappropriate for me to refer in detail to matters that are sub-judice but I will say that the Magistracy, which continues to deal with tens of thousands of matters each year, will get some attention this year.”

Archie also took a slight jab at senior attorneys who called for a boycott of the ceremony due to his (Archie) handling of the issue.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me make it clear that this event is about you—all the people of the nation for whom we exist, who we serve and to whom we are accountable, not just the lawyers, although we welcome those attorneys who have chosen to attend,” Archie said.

It was difficult to assess the impact of the call to boycott as the number of attorneys present was more or less the same as in recent years, save an except for the absence of a handful of prominent Senior Counsel.

However, ten out of the 45 judges, including three Appellate Judges, were notably absent.

Archie’s method of dealing with the controversial issue was met with mixed reviews from the legal professionals in attendance.

Law Association president Douglas Mendes, whose organisation passed a no-confidence motion against Archie and the members of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) over their handling of the situation in July, said he was “mildly disappointed.”

Mendes said: “He obviously had constraints in what he could say because it is before the court. I think having regard to the views expressed by the Law Association that he could have spent a few more sentences, at least telling us what processes have been put in place to address these cases now that the Government has decided not to go the legislative route.”

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi dissented as he said he supported the position taken by Archie.

“It would be improper for a judicial officer in his position to speak to matters such as that, when the JLSC for which he is the chairman of is before the court,” Al-Rawi said.

Al-Rawi noted that Ayers-Caesar’s judicial review, in which she is claiming that she was pressured by Archie and the JLSC to resign and the State’s interpretation lawsuit seeking clarification on the 53 unfinished cases left in limbo by her promotion and later resignation, would come up for hearing shortly. The first hearing of the State’s case is scheduled for October 2.

Both Al-Rawi and Mendes said the decision by some attorneys to boycott was acceptable as they exercised their democratic right in doing so.

Mendes said in his opinion the move was unnecessary in the circumstances.

Members of the public can expect a change in hours by the end of the month at the landfill in Beetham.

Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL) security advisor Nigel Thompson said yesterday that security changes were necessary for the safety of personnel at the dump site.

This change follows the attack on Vision on Mission founder Wayne Chance, who was robbed while dumping garbage at the landfill on Sunday morning.

Chance was robbed of his gold chain by a man when he went to the site with several former prisoners to dump garbage.

During the robbery an alarm was raised and several scavengers, who were at the site, responded and realised it was Chance. The scavengers apprehended the suspect and retrieved the chain.

In an interview yesterday, Thompson said he met with Chance after the incident and he offered suggestions.

“I have a meeting with all security stakeholders today and we will put other things in place to limit what is happening,” he said.

Thompson said during his time as security administrator he heard of only two incidents at the landfill.

He said: “members of the public should not wear any jewelry while at the landfill,” he said.

He said the hours will be changed for members of the public to enter the premises to ensure a similar incident did not occur.

Four men were murdered in separate shootings across the country between Monday night and yesterday afternoon.

The first incident took place at Mt D'or Road, Mt D'or, around 8 pm on Monday night.

Residents contacted police after they heard of volley of gunshots in the community and found Kwame Carr's bullet-riddled body lying next to tree moments after. Carr was shot in his head, chest and feet and police believe he was attacked by two gunmen as they recovered both 9 mm and .38 calibre spent shells at the scene.

At around 4 am yesterday, police were called to the scene of another shooting in Laventille. Residents of Upper Wharton Street, Laventille, heard a gunshots and later found the victim lying at the side of the road. The victim had not been identified up to late yesterday.

The last shooting took place around 2 pm yesterday, when Akim "Simple" Parkinson was murdered by three gunmen in Cocorite.

According to reports, Parkinson was walking along a track near his Waterhole Road, Cocorite home when he was ambushed by the gunmen.

They shot him several times and ran away. Parkinson was taken to the St James Medical Facility but died while receiving treatment.

Homicide detectives are also probing the murder of 25-year-old football referee kyle Carabon, whose body was found near the Tableland High School yesterday.

Police said Carabon, of Guayaguayare, was shot to death and his body left near the school. Residents found the body on the roadside and contacted the Tableland Police Station. He was identified by his ID card found in his wallet.

No one had been arrested in connection with the murders up to late yesterday.

Eight-year-old Syri Lyons Alvarez yesterday became the "happiest girl in T&T" when she got news that she was being taken to the President's House by her parents - soca artistes Ian "Bunji Garlin" Alvarez and his wife Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez, to collect official invitations for Sunday's National Awards presentation ceremony.

Alvarez has been nominated for the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) and he, along with his wife and his parents, were given joint official presidential invitations, whilst little Syri was given her very own invitation.

"I feel so good that she is able to experience this feeling of being able to go to the President's House to collect her invite and also to attend the National Awards, which is important to her, my wife and my parents…to be able to share in this moment," Alvarez told the T&T Guardian.

Alvarez started off his career professionally 18 years ago in 1999. Both a composer and performer of soca and ragga soca, Alvarez is a prolific lyricist who calls himself the "Lyrics King."

Although the list of awardees is usually kept secret by President's House until mere days before the awards, Fay Ann took to her Facebook's page shortly after 5 pm yesterday to make the announcement, where she wrote about Syri's excitement and wanting her presidential invitation to be framed.

Her post read: "Congrats to @bunjigarlin on being nominated for a national Award, syri and I are very proud of you!!! Syri is so excited, she wants the invite framed. #AzaSefu #AzaEmpire. Also from the entire GroundEmpire team we say well deserved! #hummingbird #Silver."

Alvarez and Fay Ann returned to the country on Monday to spend more time with Syri and to ensure that they are there to pick her up and drop her off at school.

"We decided to return home and ease up on the travelling bit so that we can spend more personal time with Syri," Alvarez said.

The National Awards are usually distributed on Independence Day (August 31) but President Anthony Carmona decided to break with tradition this year and hand them out on Republic Day (September 24).

While T&T continues to assist its hurricane ravaged Caribbean neighbours, a call is being made for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to tend to their people first.

Penal councillor Shanty Boodram said since Tropical Storm Bret devastated the burgesses of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation (PDRC) last June, they are still begging for equipment to conduct the necessary flood mitigation works.

Yesterday morning’s rain in south Trinidad was just an outer band of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the Leeward Islands. Several parts of Penal, Siparia and Cedros were flooded.

Pregnant mother Ramrajie Chance and her five children, who were left stranded in their homes in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret, suffered the same fate yesterday.

Chance’s home at the edge of the lagoon along Sunrees Road was 12 inches above the mauby-coloured water. Blocked from attending school, her children sat near the stairs pointing to the lilies where they saw a snake and two caiman’s earlier. Chance’s husband, Sameer Ali,said he could not risk going into the water, showing a cut on his foot he suffered yesterday. The water has also flooded their outhouse, making it especially dangerous for the children to enter.

Boodram said since 2.30 am she was getting calls from affected residents and by noon, there were at least 20 households damaged in here electoral district. She said school supplies, furniture and appliances were damaged. She said that following TS Bret, Government promised to provide the PDRC with an excavator to clear watercourses but no equipment ever came.

“I am calling on the Minister of Works and the Prime Minister today. You are helping your neighbouring countries. I see the disaster and I’m pleading for those people. But we have people here too who are pleading with you to come and help residents,” Boodram said.

PDRC chairman Dr Allen Sammy added that a major contributor to the floods was the illegal filling of land and watercourse, which has to be dealt with. He said should a storm or hurricane hit T&T; his region could suffer loss of life, livestock and property.

In Bonasse Village, Cedros, at least 20 houses were flooded near a NIDCO project site to repair a floodgate leading to the sea. Siparia Regional Corporation chairman Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said mattresses and tarpaulins were provided to the affected families and they were making arrangements to purchase cleaning supplies.

Erin residents experienced floods as well, but by midday, most of the water had receded.

"My roof is gone...I am at the complete mercy of the hurricane. House is flooding."

Those were the frantic few words posted by the Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on his Facebook page on Monday night, just before power went out and all communication lines went down as Hurricane Maria ravaged through the island as a category 5 hurricane.

Skerrit later posted that he was rescued and last night was evacuated from the island.

During the powerful hurricane, with winds up to 200 mph, Skerrit kept in touch with the people of Dominica via postings.

An early post read: "We do not know what is happening outside. We not dare look out. All we are hearing is the sound of galvanize flying. The sound of the fury of the wind. As we pray for its end!"

As Hurricane Maria was bashing Dominica, Skerrit chose to send out an immediate call for help.

"We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds. It is too early to speak of the condition of the air and seaports, but I suspect both will be inoperable for a few days. That is why I am eager now to solicit the support of friendly nations and organisations with helicopter services, for I personally am eager to get up and get around the country to see and determine what’s needed," Skerrit said.

Initial reports reaching Skerrit on Monday suggested widespread devastation.

"So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace," Skerrit said.

He added that his greatest fear was waking up yesterday to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.

"So far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside," Skerrit said via his Facebook post during the hurricane.

"I am honestly not preoccupied with physical damage at this time, because it is devastating…indeed, mind boggling. My focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured."

T&T Guardian understands all communication towers on the island are down and are expected to be so for a while. Only Ham Radio Operators are in communication with one another and the outside world.

In an immediate response, the T&T Government yesterday named six people to form part of a Rapid Needs Assessment Team and Operational Support Team to be sent immediately to Dominica. The T&T Coast Guard (TTCG) and T&T Air Guard (TTAG) also readied personnel and maritime assets to transport emergency relief supplies to the island.

According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the TTCG vessel left for Dominica at midnight and a helicopter from the National Helicopter Service Limited leaves at daybreak today to help in the relief efforts in Dominica.

The OPM said several agencies have been assisting with coordinating relief efforts, including the OPM, Ministries of National Security, Foreign and Caricom Affairs, the TTDF, NHSL, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Caribbean Airlines and the Immigration Department.

"The Government of T&T has also been liaising with the Caricom Secretariat and other Caricom members throughout the day to obtain information and work out the logistics of providing support and assistance to Dominica," the OPM said.

The ANSA McAL Group has committed to donating some of its own products from various sectors to the hurricane relief effort and has called on its employees and the public to drop off essential items at all Standard Distributors across T&T between 8 am to 4 pm, as well as Alstons Shipping Limited, Building #10, ANSA McAL Centre, Uriah Butler Highway and Endeavour Road, Chaguanas.

The donation window started on Monday and will continue to October 9.

A complete list of essential relief items can also be found on the company website at www.ansamcal.com