kevon.felmine

@guardian.co.tt

A&V Oil & Gas Ltd CEO Hannif Nazim Baksh and his son-in-law Cpl Billy Ramsundar yesterday appeared before a Siparia magistrate charged with assaulting Guardian Media Ltd’s senior photographer Kristian De Silva.

Although Ramsundar raved about his innocence outside the courtroom, Baksh was calm and seemed unperturbed by his predicament.

Baksh is the father of Government Senator Allyson Baksh, who is married to Ramsundar, a lawman with 25 years’ service.

The accused were charged on Wednesday and Thursday at the Besson Street Police Station, following seven and a half weeks of investigation by Supt Ruthven Hodge of the Police Complaints Division.

The accused were supposed to appear together before Magistrate Ava Vandenburg-Bailey in the Siparia Second Court. However, when the matter was called Baksh’s documents had not yet to reached the court. It took almost three hours before it was delivered to Hunte, who then passed it on to court staff.

When Ramsundar’s matter was called, Vandenburg-Bailey asked for De Silva or a representative of Guardian Media Ltd, but the prosecution said neither were present.

She asked whether there was any disclosure in the matter and prosecutor Sgt Starr Jacob said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will assign a prosecutor and at the next hearing they will be able to advise the court.

Vandenburg-Bailey then read the charge that on September 15, 2017, at Nazim Avenue, San Francique, Ramsundar assaulted De Silva occasioning actual bodily harm. Also on the same day, he maliciously damaged De Silva’s Canon DSLR camera valued at US$1,600. He was not called upon to plead.

Ramsundar’s attorney Alvin Ramroop told the court his client was granted $80,000 bail by a Justice of the Peace and Vandenburg allowed its continuance.

Shortly before lunch, the magistrate then read to Baksh the charge that on September 15, 2017, at Nazim Avenue, San Francique, he assaulted De Silva occasioning actual bodily harm.

She also read the charge that on the same day, Baksh unlawfully and maliciously damaged De Silva’s eyeglasses valued $2400. Baksh, whose company is currently embroiled in the fake oil fiasco at Petrotrin, was also not called upon to plead.

Baksh was represented by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC and Michael Rooplal. Rooplal asked the court for a continuance of Baksh’s bail of $80,000 which was granted by a Justice of the Peace on Thursday. The request was granted.

Krishenath Neebar stood bail for both accused.

The prosecution did not object to bail and the matter was adjourned to December 11.

Usually, private vehicles, except those of court employees, are not allowed to enter the courtyard.

However, Baksh’s van was allowed onto the compound so he could be driven away. Ramsundar exited through the front and after a short walk was picked up by someone.

A video on social media of police officers breaking the window of a woman’s Princes Town home to search for arms and ammunition has prompted both praise and condemnation for the officers.

In the video, the police were heard asking the woman to open her house but she refused saying she wanted to see the warrant. The police in the video identified themselves and asked the woman to give them access. She again refused and complained that the police did not immediately identify themselves.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian on Thursday, the home owner admitted to seeing the warrant, saying, “It was pushed in my face and it did not have an address.

“This is why I did not open the house for them. They smashed the window panes and used a bucket to climb through the window and into the house. I kept telling them that the person they were looking for did not live there. They break the wardrobe and cut the burglar proof.”

However, Southern Division Snr Supt Zamsheed Mohammed said once a warrant is signed by a competent authority police can enter premises and execute searches.

“A search warrant or an arrest warrant gives the police lawful authority to enter the premises by force if necessary, but that force should be reasonable, taking into consideration all the circumstances present at the time. The warrant gives the police that authority,” Mohammed reiterated, adding the warrant was supposed to have an address.

Saying he saw the Whatsapp video, Mohammed said once a home-owner denies entry upon seeing a warrant, police can enter the house using force. He noted, however, that any citizen who thinks the police acted unprofessionally or unjustly could take legal recourse or contact the Police Complaints Authority.

Mohammed said he had not received any official complaint from the home owner, but having seen the video he will appoint an investigator to conduct investigations into the incident.

“We are also asking the public to be cooperative so that police could carry out their duties and functions to ensure that all of T&T is safe,” Mohammed added.

Also contacted yesterday, TTPS communication manager Ellen Lewis confirmed Mohammed’s account of the process involving search warrants. She also reminded the public it is an offence to obstruct officers in the lawful execution of their duties.

He commended his team for the recent crime sweep, saying 10 firearms were recovered last week, nine the week before and six seized over the past seven days.

“This brings a total of 159 firearms for this year, the highest number recorded in all police divisions in the country. This speaks volumes about the amount of firearms on the streets and we will urge all officers to diligently continue their efforts within the parameters of the law,” Mohammed said.

Meanwhile, PCA head David West also said home-owners should cooperate with the police once a search warrant is presented. He said if entry is denied, the police have the authority to enter the property.

House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George yesterday stood down Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissesar’s request to have Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley sent to Parliament’s Privileges Committee for recent statements he made.

Persad-Bissessar last month made the request concerning Rowley’s statements while being interviewed at a public event. She said his statements brought MPs and Parliament staff into disrepute.

Persad-Bissessar had accused Prime Minister Keith Rowley of breaching parliamentary privilege, during the non-ceremonial opening of the new parliamentary session on September 29.

She based her accusations on statements Rowley made to reporters at a health fair at the Diego Martin Boys RC School on September 16.

According to Persad-Bissessar, Rowley told reporters, “If there is wrongdoing, identify the wrongdoing and hold people accountable. I don’t know that we should be overdoing it and I am not afraid of identifying the people I associate with because I do not knowingly associate with crooks except in Parliament.”

She described Rowley’s comments as “intentional, reckless and contemptuous,” and claimed Rowley implied that the Speaker, the Parliament’s staff and MPs, “were not persons who law-abiding citizens should associate with.”

But the Speaker, noting expert views, said, “While some may find the statement objectionable, it’s insufficient to meet the threshold required to find a prima facie case of a breach of privilege.”

“The statement made is too remote to attribute a reflection on the Members, Presiding Officers or staff of the Parliament. It’s vague, and lacks the specificity required to qualify as a reflection on a Member or on the House.”

“Upon analysis, the statement doesn’t go beyond the realm of political comment, and is too wide to be interpreted by a reasonable person to have brought the Parliament into disrepute.”

“I find it inconsistent with the dignity of the House to take any serious notice or action in the case of every offensive statement which may technically constitute a reflection on the House. I myself have heard comments made by many other Members in the public domain which, if held to a strict interpretation of privilege, could well fall into the category of a reflection.” — Gail Alexander

Casino owners should not be threatening to retrench their workers since one roulette table alone can generate $500,000 to $1 M in annual profits for them, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday.

“Roulette tables are Play Whe on steroids — money spinners,” Imbert said in Parliament yesterday.

“Why in God’s name do they want to send home workers when they make over $500,000 profit annually for each table? It’s wickedness. They’re terrorising workers,” he said.

Speaking on the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order—implementing taxes from the 2018 Budget–Imbert added, “Firing workers has to be just talk. If they retrench them, they’ll have to bring them back because the machines can’t operate on their own—they’re not robots. And all the (owners’) money is generated by these roulette tables.”

Among tax order stipulations are gaming sector tax increases, effective January 1, next year. Taxes on roulette tables will be $120,000 annually compared to the half million plus profits which such tables yield each year, he said.

Imbert said the gaming sector was booming and it was necessary to regulate it so taxpayers could get a share of the $15 B industry. Only $58 M was collected in taxes previously.

He said after he was “visited” at his residence by casino workers recently, he received information that electronic roulette tables permitting 20 players to wager every 20 seconds are in bars and restaurants.

“Three times a minute a ball drops into a slot – 365 days,” he said.

If true, Imbert added, a roulette machine operated on two 12-hour shifts can generate $500,000 to $1 M in annual profit after workers’ wages—around $150,000 annually—overhead expenses and taxes are deducted.

“So why in God’s name do they want to send people home when the taxes we propose are only $120,000? Why do you want to retrench workers who are helping you earn over $500,000 a year?” he asked.

He said that tax will yield $84 M with full compliance. Imbert added, there are also more than 20,000 amusement gaming machine in T&T. Taxes for that which were $3,000 annually will increase to $6,000.

Imbert revealed that the Board of Inland Revenue has a total of 900 members’ clubs, bars and recreation clubs with gaming tables registered. But he said only 97 are registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which monitors such facilities.

“It means about 800 of them aren’t being monitored by the FIU,” he said.

Imbert rebutted claims by “Member’s Club” owners. He said it was “fiction” for them to claim the clubs weren’t casinos and that they were owned by members.

Imbert cited a 2013 Nevada University study showing (US)$14 B in earnings from Las Vegas from the sector and gambling studies showing this was addictive and people went into a trance-like “zone” shutting out life when gambling.

Blood tests for Sando patients being done at Mt Hope

Two critical blood laboratory tests for San Fernando General Hospital patients – on creatinine and to check protein for heart attack alerts — are being done at the North Central Regional Health Authority and Mt Hope Medical Complex, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said in Parliament yesterday.

He told UNC’s Dr Tim Gopeesingh NCRHA took over the creatinine test and the other protein test is being with new technology at Mt Hope. That technology cuts testing time from 18 hours to two hours. Deyalsingh said he had no data to support Gopeesingh’s “dangerous” claims that “people were dying while waiting for tests.”

127 cheques for flood victims

The Social Development Ministry has issued 127 relief cheques so far to regional offices for recent flood victims, Social Development Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn told Mayaro MP Rushton Paray. She said this included 78 cheques for Rio Claro victims who will receive theirs by Monday. She said the Ministry received clearance to enter flood-affected areas on October 23 and started assessing households. She said 2,615 households were visited so far.

Payments for school

social workers next week

Education Minister Anthony Garcia assured UNC’s Dr Tim Gopeesingh that payments for school social workers will arrive next week.

He said the workers were on month-to-month contract and were paid by September 20.

He said the Finance Ministry has released funds for latest payments to be made soon. He, however, couldn’t assure UNC’s Barry Padarath when construction will begin on a new Princes Town Presbyterian Number 2 school. Students from that facility are housed at Princes Town Presbyterian Number One school,

Forestry workers $$ still to come

Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis told UNC’s Bhoe Tewarie that funds to pay forestry workers for two fortnights in October are being awaited. She said they were paid for August and September and release of funds is expected as soon as possible. She also said no oil tankers will be allowed to attach to Pier One’s jetty.

No housing applications

from Sea Lots fire victims

The Social Development Ministry is liaising with the Fire Services to identify all recent Sea Lots fire victims, Minister Cherrie -Ann Crichlow-Cockburn told UNC’s David Lee. She said victims were given food support and information on accessing various assistance programmes from school supplies to house repair grants. She said they all said they have alternative housing and they haven’t applied for any housing grants.

Sharp observation and quick response by San Fernando CID officers foiled a robbery outside RBC Royal Bank’s Gulf City Mall branch on Thursday.

An 18-year-old man, who was supposed to be the getaway driver, was arrested. However, his accomplice escaped.

At 12.55 pm, a 29-year-old La Romaine business director withdrew $39,000 from the bank. As she sat in her car, the suspect ran up, opened the door and stole her handbag containing the cash and other items.

The suspect then ran to the mall’s entrance along Gulf City Avenue where the suspect was seated in a silver Hyundai Elantra sedan. PC Ameer Ali and PC Sangeet Maharaj were patrolling in a marked police vehicle. On seeing the officers, the first suspect dropped the handbag and ran. The officers blocked off the getaway car as it tried to reverse through the traffic. Police said the suspect is being investigated for other robberies. KF

Even though he does not expect an early general election, political leader-elect of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah says he is confident that his party’s membership will grow by 2020, positioning them favourably against the PNM and the UNC.

However, he does not foresee a coalition with either the ruling or opposing party. The MSJ was one of the political parties which formed the People’s Partnership coalition in 2010 and was the first to leave the union.

Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination papers at the party’s headquarters in St Joseph Village, San Fernando yesterday, Abdulah denied that the MSJ was holding internal elections along with the UNC and the COP because of impending general elections.

The COP internal elections will take place also on November 19, while the UNC’s internal election is carded for November 26.

Saying the MSJ’s constitution mandates that internal elections be held every three years, Abdulah said the cycle for elections had arrived and this was why elections were organised.

He also said that the MSJ was making inroads in some communities after losing some members to the People’s Partnership after 2010.

Asked what was the membership like, Abdulah said he did not have the figures. However, he said membership had climbed as the PNM’s popularity continues to tumble. “When we go to Diego Martin, Arima, Point Fortin and other parts of the country we are hearing that people want change. We are offering that because the PNM and the UNC are flip sides of the same coin.

“In terms of policies and running the system, they do exactly the same thing.

“We are opposed to the PNM’s policies. People are saying that they changed parties but life has not changed.

“The status quo remains intact. The elite that controls and benefit from the resources of this country remain intact whether we have PNM or UNC.

“The people who suffer as a result of that are ordinary people,” Abdulah said.

He added that once he retains his post he will build the party from the ground up by listening to the people. The MSJ’s elections will take place on November 19.

Among the posts being contested are Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Political Leader, Deputy Political Leader, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer, Education Officer, Elections Officer, International Relations Officer, Party Organiser, Public Relations Officer and Social Services Officer.

Minister of Public Utilities Robert Le Hunte said citizens cannot expect a magic wand to be waved and all the problems affecting the Water and Sewerage Authority would be fixed.

He said giving the limited resources at the Government’s disposal WASA is attempting to fix some of the critical issues.

Speaking to the media during a tour of Arima water facilities, the Minister said WASA began a leak repair programme as a significant portion that water being produced was being wasted.

He also promised to stop a quarry from disposing of its slush in the Guanapo River immediately as this was one of the major causes of water disruption in Arima. The slush affects the functioning of the pump at Guanapo.

“It is not a wand that is going to be waved and problems of WASA is going to be eradicated,” Le Hunte said.

The Public Utilities Minister made these statements on his visit to the Borough of Arima after numerous complaints were made by the Mayor of Arima Lisa Morris -Julian and burgesses about the scarcity of water in the eastern Borough yesterday.

Le Hunte said he was satisfied by the apology made by the WASA to the Mayor, Councillors and burgesses of Arima after WASA distributed water for a bikini carwash at Calvary bar, while thousands were without a water supply.

The minister assured the burgesses that there would be no recurrence of such a situation.

Le Hunte said since assuming office two months ago he made a decision to get out on the field and speak with the people and also to get a first-hand view of the problems.

He told the media that his visit to Arima along with officials from WASA which included CEO Dr Ellis Buris, Operations Manager Shurland Shepard, Senior Project Manager Arlene Johnson Lawrence and Deputy Permanent Secretary Beverley Khan, was due to the numerous complaints he had received from the Mayor of Arima and the burgesses, who are without water supply for weeks and to also look at the IDB wastewater project along the O’Meara Road.

“It is my duty to see what is happening and view the problem, especially when it affects people and country,” Le Hunte said.

Councillor for Calvary Michael Castellano told Le Hunte that in the Dry and Rainy seasons people suffer for water at Calvary.

“Nobody knows the pressure that we experience for water. He asked why it is WASA have to lock-off water distribution from Mt Pleasant to supply Calvary Hill.

“Why is this happening in 2017? I had to beg the Fire Service to supply water to the burgesses and himself. To be frank WASA system is outdated,” he said

Morris-Julian said the distribution of water is a challenge as burgesses will videotape water overflowing at the pump and ask why they are not receiving water.

Le Hunte also toured to O’Meara Road where he saw a WASA main which has been leaking since 2013.

Le Hunte said those leaks that could be fixed, would be fixed and the bigger issues will be addressed in the long term.

Floating Manager WASA North East Distribution Vonetta Antoine told the minister that the shortage of water supply occurs as a result of flooding which forces the distribution plants to shut down after heavy and consistent rainfall.

She said there are some people who are building homes at Calvary Hill and Mt Pleasant at a higher level cannot access water from the WASA distribution system.

To solve the problem, she suggested the water treatment plant be upgraded.

Le Hunte agreed but noted there were bigger problems and in the interim, the Government was going to fix what could be fixed.

The Ministry of Finance yesterday commended the employees of the Inland Revenue Division and the Customs and Excise Division for their dedication and commitment to their duties who ignored a call by their union, the Public Service Association, to stay home for two days.

The Ministry notes that while some members of staff heeded the calls to withhold their duties on Thursday and yesterday, the staff who reported for duty, ensured that the work of their respective Divisions continued and the public served.

In a separate statement, The Employers’ Consultative Association of T&T also praised the employees.

In a statement yesterday, the ECA said the workers who reported for duty demonstrated a willingness to work and nationalism.

“The ECA strongly condemns such an irresponsible and dangerous call by the PSA, especially given the potential direct and indirect adverse effects on the citizenry.

“Furthermore, the realities of economic life today are certainly not conducive to a large-scale work stoppage of this kind. The time has come for us as individuals, leaders of institutions, and civil society to begin to assess the effectiveness of such antiquated strategies within the context of a mature, progressive, 21st Century society,” the ECA urged.

“The ECA has noted repeated assurances that all workers affected in the transition can expect to be absorbed into the new Revenue Authority under terms and conditions ‘no less favourable’ to what currently exists.

This is a clear commitment to ensure that no worker is disadvantaged or disrupted in the transition to this much-needed authority.” The employers’ group urged all parties involved to use dialogue rather than confrontation as the primary vehicle for resolving perceived grievances.

and CAMILLE CLARKE

There was a further decline in attendance of Customs and Excise Division officers yesterday, as an estimated 50 per cent who were rostered for work turned out. This, as officers again heeded the call by Public Services Association president Watson Duke to stay away from work, the second day of his call to take a two-day holiday to protest the formation of the T&T Revenue Authority.

Duke said he was satisfied with the response, adding that his intention was not to bring any burden on the Government agencies.

He said that he was simply seeking the interest of the workers. Duke had called on his members at Customs and at the Board of Inland Revenue to stay away from work on Thursday and yesterday in protest of Government’s intention to replace both organisations with the T&T Revenue Authority. He said workers could face job losses.

On Thursday, an estimated 60 per cent of Customs officers stayed away from work.= Contacted yesterday a senior Customs official said the Port of Port-of-Spain and Customs House at Government Campus Plaza were affected but added that there were contingency plans.

“We have put contingency plans in place to ensure we continue to serve the public and continue to do what we are supposed to do as protectors of revenue.

“We are fully much in control of what is happening. The organisation is in no way crippled....We are not 100 per cent but we are very much functional,” the official said. Asked about the turn out at the ports, he said, duties at the airport were not disrupted adding that “flights have come and passengers were dealt with.”

“All our major areas we have been able to manage. There may have been one or two areas which there may have been some fall-out but this is expected...with the workers who came out we have been able to manage,” the official said.

Regarding the details of the contingency plans, he said “Middle management also turned out and they are on the ground and manning the stations to make sure things go smoothly.

“The only place where we had some little fall-out was the Port of Port-of-Spain at the (shipping) barrel section,” the official said.

Another Customs official said officers who reported for work at Government Plaza said employees who came out had a number of additional functions to perform as there was just a skeletal staff on duty.

Checks at the BIR office, on Queen Street revealed “more workers” stayed home yesterday than on Thursday.

“It may be because it is is Friday that some workers decided to take the day off...but we still had a decent enough turnout of staff to assist the public,” one employee said.

Asked how workers viewed the Revenue Authority, she said, most employees had no issue.

“The employees really have no problem with the Revenue Authority. We see this as a good measure to make everything more efficient and make the workload easier,” one employee said. But at the Inland Revenue Division at Trinidad House at Independence Square, Port-of-Spain it was reported that “quite a number of employees” failed to turn up for work, resulting in several disgruntled members of the public gathering outside.

One worker said it appeared that yesterday, being a Friday, was a “better day” for workers to stay away from work.

“If workers had stayed away from work from the Thursday then they would have had to bring in a sick leave and that would have been difficult for many of them,” he said.

Several members of the public had to be turned away at Trinidad House as the majority of clerks stayed away.

“They done work half day and now look at the inconvenience the public now has to face. I have to come another day to get my business done,” one woman said.

Duke is expected to meet with Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Monday to discuss details of the Revenue Authority.

SHALIZA HASSANALI/URVASHI TIWARI-ROOPNARINE

A total of 39 State enterprises had racked up a debt of $44 billion by the end of 2016.

These were the shocking findings contained in a September 2017 Joint Select Committee report that examined the borrowing practices of State enterprises, with an emphasis on regulation of borrowing, purposes for which funds are borrowed and sustainability of debt servicing ratios.

In the report, focus was given to the quantum of State enterprise debt, the sustainability of the current debt obligations, the purpose for which monies are borrowed and the mechanisms in place to monitor and evaluate state-owned companies that have borrowed funds.

Two state companies - the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) and the Petroleum Company of T&T together accounted for more than half of $44 billion debt.

Udecott’s debt of $11.4 billion included a $3.5 billion loan financed by Republic Bank Ltd for the “the Government Campus Plaza fit-out project” and another $496 million from First Caribbean International Bank for the “fit-out of Government Campus Plaza.” Udecott also still owes $497 million on a 2009 loan from First Citizens Merchant Bank for the controversial Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

The second highest debtor, the Petroleum Company of T&T Ltd, still owes the Deutsche Bank of Canada US$750 million and Bank of America US$850 million. This amounts to TT $11.2 billion.

Trailing behind were the T&T Mortgage Finance (TTMF), which owes $5.5 billion, and the National Insurance Property Development Company (Nipdec), which must repay on a $4.3 billion loan.

The National Gas Company (NGC) was lent a total of $4.2 billion, with US$200 million being borrowed in 2004 for the “Cross Island Pipeline” project. The amount is to be repaid by 2020.

The Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) services a total of 12 loans amounting to $2.2 billion.

The National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) borrowed $ 2.1 billion, with $1.5 billion going toward the refinancing of the Point Fortin Highway Project and the total in to be repaid by 2031.

The report contained no details about how the funds were used, but the JSC has called a press conference for Monday where it is expected to address the troubling issue. The committee is chaired by Independent Senator David Small.

The 105-page report stated that at the time of the inquiry, “the State Enterprise Government Guaranteed debt stood at $19 billion, while the non-Government guaranteed debt stood at $25 billion” bringing the total figure for state enterprise debt to a staggering $44 billion.

Among the ten findings, the committee discovered that state enterprises with government guaranteed borrowing, as well as non-government guaranteed borrowing did not use debt to revenue ratios for financial or debt management analysis. The committee also learned that of the companies that borrow without government guarantee on the strength of their balance sheet, “several did not have updated strategic plans.”

Also, in two instances the committee found that state-enterprises were “unable to pay their debt and there have been instances in the past when funds were borrowed without the proper approval process and state-enterprises strayed from their stated mandate with minimal repercussions.”

In seven recommendations put forward, the committee advised that the “Investment Division should implement mechanisms to track returns on investments, liquidity ratios are used to determine whether entities are able to cover debt obligations and immediately enforce a mandate to have strategic plans of state enterprises who borrow without government guarantee completed and submitted within three months of this report.”

The committee also advised that the Ministry of Finance should make an up-to-date strategic plan a mandatory requirement when processing loan applications for state enterprises and pursue avenues to give legal force to the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual, including the insertion and enforcement of a penalty structure.

The Joint Select Committee (JSC) on State Enterprises says although there are several factors contributing to the financial losses of state-owned Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), it can become a valuable contributor to T&T and its citizens.

Among the challenges for the airline are the frequent changes to its governance leadership since it began operations in 2007. There have been three boards, four chairmen, four CEOs, three acting CEOs, four CFOs and two acting CFOs. In addition, CAL is faced with cash flow inefficiencies due to the financing of a fleet of five ATR aircraft using the company’s cash reserves and from short term cash investment and is operating in an increasingly competitive environment with the entrance of low price competition from Jet Blue and West Jet in key markets.

But according to the JSC, CAL’s human resource focus is skewed towards pilots and management and several positions in its organisational structure are filled by individuals who do not have the required qualifications. There is also the inability to repatriate revenue earned by the airline in Caracas, Venezuela

Adding to CAL's financial burden is the Tobago air bridge fare, which is below commercial market value. The approximately $41 million budgeted for CAL as the subsidy on the air bridge this year does not cover the entire shortfall between the fare charged for flights on the air bridge and the cost of running it, making the route unprofitable.

Among the recommendations from the JSC is that the airline pursue measures to recover money owed by Venezuela and be persistent in following up with the Ministry of Finance for approval of its strategy for resolving issues with fare structuring for the air bridge service.

"CAL should immediately put in place a freeze on any increases in wages and salaries until such time that the operations of the airline is sustainably profitable," the JSC said.

The airline has also been told to fill its CFO and CEO positions and "follow through with plans to conduct a manpower audit to review and readjust the management structures."

Another key recommendation is for the airline to immediately cease international recruitment of foreign pilots.

"Given the many local pilots seeking jobs, a report on how this came to be should be provided to this committee as well as its line ministry," the JSC said.

CAL has also been advised to "urgently conduct a route analysis with a view to a reduction and or elimination of services to some North American destinations where over the past five years there has been an unabated trend of declining passenger numbers and massive financial losses." The JSC said this should be completed within the next three months.

The JSC also wants CAL to commit to refurbishment and modernization of its fleet; find the root cause of the issues with the ATR aircraft; and adopt key recommendations in the Lufthansa reports, which it said will assist the airlines towards achieving profitability by 2018.

kalifa.clyne@guardian.co.tt

While the Government has approved a $30 million fund for assistance to flood victims, people in hard-hit areas in south Trinidad are still clamouring for assistance.

Some people who applied for grants in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Brett were still waiting on assistance when they were further flooded during excessive rains last month.

The fund is accessed by the Ministry of Social Development for direct grants, the Ministry of Works and Transport to fund work such as clearing of landslides, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Last week, the Guardian spoke to chairmen from regional corporations in south Trinidad who raised concerns about the Central Government's response to flooding in their region.

The chairmen, in separate interviews, said the situation was further compounded by confusion over assistance to victims from the Ministry of Social Development because of a lack of communication with regional corporations.

The process being followed involves the disaster management unit of each corporation submitting a list to the ministry, with no feedback being forwarded to the corporations.

380 homes damaged in Princes Town

Chairman of the Princes Town Regional Corporation Gowrie Roopnarine said there were more people from his region affected during the period of excessive rainfall in October than during Tropical Storm Brett.

"This time there were more people affected and more homes flooded out. We have confirmed, visited by the disaster unit, that 380 homes would have been damaged during the rainfall. In June, that number was less than 300," Roopnarine said.

He said many of the citizens recently affected, had also been affected in June during Brett.

Roopnarine said he had very little information from Central Government on how citizens would be given assistance.

"Most of the assistance came from private citizens. Our disaster unit submitted a list to Social Development Ministry but we haven't received feedback yet.

"People are still waiting to see. Every single day people come to my office looking for help. How many business people can we beg to handle the situation. I am speaking for Princes Town region. I am totally disappointed with the response.

"Not one single watercourse in the Barrackpore area was cleaned or dredged during the five-month period between Brett and the excessive flooding. If they had, maybe the flooding would have been less.

No help from any ministry —Siparia chairman

Siparia Regional Corporation Chairman Glenn Ramadharsingh said people have not received help from Social Development or any other ministry.

"They put out a press release that 76 people got cheques but none of the residents of Woodland got cheques. Up to today, there are residents living with tarpaulin in their home, over their heads.

"We asked for names, we didn't get it. We asked for them to identify who is getting help and they have not responded. It doesn't matter any more, the people of Woodland believe they would not get help.

"We are going to push these applications and I will, it is total unfairness, inequity and is not the kind of social assistance programme we are having. I am working the system, I have sent forms and we will take them personally to the ministry."

Carnival is 99 days away, but that timing was not a pivotal factor in the decision by artist Richard Ashraph Ramsaram, 52, to curate an exhibit with a traditional sailor mas theme. “I am into traditional mas. It’s something I am passionate about,” says Ramsaram.

Last year he curated a similar collective showing where artists submitted work inspired by the traditional mas character the bat. “I always seek artists whose work has been influenced by the traditional mas in our Carnival.” Some of the artists who met that criteria and accepted Ramsaram’s invite to show new work are: Jackie Hinkson, Paul Kain, Che Lovelace and acclaimed masman Peter Minshall. Also on exhibit are three works by the late Embah and a print by Scottish artist Peter Doig.

Initially, Ramsaram intended for the exhibit to include photography. “As galleries we are obligated to raise the importance of photography. [Photographers] do the same thing as the painter, they document the society,” he asserts. The limitations of his gallery space lead to the creation of a companion show of photography with the same theme; that show opens near the start of Carnival 2018. Meanwhile, the current exhibit features ten artists who utilised collage, cedar, and acrylic to compose spirited perspectives of traditional sailor mas characters.

Three artists who are less familiar to the gallery scene in Port-of-Spain, produced work that offers dimension and unusual interpretations to the ‘A Sailor is A Sailor’ exhibit. “I grew up seeing his work in almanacs,” recalls Ramsaram of painter Dermot Louison, 84, who works with acrylic on board. “He was my first reference to traditional mas. His work reflects on his own childhood and has character and personality. The work I selected is a little comical and they capture the movement of the sailor masquerader.”

Miami-based muralist Wendell McShine, 45, is a former illustrator with the Guardian newspaper. He has earned commercial commissions from Adidas and prestigious awards, such as the Reuters News Foundation Fellowship. “His interpretation of a fancy sailor is not quite what we may instantly reference, his sailors bear elements of Mexico where he lived for a few years,” Ramsaram explains. “The way he painted it is stunning; he uses watercolour, acrylic and glitter.”

And then there’s Parker Nicholas, 69, the show-stealer who has already scored a commitment of a solo show curated by Ramsaram in 2018, followed by an exhibit at White Columns in New York City. Parker specialises in crafting figures out of plywood or cedar that are nearly four feet tall. For this exhibit he constructed a crew of cedar dumbwaiters: one fancy sailor, one red nose flour bag sailor, and two seamen. “Parker used to be friends with Embah, I knew he did these dumbwaiters and I knew I needed something with another dimension for the show,” notes Ramsaram. “I wanted objects. So I asked him to do fancy sailors and don’t make them the same height. That’s all the information I gave him.” Ramsaram adds, “You can’t tell an artist what to do, you could say you’re having a show of sailors and they can submit work for it, and he did. And I liked it all.”

The exhibition “A Sailor is a Sailor is a Sailor” opened yesterday and will end on December 9 at The Frame Shop—A Space Inna Space Gallery located at the corner of Roberts & Carlos Streets in Woodbrook (opposite Brooklyn Bar).

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is expected to announce significant policy decisions at the People's National Movement's (PNM) 47th Annual Convention at the Queen’s Park Savannah today.

The convention will begin with a morning session, reserved only for delegates and party members and includes the adoption of reports and debate on resolutions.

During the morning session, close to 21 reports are expected to be tabled for the approval of the convention and four resolutions for adoption.

The afternoon session, which starts at 1 pm, will feature speeches from Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis who is expected to discuss the Government's Vision 2030 plans.

Rowley is expected to address the convention at around 3.30 pm.

The convention, which has the theme, Embracing The Future with Confidence: Stronger Together will begin registration at 8am for party members.

David Abdulah retains his position as political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) in the party's nominations for elections of national executive (2017-2020) held on Friday.

The entire team was unopposed, with no changes for the position of Chairperson, Gregory Fernandez; General Secretary, Ozzi Warwick; and International Relations Officer Clyde Callender.

Gregory Marchan, a member of the Elections Committee appointed by the Activist Council presided over the nomination process which took place at the MSJ Office, St Joseph Road, San Fernando.

The nominations opened at 9 am, closed at noon for lunch and reopened at 1 pm.

The nominations were officially closed at 4 pm The following people were nominated for the various constitutional positions:

Nominations For MSJ National Executive:

Chairperson—Gregory Fernandez

Political Leader—David Abdulah

Deputy Political Leader—Radhaka Gualbance

General Secretary—Ozzi Warwick

Assistant General Secretary—Charlene Tang

Treasurer—Franka James

Education Officer—Kevon Agostini

Election Officer—Ernesto Kesar

International Relation Officer—Clyde Callendar

Party Organizer—Theophilus Henry

Public Relations Officer—Alania Bachan

Social Services Officer—Melissa Aguillera-Grieg

The party intends to contest the 2020 general election.

Community activist Garth Christopher, who received a month's notice to vacate the North West Regional Health Authority's (NWRHA) premises on Dos Santos Street, Morvant, was on the sixth day of his hunger strike yesterday.

The lease to the premises expires today. When he was given the letter of eviction by head of the NWRHA, Acting CEO Anthony J Moore, Christopher said no reason was given for the move.

Christopher said the facility, which they use as a community centre, provides a safe heaven for all students in the area. He said Malick Secondary School students also use the facilities, which supports students involved in the arts and IT.

Christopher, the founder and president of Lemra (Laventille East Morvant Residents Association), which operates the Community Impact Complex at Dos Santos Street, said “I am on this hunger strike because I refused to support state-sponsored child abandonment which is being promoted and pursued by the Government.

“I am being persecuted because I am perceived as a UNC activist, which I'm not, and they want to see all the worth and value we're doing in the community be destroyed and I am from Mon Repos Road, Morvant.

“The PNM has been doing nothing for us for decades and it's a PNM stronghold and we decided as residents that this is too important to be left up to uncaring politicians. “

He said the former government had started construction of a Morvant Central Community Centre on Cipriani Street, but work had stopped on the project. Christopher said he was going to see his lawyer for him to intervene in the matter.

MP: They have good programmes

Adrian Leonce, MP for Laventille East/Morvant, said he had spoken to Christopher.

He said his main concern was that the facilities had a number of good programmes, he wanted to ensure that they continued and that it does not impact negatively on residents.

When Leonce was asked if the residents could use the St Francois Valley Road and Romain Lands Community Centre, formerly Misir Community Centre, which was just a five minutes drive further up the road, he said sometimes specific locations would be more convenient.

KEVON FELMINE

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Housing and Urban Development Minister Randall Mitchell says the former People's Partnership government delayed the distribution of hundreds of housing units in order to facilitate its "100 homes per week" campaign in 2015.

Speaking to reporters at a key distribution ceremony in Lisas Gardens, Couva, yesterday, Mitchell said contractors now have to replace housing fixtures that were vandalised or stolen from those developments.

"Under the former regime, what they did was they delayed the distribution of houses until close to the election where they could do this PR campaign of giving out 100 homes per week. So they would have given those out.Under this administration, as soon as they become available, we are distributing them. Under the previous regime, the delay in handing out those units until the end, close to the election, would have left those units opened to vandals and criminals to come and steal," Mitchell said.

While doing so, he said they had left several housing developments that were started prior to 2010 incomplete, resulting in higher construction cost for those units. Some developments that were left incomplete were Lake View, View Fort, Victoria Keys and Real Springs. However, he said that because the contracts were still in place, those projects were restarted. So far, some units at Lake View, Point Fortin were given out.

Mitchell said the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was seeking $500 million a year from the conversion of rent-to-own contracts in order to complete those developments.

He said that between 2015 and 2017, the rate of conversion of rent-to-own to mortgages would have earned the HDC close to $600m while there is approximately $2 billion to be generated.

However, the HDC is saddled with a debt to contractors, which hovers around $700 million.

"We are ramping up our mortgage conversion caravan so that we can get money as fast as possible to extinguish those debts and to construct more units."

Over the past year, the HDC completed four developments 0f 1,089 units and allocated 1,300 units with at least 500 more to be given out by the year's end. Mitchell said work has started on six new developments which are expected to yield 1,200 units. Yesterday, keys were given out for units in Exchange, Couva; Bon Air, Arouca; Corinth Hill, Ste Madeleine; Cypress Hill, San Fernando; Ridgewood Gardens, Golconda; Olera Heights, San Fernando; Pier View, La Brea; and Malick, Barataria.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert says if the Opposition does not support the effort to regulate the gambling industry, the interim tax measures could become permanent.

During the wind-up on the motion to confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order on Friday night, Imbert said Government only needed a simple majority to make the taxation changes.

He said the taxation was an interim measure and the Government was empowered to impose and raise revenue by way of taxation.

"If you want to make it a permanent measure, it will be if you don’t support the effort to regulate the gambling industry, get rid of money laundering, criminals and leakage of foreign exchange..." Imbert said.

He said the Gaming and Betting Control Bill 2017, which will go before a Joint Select Committee again soon, will look to protect minors and vulnerable people from being harmed from gambling, to prevent gambling from being a source of crime, to ensure consumer protection and provide for collection of taxes among other objectives.

"There is no relationship between the aims and objects of that bill and imposition of taxation as an interim measure."

Imbert said the Government had adjusted one of the measures in the order, removing the increase in taxes on gaming consoles after the people who used consoles made representations.

"We always listen. The people in the industry made representation and showed that video game consoles were captured in the taxation. We decided we did not want a situation where a child’s toy would be subjected to taxes so we took that out. We listen to sense. We listen to intelligence, but we don't listen to nonsense."

Taxes have implications on informal economy—

Couva North MP Rudranath Indarsingh says the closure of recreation clubs or gaming machines could impact the informal economy in communities.

During his contribution in Parliament on the motion to confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order on Friday night, Indarsingh said being familiar with his constituency of Couva South, he was aware that there were a number of recreation clubs.

"In addition to roulette machines, there are a number of amusement games which give a sense of life and growth to these places," Indarsingh said.

He said as a result, additional employment was created from the point of view of growth of the informal economy.

"If you go outside the bar you will see the oyster man and a small kitchen providing cutters and so on and that provides employment opportunities for single women and families financially challenged."

He said the imposition of $120,000 per annum on a small bar in Couva South had implications for employment and social implications for families.

"Think of the punitive impact of taxation which he outlined for this specific order."

Indarsingh said from where he was sitting, he had heard nothing new from the Government.

"I have heard nothing new as it relates to how these revenue generation measures will improve the standard of living or quality of life of citizens."

Deyalsingh

Within the last six months 49 people sought treatment for gambling addiction.

This was the information shared by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh as he read from a National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (Nadapp) report while speaking on the motion to confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order in Parliament on Friday night.

Deyalsingh said he got some statistics from Nadapp and said it was important to understand what addiction was doing to the country.

"In T&T there are self-help groups and treatment centres. One such group has reported that within the last six months in 2017, 49 people sought treatment for gambling addiction or problem gambling."

Deyalsingh said for everyone who came forward, there were probably 100 more who had a problem but would not come forward.

Deyalsingh said a further 23 people contacted the group via telephone, among them were two reported cases of attempted suicide as a result of gambling related problems.

He said the majority seeking treatment were males between the ages of 25 and 38 years. The 11 women who sought treatment were between the ages of 24 and 45.

He asked opposition members why they were so "hell-bent" on protecting owners.

Responding to Indarsingh's comments about casinos contributing to growth, Deyalsingh said that was not the type of growth he wanted to see in the country.

"The life and growth I want to see in communities is more people going to mandirs, mosques and church. I don’t want to see fathers and mothers going to gamble and then coming to MPs offices with their book list.

"This argument about community life and growth. I stood in absolute bewilderment and amazement that they are justifying this by saying people will turn to drink if you turn down the casino, but he doesn't know they ply you with free drinks. Now, when you run out of money in a local casino but they extend you a line of credit.

"Why are we protecting that?"

Robert Clarke, the author of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian’s “A Century of Excellence”, speaks about the labour of love in documenting the newspaper's 100-year milestone. The book, written by Clarke, a former journalist at the Guardian, is currently being sold in leading book stores nationwide. The T&T Guardian has witnessed much of this country’s history, including our Independence, hurricane Flora ravaging Tobago in 1963 and the 1990 attempted coup to name a few. Clarke told us exactly what the process entailed in condensing that century into 228 pages, and why people should bother to buy this book.

Q: What was the process like condensing 100 years of history into 228 pages?

A: It was definitely a painstaking process because first of all, the Guardian fire of April 1980 destroyed what was supposed to have been the best newspaper library in the Caribbean. There was information at that library dating back to 1917 but with that fire everything was gone. Now, all the Guardian newspapers before 1980 are essentially housed at the National Archives and they are bound in big folders and you have to go in there with latex gloves and go through them carefully, especially the early newspapers which are kind of falling apart. Some of them are crumbling and some of them are in such a bad condition they don’t want to lend them to you. There is also the Guardian library where there is a lot of the photography, where some of the great Guardian photographers like Rudy Taylor and Noel Saldenha were shooting with film. So that part was nice, finding some of those images. It was definitely an interesting process.

How did you decide on the structure for the book?

The book could have been written a half dozen different ways. Obviously people would have taken it from different angles. I have to say thank you to Lucio Mesquita, the managing director, because he had some idea about the form it should take. He wanted a section on plus ça change, how things changed over time but have remained the same. And it was interesting to look for those things as I was going along. So back in the 1940s people were complaining about the lack of creativity in Carnival, and it’s the same thing now with pretty mas and bikini and beads. So that was interesting. The book naturally evolved to a thematic structure and also a newspaper section structure rather than a chronological structure, so we did it by Sports, and Crime, and Politics. It evolved into a thematic structure as the material was coming across and we realised that the most interesting way to present it would be thematically rather than chronologically.

What stood out to you most as you sifted through all of this information?

There were a lot of stories that stood out to me in terms of the Guardian being connected to memorable national events. In sports for example, Mannie Dookie the barefoot runner was being sent off to the Empire Games by boat. This was back in the days when obviously our athletes were not travelling the world regularly, it was a serious endeavour to cross the Atlantic so the Guardian said it would sponsor Mannie Dookie and sent him off. So that was Guardian being connected to our national history very directly. I always knew him as the barefoot runner, what was interesting was when they got him to the Empire Games he did run without shoes one day but that was because he had corns on his feet not because it was his preference.

Then there was the story of aviator Mikey (Michael) Cipriani taking the first planeload of Guardian newspapers ever to Tobago. Obviously at the time Tobagonians had to wait for the newspaper to come by sea which would have taken a while. So for the first time ever Tobagonians were going to read the newspaper on the same day that it was printed, so Cipriani and his navigator got into their aircraft, they flew toward the Northern Range and they crashed (and died). The plane was found days later, the Guardian sent out a search party to look for him, and it was a huge national event. Cipriani was a popular person so the search for Cipriani was a huge event, but it was also intimately tied to the Guardian’s own history in its desire to expand its distribution and to make things more immediate.

A newspaper is a product that comes out daily, were there any days that the paper could not be printed?

There was the fire that knocked them down for months because they could not print for five or six months and they tried to broadcast a weekly news programme to keep, first of all, the reporters employed and also keep people interested in the product. There was also a walkout and a strike just prior to that in 1979 which kept them down for a while. Then there was the coup. The coup happened in Port-of-Spain, and for a couple days the papers did not come out.

Why should someone get this book?

I think they should pick it up as a historical document. This is a newspaper that has survived much longer than many institutions. As a company it is still here, it went through times when it could have been gone, in the 1920s and the 1930s financially they struggled greatly, so the newspaper has had its ups and downs.

The fact is there was a real, tangible product that was put out daily and was much anticipated by many people because it was at times their sole source of news, not that they did not have competitors but because the Guardian had survived and been around. I think it was looked to for what it provided. I think it is a very interesting document, it is a slice of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, if you knew nothing about Trinidad and Tobago it will be a very interesting place for you to start with newspapers being the first draft of history.

I think it was looked to for what it provided. I think it is a very interesting document, it is a slice of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, if you knew nothing about Trinidad and Tobago it will be a very interesting place for you to start with newspapers being the first draft of history.