A Maloney man was killed and his neighbour and accomplice injured yesterday morning, after they attempted to rob a maxi-taxi driver who is also a police officer.

According to police, around 12.30 am Constable Bissessar was driving his red band maxi-taxi east along the Priority Bus Route when he was stopped by the two men at the Maloney traffic lights.

Minutes after boarding the maxi, one of the two men pulled out a gun and began demanding cash and valuables from those in the maxi.

However, Bissessar pulled out his service weapon and opened fire on the men. Both men ran out the vehicle and collapsed at the side of the road.

After dropping his passengers off at the Maloney Police Station, the officer returned to the scene where one of the two men, identified only as “Mexican” and “Elisha,” had already died. His accomplice was later taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he is was warded in serious condition.

Yesterday marked the second consecutive day police had killed a robbery suspect moments after they committed an illegal act.

On Tuesday afternoon, former Special Reserve Police officer Leon Johnson, of Felicity, was killed after robbing and murdering business owner Hanipha “Lucky” Bedassie at her mini mart at the corner of Huggins Street and the Chaguanas Main Road.

Yesterday, social media users praised police for their “good work.”

An indefinite stay has been placed on a US$50 million lawsuit filed against CL Financial (CLF) by one of its subsidiaries.

High Court Judge James Aboud yesterday continued the stay against a claim made by British American Insurance Company Limited (BAICO) in 2011 over a loan given to its parent company in 1998.

Presenting submissions on behalf of BAICO, which has been under Central Bank control since the bail-out, Senior Counsel Deborah Peake said the stay of the case, which was originally granted in 2014, should be continued due to the ongoing liquidation of CLF.

BAICO, Clico and Clico Investment Bank (CIB) were the three CLF subsidiaries, which were subject to Government’s bail-out in 2009.

The stay means BAICO haa to prove CLF’s debt to the company’s liquidators Hugh Dickson and Marcus Wide of international accounting firm Grant Thornton.

If successful, the debt will be added to $4.5 billion in loans already owed to other CLF subsidiaries and the $15.6 billion owed to Government for the bail-out.

In its lawsuit BAICO is contending that CLF failed to honour a promissory note dated December 31, 1998, which required it to repay a US$39.575 million loan with US$10.75 million in interest in 2010. BAICO had initially sought summary judgement against CLF but agreed to stay the lawsuit in October 2014.

Acting CEO and general manager of the Port Authority Charmaine Lewis says she has “absolutely no comment at this time,” on allegations levelled against the Port by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

However, president of the Tobago Chamber Demi John Cruickshank dismissed allegations by Rowley that the business community misled the country by making the situation in Tobago to be worse than it actually was because of the sea bridge fiasco.

In an historic appearance by a Prime Minister before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, Rowley described the Port of Port- of-Spain as a den of “conflict, corruption and iniquity” and one which he said was in “great danger of being obliterated.”

He said, “A blind man on a galloping horse could see that something is wrong,” and if the Government did not “intervene and do something to bring it back, it will be spinning off into oblivion.”

Asked whether she felt the criticism by the Prime Minister was unfair Lewis said she had “no comment.”

She assured, however, that “if these issues come up at the JSC, and a question is put to me I will respond.”

Lewis is part of the Port team expected to return when hearings resume today. She said, “The entire forum has been one where you are allowed to be as candid as possible and I will do no different to what I did before.”

President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) Michael Annisette said Rowley needed to identify who is to blame for the Port not being ready for vessels from Panama, ”is it the management or the Board? Who is to blame for the dilapidated state of the equipment at the Port, is it the Board, the workers or the management?”

Tobago Chamber of Commerce president Demi John Cruickshank says instead of making allegations against the Tobago business community, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley must ensure that the person or persons responsible for the collapse of the Tobago economy in the last six months is/are called to account.

Responding to criticisms levelled by the PM when he appeared before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee looking into the procurement and maintenance of the ferries, Cruickshank said,“If the PM has information, we are begging him to give the information to the DPP, the Integrity Commission and the Commissioner of Police to deal with the person or persons responsible for crippling the economy. But what we highlighted was real. It was not made up.”

On Monday, Rowley told the JSC there were people in Tobago who were telling the world how bad Tobago was, “they went as far as photographing empty shelves and putting it on the internet and newspapers that Tobago running out of food and the people starving because the boat wasn’t coming. This despite the fact that these people have their hotels and guest houses that they want people to occupy.”

The PM also expressed concern that the “dissonance from Tobago” had the effect of doing as much damage as what he described as the “corrupt practice” that put the Super Fast Galicia in place.

But Cruickshank said all the chamber did was to “highlight the plight of the citizens of Tobago. We were bringing accurate information to the public.” He said this information “cannot be challenged, because we saw a serious decline in business activity and we would have voiced our concern.”

He said Rowley should realise “now is not the time to point fingers and cast blame. We all doing what we have to do to get Trinidad and Tobago and specifically Tobago in a better economic position.”

Also debunking Rowley’s statements was Hotel and Tourism Association president Chris James, who said contrary to what the PM said hoteliers had been in contact with “suppliers, travel agents, and tour operators” to get business in light of the devastation left to several tourist destinations in the region in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Rowley told the JSC there had been devastation in the US Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Anguilla and Puerto Rico, “but not a voice from Tobago saying hotels are available and Tobago is looking for business.”

James said contact had been made since last week, but he said the peak period starts in December and people who booked to those islands will “either cancel or book somewhere else, so we are hoping to get some of that business.”

The association has been asked to return to the JSC hearing when it resumes today.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia says spaces will be made available in the nation's schools for students of hurricane ravaged countries such as Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda providing they meet Immigration's requirements.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Education's Port-of-Spain office yesterday, moments after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said they would allow Dominicans seeking shelter into the country for a six-month period, Garcia said this initiative was also done in 2004 when Grenadian students also attended schools here after being affected by Hurricane Ivan.

"There was a similar disaster that affected Grenada and I was a principal at that time. The Ministry of Education at that time had students from Grenada and we will make spaces available but with consultation with the Ministry of National Security, which is responsible for the Immigration Department," he said.

Garcia said the students and parents must work in accordance with National Security.

"There are parameters that we must work within."

He said stakeholders and Security Minister Edmund Dillon will be engaged in discussions about the issue.

Garcia said he did not know how many students from would be able to come to T&T or the number of spaces they would be able to make available.

At the conference, he also urged students to participate and give items to those families in the hurricane affected islands.

"The devastation in some of those Caribbean islands and parts of North America, we decided as a ministry and we as a people that has been spared the wrath and that it is our responsibility to assist those affected. We want to thank God," he said.

Garcia said many families need assistance and it is possible to lend a helping hand.

"We thank the Almighty for sparing us and as a means of showing our appreciation and thanks to God for whatever little, even if it hurts let us give," he said.

Chief education officer Harrilal Seecharan said the items will be collected by next week Thursday or Friday. He said the programme will be raising awareness and the ministry will be following the guidelines issued by the Office of Preparedness Disaster Management.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit broke down in tears yesterday as he spoke of the devastation done to his island by Hurricane Maria.

He said hospitals have all been completely destroyed and are without power and there is an urgent need to airlift all critical patients to other countries for medical treatment.

“The hospital (referring to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau) is running worst than a war zone…nurses there are working 96 hours round the clock…we need to get out the critical patients, right now, we are looking to have some of them airlifted to Martinique,” Skerrit said.

He highlighted the particular plight of one cancer patient who, in his desperation, walked 21 miles from Portsmouth to the capital Roseau for dialysis on Wednesday.

Skerrit was speaking during his first official live interview since the “merciless and monstrous” hurricane ravaged the island on Monday. The interview was done out of Antigua with Garfield Burford, director of news at government-owned broadcaster ABS TV in Antigua and Barbuda. Skerrit was shuttled to Antigua in a helicopter for the broadcast at about midday.

The very emotional PM said the logistics of getting supplies to the battered communities throughout the island was very “critical.”He said there had been 15 burials so far of people who died when houses collapsed on them or were swept away by rivers. He added that 70 others remain unaccounted for so far.

“Every part of the island has been affected in the worst way…either 95 or 99 or 85 per cent of homes destroyed…every community received a serious beating, if not by wind, by river or siltation submerging homes. The upper class, the middle class suffered…there were no classes as far as where Maria was concerned,” Skerrit said.

He said east Dominica was severely battered, “in the extreme south a community has been cut off and communities in the rainforest have been declared a disaster zone.”

“We have to take critical decisions in relocating many villages and homes will have to be built for the people,” Skerrit said.

Skerrit made a humble appeal international help, saying, “We need all the help that the world can offer, as small as it is…we need tarpaulins, drinking water, food, baby formula and lumber among many other items.”

From yesterday, relief items were being “air” dropped to communities via helicopters as there are no places for them to land, while via boat, the seas are still too rough and that aspect of relief to communities has been put on hold.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Brown and his Cabinet, despite the fact that they too are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma, greed to donate US$300,000 to Dominica.

Skerrit said he plans to seek help from the United Nations (UN) and will go to address the UN’s General Assembly in person.

“It is going to be a very long and difficult journey…It took Irma and Maria to let the world understand we are very vulnerable and exposed to climate change. We have to build more resilient communities and it is very difficult to raise the money,” Skerrit said.

Despite conspiracy theories on the sudden appearance of the controversial Ocean Flower 2 vessel, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says if the boat’s owner wanted to come to T&T it wasn’t a Port Authority of T&T or Government issue.

Rowley spoke about the matter during yesterday’s post-Cabinet briefing as he fielded queries on the vessel’s sudden presence on Wednesday, even as owners Bridgemans Services LP made a second tender to PATT for the ferry service.

Rowley, noting the vessel’s arrival yesterday, said, “We understand how it looks.”

He added principals for the vessel may feel being in T&T is a good place at this point in time.

“We certainly want a boat, I’m anxious to have the Port select a vessel. If the Ocean Flower 2 was in Panama and wanted to come to T&T - so be it. But I don’t know that’s a Port or Government issue,” he said.

“I see they’ve said they put in a bid. But there are 12 vessels tendering - a lot more than last time and if there are 12 now there’s a good chance one will meet meet our needs.”

Rowley said anybody can sail into T&T, but he noted the OF2’s first contract had been terminated for reasons and the PATT had clearly said what the situation was.

“Subsequent to that, the Port went out to another tender and anybody with a boat is free to subscribe to the tender and the Port will evaluate what’s been subscribed to,” the PM said.

On a specific short term proposal by the Ocean Flower 2, Rowley said the PATT board had made it very clear about dealing with this particular vessel.

“The people are trying to get business. The Port chairman said they have terminated and gave reasons why.

They said they had arrangements with these people to bring their boat from Korea to Panama to be inspected in Panama before coming to T&T,” he said.

“But the boat didn’t pass muster. They had a period of time to bring it and were allowed an extension, but it didn’t come and the Port exercised the right to terminate.

“The Port went to a second tender which closed (Wednesday) and Ocean Flower 2 offered their boat - so be it. If they wanted to sail to T&T, let them sail, they’re free to tender.

It’s for the Port to now do an evaluation and determine what they do there.”

Rowley said some felt the issues that developed with the ferries arose within the Government, but he said the facts didn’t bear that out.

“We’ll tell T&T what the facts are and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.

OPM Minister Stuart Young said the Ocean Flower 2 had gone for dry docking and repairs at Chaguaramas. He said Government’s legal position is the vessel’s contract had been cancelled and terminated in accordance with the contract and a new tender was issued.

“Anyone is allowed to put in (a tender) and be evaluated. We’re not being premature with the evaluation articulated by the Port,” Young said. See Pages A7 & A8

FORENSIC AUDIT OF PATT DOCUMENTS—YOUNG

Government has begun a forensic audit on documents concerning the Port Authority of T&T’s ferry service after “people” were suspended and phone, computer records and a computer server were seized, OPM Minister Stuart Young said yesterday.

Young confirmed this as he accused Joint Select Committee member Wade Mark of deliberately trying to mislead the public on actions which occurred at Wednesday’s JSC meeting on the ferry service where the Prime Minister appeared.

Young said Mark referred to a document the PM spoke about - an email from the Cabo Star’s first owner in Mexico to now suspended Port manager Leon Grant.

This was at an email address “patnt.com.”

Young said Mark attempted to suggest the PM referred to an email with the Port’s address - and that the PM’s evidence was questionable - and asked Grant leading questions on it. But Young noted the forensic audit being done on Port documents

Rowley slammed Mark, saying he acted deliberately.

“A former Speaker of the House...yet he misrepresented key facts to cast doubt on my presentation, presenting opportunity for a public officer - who has serious questions to answer - to give him a loophole to say it wasn’t his email. It’s reprehensible!”

Rowley said if the Second Session of Parliament - due to have ended at midnight last night - was still ongoing, Government would have Mark investigated by Parliament’s Privileges Committee.

He said the Third session of Parliament begins next Friday.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who agreed to the Port Authority of T&T’s recommendation to cancel the contract for the Ocean Flower 2 with Bridgemans Services Group, is now saying the new process “was a public tender advertisement in the newspaper and anyone was free to tender.”

He made the comment after the T&T Guardian reported exclusively yesterday that Bridgemans had tendered the same vessel in the latest tender process offered by the PATT for a passenger vessel.

Bridgemans is one of six company’s which put in tenders for the sea bridge service.

Gateway Cruises tendered three vessels - CNV Super Ferry, Super Ferry 2 and the Super Runner.

Ocean Star Shipping Limited submitted one - FB Bridge.

Bridgemans offered one - Ocean Flower 2.

Fortune Maritime LLC tendered 1 - M.V Kiara

Sea Jets Maritime tendered five - MV Terra Jet, HSC Blue Power, HSC Champ Jet 2, HSC Mega Jet and the HSC Paros Jet.

Paragon Protection Construction Limited meanwhile submitted a letter declining the tender.

Sinanan said the valuation process had not started, “but once the evaluation is finished” a submission will be made to him as minister.

PATT officials told the T&T Guardian they are now awaiting word from the Government on the evaluation committee.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Monday that “when we put the evaluation team in place we will want Tobago to have an involvement in the evaluation,” because it was felt that it was at the evaluation stage something went wrong with respect to the the Super Fast Galicia.

Rowley told the JSC that “the Minister will consult the THA and the private sector in Tobago, to add maybe two more persons to the evaluation team.”

Sinanan said yesterday his ministry is in the “process of putting the evaluation team together” and assured that within the next day or so contact will be made with the Tobago stakeholders. He said the Ministry of the Attorney General is assisting with the process.

The Ocean Flower 2 arrived in the country on Wednesday and Bridgemans Services Group vice president Andrew Purdey said it was here for dry docking and the installation of T Foils which he said will “improve ship ride performance and speed.” The installation and complete routine maintenance will take about a week, he said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has proposed that this country open its doors and waive immigration restrictions so that Dominicans left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Maria can find shelter in T&T.

Speaking during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Rowley said while T&T was not in a position to contribute financially to the reconstruction of Dominica, accommodation was one of the things we could offer.

“Certainly in situations like these, whatever we have available to us, we the people of T&T have always been a generous people and would want to share,” Rowley, adding Dominican government officials have said there were tens of thousands without shelter or means of sustenance due to the devastation caused by Maria earlier this week.

“If they (Dominicans) could make their way to T&T and find a household to accept them we will waive restrictions to their entry for a period of six-months.”

The restriction waiver means affected Dominica citizens can make their way to T&T once it is established they have family or friends to house them. T&T citizens who have the means and are willing to volunteer space in their homes were also encouraged to approach the Government to offer assistance. Rowley said details for citizens willing to assist would be provided over the next two days.

“If you do have accommodations and you have the means and inclination to support a Dominican, arrangements will be made to identify yourself and for the next six months T&T will open our doors, homes, pots and I dare say our schools to citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica,” the PM said.

Asked about a screening process for Dominican nationals, Rowley said no one who would not have been able to enter the country under normal circumstances would be able to enter as part of Government’s generosity.

During the six-month period, Rowley said Dominicans who enter T&T would not do so under a refugee status and children may be able to attend school here for that period. At the end of six months, regular arrangements for citizens of Caricom would apply, he said.

According to Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Stuart Young, the Government sent immediate assistance to Dominica on Tuesday. A T&T Coast Guard vessel took members of the Defence Force, first responders and supplies to Dominica, but up until around 2 pm yesterday had been unable to dock due to the state of the port there.

A National Helicopter Services Limited helicopter also landed in St Lucia on Tuesday and has made multiple trips to Dominica to take relief and transport technical experts there with the goal of re-establishing some communications infrastructure. Another T&T Coast Guard vessel is expected to take additional supplies.

Yesterday, the Ministry of National Security also announced that it had collaborated with the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Lives (FEEL) to establish collection points for citizens who were interested in donating to relief efforts to drop off items.

T&T is still offering relief assistance to Antigua and Barbuda after those islands were devastated by Hurricane Irma just over one week ago. See Page A5

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young have been accused of contempt of Parliament following their attack yesterday on Wade Mark, who sat as a member of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) into the controversial inter-island ferry service.

The accusation was levelled during a press conference by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who accused both men of launching a scathing attack on Mark at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.

In the law, Persad-Bissessar said it was clear that what Young and the PM did was “contempt of the Parliament.” She said such abuse tends to obstruct the Houses in the performance of their functions by diminishing respect due to them.

“Today, I am of the respectful view that both the Prime Minister and Minister Young are guilty of a contempt of the Parliament by their scandalous, libellous attacks on a Joint Select Committee member in the proceedings yesterday.”

She said with Parliament being prorogued at midday last night, this would pre-empt “any motion of privilege being brought to the Parliament under the Standing Orders for their actions.”

But Young defended his position last night in a text message, stating, “The evidence and documents speak for themselves and show clearly that Mark, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, misled the Parliament and citizens of T&T by putting forward a false email address and attempting to attribute same to the honourable Prime Minister. Did she explain the fabrication of a false email address by Mark?”

Persad-Bissessar also raised the issue that Young breached his oath of office by appearing as the PM’s private counsel at Monday’s JSC.

“I asked today if Minister Young has breached his oath of office in appearing (in the JSC) as private counsel for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who spoke as a witness.”

She said Young sat as Rowley’s private attorney and kept whispering in the PM’s ear.

“At one point he tried to speak, which I think you cannot do in a Joint Select Committee. He has violated his oath of office.”

The job of Young, Persad-Bissessar said, is to uphold public office for transparency and accountability.

In response, Young said: “This indicates that there is a complete lack of appreciation and understanding of the role by Persad-Bissessar. I am an MP, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and accordingly accompanied the PM in that capacity.”

On another issue, Persad-Bissessar queried if Rowley had reported to the police that a known People’s National Movement (PNM) activist had offered an inducement to Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to get the contract for the passenger and cargo vessels. This was revealed by Rowley in his testimony before the JSC, she said.

“This would amount to an attempted criminal offence, where a person is saying…in the possible nature of a bribe. And then, when the minister heard it, did he report it to the police or anyone else? This could amount to misbehaviour in public office. If it was not reported, why?”

A&V Oil and Gas owner Nazim Baksh was not the only person named in the Petrotrin audit who Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called after hearing the news. Rowley also called Petrotrin employee Vidya Deokiesingh after word of the energy company’s alleged “fake oil” issue broke recently.

At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Rowley confirmed calling Deokiesingh, whose name came up following Petrotrin’s August internal audit report on alleged volume discrepancies and under-supply and overpayment to a private contractor.

Rowley said he contacted Deokiesingh to find out what it was all about.

“I spoke to him and he gave me an explanation. He was a PNM general election candidate. I screened him at least once and he was also in a corporation,” Rowley said.

However, he brushed off Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s claim that his call to Baksh about the Petrotrin issue constituted misconduct in office.

“What nonsense is that? I wasn’t being judge and jury. I was in California and this came up on my phone.” Rowley said.

“I know the man very well, I know his business and what he’s involved in. Is it abnormal that I called to find out what this was all about?”

Rowley, who maintained Baksh is his friend, said he is “standing by that ... I don’t know how, by making a phone call, that constitutes misconduct.”

He added that Petrotrin is still looking at the matter and a probe is ongoing. Asked if he was satisfied with Baksh’s apology following last week’s attack on T&T Guardian photographer Kristian de Silva, Rowley said it wasn’t for him to be satisfied.

Member of Parliament for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh is calling for a review of the security at all public institutions, following the murder of a 23-year-old Claxton Bay man outside the Couva Extended Care Centre yesterday.

In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian, Indarsingh said the National Security Minister was very silent while “criminals have taken over the country.” He added that no one and no where seems to be safe now.

According to police reports, Aaron Goorachan, who was an attendant at the health facility, was followed by his killers to his job and murdered.

Goorachan had just reported for duty around 7.30 am when he was shot. Police said they could not give a motive for his attack.

On Goorachan’s Facebook page, the young man shared pictures of his car and a few with him and a dog. The posts were mostly a year old at least. When approached at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James, yesterday, relatives said they did not wish to speak with the media at this time.

Indarsingh said yesterday’s killing and the hostage situation at MIC on Monday were signs that the security at public institutions were failing.

On Monday, a 32-year-old Santa Cruz man threatened to kill a 17-year-old MIC Institute of Technology (MIC-IT) trainee during a stand-off with police.

“This is emerging to be a working issue and a health and safety issue because more people could have died at Couva Health Facility and at MIC if this hostage situation had gone wrong. Did the security at the compound (at MIC) have the resources and expertise to deal with that type of situation?” Indarsingh asked.

He added that following the incident on Monday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia was “flippant” in saying there was no need for a security review at educational facilities and hopes his colleague and Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh does not follow in the same vein.

“The Government led by Dr. Keith Rowley has lost the war on crime. You are no longer safe at home or at work,” Indarsingh said, adding he hopes that there will be greater police presence in his constituency.

The 32 -year-old Santa Cruz man who threatened to kill a 17-year-old MIC Institute of Technology (MIC-IT) student during a stand-off with police on Monday has been charged with five offences arising out of the incident and is to be taken before an Arima magistrate today.

The charges include possession of a firearm to endanger life, possession of ammunition to endanger life, shooting with intent, false imprisonment and common assault.

The charges were laid by ASP Edwards and Cpl Ramdeen of the Arima CID.

Police reported that the Gasparillo Road, Santa Cruz suspect and a 20-year-old female trainee were dropped of at MIC’s O’ Meara, Arima campus by a taxi driver. After the 32-year-old man and the woman made their way into the campus, the taxi driver came out his vehicle and told security the duo was arguing in the vehicle and the man had threatened to kill her. Police were contacted and officers from Arima, Malabar CID and La Horquetta immediately responded. However, when they arrived the man began shooting at them. He then ran into the campus hall and grabbed the teenager, who at the time had on headphones and did not realise what was taking place. After 10 minutes the man eventually surrendered to police.

Investigating officers Edwards and Ramdeen got instructions from the DPP before laying the charges yesterday.

RALPH BANWARIE

Police yesterday arrested a suspect in the murder of maxi-taxi driver Kishore Ramdhin and shooting of his 59-year-old wife Taramatie Tambie, who remains warded at hospital in critical condition.

A senior police officer told T& T Guardian yesterday that the suspect, 35, was assisting them with their investigation. A second man wanted in connection with the incident was still on the run.

According to reports, Ramdhin was shot and his throat slit with a shovel by two masked gunmen at his Housing Village, Coryal home around 2.30 am Wednesday. The men attacked him as he went outside to start up the vehicle. When his wife heard the shots and came outside screaming, she too was shot in the stomach.

Investigations by a party of police officers under Supt Neville Sankar and officers from Cumuto police Station led to the suspect’s arrest yesterday.

Police told T&T Guardian they expect to make another arrest soon.

RALPH BANWARIE

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is getting strong support for his initiative asking citizens to take in Dominican nationals who have lost everything as a result of Hurricane Maria.

Head of the Living Waters Community Rhonda Maingot said Rowley’s initiative was “a wonderful gesture,” and one which she felt certain would be “greatly appreciated” by the people of Dominica.

“I applaud the Prime Minister for this,” Maingot said.

She is hoping other Caribbean nations will “take a page out of the book of the Prime Minister.”

The initiative, however, has sparked a rage of criticism on social media with some saying “race” was the motive, while others accused Rowley of using it for political ends “to voter pad.”

Rowley responded to those critics saying their responses were “disappointing and backward.”

Maingot agreed. She said “sometimes people could be negative and sarcastic,” but at times like these we should instead be “open, caring and understanding and help.” She said “God forbid we should be in that position one day and want other countries to take us in... especially children and families with nothing.”

Living Waters is currently assisting with a “huge relief programme” and is working to send teams to the island. But she said they are willing to “assist further in whatever way they can.”

Head of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Leela Ramdeen said she was “personally happy to see that the Prime Minister recognised that we don’t have a lot of money. That is what a leader does, if we don’t have a lot of money you have to think outside the box.”

She said the key Catholic thing in this is that “Love of God and love of neighbour, requires us to share all our gifts.”

Ramdeen said people cannot “live in silos. If we going to build a world of people who love and care for each other we have to think globally. They are our neighbours and we hope it will bear fruit.”

She was also critical of the negativity the initiative has sparked.

“The negative response is ill-founded. We cannot be selfish. There is too much individualism and greed in the world. I thank the Prime Minister for this.”

Dean Knolly Clarke of the Anglican Church said this was a very challenging time for the people of Dominica and Barbuda who have lost everything.

“People are going to have to take them in, they have nothing.”

He felt the initiative announced by the Prime Minister was “a very good way of reaching out to a neighbour and children in need. I find it a commendable idea.”

Describing it as an “altruistic gesture,” Clarke said it was “foolish” of people to link it to “race and politics.”

He said “it comes back to being our brothers and sisters keepers.”

Political analyst Dr Winford James described it as a “good decision, a good gesture.” He said if there are families willing to accommodate the people of Dominica, “that will be a very caring and generous gesture.”

Saying “we must regard ourselves as our brothers keepers,” James joined the chorus of criticism against those who brought “race” and “voter padding” into the mix. He said there are “genuine Trinidadians” who are “willing to help” even while hearing the “negatives, and we must be “reminded that quality must be allowed to prevail.”

Education Minister Anthony Garcia says the logistics and other aspects of accommodating students from hurricane-ravaged Dominica will be worked out at a meeting with Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan and the Permanent Secretary. He made the comment yesterday as stakeholders raised concern about the ability of the nation’s schools to accommodate more students.

Garcia, a former educator, recalled that in 2004 when he was principal at Fatima College, he allowed students from Grenada to attend school there “and it went well.” If there are challenges this time around “we will overcome them,” he said, because the objective is to ensure the students “get an uninterrupted education.”

But T&T Unified Teachers’ Association president Lyndsay Doodhai said the first hurdle for Garcia is space, noting parents have had difficulty getting their children into schools. He said on the East West Corridor some classrooms have 35-40 children.

Doodhai said TTUTA is not sure how many schools would be able to open their doors to those affected by Hurricane Maria because “many schools are filled to capacity and have no spaces.”

However, he said, if places are found, “teachers will be ready and willing to teach them without fear or favour.”

Chairman of the Presbyterian Secondary School board Christian Dookhoo said the problem of space was discussed earlier this week at a meeting with principals under the board’s purview. He said the Government initiative will have to be further discussed.

Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Sat Maharaj said he does not know where Garcia will find school places, noting many schools are “falling down and falling apart.” He was also not in favour of “blanket approval without involving the United Nations, which has a refugee programme.”

“How could you bring refugees when all of us are refugees in our own homes?” Maharaj asked.

National Parent Teacher Association president Zena Ramathali said she “preferred to reserve comment at this stage.”

If Dominican nationals enter this country with nowhere to stay, Government will meet its commitment under the United Nations Charter and accept them as refugees, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday.

“We are duty bound not to turn them back, they could become a ward of the state,” he said.

He knocked critics of Government’s call for citizens to open their doors to the people of Dominica and said he was disappointed that some people tried to turn it into a race issue, as had happened more than a quarter century ago in 1991 when late Prime Minister Patrick Manning tried to assist Haitians devastated by a natural disaster.

“There is no expiry date on doing good, there is no expiry date on being decent,” said Rowley, who added that the principle espoused by Manning still holds.

He said those seeking to find race and politics in the decision and talking about citizens of this country not being able to feed themselves are selfish and live “in a rabbit hole.”

“They don’t realise that if a natural disaster should strike this country we will expect others to help us,” he said in a television interview yesterday morning.

“One does not determine how you express the milk of human kindness by virtue of how you feel, how much you have, or how hungry you are. It is a question of humanity.”

He said he is optimistic the vast majority of people, once given the opportunity, will put their personal needs aside and help.

He urged: “Whatever your circumstances, if you have 100 grains of rice you might be able to share two with them.”

Rowley said Government did not expect “huge numbers” of Dominicans to come of T&T and reiterated that the request was for a six-month period, after which he expected that they will return to their homeland.

On the question of whether any special legislation is required, he said people entering the country are governed by the Immigration Act.

Rowley said if children are among those who come they will be placed in schools. He said Government is not in a position to give Dominica a cheque but this country has provided helicopters and vessels to transport supplies.

“We are making a valuable contribution,” he said.

Hurricane Maria has so far claimed the lives of 31 people across the Caribbean region.

According to a report on the Weather Channel, 13 people were confirmed dead in Puerto Rico, 15 in Dominica, two in Guadeloupe and one in Martinique. But there are fears the death figure will rise as scores of people in several islands are still unaccounted for.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is scheduled to address the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York today.

Skerrit will be making a plea for financial and other aid in rebuilding the island and bringing immediate relief to its people. He said 90 per cent of homes and public buildings were destroyed by Maria on Monday.

While in NY, Skerrit will meet with expatriates, friends and patrons of Dominica at the Beulah Church of the Nazarene in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, Dominica’s Ministry of Public Works and Ports yesterday announced that the air and sea ports were running again.

It said the Douglas Charles Airport and Canefield Airport were open, although it said traffic management at the latter was being done by hand-held radios as the air control tower had been damaged by the storm.

Skerrit has also given a list of the relief items they need at this time.

Items needed

Food

Water

Roofing materials

Lumber

Plywood

Windows

Doors

Nails

Roofing screws

Generators (5kva to 10kva)

Chainsaws with cans, oil, fuel

Communications equipment

Tarps/Plastic sheeting

Hygiene kits/Comfort kits

Medical supplies

Baby supplies (formula/baby food)

Wipes

Diapers

Adult pampers

Water purification kits

Fuel

Energy biscuits

Cots

Mattresses

Portable stoves

Flash-lights/batteries

Solar lanterns

Kitchen sets

Collapsible water containers (gallon)

Pregnant women, children and the elderly had to scamper for safety yesterday, after two gunmen opened fire on a group of people liming along St Paul Street, Port-of-Spain, killing one man.

Residents said around 5.30 pm two men came out a white Nissan AD wagon and opened fire indiscriminately. The gunmen shot six people including Isaiah Sanchez, who died while en route to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

The others who were shot included Anthony Raymond, 50 and his sister-in-law Pamela Lee, 46, Joel Williams, 20, Andy Huggins, 21 and Sheldon Jemont, 27.

Sanchez, 28, was described as a “real cool fella” who tried to keep the youth out of trouble and always had a smile on his face. He was the father of one child who lived abroad and the only child of his mother, who also lives abroad.

The shooting took place just outside the St Paul Street Housing Development, around the corner from the newly-built Besson Street Police Station and one building away from the old police station. The car the gunmen used was later found abandoned at Block 8, Laventille, with the magazine of a high-powered rifle inside.

One of the pregnant women who was forced to run for safety told the T&T Guardian police had failed in their duties, as they responded long after the killers left and the injured were transported to hospital. The woman, whose father and aunt were shot, labelled the officers as “puppet police,” adding prior to the shooting there were police officers assisting in removing people from apartments who were not legally there.

“As soon as police leave the gunmen pull up and just blaze up the place. People was clearly watching the block. After joy is really sorrow yes, because all them children was playing in the road,” she said.

A resident at the scene of the shooting also criticised police for what she considered their ineptness in dealing with the shooting. The woman, who refused to be interviewed, was heard telling others “when shooters from up the hill come down, everybody does lie down,” referring to the area where the abandoned car was found.

Minister of Education Anthony Garcia has launched a probe into how dancehall artiste Ruckia “Bubbles” Webster was able to enter a primary school to sing her popular song “It Bunnin” to a group of primary school children.

Garcia called for the probe in response to an avalanche of criticism on social media after a video surfaced of Webster’s interaction with the students.

The video showed the children in uniform singing the song, which is said to be very explicit (suitable for 18 years and over).

The video sparked outrage and utter disgust on social media, with some questioning who allowed the artiste into the school in the first place and one blogger asking who “in their right mind allowed her to perform such a rude song to under-aged children.”

The video, which was viewed 380,000 up to press time, was described as “very offensive” by Garcia.

“It was not suitable for children or teachers or anybody who operate in a school community,” Garcia said, adding he has since instructed the school supervisor to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a full report to the ministry’s Chief Education Officer on Tuesday.

He said for visitors to enter into school compounds there are protocols to be observed, adding if any videos of the children must be taken parents must give consent.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Webster, despite of the outrage on social media, said she was very proud and excited at the response she got from the children. She said she drops her younger sister to school on mornings, but had gone to attend a Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meeting on the day in question. She said while there she was recognised by the children and subsequently mobbed.

“The children spotted me walking in and they couldn’t contain themselves. I love children, they are a blessing to me. I signed over 100 books and they were singing the song to me and begged me to sing for them,” Webster said.

“So I decided to give them a little piece that was censored. I lifted my hands to video tape them as they were singing along. I had on a long jacket and a jersey underneath and a long jeans so I was not inappropriately dressed.”

Asked her response to an investigation being launched by Garcia, Webster replied: “He should get to know the facts first and not do anything until he does. It would be unfair to the teachers and to me.”