Port-of-Spain mayor Joel Martinez says he is attempting to get funding to build a homeless shelter for homeless people in the capital.

Martinez made the comment following Hugh Bernard’s lawsuit which was dismissed in the High Court on Monday. Bernard the lawsuit claiming that his constitutional rights had been infringed after the Port-of-Spain City Corporation constructed a fence around the perimeter around Tamarind Square, nearly two years ago.

In an interview yesterday, Martinez said there were other accommodation for the homeless available.

“They will now have to find other accommodation after losing the lawsuit against the Port-of-Spain City Corporation in the Port-of-Spain High Court on Monday. The city will have to deliberate on it and we will make provision to reopen the square to the public,” he said.

Martinez said the squares in Port-of-Spain are usually closed around 7 pm every day.

“It was closed because we were attempting to secure the square and the homeless took position in the square. Around 7 pm we would close the square and we were debarred because of the court case. If it went the other way we would have had to make arrangements for public toilets in the square and accommodation for them in the square,” the mayor said.

He said the corporation has several locks to gates of the squares but now that the court has made a ruling, the corporation will now pen the gates for the public to traverse it.

“They took up residence in the square and one of the residents took us to court and the judge made a decision that he didn’t have the right to live in the square. We will return it to the people as soon as possible and we are currently deliberating it at council,” he said.

Martinez said there were places available and everyone has there reasons for where they live.

“Everybody have reasons where they going. If you are homeless the accommodation may not be the best but it is better than being on the street. I am trying my best to allocate a piece of land and I will ask NGOs, business companies and the Rotaries and the Chambers to assist us in a building or a homeless shelter that is adequate to house and assist,” he said.

Referring to the Christopher Columbus statue he said a letter was delivered to the Corporation and there will be a discussion on it.

“The statue was also defaced with red paint. The council has to meet on it and we haven’t deliberated or met with the First Peoples. I am against the fact people could go into the square and deface public property. I don’t know if the police did anything about it,” he added.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has promised to investigate the reasons why delays in the payments of salaries for nurses have been happening.

Idi Stuart, president of the T& Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) said the minister called him yesterday and told him that he was “a bit concerned after reading an article in the T&T Guardian that nurses had been paid late for the third straight month without any explanation or apology.”

Stuart said the minister told him “he will look into the reasons why the delays in payments were happening.”

Imbert, according to Stuart, said “the Ministry of Finance forwarded payments to the Ministry of Health on the 12th of August and 14th of September and he could not understand why there was a delay in payments for those two months.”

Stuart said the Minister indicated that he “understood the delay this month because the ministry only sent the cheque last week Friday, and by the time the Regional Health Authorities got it and processed it to the banks that would have led to the delay.”

Stuart said, “We appreciate that he was that responsive.“

He said they also “appreciated” the minister’s “direct intervention and hope it does not continue for the future months going forward.”

PSA president Watson Duke said he had received no complaints yesterday and it seemed that everyone had been paid.

Other unions also confirmed that salaries had been received by workers.

Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein confirmed that cheques for the payment of CEPEP workers had been disbursed.

CEPEP chairman Clyde Paul said workers will be paid today (Wednesday.)

The Joint Consultative Council (JCC) for the construction sector is raising questions about contracts awarded to Namalco and Kallco, two local construction companies accused of “cartel behaviour” in the award of contracts by the Estate Management Development Company (EMBD) and it wants the State and Nidco to “revisit these awards.”

In its first public comment on the award of the $400 million dollar contract to Kallco for the Churchill- Roosevelt Highway Extension, the JCC said the contract “requires urgent explanation.”

It also raised questions about a newspaper report that a $436 million dollar contract was awarded to Namalco by Nidco for the completion of the Point Fortin Highway.

That report has been publicly dismissed by Nidco which issued a statement to the media indicating that tenders for the completion of the extension of the highway are still open and that it remained confident that its procurement process is competitive and transparent.

But the JCC, in a statement yesterday, said, “It is public knowledge that the State has initiated legal action against five companies,” among whom are Namalco and Kallco, who have been named for alleged “cartel behaviour.”

According to the JCC, this raises the question “is it that the legal arm of the state is oblivious of what the implementation arm is doing?”

The JCC said it would like to believe that the Attorney General would not commit “limited State resources by proceeding with litigation in the courts without tangible and compelling evidence.”

In these circumstances it said the issue of “following due process,” in making these awards by Nidco “cannot be acceptable to concerned citizens.”

In the case of Kallco, the JCC said the Maracas contract was terminated well before completion and Nidco was given the responsibility to manage the completion of that project, utilising other contractors.

It said it was left to wonder how the company got the contract which was “twice as large” and whether it can “deliver value for money.”

The JCC is now calling on Nidco to make public the performance ratings of both companies and the reasons for the termination of the Maracas Contract in the interest of “transparency and equity.”

Efforts to contact Nidco Chairman Herbert George were futile.

But in September when concerns were first raised about the Kallco contract George told the T&TGuardian that Nidco could not “blacklist Kallco” because there was no “evidence or reason” to suggest that the company should not tender for government jobs.

He assured that Nidco will monitor the project “zealously,” and if Kallco fails to deliver there are clauses in the contract which allow Nidco to terminate it.

The JCC said it was also concerned that the state “can find funds to commence new projects of this magnitude,” without making arrangements to pay contractors and consultants for work “completed many months/years ago,” and which was “certified and audited by the present government.”

It has appealed to the Minister of Finance to “properly recognise the state’s indebtedness and release funds to all state companies that have long standing overdue payments to contractors and consultants.”

BACKGROUND:

On October 17th Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Stuart Young announced that the government through the EMBD had filed claims in the high court against five contractors, Namalco, Kallco, TN Ramnauth and Company Limited, Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Limited and Fides Limited.

After eighteen months of analysis of the various work sites he said they had found “the work which they claimed to have been done and they had bene paid for doing was not performed.”

Popular businessman, television personality and community activist Inshan Ishmael spent last night in prison. Ishmael, 49, who hosts Breaking Barriers on his Islamic Broadcast Network (IBN) on Channel 8, was granted $300,000 bail around 3 pm by a Justice of the Peace on three firearm-related charges.

However, it was too late for his documents to be processed at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court.

His lead attorney Keith Scotland complained in open court that his client had surrendered at the police station since 7 am to avoid such a situation from occurring. In a show of support, several of Ishmael’s supporters and family members gathered in front of the Chaguanas Police Station and the court.

The charges arose from an incident on April 2 on the ASJA compound at Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, where it is alleged Ishmael brandished a gun at a man. The charges alleged that he was in possession of a firearm and ammunition to endanger life and that he also unlawfully committed common assault on Raffique Mohammed. Court prosecutor Sgt Cleon John first recommended summary trial, which meant Ishmael would be asked to enter a plea. John, however, changed his mind, saying he would have to get instructions on how to proceed with the matters. The charges were laid by Sgt Mohammed.

In asking for bail, Scotland said the essence of his client’s life has been service to his country. He said Ishmael operated IBM for the past 12 years, had no previous convictions and is a community activist at Chaguanas and Bamboo Village. Married with three children, Scotland said there was a video from hurricane-ravaged Dominica showing Ishmael organising over 500 tonnes of goods to go to the country. The prosecutor did not object to bail, but indicated that the house at the address given by the accused was under construction. Ishmael said it was being refurbished and gave another address in Caroni.

Complaining that his client surrendered at 7 am, he said they were trying to avoid a situation like this where the court closes before Ishmael’s bail could be processed.”I am aggrieved. It is unfortunate that this occurred,” said Scotland.

Speaking with reporters afterwards, Scotland said bail is not processed after 3 pm at the court so his client would likely have to “ride the bus.”

"However, he (Ishmael) was in good spirits because he is aware that his team, which also includes attorneys Arden Williams and Rajkavir Singh, is working," Scotland added. The matter will be called again on November 24.

Senior Counsel Israel Khan has penned an open letter to Political Leader of the UNC Kamla Persad-Bissessar telling her that if she fails to resign as political leader of the party before the election for the leader is held, the election would be “ultra vires of the UNC Constitution and thus illegal.”

In the letter sent yesterday morning hours ahead of a meeting of the UNC National Congress to discuss the decision by the National Executive to hold the early election for the post of political leader, Khan cautioned that if Persad-Bissessar failed to “adhere” to his advice she will be sending the “wrong signals to the floating voters on the East West Corridor and other marginal areas,” that she is “more concerned,” with “consolidating “her position as leader of the UNC and Opposition leader than adhering to the principles and rules of the party’s constitution.

Khan said if Persad-Bissessar is prepared to “breach” her party’s Constitution then she cannot be “trusted to head a Cabinet which will adhere to the spirit and rule of law of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Senior Counsel, who said he saw the need as a citizen with a “strong belief in the rule of law,” to give Persad-Bissessar and the UNC “pro-bono advice,” told the UNC leader that section 83-2 of the Constitution of T&T would not affect her position as Leader of the Opposition, if her position as UNC leader becomes vacant for a few days in order to facilitate your re-election.”

Section 83-2 of the Constitution gives the President the power to appoint “as leader of the Opposition the member of the House of Representatives, who, in his judgement, is best able to command the support of the greatest number of members of the House of Representatives who do not support the Government.”

There are eighteen members of the Opposition.

On Persad-Bissessar’s challenger for the post, Vasant Bharath has said he has the support of six of those 18 in his quest to become leader. Khan said Persad-Bissessar would do well to “concentrate on flushing out” any MP who may be secretly supporting Bharath.

Khan said those “traitors,” must be dealt with”decisively and effectively,” and must “never see the corridors of political power.”

He argued that nothing is wrong with others contesting the leadership position, “but it must be done openly and not with secret and underhand support. It must not be done surreptitiously.”

Fallen on hard times after her husband, a CEPEP worker, was not paid four consecutive salaries, Adana Stewart decided to sell marijuana as a supplement income.

Stewart told San Fernando magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine she knew her actions were wrong, but she needed money to care for her seven children.

Stewart, 36, who is jointly charged with her common-law husband Dwayne Lutchman, said Lutchman is the father of her two youngest children. She said her other children also live with them, but their father died on October 2 and “I have no one to help me.”

Stewart and Lutchman pleaded guilty last week Friday in the First Court to possession of 130 grammes of marijuana.

Stewart was granted $20,000, but Lutchman was denied bail for a check to be done on his criminal record. Lutchman, however, was not brought from the prison yesterday and his matter was adjourned to November 3. The couple was arrested last Thursday after the police executed a search warrant at her Ste Madeleine home.

Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said a bag containing 20 foil packets of marijuana was found in ceiling in one of the bedrooms.

Stewart said her husband had not been paid for four fortnights. Asked why she was not working, Stewart said she had a young baby who did not want to stay with anyone but her. “Selling marijuana is not a way out of your debt,” said the magistrate as she fined her $5,000. The magistrate granted Stewart’s request for five months to pay the fine, but in default she could serve six months in jail.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar will face Vasant Bharath in the battle for leadership of the United National Congress on November 26.

This after the party’s national congress yesterday voted unanimously in favour of a decision by the national executive to hold the election a year before it is due.

It was a full house at the Shiva Boys College in Penal yesterday and although Ganga Singh, who challenged the NAtex decision as a breach of article 18 of the party’s constitution, was present, he lodged no objection when the floor was opened for comments before the vote was taken. Singh instead said he was “pleased” and wanted to ensure the decision for the early election was “endorsed by the rank and file.”

One man was heard asking from the floor “where is Vasant?” in reference to Bharath, who is challenging Persad-Bissessar. However, Bharath is not is member of the party’s national congress and was not there. The national congress comprises members of the national executive, two delegates from each constituency and one additional delegate for every other 50 financial members. The turnout yesterday was good and party officials said it reflected the deep interest which supporters have.

Addressing supporters after the vote, Persad-Bissessar asked members, “Will you fight with me?”

The battle, she said, was with the ruling People’s National Movement.

“There is a great battle ahead to fight the wicked, corrupt and incompetent PNM,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She recalled her ‘no woman no cry speech in 2007 when there was “blatant betrayal” by senior party members “in whom I trusted.” She said she had never betrayed or left the UNC.

A decade later she said, “I stand before you with a track record that is unparalleled.”

To detractors who talk about how many elections were lost ,she said, “Let me remind them when we divide we lose. When we unite we win, as we did in 2010. Let us unite again and we will win.”

As she wooed support for the early election, she said it was about rescuing the country “from the evil, despicable, corrupt, destructive Rowley PNM.”

She accused the Rowley administration of selling Trinidad Generation Unit (TGU) to German firm Ferrostaal, promising to fight the battle in court if she had to. She also accused the Government of giving prime lands and tax breaks to the owners of the Sandals chain and agreeing to pay the “bestie of the Prime Minister for fake oil.”

She asked, “Is it true that the Prime Minister and the Energy Minister made phone calls to A&V Drilling in the last two weeks? The talk is they going to pay him.”

Persad-Bissessar also accused the Government of bringing “trumped up false charges against their political opponents.”

Declaring that the Government had failed to assist victims of recent floods and was failing in the fight against crime, she told supporters the early leadership election was critical.

“We will then have a comprehensive mandate from the party to carry on with the business of running the UNC and the Opposition,” she said.

She assured the UNC has been keeping to the goals and ideals of the constitution and will continue to do so.

She told supporters, “I love you more dearly than words can express. Everything I do, I do for you.”

An 88-year-old bed-ridden man who once rented out his home to a church died in a house fire on Monday night, in what police suspect may have been a murderer’s attempt to conceal their wrongdoing.

According to police reports, around 10 pm on Monday a relative of Ferdinand Felix was at the pensioner’s two-storey home at Wellington Street, St Joseph, when a loud explosion was heard coming from the apartment of his tenant Krissy Brewster. A fire started and quickly engulfed the entire structure.

Felix lived alone upstairs the house while Brewster, a 30-year-old Dominican national, had been renting the downstairs apartment for some years. She was a mother of one, residents said.

Police believe Brewster was killed and the killer then set her apartment on fire to cover the act. An autopsy today will confirm the cause of death.

Residents said after the fire began they came together to try and rescue the elderly man. One resident said Felix was seen holding on to the burglar proofing of his home as residents tried unsuccessfully to rescue him. He added that Felix held onto the burglar proofing until he was overwhelmed by smoke and collapsed. The next they saw of him was when his body was being removed from the house by caretakers.

At first police, fire officials and residents assumed only Felix was at home, but after the blaze was put out they found Brewster’s body downstairs in a room. The body was partially burnt and had what investigators suspect were marks of violence.

One man, whose church once rented from Felix some 21 years ago and celebrated his 50th birthday there, described the pensioner as a “good man.” He said Felix lived in the area for as long as he could remember and was always helpful.

Another neighbour said Felix temporarily housed another man who also stayed with relatives close by.

The two deaths came several hours after another St Joseph man, Kern Exeter, was murdered two corners away from Felix’s house.

When the T&T Guardian visited the area yesterday, one resident reminisced about how St Joseph was once labelled as the quiet city. He added that the latest killing and another one a month ago, along with the fiery deaths, was now giving the community a bad name. An elderly woman who said she lived in the area all her life said the community was not like it used to be. However, she refused to give her name, saying, “Next thing is me next.”

Tobago police are probing the circumstances surrounding the island’s ninth murder for 2017.

The victim was identified as Dave Vincent, 56, of San Fernando, Trinidad, who resided at Les Coteaux, Tobago.

Police said Vincent was found slumped in a white Nissan B14 car, registration number PBM 5912, in a CEPEP park at Golden Grove Road, Buccoo, yesterday.

Residents in the area heard gunshots and on checking found Vincent in the car with several wounds about the about the body. Police said Vincent was wanted in connection with a 2014 murder in Tortuga, Trinidad.

Homicide officers are investigating the killings of two men in separate instances between Monday night and yesterday morning.

In the most recent incident, police said an unidentified man was found at the entrance of the Beetham Landfill around 4 am yesterday.

Police processing the crime scene blocked off the far left and centre lanes near the crime scene, adding to the normal traffic peak hour traffic. The traffic backed up to Arima in the east and beyond Freeport heading south for several hours.

After police processed the scene and left, two spent shells were found in some bushes near the crime scene. Beetham residents told the T&T Guardian the deceased was chased by gunmen who murdered him outside the dump.

In the second killing, Kern Exeter, 26 was gunned down after he was followed from Curepe and gunned down near his North Road, St Joseph home. Exeter, relatives said, was charged with attempted murder and was receiving death threats which he reported to police in May. The T&T Guardian was told Exeter was killed as he came out a car after purchasing food in Curepe. He was described by relatives as a quiet person who did odd jobs in the area.

This country’s Miss Universe T&T pageant first runner-up Martrecia Alleyne is now being considered to replace stripped delegate Yvonne Clarke.

The local franchise holder for the pageant, Jenny Douglas, was weighing this option yesterday after she stripped Clarke of her title over an alleged breach of contract nine days before she was due to leave for the international event in Las Vegas.

Less than two weeks after winning the title, Clarke was told via email from Douglas that she would no longer be able to represent the country.

But during a press conference at the St James studio of soca artiste Fay Ann Lyons yesterday, Clarke demanded an apology from Douglas, saying she did nothing wrong in seeking sponsorship on her own, including from Lyons. She claimed she was left with no choice after all she received from Douglas was an “old black dress” and an admittance they did not have “all the resources” to get her to the competition.

“I asked her if there was anything else the franchise could give me beside a dress and she (Douglas) said no. I did not do anything without the authorisation of the franchise holder. She even sent me letterhead from the Miss Universe TT which to this day I did not use,” Clarke maintained at the press conference.

She said Douglas told her she could seek sponsorship from anyone locally “except from the Government.” She said from day one of the local pageant she felt something was wrong, as there were several “hiccups” along the way. This, she said, prompted her to document all her conversations with Douglas, including taping telephone conversations.

Saying she was forced to dip into her personal finances to prepare herself, Clarke said through a friend she was told to approach Lyons for help.

Lyons, Clarke said, had been instrumental in getting her a plane ticket, professional hair and make-up artists and even organising several professional photo shoots.

As she went through hardship getting sponsorship, Clarke, who broke down in tears at some points, said she also offered advice to Douglas regarding how to deal with issues on social media.

“I said to Jenny digital media management is important because she was getting into feuds with citizens on social media about the way in which the franchise was being run. I told her to avoid social media conflict because it not only brings the Miss Universe pageant into disrepute but it also brings me, as a delegate, into disrepute,” Clarke said.

“The reason why I am so hurt by this was because when T&T was bashing her and saying she was unprofessional I was the one who supported her.”

She also accused Douglas of deliberately withholding her contract after she signed it some months ago.

Douglas also hinted that Clarke may not have had a US visa but yesterday Clarke said she did.

Lyons, who also spoke, said she too wanted an apology from Douglas, as all she did was help a “beautiful and talented young lady” realise her dream. She described the incident as unfortunate, saying too many times “we as a people” refuse to support each other.

“I was very disappointed because some people had some ridiculous comments to make,” Lyons said.

In a statement yesterday, Douglas said, “The Miss Universe T&T committee has voted unanimously to disqualify Miss Yvonne Clarke from representing Trinidad and Tobago in this year’s Miss Universe 2017 Pageant competition.

“We are saddened by this turn of events, however, we have to maintain our strict contractual agreements. We will, however, make sure another suitable representative will go and who will abide by the Miss Universe T&T rules and regulations under their contractual agreement.”

In an interview with Guardian Media, Douglas also accused Clarke of making statements which “misrepresented” the franchise and of “being on television and begging for money.”

A 61-year-old Penal truck driver, who was hired to deliver sand and gravel to the Maracas Bay development project, was pinned to his death yesterday as he reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle when the braking system failed.

According to police, the accident which took place around 7.30 am but based on the position of the truck and markings on the road they believe the driver, Ranjit Ramkissoon, lost control of the truck after the brakes failed and in an effort to stop the truck from careening down the hill he attempted to swerve into the embankment to stop the vehicle.

The Quinam Road, Penal man failed in his attempt and the truck capsized pinning him below. Police said they believe Ramkissoon was thrown out of the truck and it collapsed on him, crushing him. Ramkissoon died on the scene.

The capsized truck caused little traffic disturbance as motorists slowed down to take a closer look.

Police yesterday identified the man who was shot dead at the entrance of the Beetham landfill as an ex-convict who had been released from prison one day before he was killed.

Investigators said the victim, Nathaniel Thomas, 32, of Hell Yard, Beetham Gardens had been reported missing on Wednesday.

Thomas was shot and killed early on Tuesday and as police cordoned off the scene searching for clues traffic backed up as far as Freeport, in Central and Mausica, in the East for hours.

Police said Thomas was released from prison on Monday after serving a two-year sentence for house-breaking and larceny.

They said had several convictions for house-breaking. Thomas’ body was found at the entrance of the Beetham Landfill around 4 am.

Beetham residents told the T&T Guardian that Thomas was chased by gunmen who murdered him near the dump.

Guardian Media will be one of the main sponsors of celebrated mas designer Brian Mac Farlane’s yuletide production Christmas Joy—the Gift of the Drum 2017.

Guardian Media’s Deputy Managing Director Nicholas Sabga announced yesterday the company’s decision to be a platinum sponsor of the event.

He said performing arts played a vital role in society as it showcased the “raw talent and dedication” that the nation possessed.

Speaking at a press conference at Queen’s Hall, Port-of-Spain, Sabga said MacFarlane had an outstanding dedication to perfection through his numerous performances. He said the mas man’s charitable work was also commendable.

Mac Farlane thanked Sabga for the company’s unwavering support.

“Doing a production of this scale and this magnitude where you really want to take it to an international level by using the fine creativity that we have here...through our artists, musicians, singers and dancers...but you need money.

“The bottom line is you need cash to put all this together. It’s been a hard year because of the economic situation that T&T is facing,” Mac Farlane said.

He said Guardian Media will also assist in advertising the event and there was a “fabulous campaign” which expected to be rolled out next Monday which included the use of the company’s billboards.

He said in 2015 many people were disappointed as they were unable to get tickets for that show which were sold out in four days.

Mac Farlane said T&T was still too dependent on oil and gas.

“Culture, creativity...is a huge way to diversify but we’re still depending on oil and gas,” he said, adding that this country was unique for its numerous cultural aspects.

“But we take it for granted...governments past, governments come, governments now see nothing in it.

“They don’t respect it. They look at Carnival as a relief of the people and they continue to insult us as a creative people,” he added.

Mac Farlane also promised that Christmas Joy—the Gift of The Drum 2017 would be filled with “immense joy” as he described it was a world-class performance.

This year, one of the beneficiaries of part proceeds of this mega-theatrical production, is the Children’s Ark, a non-profit organisation working to provide care and stability to less fortunate children.

Former government minister Jack Warner’s extradition proceedings have been put on hold as he challenges the dismissal of his lawsuit contesting the United States (US) request.

When the matter came up before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle, in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court yesterday, attorney Netram Kowlessar, who is representing the interest of the US, said that Warner had filed his appeal and had been given a preliminary hearing on December 16.

Kowlessar said that the preliminary hearing was set to determine Warner’s application for a stay of the case before Busby-Earle-Caddle pending the determination of the substantial appeal.

Busby-Earle-Caddle agreed to adjourn the case to January 18, next year when Kowlessar and Warner’s attorneys are expected to report to her the outcome of the application for a stay of the proceedings in the magistrates court.

Delivering a 50-page judgment in September, Justice James Aboud dismissed Warner’s judicial review lawsuit, in which he was challenging the procedure adopted by the Office of the Attorney General (AG) in signing off on the US’s request for his extradition, made in May 2015.

Warner’s attorneys had argued that this country’s extradition treaty with the US contradicts the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act. They were claiming that, in passing the act, Parliament afforded citizens certain protections which are ignored by the international treaty.

While Aboud agreed that there were minor inconsistencies between the treaty and legislation, he said Warner’s concerns were exaggerated and speculative.

Aboud also noted that Warner’s rights would be protected during the eventual extradition proceedings before Busby-Earle-Caddle as she would have to apply local laws to the charges against Warner alleged in the US extradition request.

Warner was also complaining that AG Faris Al-Rawi failed to give his attorneys a fair opportunity to make representations to him before he signed off on the Authority to Proceed, which was required to kick off the proceedings in the magistrates’ court.

Shortly after taking over the case from his predecessor Garvin Nicholas in September 2015, Al-Rawi extended the option to Warner.

However, his attorneys allegedly refused as they said it was made a day before Al-Rawi was required to approve the extradition.

Aboud ruled that Warner did not have a right to be consulted.

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has launched a preliminary investigation into the delivery of truck-borne water supplied to a bar owner to host a bikini car wash in Arima while thousands of residents remained with dry taps in the eastern borough.

In a release issued yesterday, WASA stated that it was determined that established procedures for requesting and delivery of the water to the car wash business were not followed and the authority had undertaken a formal probe, assuring that based on the findings “appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.”

WASA also apologised to its customers in Calvary and other parts of Arima regarding the unfortunate incident and well for the inconsistent pipe-borne water supply over the last three weeks, stating that the situation developed due to turbid conditions at the Guanapo Water Treatment Plant, associated with recent heavy rainfall.

The incident was raised by Arima Mayor Lisa Morris-Julian on Tuesday at a statutory meeting. Morris-Julian claimed a water truck went to a bar at Calvary and distributed water for the bikini car wash while thousands of residents had been suffering for water for weeks. Yesterday, chairman of WASA Romney Thomas said he did not want to say anything which could prejudice the investigation.

“I am extremely disturbed and disappointed by what had happened,” Thomas said.

A source at WASA said a report into the investigation will be submitted today.

Morris-Julian said the water problem in Arima was bigger than the bikini car wash event.

“We have to find a way to improve the delivery of water service at Calvary Hill.”

She said several suggestions were put forward, including the commissioning of the water tank, the dredging of the river to increase the water flow and clamping down on illegal quarrying which contributes to gravel, sand and silt being trapped in the water pumps causing it to malfunction.

Morris-Julian said the fact that a truck had supplied water to the car wash event when burgesses had been clamouring for the essential element hurt her deeply.

In life, Morris-Julian said people make mistakes.

“I just think that corrective action is needed by WASA. I don’t want anybody to be fired. I want people to understand the repercussions of their actions and how it affects people.”

An historic bridge in Marabella collapsed yesterday, days after residents of Bayshore pleaded for help to repair the derelict structure.

The bridge, which was over 100 years old, was used as part of the train line in Marabella. It collapsed in the river yesterday.

More than 12 families have now been left with no access in and out of their homes.

The community is also without a water supply because the pipeline was ruptured as the bridge fell.

Only last week residents expressed fear that the bridge would collapse and appealed to authorities to fix the steel and concrete structure.

The dilapidated bridge, accessible through Theresa Street Extension, was closed by the San Fernando City Corporation earlier this year. However, residents still risked their lives to cross the rickety bridge while others used a lonely, bushy track to access their homes.

One of the last people to cross the bridge before it collapsed shortly after noon was a 14-year-old girl.

“As she come inside we just heard a loud crash and everybody run out,” said her mother Makebe Wildman.

She said most of the bridge fell into the river. Wildman said her two children, ages five and 11, had crossed the bridge earlier in the day because their school had dismissed early.

“They had no choice but to use the bridge because there is nowhere else for them to pass,” Wildman said.

She also complained that the track, which runs alongside a drain, is overgrown with bush, muddy and lonely. Wildman also said residents in the “rich people” area were opposed to them using the track and attempts have been made to block the track.

“We already don’t have current, so we are in the dark, and now we have no water now. We have nowhere to pass and the longest while now we calling the MP and we not getting through,” she lamented.

Wildman said she may have no choice but to keep her children home from school today. The roadway is also caving and cracks have already reached a resident’s property. She had also appealed to the authorities to intervene before the situation worsens.

MAYOR SEEKING SOLUTION

San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said he was aware of the situation. He said two weeks ago the matter was raised in a council meeting. He said they sent correspondence to MP Faris Al-Rawi, who in turn forwarded it to Works Minister Rohan Sinanan.

“Tenders went out, proposals were done and we are awaiting feedback on when repairs will start,” said the mayor, who applauded Al-Rawi and Sinanan for their quick response in the matter. He said although the dilapidated bridge was closed several months ago it began to deteriorate at a fast rate following the bad weather. Regrello said a team will be visiting the site to assess the situation and look at what arrangements could be made for the residents.

Just two months ago San Fernando commemorated the 50th anniversary of the instalation of locomotive Engine No 11, which would have crossed that bridge, at Harris Promenade, San Fernando.

In a protest directed at the People’s National Movement and the United National Congress, Aripero residents demanded development of their community yesterday.

The area holds great significance in T&T’s oil industry as the first successful oil well was drilled there in 1866. However, generations later, the community is plagued by crumbling infrastructure and high unemployment.

Frustrated residents blocked the Southern Main Road with old tyres, appliances and furniture, and set them ablaze. The blockades caused massive traffic pile-ups.

South Western Division police officers, some of them in riot gear, arrived on the scene and stopped the raucous demonstration. By noon, the Ministry of Works and Transport had cleared the burnt debris from the road and traffic began running smoothly. However, determined to highlight problems in the area, residents set up fiery blockades across minor roads.

“It is over 34 years now I am living in this community and government come, government go, nothing is changing. The councillors and MPs are making statements that the young people in the back here are thieving but what are they doing for the young people in this community?” said resident Nicole White.

“We don’t have a community centre and years come, years go, we have been voting and supporting you all but what are you are all doing for the young people in this community? I have a five-year-old and I want betterment for the children of the future.”

Another resident, Kinkaid Jones, said the community has not changed since he was a child and it is time for the world know that they want a better standard of living.

Although the police stopped their protest, Jones said there was no confrontation as the residents understood that the police had a job to do.

Calls to Otaheite/Rousillac councillor Chanardaye Ramadharsingh went unanswered.

By the end of this year, some 300 families who have been squatting on State lands will receive certificates of comfort (COC) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

This Ministry began the process on Wednesday as 18 individuals who have been occupying State lands prior to October 1998 received their certificates of comfort (COCs) from Housing Minister Randall Mitchell, a release stated.

Of the 18 recipients, five are at an advanced stage of squatter regularisation process and are eligible to receive statutory leases.

In addition, 300 COCs, the release stated, are expected to be processed and delivered by December 2017.

There are three components to the squatter regularisation.

They are the tenure regularisation stage where eligible persons would have applied for a COC on or before the application date of October 27, 2000.

After the applicant has received their COC, they will be eligible to advance to the statutory lease stage, which gives him/her a maximum of 30 years to make payments for the land.

Upon completion of payments, the holder will advance to the stage where a deed of lease can be granted for 199 years.

The Land Settlement Agency will ensure that designated sites are properly surveyed, planned and designed and the necessary development works such as proper drainage, electricity, water, sewerage and road infrastructure have been conducted.

At the ceremony, Mitchell said the decision to provide the COCs was in keeping with the mandate of the Ministry to facilitate home ownership for the most vulnerable.

Mitchell promised that he will ensure that the process from application to processing of COC is completed so that those who qualify will get the opportunity to move forward in the home ownership process.

He also advised that once individuals are eligible to receive statutory leases, they can pay the premium (25 per cent of the market value) for the land they occupy and become owners of a valuable asset.

Two years after Dexter Lewis was accused of hiding cocaine, he was fined $32,000 fine for trafficking in the illegal drug. He was also fined $5,000 for possession of marijuana.

Lewis, 55, pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared before San Fernando Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine .

Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told the court at around 4.16 pm on April 24, 2015, Northern Division Task Force officers carried out a search warrant at a house in Mon Repos, San Fernando, and found 33 plastic packets with cocaine and several packets of marijuana in the kitchen. They also found a marijuana plant in a cup in the kitchen and a quantity of cocaine wrapped in plastic in a toilet bowl.

When he was cautioned, Lewis told the officers he “does do a little hustling”.

Antoine said she was satisfied that Lewis was turning his life around and spared him a jail term, although he has a previous conviction for narcotic possession.

“The court has been persuaded to exercise mercy because it seems the defendant has recanted from his former lifestyle. He is gainfully employed and he gave two testimonials from his employer and a retired police officer,” she said.

Antoine advised Lewis to look at the legacy he was leaving for his children, not in terms of money or finances, but the values he teaches them which could outlast any financial benefits.

She told him the maximum fine for cocaine trafficking is $50,000 and ordered him to pay $2,000 forthwith and the balance in a month or serve five years in jail. He was ordered to pay the marijuana fine forthwith or serve nine months in prison.