kalifa.clyne@guardian.co.tt

Government should have made provisions so that taxation on the gaming industry could be used to establish a gambling anonymous centre.

This was the view shared on Friday night by MP for Cumuto-Manzanilla Christine Newallo-Hosein as she spoke on the motion to confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order in Parliament.

“If there is an addiction to gambling, taxation is not an option for helping an addict. You must provide an avenue for rehabilitation so the person does not return to that addiction,” Newallo-Hosein said.

“I heard the minister speak about social aspects and social fallout but nothing was put in place to bring people out of that addiction.

She said while Government had discussed addiction, they had not said how they would use any of these taxes to provide that kind of help.

“Internationally the private members club and casinos pay toward a fund that contribute to rehabilitation and I have heard nothing like that. The minister should have known places like Singapore does not allow for locals to gamble at all. It is only for tourists and foreigners and they only have two casinos.

“They took steps to deal with the root problem but I haven't heard anything like that. At the end of the day, we are asking the minister, you have all of the taxes but what do you have to deal with the fallouts that are happening?” Newallo-Hosein questioned.

She predicted with the tax-related changes, small casinos would go out of business and foreigners would come in to fill that void and may bring greater problems.

“I don't think the Government thought this out properly. And it is important they continue with the engagement with the JSC instead of coming with a motion short of ideas and short of solutions.”

Counselling for addiction already provided—minister

Contributing to debate on the motion, Social Development Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn responded directly to Newallo-Hosein’s comments, saying gambling addiction support services was already present as part under National Family Services.

“We provide counselling, treatment and rehabilitation at the Piparo Treatment Centre. There is no need for Government to say the taxes will be used for that because these systems already exist,” Crichlow-Cockburn said.

She said while the Government sought to diversify through tourism, she had to acknowledge that gaming was part of that whole tourism drive.

“We cannot put our heads in the sand and say we will not participate in gambling but it needs to be regulated and that is what we are trying to do with these taxes.”

KEVON FELMINE

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

With Christmas shoppers in south Trinidad facing the annual $20-$50 fare for a four-kilometre trip to the Gulf City Mall or the risk of being robbed by fake taxi drivers, the Public Transportation Service Corporation (PTSC) is providing a safer option.

The San Fernando Mall Bus Shuttle Service was introduced yesterday and offers commuters designated shuttles to and from the three major shopping complexes around San Fernando—Gulf City Mall, Gulf View; C3 Centre, Corinth and South Park, Tarouba.

Following a petition for the service by San Fernando East MP Randall Mitchell, the shuttle service was launched yesterday at the PTSC bus terminal at King's Wharf, San Fernando. The service will be available on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am to 7.50 pm at $3 a trip.

Mitchell said the establishment of South Park and the C3 Centre has provided more options for shopping, leisure and entertainment, which resulted in an influx of consumers into the city.

"About two months ago, I received the visit of a leading entrepreneur, Mr Carl Mack of the C3 Centre. Out of that meeting was borne the idea of a shuttle service that could service the C3 Centre as well as the other centres to minimise the traffic disruptions and to increase the availability of transport for patrons to visit these centres," Mitchell said.

San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello accused illegal PH taxi drivers of inflating fares during the Christmas season. He said out of 991 taxi drivers in San Fernando, approximately 327 were operating illegally.

Bus stops include the San Fernando terminus; Detours, High Street; Naparima/Mayaro Road, Cocoyea; and bus sheds along Lord Street, Royal Road and Mon Repos.

kalifa.clyne@guardian.co.tt

This country imported $32.7 billion in food—mainly fruits and vegetables, cereals, dairy and meat—between 2011 and 2016.

The high food import bill, which has been identified as a problem by successive governments, crossed $5 billion in 2012 and has stayed at around $5.6 billion in the past two years, despite economic challenges and complaints about access to foreign exchange.

While on multiple occasions Government has blamed citizens’ taste for foreign things for the high figure, citizens have expressed feelings that range from confusion over differentiating between local and foreign food products, and a complete apathy toward locally produced food because of what some described as “poor quality”.

At the same time, farmers said that over the past four years there has not been any clear direction on a policy by the Government to increase public consumption of local goods within the agriculture sector.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, in his few direct comments about the high import bill, noted that $669 million of the 2016 food import bill was from the importation of alcohol. However, while Rambharat stated the 2016 figure was $669 million, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) website lists the figure as $351 million.

The figure for 2015 was listed as $390 million and $369 million for 2014.

During the Senate debate of the fiscal 2018 Budget, Rambharat distanced himself from the high figure, stating that while media and citizens continued to raise questions about the food import bill, he was not the one bringing alcohol into the country.

Data compiled by the CSO showed that in 2016, vegetables and fruits accounted for approximately $1 billion of the food import bill. Cereal and cereal preparations also accounted for approximately $900 million during that same period.

From $4.7 B in 2011

to $5.6 B in 2016

For several years, governments have pushed a number of “buy local” campaigns, with the latest being the farm-to-table approach encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture and facilitated through farmer’s markets set up around the country.

Even though citizens are actively encouraged to purchase local food items, the food import bill rose from $4.7 billion in 2011 to $5.6 billion in 2015.

No response from Rambharat

Rambharat did not answer emailed questions regarding the food import bill and did not acknowledge or respond to multiple text messages. On October 10, this reporter emailed questions to Rambharat at his request, and sent several follow-up reminders of the email via text message on October 12 and October 31, and several phone calls between those dates. Rambharat did not respond to questions up to late yesterday.

No plan for agriculture—Sookoo

President of the Agricultural Society of T&T Dhano Sookoo said if there was a plan for the agriculture sector in this country, it has not been clearly communicated with farmers.

Sookoo, in an interview with the Guardian, said the Ministry of Agriculture had made no attempt in the past four years to either create or implement a policy that looked at import substitution.

Among the things the country imports are butter, spices, cocoa, fruit juices and preserved fruit, flour, rice, fish, cheese and meats.

Sookoo said the ministry should look at encouraging substitutions for the foods we do produce.

Potato salad could be made with sweet potato, or cassava flour used instead of imported brands.

“There is no action plan, no direction or anything.”

Sookoo said the AGTT had presented a programme of work, hosted a national farmers forum and identified areas they felt the ministry would focus but have seen no initiative by the ministry.

“There is absolutely nothing, no real conversation between the minister and farmers. Anybody can go and meet the stakeholders but how do you turn that into action. He (Rambharat) has not been able to implement anything where we have seen some sort of strategic direction.

Communications Manager at Angostura Holdings Limited Giselle La Ronde-West says the company will issue a response, following a statement by businessman Peter George Jr, where he called on the company to reopen an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations at the company.

On Friday, the businessman openly pledged to support activist group Fixin’ T&T’s call to remove its chairman Dr Rolph Balgobin, who was recently cleared of allegations of sexual harassment against him by a female executive at the company.

George Jr is the owner of the Trent Restaurant Group, which manages Trotters, Prime and Buzo restaurants.

In a letter sent to Waithe on Tuesday, George said after careful consideration of the facts and implications, Trent Restaurant Group “is joining the stand against sexual harassment in T&T and is fully prepared to revisit our relationship with Angostura brand products pending corrective and appropriate measures being taken”.

George said sexual harassment against women was an odious part of society “that we believe must be addressed frontally and aggressively”.

As an employer of over 250 women, George said “this is a matter that is of particular importance to us” which society should not continue to dismiss.

He said Angostura has the opportunity “to take strong leadership in addressing and confronting this scourge”, adding Angostura “should encourage and demand a thorough investigation of the claims against their chairman with the intention of not just ascertaining his innocence or guilt, but bringing the national spotlight on sexual harassment and hastening its demise”.

Waithe told the Guardian on Friday, that several other businesses had given a commitment to not support Angostura’s products.

“I take no pleasure in doing this. This is painful for me to do because Angostura is an indigenous brand of international repute, but it’s now being tarnished globally,” Waithe said.

Former transport minister Devant Maharaj has written the Integrity Commission calling for an investigation into the process by which the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the Manzanilla highway was approved by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

In a letter to the Integrity Commission's chairman Justice Zainool Hosein dated November 1, Maharaj claimed "the process for the CEC appears to be severely compromised and or short-circuited for reasons unknown".

"It appears to be a breakdown in terms of following proper established procedures to treat with the concerns of the technocrats of the EMA," he stated.

Maharaj said it appears that the "entire process was rushed through the system despite the objections of the EMA technocrats".

"As such the entire board of the EMA is in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act and should be held accountable for the said breach if foudn to be true and correct," Maharaj stated.

Maharaj also wrote the chairman of the the Parliament Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Land and Physical Infrastructure Independent Senator Stephen Creese on the same day requesting an investigation.

Maharaj claimed that the dismissal of Charmaine Lewis as the general manager of the Port Authority earlier this year following JSC has caused whistle-blowers at the EMA to become reluctant to come forward with their concerns about CEC.

Lewis was fired in October, weeks after appearing before the JSC chaired by Creese during its probe into the sea bridge.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said there was no political hand in Lewis' dismissal

During the sod turning ceremony in September, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that Kallco was awarded a $400 million contract to construct the first segment of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway extension to Manzanilla.

The highway extension is scheduled to be built in three phases.

The CEC for the project was granted on June 22.

Maharaj said it appeared as though the entire process was "rushed through the system despite the objections of the EMA technocrats".

Chairman of the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco) Herbert George says everything was done above board when Nidco applied for a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the Manzanilla highway extension.

George made the statement in response to former transport minister Devant Maharaj writing the Integrity Commission calling for a probe on the CEC.

The Sunday Guardian contacted George last night to get his comment on the situation.

"I have no comment on Mr Maharaj’s call to the Integrity Commission for an investigation into the CEC for the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway Extension to Manzanilla," George said.

"I guess that Mr Maharaj is exercising his right as a citizen, driven by a developed sense of propriety regarding the execution of public infrastructural development projects," he said.

However, George said that Nidco acted in compliance at every level.

"As Chairman of Nidco charged with the responsibility of managing and delivering the completed highway project, I can state with truth and confidence that we have acted in compliance with statutory approval procedures and have secured all relevant statutory approvals pursuant to construction of the highway," George stated.

"The CEC is one such approval, given by the EMA, subject to our having satisfied their requirements as stipulated in the EMA-issued terms of reference."

One of the issues the forensic audit currently being completed by Kroll Consulting Canada Co (Kroll) will seek to answer is why A&V Oil and Gas’ daily oil production fell by 65 per cent in a matter of two months.

A&V’s daily oil production fell from around 5,000 barrels of oil a day in June to just over 1,700 two months later, in August, according to the Monthly Production and Price Data in the Energy Sector report dated October 31, which was submitted to the Cabinet and reported in Thursday’s Business & Money magazine.

The sharp decline occurred without any significant increase in the number of rig days recorded.

The Sunday Guardian sought to get A&V’s owner Haniff Nazim Baksh to explain the drastic decline in his company’s oil production figures, but he did not respond to calls and text messages.

The significant drop in A&V’s oil production figures coincides with an internal audit report into Petrotrin dated August 17, which stated that because of a lack of due diligence Petrotrin’s oil production figures had been inflated.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar raised the issue in September labelling it a “fake oil” fiasco. A&V Oil and Gas is the main contributor of Petrotrin’s Incremental Production Service Contracts (IPSC).

n For 2016 the IPSC’s average oil production was 1,808 barrels of oil a day. Around 2015 the IPSC’s average oil production was 1,894 barrels daily.

n The average number of barrels of oil produced daily for the first six months of this year, however, is 3,826 which is more than twice the average of the previous two years.

The highest oil production for last year occurred in December 2016 when 2,411 barrels of oil were produced daily by the IPSC. Six months later, in June 2017, the IPSC was producing more than twice that amount.

n In June this year, the IPSC produced 5,664 barrels of oil a day.

n According to the most recent Monthly Production and Price Data in the Energy Sector report the IPSC produced 2,174 barrels of oil a day in August.

n A&V Oil and Gas Ltd contributed 1,744 barrels while Leni Gas and Oil Ltd and others accounted for 430.

There was not much difference in the number of rig days recorded for June and August.

In June, the IPSC recorded 28 rig days. In August, the IPSC recorded 24 rig days.

The Sunday Guardian reached out to Petrotrin’s corporate communications department for a response to the situation.

Kroll forensic investigation on audit to be delivered in November—Petrotrin

According to a release from Petrotrin which was sent to the media on Tuesday, the Kroll forensic investigation into the August 2017 internal audit report, which was carded to be delivered in October, will now be submitted with the next two weeks.

Kroll’s report will be submitted directly to Petrotrin Board’s Audit Committee when it is completed.

The Canadian company has so far completed all of the on-site work and are now engaged in the final stages of electronic data analysis.

Among the issues the Kroll report will include is the “identification of any relevant parties/entities from the standpoints of accountability and culpability and the identification of any systemic inadequacies or shortcomings which may have contributed to the findings”.

“Petrotrin’s Board is committed to ensuring transparency and good governance in all aspects of the company’s operations and anxiously awaits the submission of the report,” the release stated.

Hundreds of arriving passengers had to wait for several hours yesterday to be cleared by immigration as only two officers were on duty as several international flights touched down at Piarco International Airport.

Irate passengers were not aware of the reason for the delay and many vented their frustration on social media hoping to get relief.

The incident comes on the heels of last week’s call by the Public Services Association for Customs and Immigration officers to stay away from work for two days—Thursday and Friday—to protest against Government’s move to establish a Revenue Authority.

It was not clear whether yesterday’s short-staff at the airport was part of that protest action. President of the PSA Watson Duke could not be reached for comment.

The situation began to build around 2 pm, according to an at Airports Authority of T&T (AATT) employee, who was not authorised to speak to the media, and got worse after more international flights landed. One passenger said the lines backed up to the tarmac.

Additional staff was called out and the situation began to ease as more immigration officers reported for duty after 7 pm.

Officers from the Piarco Police Station were also called out to assist in controlling the situation as passengers vented their frustration.

Executive chairman of the Hadco Group, Robert Hadad, who was among the passengers affected, said that there was no place to sit and there was “nobody taking care of anybody,” when his flight landed.

In an interview with CNC3 News, he said his flight landed in Piarco on a Caribbean Airlines carrier from St Lucia and when he entered the immigration section of the airport, there was no more room to line up.

He the lines had spilled out to the doors and onto the tarmac.

He said there were people who did not know where to go and this added to the chaos.

“We lined up for half an hour in the visitor’s line and when I realised what was going on then we had to go over to the citizens’ line. There were hardly any security officers around there were hardly any immigration around, there was one immigration officer clearing everybody,” he said.

Hadad said there was nothing to eat or drink and people were in line waiting as long as four hours.

He said while he understood the need to protest, citizens should not be held to ransom.

Rudolph Hanamji, a passenger on one of the flights which landed around 2 pm, in an interview with CNC3 News, said when he entered the immigration section at 2.45 pm the line did not move much.

“There was one immigration officer in the citizens booth and another in the visitor’s booth. Two more officers were added in each section but this did not quell the problem, they were moving slowly,” he said.

Hanamji said he was in line for two hours, and that an announcement was made on the Public Address system that the Airports Authority was short-staffed and that it was trying to obtain additional staff.

He was coming from Toronto but other passengers came in from the UK and other Caribbean territories, he said.

Hanamji said he felt as though he was a prisoner in his own country. Looking around in the line, he said the chaos did not reflect well on T&T since there were visitors, people in wheelchairs and children.

Another passenger, Harris O’Reily, said other passengers started to shout and behave in an agitated manner. Others walked out of the line and sat along the walls in the immigration section because they were in the line for hours and had gotten weary.

O’Reily said he had never seen anything like it before, and that there was no one on duty.

He likened the number of people at the airport, to the number of people seen on the streets during Carnival. He said there was one immigration officer at the visitor counter and two at the local counter when he landed.

“There are people in wheelchairs, there are children and nobody is doing anything to help. Our flight landed and we met a ‘hell of a line’ on the ground. The line right now (at 2.45 pm) is right out on the tarmac, no one is doing anything.”

“There was one officer, for the last two hours and I just saw another officer who is helping people in wheelchairs.”

The Airports Authority confirmed that there were first three large flights which landed one after the next and another one was expected to land at 7 pm.

It also confirmed that around 2 pm one immigration officer was on duty and by about 4 pm three others were called out.

Among the carriers bringing passengers to T&T were JetBlue, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, WestJet and regional flights.

Caribbean Airlines in a statement said, “Like all airlines with arrivals into the Piarco International Airport this afternoon, some Caribbean Airlines arrivals were impacted by the queues in the immigration area. We continue to monitor the situation at this time.”

MINISTER PULLED FROM LINE—DEVANT

Former minister Devant Maharaj yesterday criticised the decision made to pull a Government Minister out of the back of the line and place him to the front.

In an interview with CNC3, Maharaj described the incident as vulgar and obscene.

“A Minister of government passed through the airport and paid no heed or mind to the hundreds of commuters who are suffering in the airport, but continued to go along his way.”

Meanwhile, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan when contacted said he was aware of the situation and was working with the Minister of National Security to sort out the issue.

Repeated attempts to contact and two messages sent to the National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, who had earlier attended the PNM’s Convention, in Port-of-Spain, were not answered. Immigration officers fall under the Ministry of National Security.

Bring your platform blueprints and come.

That’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s invitation to BP, seeking to have the company build its Cassia oil drilling platform in La Brea.

It will be T&T’s second bid for such a project with BP after losing out previously on BP’s Juniper platform.

Rowley spoke about the effort in a wide-ranging address at yesterday’s 47th PNM convention at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Rowley reiterated T&T’s tough economic circumstances, Government’s remedies and progress — rallying PNMites to deal with the situation.

Among potential areas to tap into, Rowley said Government is in close contact with BP “where we’re engaged in hopeful discussions that we can compete successfully and win the bid to build the Cassia platform in La Brea.”

“There are many benefits to be had for our local skilled people. So we say to BP and to the fledgeling Guyanese oil industry also: bring your platform blueprints and come, we have the skills to build them here.”

On criticisms of Government’s 12.5 per cent royalty on gas, Rowley also said, “In my discussions with BP I’ve said to that company’s leadership, ‘you’re doing a good job in T&T to the satisfaction of your shareholders, but I as Prime Minister, have shareholders too — the people of T&T.”

“They’re the original owners of the resource. They too need to be satisfied and it cannot be that whilst the grass is growing, the horse is starving.”

Rowley said Government is seeing positive indicators in the slowing of the retrenchment rate.

“This, where we’ve received notices of 1,134 persons to be retrenched over the period January 2017 to September 2017 compared to 2,384 persons for the same period in 2016.”

“For the period September 2015 to September 2017, we’ve received to date notices of 4,829 persons to be retrenched. Against this background, we see a progressive decline in the unemployment rate from 4.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2016 to 4.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2016 and then to 3.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016.”

Rowley said Government’s 10-point plan to deal with the economic situation includes “preserving as many public sector job opportunities as the new circumstances can sustain and encourage private sector job expansion.”

He said a recent study on the tax gap showed the corporate tax gap to be between TT$5.1 B and TT$6.6 B and the VAT gap between $1.9 B and TT$ 2.4 B. “There’s uncollected tax of between $7.0 B and $9.0 B.”

“What T&T needs is a better, more efficient, tax collection/enforcement system. Take careful note of who has a problem with that - who is saying ‘leave it so’- if they’re in the corporate or well-off sector,” he said.

Rowley said the Port Authority is expected to provide an additional passenger ferry on the route very soon.

“This vessel with additional capacity and more reliable sailings will go a long way towards eliminating hardships associated with this service. For Tobagonians, particularly, the end of the inconveniences and disappointments is near,” he said.

COMMUNICATION WEAKNESS TO BE ADDRESSED —ROWLEY

We’ll be closer to you.”

That assurance came from Prime Minister Keith Rowley yesterday in response to claims of neglect from party foot soldiers.Earlier in PNM’s convention, several delegates called for attention to be paid to PNM

members, for Government officials, MPs to be more available and for party weaknesses - including outreach - to be rectified.

“Suffice to say we shall be in closer communication with you so when the time comes, you’ll be in a position not only to be aware of the tremendous strides which we’re making but you’ll be fortified to defend your party,” he said.

“We’re grateful for your patience and understanding in not having lived up in areas where perhaps your demands may have been higher than the delivery could have afforded. But given the circumstances, we believe that we’ve done much more than reasonably well.”

Rowley said draft legislation for Tobago’s self-government is in final stages before reaching Cabinet. It will be tabled before Parliament “imminently and from there will move expeditiously to the Law Reform Commission.”

Adding that PNM’s next convention will be held in Tobago, he said, “Hopefully then, we’d be in a position to tell Tobagonians that Parliament has acted on their ambitions.” Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis also presented aspects of Government’s 2030 plan.

A Chaguanas police officer remains warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday after he was shot by an unknown assailant at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas.

A report said around 2 am, the officer only identified as PC Maraj was shot in the back while responding to a report of an intruder on a resident’s premises.

The bullet struck the officer’s bullet-proof vest, investigators said.

Police said Maraj and another officer were searching the area when a man opened fire on them from behind.

The officers returned fire and Maraj was injured.

The suspect fled the scene on foot and was not found by the police. 

Members of the T&T Regiment, Coast Guard, Fire, Police and other arms of security personnel turned out in their numbers yesterday for the National Day of Remembrance at Memorial Park in Port-of-Spain.

Scores of people turned out to witness the event.

The event is held annually to honour all who served as well as, in memory of those who fell in World War I and World War II. A similar ceremony was held in Tobago.

Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 and observed by countries in the British Commonwealth.

Traffic near Memorial Park was diverted for the duration of the ceremony which was not attended by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. The Prime Minister’s wife Sharon Rowley was present and laid a wreath on the cenotaph.

President Anthony Carmona was the first to lay a wreath at 11.10 am.

Before the wreath-laying ceremony took place, the military parade marched into Memorial Park at 11 am where there was a two-minute silence in observance of those lost as a result of World Wars I and II. The red poppy was worn by all who attended the event.

ABOUT REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembrance Sunday is observed on the second Sunday in November, which is nearest to November 11 and is also known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day.

Poppies are worn on the occasion to honour and pay tribute to the fallen during World Wars I and II, respectively, from 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945 and other conflicts. During the First World War, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare.

In many parts of the world, people observe two minutes of silence at 11 am on November 11. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the signing of the Armistice, on November 11, 1918, to signal the end of World War 1.

Police are urging motorists to equip their vehicles with security tracking devices after yet another robbery.

This time a Couva man was held up and robbed of his $185,000 Mazda BT-50 pick-up while urinating on the shoulder of the Solomon Hochoy Highway on Friday night.

Within the past two weeks in the Southern Division, seven motor vehicles have been stolen, including one on Saturday night at Gulf City Mall, La Romaine.

Motor vehicle larcenies around San Fernando had decreased earlier this year when key players of a robbery gang were arrested. Confirming the robberies yesterday, Insp Don Gajadhar said there was a need for people to arm their vehicles with alarm systems, GPS and kill switches in order to prevent theft.

A report stated that around 9.40 pm Friday, the 60-year-old victim was driving along the highway.

On reaching the Debe interchange, he stopped on the shoulder and exited his vehicle. While urinating, a white Nissan sedan pulled up and an occupant came out and robbed him of his pick-up. He reported the incident to police but his vehicle was yet to be found up to yesterday.

Gajadhar said Nissan’s Almera, Sunny B-14 and Sunny B-13 were preferred by car thieves. He said some of the recently stolen cars were recovered in Diego Martin, Santa Cruz and parts of East Trinidad. He added that a Northern Division team led by Insp Joseph was instrumental in retrieving some of these stolen vehicles.

“We continuously see people go into shops to play lotto or stop to buy doubles and leave their vehicles idling. When they do this, they give criminals an opportunity. The criminals might be passing and watching movement, especially in this season so motorists need to be careful,” Gajadhar said.

One dead, one injured in El Socorro shooting

A 25-year-old man was shot dead and another man wounded after being shot at Persad Lane, El Socorro, on Saturday night.

Antonio De Roche was shot multiple times and died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Another man, who was not identified, remains warded in critical condition at the hospital, police said.

A report said around 9.30 pm, De Roche and another man were liming on the street when a gunman walked up to them and opened fire. Both men were shot multiple times and the injured men were taken to the hospital. Investigators said they have no motive for the shooting.

Grenade found in Enterprise

Police are trying to determine the source a grenade which was found at an abandoned house at Crown Trace, Chaguanas on Friday.

Officers of the Special Patrol Unit, who received a tip-off, found the grenade after they searched an abandoned building.

Investigators said the grenade was found wrapped in some plastic bags and garbage.

No one was arrested in connection with the find.

Congress of the People chairman Jamieson Bahadur said yesterday attempts had been made by members of the party to bring in former chairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith without his consent.

Bahadur was speaking to the media at COP Operation’s Centre in Charlieville yesterday.

“I want to tell you as chairman of the party we got together with the National Executive and set aside a day for Nicole to be interviewed by the executive members and to present it before the National Council and decide whether we would accept her back into the party,” he said.

He said Dyer-Griffith did not attend the meeting but sent a letter through an attorney saying she did not recognise him as the bona fide chairman and refused to attend.

“She refused to come and we were going to try and talk and interview her and she refused and sent a legal letter. She didn’t come and she didn’t say. She said she did not recognise me as a bona fide chairman,” he said.

He said Dyer-Griffith would not be a candidate for the upcoming elections next week Sunday nor was she a member of the COP.

“They (members) had a meeting where I was present where we decided to bring back Nicole and others into the party. They were talking about back-dating the membership. I did not agree to that. That is why I was left out of the meeting. I told them I am not supporting that. You must be a member for six months before you can run for an office or vote. That was clear in the constitution. I was not going to stand for that,” he said.

Bahadur said the three members who met Dyer-Griffith in March resigned in August.

“I am the chairman and I was left out. I was left out of that meeting when they decided to interview Ms Dyer-Griffith and take her back into the party. She was never a member. When she resigned from the party she was supposed to send a letter to rejoin the party as well as a letter from the party she served before stating that she resigned from that party. We got nothing,” he said.

He said nominations for a political candidate was opened so members could put their hats in the ring as political leader.

“Only two people filed their nomination papers and they are the only two people vying as political candidate,” he said.

Bahadur said COP members could vote at the nearest polling station in their district.

He said the party has a membership of 40,000 people and did not see a decline in membership over the issue.

In September, Justice Ricky Rahim ruled on an application in the High Court brought that the election be postponed to a date to be fixed by the National Council pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the COP.

He also said that all constitutionally elected officers who were elected at the last COP National Executive election shall meet on or before September 4. The election had been scheduled for July 9, but was postponed after a legal challenge was made questioning the validity of some members, including Dyer-Griffith.

The London-based Commonwealth War Graves Commission says as part of its mission it intends to give new life to the stories of those who served and died during the two World Wars.

Peter Francis, spokesperson for the Commission said: “One of the things the commission is determined to do is to engage the next generation on the importance of ongoing remembrance and the stories of those who served.”

“Too often people forget that the two World Wars were global wars and the contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women of the Caribbean must also be remembered.

“We have just launched a Foundation to encourage the public to find and tell the stories of those who served, to put a human face to the names engraved on our war memorials, so that our next generation can better understand the impact of the war on our communities,” he said.

The Commission honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars and ensures they will never be forgotten.

The commission’s work commemorates the war dead, from building and maintaining its cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries to the preservation of its extensive records and archives.

Since its establishment by Royal Charter, the commission had constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erected headstones over graves and where the remains were missing, inscribed the names of the dead on permanent memorials. More than a million burials are now commemorated at military and civil sites in some 150 countries.

In Trinidad, the St James Military Cemetery, at Long Circular Road, is maintained by the Defence Force.

The cenotaph at Memorial Park falls within the ambit of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation.

The late Justice Ulric Cross, who was a Royal Air Force navigator chose Memorial Park for his final farewell and memorial service on October 11, 2013, recognising that the cenotaph and the park itself honoured people like himself who served and died in World Wars I and II.

Retired Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Rodney Smart said since the TTDF was formed, it was not only a tradition but the duty of one of the officers in the Defence Force to be appointed Officer in Charge (OIC) of war graves.

He said families went to the cemetery and lit candles for All Souls and All Saints for the war dead.

It has become customary for many politicians to greet citizens with smiles at their home during an election campaign but become scarce after they’ve won their posts.

This behaviour must change, said Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, who received a special award at the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) Civic Reception and Awards Ceremony at the City Hall auditorium on Saturday night.

Hosein, the City’s former mayor was recognised as a resident whose work in politics uplifted San Fernando through beautification projects, environmental clean-ups and the establishment of a homeless shelter.

As a Minister, he promoted volunteerism networks, a charity drive for disaster relief for Haiti and the national clean-up campaign.

It was this kind of action that current Mayor Junia Regrello said must be emulated by all local government representatives. However, Hosein’s call for change was for all involved in politics.

“For far too long, I have been seeing people being nice in the last two weeks before a general election or a local government election. When they get into office, they’re not answering their phone, they winding up their (vehicle) glass so they can’t see them. We must not be corrupt, we must be fair, honest and humble in all our undertakings,” Hosein said.

He recalled that during his time as mayor, he was criticised by a radio talk show host when the council passed a by-law to prohibit feeding the homeless while on the street.

The host said then, that Hosein wanted to lock up people for feeding the homeless. However, he clarified that his intention was to bring dignity to the homeless and ask charitable people to donate the food to the homeless shelter. Once the homeless found food at the shelter, they would have moved from the street where they were at greater risk of injury and illness.

It was for this reason he called on Regrello to return the San Fernando Centre of the Socially Displaced to the purview of the corporation. The centre was launched and handed over to an NGO, however, it has not been operating since it was launched earlier this year, due to infrastructural problems.

Other awardees included veteran comedian Tommy Joseph, cultural activist Lucy Margaret Regis, auditorium supervisor Corinne Cowie-Straker, Karamath’s Roti Shop, businessman Simeon Stanislaus, Pan Elders and Carat Shed owner Allen Campbell.

San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello says mas makers must now take their mas to the people in order to boost Carnival in the southern city.

Regrello spoke at the launch of San Fernando Carnival on Saturday night, which was held at Rising Star Restaurant and Hookah Lounge.

He said masqueraders were no longer going to the mas camps, therefore the onus was on the mas makers to attract potential masqueraders.

One option was to visit the clubs and parties to show what they have to offers in terms of costumes and prices.

Regrello said the given the lack of financial resources for hosting events, the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) decided to partner with the restaurant to launch Carnival.

He said the venue was free while the music and patrons were already there.

He said while it saved money for the City, it also brought in cash and promotion for the business. He said it was a model that the corporation may adopt from now on.

Although Port-of-Spain has been touted as the mecca of Carnival, he urged locals to stay in San Fernando, saying that it was a celebration like no other.

The launch included a parade of costumes and well as traditional mas characters.

The ruling PNM needs to pay more attention to foot soldiers who feel alienated and Government Ministers, MPs and Senators need to make themselves more available, says PNM Laventille West delegate Wayne Griffith.

Griffith’s complaint came during yesterday’s PNM convention at the Queen’s Park Savannah. His observation received the longest, loudest applause during the morning session of the all-day event.

The theme of the 47th convention was “Embracing the Future with Confidence - Stronger Together.”

PNM chairman Franklin Khan opened the convention saying the PNM was in office just over two years in very challenging times. Detailing issues which PNM met in 2015 and how Government stabilised it, Khan added.

“In the challenging times, Government needs the unswerving support of the party. You have to support and stand behind our Prime Minister and party...through thick and thin. The current alternative is chaos and corruption...despite what detractors say, I know PNM is always red and ready,” he said.

However, calls for PNM’s executive, Government arms and party organs to improve operations, weaknesses and communication outreach was a majority theme among report submissions from delegates from constituencies all over T&T.

In that segment, Laventille’s Griffith called for attention to the relationship and lack of reporting between PNM, MPs, Senators and the Cabinet and the party’s base. More attention needs to be paid to PNM’s foot soldiers who feel alienated and only needed at election times while attention also needs to be paid to constituencies, he added.

“We need to bridge that gap - Ministers, MPs and Senators need to make themselves more available,” he said to rousing applause.

The Government also urgently needs to address the unemployment situation and constituency leaderships, Griffith said.He said a level of discrimination is perceived in the labour market concerning criteria for

Government contracts especially in the construction sector where small contractors and procurement requirements are concerned. He said big contractors who give smaller ones work, keep the bulk of the money for themselves.

Griffith called for urgent attention to East Port-of-Spain infrastructure which he said has been lacking since People’s Partnership (PP) days. But Griffith commended Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Finance Minister Colm Imbert for prudent economic management preventing job loss and maintaining stability.

Saying tough times require tough measures, Griffith urged colleagues, “Brother and sisters be strong. Don’t be ungrateful, let’s continue to support PNM, never give up on your team.”

Fyzabad delegate Wayne Wood said better analysis was needed to gauge members’ mood.

PNM Women’s League delegate Onika Haynes noting convention theme of PNM “being stronger”, said a chain is as strong as the weakest link. She said yesterday was an opportunity to strengthen links.

Haynes said some PNM committees need to do more work and the party’s school needs to be launched.Reminding PNMites of PP personalities, she urged, “PNM people, close ranks, strengthen the weak links and support the Prime Minister and MPs — strengthen the weaknesses and ensure we return to office for a long, long, long time.”

Delegate Vanessa Ford (POS North) said PNM’s Public Relations officer (POS North MP Stuart Young) “continues to fail to meet expectations” and needs more help. Delegate Colin Rodney said clear distinction needs to be made between party and Government’s PR strategy.

Arima delegate Cagney Cassimire suggested Women’s and Youth leagues assist in conveying party messages. Youth League delegate Wayne Inniss called for opportunities for youth to contribute to the party.

SOCIAL MEDIA FOCUS FOR NEXT ELECTION—PM

The next election will be fought on the basis of social media, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said yesterday.

Rowley intervened in the discussion on a proposal for PNM to have a social media officer at party executive level and in each constituency. It was among resolutions to be passed. While some supported it, one delegate said he supported it for constituency level only since having a social media officer on the executive appeared to duplicate the job of PNM’s Public Relations Officer.

Rowley, however, voiced support for the social media officer, indicating there was a need for it and the party needed to keep up with processes especially since the next election will be “fought on the basis of social media.”

The resolution was passed. Elections ahead from 2019, include Local Government and Tobago House of Assembly polls, then 2020 general election.

PNM chairman Franklin Khan, in an indirect reference to UNC’s internal elections, said the PNM doesn’t mind if people contest party elections since competition is good for democracy.

“Anyone can contest any post in PNM from political leader to the election officer. It’s expected people will contest and we realise there’ll be competition - but when the election is over we’re united. PNM is one family,” he said.

Fyzabad delegate Wayne Wood complained there was no report on a recent matter referred to PNM’s investigation team. It was obvious an reference to the issue concerning suspended member Harry Ragoonanan. Khan said one matter went to the team and is under probe, hence no report yet.

The two contenders seeking to be the next leader of the Congress of the People yesterday shared their views on rebuilding the party and its relationship with other political entities.

It was evident that Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and Sharon Gopaul-McNicol had divergent views during a meet and greet the media at COP Operations Centre, Charlieville.

The Congress of the People will hold elections for a political leader for the term 2017-2020 on November 19.

The two candidates had a difference of opinion on receiving an endorsement from their peers and forming a possible coalition with other parties.

Gopaul-McNicol said the membership would determine if they wanted a coalition and the advantages and disadvantages of going back to a coalition. The COP was one of the five parties which formed the People’s Partnership in the run-up to the 2010 general election.

“The coalition concept did not crystallise to one of equal respect,” she said in referring to the 2010 elections.

“It did not, the COP was somehow morphed under the United National Congress. The concept of a coalition was not one of equality and as soon as you start with this junior/senior partner nonsense,” she said.

She said a coalition has been proven to be effective but it was not effective in their party’s last efforts.

“The architects behind it did not know what it is supposed to be. There is no such thing as a junior partner and a senior partner. This is not a law firm,” she said.

Seepersad-Bachan said her first priority was to rebuild the COP, according to the foundation principles.

She said her focus would be on people who want good governance. And rejected the idea of political polarisation where competent people must be dispensed because of their political allegiance.

Asked about the party’s founder Winston Dookeran’s endorsement of candidates, Seepersad-Bachan said; “In July, Mr Dookeran contacted me and I spoke to him about running as political leader and he was complimentary and he was happy that I took the decision and he was happy that I decided to go forward.”

However, Gopaul-McNicol said she did not seek endorsement from those at the top.

“Again the ground-up model, I never, never called anybody from powerful standing to ask for an endorsement. I sought endorsement from those at the bottom. If anyone at the top endorsed me they are treated no different from those at the bottom. I believe that is a serious mistake,” she said.

Gopaul-McNicol said nearly every political party was formulated with a top-down system of governance.

She said she subscribed to the “ground-up model.”

“I have an entire training manual and book into the ground-up system which has gained traction up the islands and seen a tremendous gain in controlling crime,” she said.

Seepersad-Bachan said anything could be pulled out of a textbook but it all boils down to good governance and facing challenges.

“The challenges we face in our country today deals with good governance. We can speak to all different types of leadership and textbook concepts but the bottom line is our country is faced with a governance crisis. If we are to come out of the crisis we have to ensure sure all our citizens can participate. If we are to look at economic development and innovation, we need to bring our people together and unify,” she said.

Chairman of the COP Jamieson Bahadur said the COP was alive and kicking.

“You have my assurance on that. Certain things happened in the National Council meeting today where we had the chairman of the electoral committee talking about the number of religious schools supporting us for the polling stations,” he said.

He said the COP received support from the Muslims, Hindus, Presbyterian and Catholic schools and thanked them for being able to use them as a polling station next weekend.

POLLING STATIONS ARE:

• Tunapuna Hindu School
• Freeport Hindu School
• Don Miguel Hindu School
• KP Hindu School
• Happy Hill Hindu School
• Charlieville Presbyterian
• Guaico Presbyterian in Sangre Grande
• Arima Boys’ RC
• Diamond Vale Community Centre
• La Seiva RC School
• ASJA Boys’ College San Fernando
• Point Fortin ASJA Primary
• Siparia Road KPA School
• St James Preschool.

Two property developers have lost their final appeal against an investment company over an unpaid $18.9 million loan for an upscale real estate project in hills of Champs Fleurs.

In a 25-page judgment handed down on Thursday, five Law Lords of the Privy Council rejected two parallel appeals filed by David and Leonara Deslauriers against Guardian Asset Management Limited (GAM).

While the couple admitted to owing the company the money plus interest, currently calculated at $36 million, they claimed GAM’s failure to lend them additional money to complete the Hevron Heights Towers project at Mendez Drive, Champs Fleurs, in 2009, resulted in $25 million in losses.

The Deslauriers claimed the company failed to inform them that it could not lend further money as it had a lending limit, unlike other financial institutions.

They also claimed they could not approach their previous lenders Republic Bank for additional funding as they had ended their relationship with them to get the loan from GAM.

The judges agreed with High Court Judge Ricky Rahim and the Court of Appeal who had ruled that GAM did not misrepresent its position to the couple.

They said while the company did not tell the couple of the lending limit, it was not required to as the couple did not indicate that they would require further funding while negotiating the loan.

“If the possibility of application to GAM for additional loans for the rest of the development was not raised, then the lending limits which affected GAM were simply irrelevant, there was no occasion to disclose them and whatever it said in the conversation about banks cannot amount to a materially partial or misleading statement,” the judges said.

In the second limb of the appeal, the Deslauriers challenged the local’s court’s decision to allow GAM to sell the family’s property at Victoria Square in Port-of-Spain to repay the outstanding money.

The couple claimed they could not as the property was put in a trust for their two children.

However, the court ruled that this was not a defence as the couple took no steps to transfer legal title to the property to the children to be held in trust.

The couple suggested that the company could sell the incomplete project, which was held on mortgage for the loan. They claimed the unfinished project was more valuable than the Victoria Square property. This contention was also rejected by the judges, who questioned the viability of the proposition.

The judges said the couple’s $77 million valuation for the unfinished development was inflated as it did not consider that potential buyers who made deposits on units would have to be repaid.

“Taken together, this evidence demonstrates to the board’s satisfaction that, far from constituting an asset available for early realisation in an amount more than sufficient to pay the judgement debt and accruing interest, Hevron Heights represented an asset with a very uncertain timetable for sale, and with real doubts as to whether the net proceeds of realisation would, in fact, repay the judgement debt and accruing interest in full,” the judges said.

The couple was represented by Peter Knox, QC, and Ian Benjamin, while Gavin Kealey, QC represented GAM.

A Sangre Grande businessman has been granted permission to sue acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams for failing to respond to his request for a variation of his Firearm Users’ Licence (FUL) for over two years.

High Court Judge Frank Seepersad on Friday granted Khansaran Sarran permission to pursue his judicial review claim against Williams.

In his lawsuit, Sarran claimed that he was first granted a FUL for a shotgun in 2002 but applied for the licence to be varied to allow him to carry a pistol in July 2015.

“Owing to the disconcerting crime endemic and a previous threat to both my personal life and business operation, I feel compelled to vary my FUL so as to acquire a pistol,” Sarran stated in his affidavit.

He claimed that despite making several inquiries to Williams’ office, he received no communication as to whether or not it had been approved.

Sarran is seeking a declaration that Williams failed in his obligations under the Firearms Act by taking an unreasonable and inordinate period to consider the application and provide a response. He is also seeking an order compelling Williams to and decide on the application.

In addition to the lawsuit, Sarran has threatened to lodge an appeal with the Firearms Appeal Board, which reviews applications for FULs which are rejected by the Police Commissioner.

Sarran is being represented by Jagdeo Singh, Dinesh Rambally, Kiel Tacklalsingh and Lana Lakhan.

The case will come up for a hearing next on December 12.