Former health minister Dr Fuad Khan who admitted to having shares in a private hospital told the Guardian the increases are “equitable to paying a dollar to use the toilet in Maracas when the people collecting the dollar gets paid at $30 an hour.”

He said with 10 major private medical institutions in the country, “the Minister will collect less than one million dollars. It is a stupid, nuisance tax. It will cost him more to collect the increase,” he said.

Private hospitals are governed by the Private Hospitals Act of 1965 and Finance Minister Colm Imbert said currently all private hospitals pay a standard flat fee of $150 a year.

The schedule in the act details six categories of private facilities, medical or surgical hospital, medical surgical and maternity hospital, maternity hospital, hospital for the convalescent or chronically ill and hospital for any designated or specified disease, disorder of illness.

Under the Act, institutions with less than 30 beds pay between $75 and $100, 30 beds but less than 60 pay between $100 and $225 and six beds and over pay between $150 and $300.

Khan said without the private nursing homes “the public health sector would explode,” because they just cannot deal with the number of patients who seek medical care. This, he said, would put an increased burden on an already over-burdened public health system.

He felt no real thought went into the measure saying if the Minister was “serious he would have said pay one million dollars if you want to open a private nursing home.”

Khan feared that as a result of the measure, private nursing homes will increase their fees “and people will pay more to use a nursing home.”

Managers of some private health facilities have indicated that the increased fees will be passed on to patients, “the room/bed price will increase.”

Private medical hospitals

St Clair Medical Centre

West Shore Medical Centre

Southern Medical Centre

Gulf View Medical Centre

Victoria Nursing Home

Surgi Med Clinic

Valsayn Medical Centre

St Augustine Private Hospital

Stanley’s Clinic

Medical Associates Hospital

Barrackpore Medical Centre and Private Hospital

Interim rector of the Holy Trinity Cathedral Fr Carl Williams is urging the population to reject Xenophobia— hate of strangers and embrace Philonexia— love for everyone, including strangers. 
He said God  created human beings in his image to love, recreate etc not to kill but to care gently, with compassion, mercy and to embrace all persons.
He was speaking yesterday at the Police Mounted Branch, Long Circular Road, in St James in  observation of the Feast of St Francis of Assis. The day commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”.
At yesterday’s event he blessed the horses and dogs from the  Police Mounted Branch and Canine Unit.
Addressing  those who attended, Williams said, “Love for everyone, including strangers take shape and form, its colour, its movement, its intricacies. It could be one of those poui trees around the Queen’s Park Savannah or as you walk in the Botanical Gardens or as you walk up Chancellor Hill; or a single bud on a flower; an animal or bird, shapely fruit or flowing water. Whatever, gaze at something long enough until you can see through it to its source.” 
He suggested that at some point people should gaze at something God has created. “God created human beings in his image to love, recreate etc not to kill but to care gently, with compassion, mercy and to embrace all persons Reject Xenophobia - hate of strangers and embrace Philonexia,” he added
Saying that the world is an icon he noted: ‘What God has created is iconic, that is, we will see and sense the glory and majesty of God, the presence of God, through God’s creation. No one thing is God: no one person is God, nor a flower or leaf, nor a mountain or an ocean, nor an animal or bird.” 

The doors of the refurbished Blanchisseuse Community Centre were reopened on Monday to provide a space for members of the rural community to continue training programmes to preserve the historic heritage of the area.

Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, told her audience they should remember the concept of community development stretched far beyond the doors of a community centre, it reaches out to families, parents and children, elderly, the disadvantaged and marginalised.

The building is also used as a homework centre for children in the community.

She said a community centre is a place to gather, to learn and to teach, a place where traditions are passed from one generation to the next and where a community’s heritage is preserved much like their broken French ‘patois’, which is spoken by many senior citizens in the community.

The Minister referred to the history and location of the centre and noted that the community council was over 60 years old. She said the original community centre was opened by Princess Anne and the late Dr Eric Williams, this country's first prime minister.

The vacation home of this country's first Governor General Sir Solomon Hochoy is also located in the community of Blanchisseuse.

"Your history has shaped who you are as a community and the pride with which you are here today to rededicate this refurbished centre," Gadsby-Dolly said.

She commended the community council for its foresight, entrepreneurial spirit and vision.

The refurbishment of the building cost taxpayers $2,056,687.50.

At the event, five people received awards for their outstanding contribution in the fields of community service, culture, women's affairs and sports.

They were; Lisa Seaton (community service), Daniel Quintero (community service), Mekesha Debisette Lee-Quay (women's affairs), Eric Eli (culture) and Hayden Tinto (sports) who was absent.

Anna-Lisa Paul

Newly elected chairman of the Energy Chamber Eugene Tiah has called on government to provide clarity in a number of areas that are crucial for the advancement of the local energy sector.

With government having outlined the desire for a new tax regime for the upstream oil and gas industry in each of the last three annual budgets, Tiah said while there had been consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the IMF, "There is still a lack of final resolution and clarity about exactly what is intended."

Delivering his maiden speech during yesterday's post Annual General Meeting panel discussion at the Hyatt Regency in Port-Of-Spain, Tiah, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Energy & Industrial Gases BU of Massy, labelled the Finance Minister's prediction that the gas industry was expecting modest growth in production over the next few years as "good news."

He said this growth was the direct result of significant new investment flowing into the country's upstream gas sector.

He added that the Energy Chamber was focused on ensuring T&T remained an attractive investment destination.

Tiah said, "With US $10 billion of investment committed over the next four to five years to upstream gas, we are clearly making significant progress with this objective."

In spite of that, he said significant work remained to be done to ensure further growth in both the oil and gas sectors.

Focusing on the oil industry, Tiah said, "The role of state-owned Petrotrin remains a crucial issue and there continues to be a lack of clear policy on the future of the company by the government."

Turning his attention to the downstream business, he stated that in the LNG and petrochemicals sector "there are still many unresolved issues that require urgent attention"

He added: "Without clarity on policy and the right contractual terms, shareholders in downstream facilities will be unwilling to commit the necessary capital to maintain our highly successful mid and downstream sector."

Also advocating for a clear focus to be maintained regarding ease of doing business, Tiah said, "At present, there are just too many disincentives to investment."

He said reforming the industrial relations environment and overcoming constraints in the labour market were imperative for any diversification drive.

The event also featured a spirited panel discussion moderated by outgoing chairman and BHP Billiton T&T president Vincent Pereira that included Norman Christie, regional president of bpTT, Dwight Mahabir, chairman of the Damus Group of Companies and Nigel Darlow, chief executive officer at Atlantic LNG

Dominica's Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerritt has revised the curfew hours in Dominica saying the security agencies had advised that “by and large most people are behaving themselves.”

However, he told the country yesterday that the state of emergency will remain in effect at this time. The curfew imposed after Category 5 hurricane struck the island in mid-September was from 4 pm t0 8 am.

The new curfew runs from 6 pm to 6 am. The curfew was imposed to prevent looting in the aftermath of the disaster.

Skerritt admitted that there have been logistical problems in getting much-needed help to citizens, but he urged Dominicans to stop taking to social media to complain.

He said, "to get to over 70,000 people with our terrain is a challenge, We are delivering supplies and services to people at their homes.” He said access roads are “mashed up” and there are no buildings in communities to store supplies to make the distribution process easier.

Skerritt said “we have had to be on road packaging items and delivering, it is not a simple operation where you can rub a genie and everything is fixed. This is a practical operation that has all sorts of inherent challenges.”

He urged Dominicans to get on board and assist and stop the complaining. “If a drain is blocked with galvanise take it out or else the water will settle and mosquitoes will breed and who will get bitten?”

The government, he said, is in a difficult financial position “we have not earned one cent since Hurricane Maria,” but despite the difficult economic circumstances, he said, it fell to him as the chief “fundraiser” to get the resources to help those who are in no position to help themselves.

Thousands of people whose homes had been destroyed did not have insurance, several communities had to be relocated, and “this means we have to build houses, schools, health centres and other public amenities,” he said.

Skerritt said it was more than likely he would give details today on “some solutions for housing that we are discussing. We have been engaging companies, countries, institutions to find housing solutions that can withstand beyond category 5, that meets all of the construction codes and which also address the seismic issues in our region so that if something happens in the future we will be in a better position to withstand it.”

Aid for Dominica, he said, was coming in from a number of Caribbean and international agencies whom he said the country continues to be grateful for.

More help on the way from T&T

Meantime, the Ministry of National Security says this country continues to provide air and maritime support for Dominica.

The TT Coast Guard vessel, the TTS Brighton, left the country on Monday with approximately 23.2 tonnes of disaster relief items donated by citizens and corporate T &T bringing to total tonnage of relief items sent to Dominica to 36.7 tonnes.

Among the items which the Ministry said Domnica still needs are: chainsaws, generators, roofing material, tarpaulins, water, pre-packaged food, medical supplies, medicine for lifestyle diseases, baby cereal, disposable diapers, single ring burner stoves and pumps for distributing bulk water.

Co-founder of non-governmental organisation Powerful Ladies of T&T, Gillian Wall, yesterday described Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s press release as “most unfortunate” and his behaviour inappropriate.

Wall said the release included “significant misrepresentation of economist Marla Dukharan’s presentation and further accused the media of misrepresenting him.”

She said with multiple recordings at the event by media houses, “I trust any thoughts on whether the minister was in fact misunderstood would be clarified. My perception remains that his behaviour was inappropriate not just at that event, but consistently so and that is the matter we are seeking to address.”

Wall’s comment came two days after she attended a T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce post-Budget meeting at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, where she scolded Imbert for making a “sterile debate or academic discussions” comment following Dukharan’s post-Budget presentation.

Dukharan was one of two speakers at the forum. Wall yesterday described Dukharan as knowledgeable and highly-respected.

“It’s unfair for any statement to be made implying that she meant any disrespect and her presentation was not well-researched,” Wall said. But in in a release yesterday, Imbert insisted that his “sterile” and “academic” statement was taken out of context by the media.

He said his statement was directed to Dukharan, who spent most of her contribution demanding an immediate devaluation of the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, as well as huge cutbacks in Government spending and increases in utility rates, among other things, as the panacea that would solve Trinidad and Tobago’s economic problems.”

In her 20-minute presentation, Dukharan, after crediting Imbert for not increasing VAT and income tax, admitted that there were many things in the 2018 fiscal package the country had seen before.

“After I read everything last night (Imbert’s budget presentation) it didn’t hit me… another sound came to my head…and that was David Rudder’s madman’s rant. And I would tell you why just now,” Dukharan said on Monday.

But in his release yesterday, Imbert said he felt Dukharan’s madman’s rant remark was in “very poor taste and completely inappropriate” for the forum, where he was a guest speaker.

Imbert said he later responded to Dukharan, saying he did not come to the meeting to engage in any sterile debate with her. He said he pointed out the serious repercussions associated with a massive devaluation and that as minister he could not accede to her demand that he increase utility rates because the Regulated Industries Commission is charged with the responsibility of review utility rates. He said at no time did he refer to the audience when he spoke.

In his address to the forum, Imbert began speaking to the audience about the Summit of the Americas in 2009, where he said a Central American leader ignored cues for him to stop his address because he was made to wait at the Piarco International Airport.

Imbert then told the attendees what former USA President Barack Obama said when he took to the podium was “I did not come here to listen to sterile debates or academic discussions and that is what I would say. I didn’t come here to listen to sterile debate or academic discussion.”

Imbert then clarified some of Dukharan’s statement. But the release said later that evening, CNC3 ran an edited version of the proceedings which left out Dukharan’s description and didnt indicate his comments were in response to her “disrespectful remarks.” He said the Newsday also did the same in its reporting of the matter.

However, CNC3, which is under the Guardian Media group, last night stood by its representation of the story in its newscast. It said the public was free to view its website for the footage of the event to make their own determination of what transpired.

Contacted yesterday, Dukharan refused to comment, while CEO of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Gabriel Faria did not respond to a text message or calls.

Former CL Financial (CLF) executive chairman Lawrence Duprey is being sued by a former subsidiary in the Bahamas for US$122 million, over a failed land development in Florida.

According to the lawsuit filed in the Port-of-Spain High Court on Monday, British American Insurance Company Ltd (Baico), based in Nassau, Bahamas, is seeking to recover the money, which represents the damages awarded to it by the United States Bankruptcy Court in the South District of Florida on July 31.

Baico is contending that while the legal proceedings were ongoing Duprey was living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but moved back to Collens Road, Maraval, without paying the court ordered damages.

The proceedings in the US were over Duprey’s breach of fiduciary duty in the company’s investment in the Green Island real estate development in Osceola County, Florida.

Baico invested US$295 million in the project which resulted in over US$100 million in losses.

The losses forced the company into insolvency and led to subsequent multi-national insolvency proceedings.

Baico first filed its US lawsuit against Duprey and its other executives in September 2009.

While the executives came to out of court settlements with the company, Duprey, a former director, and former chairman Brian Branker continued to challenge the claim.

Duprey, Branker and their attorneys were active in the case initially as they opposed several aspects of Baico’s claim.

After Duprey and his legal team were absent from the proceedings periodically between 2013 and 2015, the company obtained a default judgement against the duo.

Duprey then challenged the default judgement as he claimed his attorney had withdrawn from the case and he was not aware of its status.

These arguments were rejected by US Judge Erik Kimball in July.

Kimball said: “In the ensuing two years, Mr Duprey did nothing at all with regard to this case. In contrast, during that time the companies were quite active. With defaults in hand against Mr Duprey and certain other parties allegedly central to the failed real estate transaction, the companies negotiated with a number of other defendants and entered into settlements for amounts far below the total damages allegedly suffered by the companies.”

Kimball ordered Duprey and Branker to pay US$122,636,450 in damages and US$247,960 in interest.

Baico is being represented by Andre Rudder and Bryan McCutcheon. A date for hearing of the lawsuit is yet to be set.

Contractor Emile Elias has won an 18-year legal battle with a company owned by Finance Minister Colm Imbert over the construction of Grenada’s National Stadium.

In a press release yesterday, Elias, chairman of NH International (Caribbean) Ltd, said on July 28 the Court of Appeal dismissed an application from Imbert’s company calling for a stay of execution of a judgement that was delivered in his favour in 2011.

“This decision brought to an end the latest in a costly series of failed attempts by Imbert to stop NH from receiving monies found due to it for work done on the Grenada National Stadium,” Elias said.

In addition to seeking the court to order Imbert’s company, National Stadium (Grenada) Project, to pay his company’s legal costs for defending the applications, Elias is moving to enforce the judgement against Imbert’s company during a hearing carded for November 3.

The dispute first arose during construction of the stadium in 1997.

While Elias’ company was fired before the project was completed, it claimed it was owed $55 million inclusive of interest for what it had done.

The dispute led to several lawsuits filed locally, regionally and internationally.

In 2004, Justice Joseph Tam froze $17 million, part of a larger sum held by Clico Investment Bank (CIB) for the project. The funds were eventually transferred to the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) after Elias raised issues of financial mismanagement at CIB.

CIB, a subsidiary of CL Financial, was one of three companies that were subject to Government’s bailout in 2009. It has since been put in liquidation.

In 2011, Justice Peter Rajkumar ruled in Elias’ favour, with his judgement being upheld by the Court of Appeal.

As the matter has come to an end, Elias will now be able to access the judgement sum held in escrow at UTC and recover the remainder from Imbert’s company.

Last month, Elias resigned as chairman of majority State-owned telecommunications provider TSTT to devote more time to his company.

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon is currently awaiting a comprehensive report involving two T&T Defence Force (TTDF) members who were accused of stealing relief items in Dominica a few days ago.

The T&T Guardian received information that the two soldiers were on patrol with relief items in their possession when they were intercepted and searched by other law enforcement officials believed to be from Dominica. The soldiers were accused of pilfering items and were subsequently detained for questioning.

During a series of interviews and intense questioning, however, the soldiers told their interrogators they noticed “some irregularities” in the distribution process and took it upon themselves to safeguard the items, hence the reason they were with them during their patrol.

In the end, the T&T Guardian was told by TTDF sources the case was found to be a “big mistake” and the “soldiers were wrongfully accused.

Contacted last night, Dillon admitted he got an initial report on the incident.

“There was a preliminary report done verbally and I await a subsequent report yet from the CDS (referring to the Chief of Defence Staff),” he said.

Asked when the incident occurred, he replied: “I can’t give an account of the date…something happened and I’m awaiting further information as it develops.”

A source close to a Dominican-based law enforcement agency told the T&T Guardian that after Hurricane Maria destroyed 90 per cent of the island it was alleged police were “aiding and abetting people to loot …this was before foreign troops came into the island though.” This, the source said, was what has led troops on the ground to be very watchful of even the relief items.

Contacted for a comment last night, TTDF Public Affairs Officer, Flight Lieutenant Monique Sprott, first asked the T&T Guardian’s source of the information. When she was told it would not be revealed, she said, “Well then this conversation is over please ma’am.”

On Monday, the T&T Coast Guard (TTCG) vessel TTS Brighton (CG 24) left Port-of-Spain en route to Dominica with approximately 23.3 tonnes of disaster relief items which was donated by private and corporate citizens.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of National Security yesterday, there were 61 people aboard the vessel, including soldiers, crew and five civilian medical staff.

The TTDF team on the ground in Dominica continues to provide support in the areas of damage assessment, relief distribution, search and rescue and medivac assistance. Both air and maritime support to Dominica is expected to continue over the next few weeks.

Dillon has extended thanks to all those who have responded to the national relief efforts and encouraged continued contributions at locations previously identified by the TTDF and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM).

Efforts to reach the Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit for comment last night were unsuccessful as calls to his cell phone went straight to a voice recording suggesting the unit was off.

By the first quarter of 2018, the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) would complete the rate review for cash-strapped T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). Confirmation came from the chairman of the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) Hyacinth Guy.

“We anticipate that by the first quarter of 2018 we will be completed with both reviews,” Guy said in a telephone interview yesterday. Guy said so far a framework for reviewing the rate for T&TEC has already been done, while one was being developed for WASA. The review process will involve three phases, the last of which would be a public consultation. Delivering the budget presentation on Monday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert disclosed that T&TEC commands an annual $750 million subsidy, while WASA has a higher transfer level.

Imbert said the new rates will be imposed in 2018. Guy said the RIC has been working apace with the review process for the last few months. Once the reviews are completed, the new rates will be handed over to WASA and T&TEC, following which the population would be informed what the tariffs would be. She could not say when the new rates will go into effect. The last time WASA and T&TEC increased it rates was in 1993 and 2006 respectively.

“Had the rates been done incrementally, we would not have been so far behind.” Guy said while setting new rates involve stringent analysis and scientific work, the RIC also has to ensure that both public utilities operate efficiency and consumers get value for money. Should both utilities fail to deliver proper services after the new tariffs go into effect, Guy said the public can seek recourse through its agency. She said T&TEC and WASA would have to agree on a quality of service standard. A big part of establishing a rate review is hinged on the quality of service standard they have to deliver, Guy said.

“There is a model we use to gather information from the utilities and we analyse that information critically. We have to be sure that the information we have must be able to withstand scrutiny in far as efficiency is concerned.” The RIC, in a Facebook post, showed the rates T&T consumers pay for electricity and water compared to other Caribbean countries. Of nine Caribbean countries listed, T&T has the cheapest residential electricity rate at US $0.04 per kWh, compared to Grenada’s U$ $0.43 which was the highest.

From a list of 12 countries, T&T was ranked as having the second cheapest residential water rate of US $0.31 per cubic metre. Suriname was the least expensive with US $0.29, while the Bahamas was the most expensive with US $3.72. Guy said the revenue that will be generated from the new rates will help T&TEC and WASA become less dependent on the State for funding.

“When you do a rate review it is with that in mind. It has been an uphill battle for WASA financially, Guy said since the last rate review was 24 years ago.

COMPARISON OF CARIBBEAN’S RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY RATES

Country US$ per kWh
T&T 0.04
Barbados 0.28
Jamaica 0.32
Grenada 0.43
Belize 0.22
St Lucia 0.34
Bahamas 0.32
Antigua 0.37
Dominica 0.38

COMPARISON OF CARIBBEAN’S RESIDENTIAL WATER RATES

US$
Country per cubic metre
T&T 0.31
Suriname 0.29
Guyana 0.50
Grenada 1.06
Dominica 1.27
St Vincent 1.28
Barbados 1.38
Jamaica 1.72
Belize 2.18
Antigua 2.58
Aruba 3.70
Bahamas 3.72

When the new Environmental Tax of $20 per tyre goes into effect from December 1 it will replace the current $10 disposal fee per tyre charged by the T&T Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL).

This was yesterday confirmed by SWMCOL’s acting general manager Ronald Roach.

On Wednesday, one of the country’s leading tyre distributors, Dave Ramlogan of Tyre Clinic Marketing Company Limited called for a clarification on the environmental tax saying that tyre distributors/retailers already pay $10 to SWMCOL for the disposal of tyres.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Roach said while it still has to be worked out on how the actual disposal of tyres will take form when the tyres are taken to SWMCOL, there will be no need of duplication in the disposal fee.

“Yes… once the money is collected up front there is no need to collect it in the backend,” Roach said.

He, however, noted that the illegal disposing of tyres, whether it be accidental or deliberate did cause a “huge problem” as it is deemed an environmental hazard.

He noted that SWMCOL’s $10 and now soon, the $20 tax will continue its funding of the process to have the tyres shredded.

He added that with this more stringent approach it will pave the way “better” for the creating of downstream industries.

In an advertisement in the T&T Guardian yesterday, SWMCOL’s general manager, communications, sales and marketing, David Manswell, said the tax will lead to a reduction in the indiscriminate dumping of tyres, “a practice that create considerable environmental challenges such as providing breeding grounds for insects and rodents and leading to the proliferation of vector-borne diseases such as Dengue and Chik-V; and contributing to clogged waterways thus increasing the incidence and magnitude of flooding.”

Manswell said it expects that the measure will stimulate the creation of downstream industries that will recycle used tyres into the manufacture of “new, useful products, thereby creating employment and stimulating the economy.”

One bright side of budget 2018 fall-out there’ll be no fare hike by Port- of- Spain to San Fernando taxi drivers.

Or those on the Port-of-Spain to Chaguanas route.

This was made clear by drivers from the two routes yesterday.

The prices of diesel and super gasoline were increased in the 2018 budget and taxes on type of tyres were hiked along with imposition of a $20 environmental tax (concerning worn tyre disposal.)

Despite that, Curtis Patterson, one of several drivers at the Port-of-Spain/San Fernando Taxi Stand in Port- of- Spain said yesterday, “No- we’re not prepared to increase the $17 (one way) fare from Port-of-Spain to South because of the budget developments.

“The last time the gas price went up, we increased to $17 from $15, but we handling our responsibility and we won’t be putting the most recent gas price hike— which amounts to $1—-on passengers.”

“We don’t see we can hike the price again because the travelling public didn’t get any salary increases in this budget from what we could see. So it’s unfair to impose another fare hike on them.”

On the Port-of-Spain to Chaguanas taxi stand, drivers including Darren LeGendre also said the Port-of-Spain/ Chaguanas route fare wouldn’t be increased:

“We’d decided - when the last gas price was increased - to up the fare from $9 , one way to $11 in anticipation that the price would have increased again down the line as it was this week. So the increase we implemented before will cover all gas price hikes. we’ve gotten “

“We’re also critically aware that people are already hard-pressed to make ends meet and will be more so after this. By not hiking the fare, we’re trying to work with them on that.”

Dominica’s Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerritt has revised the curfew hours in Dominica saying the security agencies had advised that “by and large most people are behaving themselves.”

However, he told the country yesterday that the state of emergency will remain in effect at this time. The curfew imposed after Category 5 hurricane struck the island in mid-September was from 4 pm t0 8 am.

The new curfew runs from 6 pm to 6 am. The curfew was imposed to prevent looting in the aftermath of the disaster.

Skerritt admitted that there have been logistical problems in getting much-needed help to citizens, but he urged Dominicans to stop taking to social media to complain.

He said, “to get to over 70,000 people with our terrain is a challenge, We are delivering supplies and services to people at their homes.” He said access roads are “mashed up” and there are no buildings in communities to store supplies to make the distribution process easier.

Skerritt said “we have had to be on road packaging items and delivering, it is not a simple operation where you can rub a genie and everything is fixed. This is a practical operation that has all sorts of inherent challenges.” He urged Dominicans to get on board and assist and stop the complaining. “If a drain is blocked with galvanise take it out or else the water will settle and mosquitoes will breed and who will get bitten?”

The government, he said, is in a difficult financial position “we have not earned one cent since Hurricane Maria,” but despite the difficult economic circumstances, he said, it fell to him as the chief “fundraiser” to get the resources to help those who are in no position to help themselves.

Thousands of people whose homes had been destroyed did not have insurance, several communities had to be relocated, and “this means we have to build houses, schools, health centres and other public amenities,” he said. Skerritt said it was more than likely he would give details today on “some solutions for housing that we are discussing.

We have been engaging companies, countries, institutions to find housing solutions that can withstand beyond category 5, that meets all of the construction codes and which also address the seismic issues in our region so that if something happens in the future we will be in a better position to withstand it.”

Aid for Dominica, he said, was coming in from a number of Caribbean and international agencies whom he said the country continues to be grateful for.

MORE HELP ON THE WAY FROM T&T

Meantime, the Ministry of National Security says this country continues to provide air and maritime support for Dominica.

The TT Coast Guard vessel, the TTS Brighton, left the country on Monday with approximately 23.2 tonnes of disaster relief items donated by citizens and corporate T &T bringing to total tonnage of relief items sent to Dominica to 36.7 tonnes.

Among the items which the Ministry said Dominica still needs are: chainsaws, generators, roofing material, tarpaulins, water, pre-packaged food, medical supplies, medicine for lifestyle diseases, baby cereal, disposable diapers, single ring burner stoves and pumps for distributing bulk water.
 

KEVON FELMINE

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Three families are in mourning today after fatal accident which claimed the lives of birthday boy Alex Lalla, fireman Romel Rambally and Kareem Simon.

According to police, the men were heading South along the Uriah Butler Highway, Chaguanas in a blue Toyota Corolla driven by Lalla, a fitness coach at Raw Fitness Health Club.

Around 4.30 am, on nearing the Munroe Road Overpass, Charlieville they crashed into a pillar of a walkover. Passing motorists called for help and Chaguanas police, the Highway Patrol Unit, Chaguanas firefighters and ambulances responded.

However, Simon, 29, of Claxton Bay, Lalla, 27, of Couva and Rambally, 32, of Golconda had already died. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident.

T&T should strive for food labelling legislation and allow tax breaks on healthy food imports, with higher taxes placed on the unhealthier options, says Reema Carmona, wife of President Anthony Carmona.

"At some point, in fighting to save people from themselves, it's become necessary to legislate what we eat," she said at a recent United Nations conference of regional and international experts in New York.

"We simply cannot depend on the goodwill of individuals and companies alone to get this health revolution off the ground."

She paid tribute to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and former UWI chancellor, Sir George Alleyne for their work in health issues.

According to a statement from President's House, Mrs Carmona complimented Deyalsingh for his support in having heavy sugar content drinks removed from schools’ cafeterias and for the presentation of T&T's National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

She thanked Sir George for his stewardship as UWI Chancellor and as a strong supporter of Caribbean health associations.

Mrs Carmona said childhood obesity is exacerbated by "an obsessive 'couch potato' environment of playing video games and watching television for long hours."

"The amount of time spent watching television or the presence of a television in a child's bedroom is directly related to the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents. These effects may persist into adulthood. Parents have a responsibility to monitor this type of adverse sedentary existence."

Saying social media and television have impacted traditional values of eating local or eating ‘green’, she added, "It may well be a good thing for advertisements on healthy lifestyles and cuisine to be strategically placed during prime television shows."

"We need to reconsider our serving portions in restaurants and even on plates in our own kitchens — it's better to reduce the price and servings rather than increase the price and increase the servings.”

She pleaded, “We need to tell the world at large about the deleterious effects of salt and sugar as we proactively address childhood obesity. For the last four years, I've called for a culinary revolution in the kitchens of my country and region to foster wider consumption of fruits and vegetables."

"I've been knocking on the corporate conscience of private enterprises to cut the sugar content in sodas and I've advocated for sugarless drinks and natural juices in T&T's school cafeterias."

"It all finally came to pass when, a few weeks ago, just before the start of the new school term in September, the Ministry of Education banned sodas from all T&T school cafeterias. One of our largest soda manufacturers, advertised months ago, that it's cutting its sugar content by 40 per cent."

Mrs Carmona suggested every child receive a School Health Certificate, to be made aware of their health issues, in order to correct it.

She said she had noted an emergence of numerous ‘healthy supermarkets’ and ‘green’ eateries. "So given that childhood obesity is a development time-bomb, this notion that we only get sick when we get old, clearly has no basis," she said.

Chairman of the T&T Cancer Society George Laquis said Government has not contributed funds to the organisation for the past two years and was currently owing some $4 million.

Laquis was speaking at the launch of the National Education Campaign at Republic Bank's head office in Port-of-Spain. The theme of the campaign is "I Care Because Cancer Doesn't."

The programme will be taken to the nation's schools in the next six months.

Laquis said he the organisation could not give up because Government was owing money to the organisation.

He said during the past two years the government has failed to pay the $2 million per year to the organisation despite repeated requests.

"We had no money for two years and we did not cut back our services and we are going onto the third year (without payment)," he said.

Laquis said the society's budget is $6 million a year which is raised by sponsors and other stakeholders.

He said the mobile units were expensive, medicine and the equipment.

Laquis also called for a cancer registry and a treatment centre which he believes was long in the making and the responsibility of Government.

He said the data collected from the registry of deaths was inaccurate and backdated to 2009.

"The data is wrong and inadequate and only way we can collect data is to make it a reportable disease," he said.

He said the names and identity of patients did not need to be given but just the information on treatment and if it worked.

Laquis said cancer was the second leading cause of death and through a change in lifestyles it could be prevented.

"Focus on the youths, educate them, change your lifestyle, change what you can and get it early," he said.

He said the organisation's home at Rosalino Street was in "tremendous" need of repair and they would hopefully be owners to a property along the Foreshore, Mucurapo.

However, Laquis said they were hoping to raise $30 to $40 million to build on the property if approved by Cabinet.

Contacted for a response, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said he was unaware of the problem.

"I would have to check with Permanent Secretary, ministers don’t handle money. I would advise him (Laquis) to contact the Permanent Secretary who is the chief accounting officer," Deyalsingh said.

Protesters lined outside the Parliament building in Port-of-Spain yesterday to make good on their word of expressing their dissatisfaction with the 2017/2018 budget.

Among the protesters were the casino workers, whose annual tax is proposed to be doubled, Maxi taxi owners, who had a two-pronged protest— one the increase of diesel from $2.30 to $3.41— and the other the intention to waiver the restrictions on maxi taxis.

The latter was proposed to increase the number of maxi taxis and allow for maxis from any route to work outside of their respective route which is cordoned off by the colour of their bands. Other protesters like the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) were politically motivated as they were not in support of either of the two chief political parties the People’s National Movement (PNM) or United National Congress (UNC).

On arrival Members of Parliament were either hailed or heckled as they made their way into the Parliament chamber. Maxi taxi drivers honked their horns and had their head lights on as they stretched for miles in protest. Casino workers were supported and cheered by president of the Public Servants Association (PSA) Watson Duke as they chanted “Save our jobs!”

One casino worker told the media that the increased taxes were too harsh. She said it was working at a casino that afforded her the ability to send her children abroad to study and start her own business and the increased taxes may have a crippling effect on those like her seeking betterment for themselves and children.

Political activist Phillip Alexander called on those gathered to “fire the Government” and unify beyond racial and political lines as he invited them to a rally today. Alexander spoke to a handful of protesters after lunch as many had abandoned their placards in shrubs near the Waterfront where Parliament is located.

During the lunch break, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was booed and cheered by the dwindled crowd as she shook hands with those gathered. Some protesters, mostly those sporting orange and supporting the PEP shouted that she should “Fire yuhself” as a smiling Persad-Bissessar, flanked by her security and Opposition Senator Wade Mark, met and greeted those willing to shake her hands.

Former Public Administration Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is deeply concerned about the absence of sound fiscal measures from the 2018 national budget.

She said, "It will negatively impact the favorability of this country's energy sector as a preferred destination of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)."

The former San Fernando West MP said investors were attracted to countries with low risk environments that were predictable and stable.

In this regard, she said government should have taken steps to, "Avoid capricious behavior as illustrated by the introduction of an ad hoc 12.5 per cent royalty rate across the board on the extraction of all gas, condensate and oil."

She suggested, "Instead, Government should have announced the measures of the new fiscal regime in this year’s budget presentation as expected by anxious stakeholders."

The regime as promised, has been in discussions with the IMF for the last year.

Seepersad-Bachan reminded government of the outcomes of past attempts to revise the fiscal regime in early 2006 to maximize the tax dollar at a time when exploration was proceeding into deep and ultra deep blocks.

She said the reduction in concessions for exploration and modifications to the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) resulted in the precipitous decline in exploration activity.

She also recalled, "Not heeding the warnings by many experts at the time, these radical changes lead to the loss of confidence and consequently, this country’s upstream sector lost its global competitiveness."

She said the introduction of the 12.5 per cent royalty to address the unlikelihood of the collection of Corporation Taxes from oil and gas companies over the next seven years due to the high level of investment in exploration and production, was demonstrative of the current administration's failure to appreciate the fundamental principles and objectives of a globally competitive fiscal regime.

She warned, "Given the emergence of huge hydrocarbon reservoirs that are less capital intensive to produce and the proliferation of clean fuel sources, attracting FDI to the upstream sector will become increasingly competitive."

Seepersad-Bachan urged government to appreciate the benefits of maximizing the tax dollar, foregone in the short term, which would translate into the long-term benefit of significantly increasing T&T's gas reserves for future generations.

She said in the medium term, it was critical to sustaining downstream activity in the form of jobs, foreign exchange earnings, corporation taxes training and technology transfer.

Regarding the roll-back on the fuel subsidy, Seepersad-Bachan said government had not considered the revenues from the customs excise duties and licensing fees.

She said, "The knock off effect it would have on the economy is what I am having a serious problem with."

House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George put Finance Minister Colm Imbert out of the Parliament Chamber twice yesterday after Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar complained of being disturbed during her budget reply delivery.

"San Fernando West (PNM's Faris Al-Rawi) and Diego Martin North East (PNM's Imbert), take an early lunch," Annisette-George instructed both MPs.

Both Al-Rawi and Imbert left the Chamber, smiling as they went.

Persad-Bissessar had to repeatedly seek the Speaker 's intervention—and the Speaker repeatedly had to call for silence— as Persad- Bissessar delivered her three hour-plus reply to Imbert's 2018 budge package.

Most of the Speaker's orders were aimed at the Government benches.

But at one point, after repeated Opposition desk thumping support for Persad- Bissessar 's delivery, Annisette-George also told the Opposition, the tapping of their desks was also loud.

As Persad- Bissessar gave her reply earlier the first of the Speaker's warnings went to Port-of-Spain North MP Stuart Young, who was cautioned about crosstalk.

After several other warnings to PNM MPs mainly two hours into Persad- Bissessar's address and continued PNM "muttering" Annisette- George told Imbert to "take a little walk" outside of the Chamber. That was her first instruction to him to leave the room.

Imbert did so and Young also left with him. Both left and returned a while after.

Soon after, Annisette- George again warned MPs that she sensed some "restlessness" and anyone so inclined could also "take a walk."

She later had to instruct Young individually to "take a walk" and also told Imbert— to quell continuing PNM "buzz"—she was sure he wanted to pay attention to the delivery being made by Persad- Bissessar.

Derek Achong

Two junior police officers who claimed to have been verbally abused by their seniors while being investigated for allegedly perverting the course of justice in 2010, have withdrawn their defamation and wrongful arrest lawsuit against the State.

Attorneys representing Cpl Russell Roberts and PC Kenny Singh withdrew their lawsuit before Justice Nadia Kangaloo in the Port-of-Spain High Court on Wednesday after they and their main witness, a senior police officer who claimed to have witnessed the incident, were discredited under cross-examination by Pamela Elder SC who represented the State.

Kangaloo also ordered the two officers to pay the State's legal costs for defending the claim, which totalled almost $30,000.

According to the evidence in the case, the duo was first investigated in October 2010 after Talparo resident Carlton Alexander claimed that his father was approached by them and advised to encourage him to take a bribe to forgo testifying against a man who had chopped him during an argument weeks before.

Then police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs referred the complaint to then Senior Supt Stephen Ramsubhag for an investigation.

On October 14, the officers were summoned to Ramsubhag's office where he informed them of the complaint.

In his evidence, Ramsubhag claimed that he told them that they were to be transferred from the San Raphael Police Station pending the completion of the investigation by Insp Ramrattan Jugmohan and explained his stance on corruption within the Police Service.

"I told them that once I am sitting on this chair I am not going to condone any form of corruption and dishonesty. The public must get professional service with integrity so we can restore public trust and confidence in the Police Service," Ramsubhag said in his evidence.

The discussion allegedly occurred in a room with at least 10 senior and junior officers who were in the midst of a meeting with Ramsubhag.

However, Roberts and Singh claimed Ramsubhag used obscene language and was abusive and tyrannical towards them.

They reported the incident to Police Social and Welfare Association, the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Four separate investigations were done by four different Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) who all cleared Ramsubhag and Jugmohan of any wrongdoing.

Roberts and Singh were never charged over the alleged bribery incident.

In the trial of their lawsuit, the two junior officers brought ASP Samuel Bullen who was present in the meeting and helped clear Ramsubhag in the four investigations.

Bullen claimed that he was asked by Ramsubhag to fabricate evidence against the officers to clear his name.

However, while under cross-examination from Elder she pointed out that Singh had testified on Bullen's behalf to clear him of wrongdoing in a separate lawsuit.

Ramsubhag and Jugmohan's claims were also verified by the other officers present at the meeting.

In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Ramsubhag, who retired as an Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) in 2015 after serving 40 years in the Police Service, said he was thankful that his name was cleared.

"I stood up for what is right, for fair play and professionalism and I was made a victim," he stated. He said he now planned to sue the officers for defamation.