“We must look very carefully at that period,” he said. The minister, speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, also said the index is a “perception”, alluding to elements of subjectivity. Otherwise Young assured the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, by citing measures such as whistle-blower legislation, the Public Procurement Act and certain right-to-audit provisions for bodies receiving public funds.

“This Government has been working assiduously.”

The victim was reported missing on Sunday.

An autopsy performed at the Forensics Science Centre in St James yesterday revealed that Ramlal was shot once to the back of the head. His father confirmed the identity of the body yesterday via the clothing. Speaking to reporters, attorney Ramlal lamented that no one is safe from the criminal elements terrorising this country and holding law-abiding citizens to ransom. “Crime has risen astronomically over the past 20 years and it continues to spiral out of control,” he said.

“It has always been worrying to me because I live in this society too. But when it hits home, it tells you in a different way that it has gone beyond the stage with which no citizen could feel comfortable.

No one is free from the risk of the criminal elements.” Ramlal left his family’s home in Couva on Sunday last at about 1 am. When he did not return over 12 hours later, relatives became worried and his father made a report to the Couva Police Station. Richard was last seen wearing a dark coloured jersey, a three-quarter pants and a pair of Puma sneakers.

On Tuesday, police officers discovered his body in a shallow tributary in Woodland. Ramlal yesterday revealed that his son had been working with him as a law clerk, while studying for his law degree. Ramlal, a former student of Naparima College, was also a national youth cricketer and member of the Miracle Ministries Pentecostal Church. He was also an active member of the New Wave Gym.

Ramlal said he did not know of any altercations or incidents which occurred prior to his disappearance on Sunday last that would have led to his death. Richard’s death brings the murder toll to 46 for this year. His killer remains at large.

‘JOHN DOE’ RIDDLED Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified man was found riddled with bullets behind a house in Snake Valley Road, Belmont shortly after 11 am yesterday.

Residents told police that at 3.30 pm on Tuesday they were alerted to gunshots but paid no attention to it as gunshots are the norm in Belmont. Yesterday at 11 am, residents spied what looked like a body behind a house and contacted the police.

Officers found no form of identification on the man’s body which was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. So far, Northern Division has the highest number of murders in the nine police divisions that the country is divided into. Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams has opted to take a personal interest in working with officers in Northern Division to try and bring crime and murders.

ANOTHER BODY In another case, the body of man was yesterday found in the nation’s capital, Port-of-Spain.

Police have only been able to identify the man as ‘Lorenzo’ from St James. Newsday understands that yesterday at 1 am, residents of Clifton Hill, Port-of-Spain were awakened by the sound of gunshots.

The frightened residents opted to stay inside their homes, rather than investigate. However, a call was made to the police.

Officers arrived, made checks, found nothing untoward and left.

At 7 am yesterday, a passer-by found the man’s body lying face down in a drain at the side of the road. The police were again called in and the body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James

A release from the TT Inter-island Company Limited said that on Wednesday January 25, the TT Express set sail from the Port of Scarborough as scheduled at 12 noon. Within 45 minutes of the sailing, a passenger began to feel unwell and the vessel had to return to the Port of Scarborough.

The release said, “The passenger became unresponsive during the return journey and had to receive medical attention from the crew until the vessel arrived in port, when he was taken to the Scarborough Hospital by the ambulance.” He was later pronounced dead at the Scarborough Hospital. Due to this medical emergency the vessel was delayed and resumed sailing to Port-of-Spain at 2.05 pm and was expected to return to Scarboriough at about 5.35 pm.

“It is of grave concern to us, and indeed to many, that the Attorney General would force a simple majority through subterfuge: removing the preamble so that the Bill could be passed in the Senate. This is high-handed and makes a mockery of the democratic process. A guardian of constitutional rights must demonstrate a considered sensitivity to the needs of diverse religious groups that make up this multi-religious society,” he said.

He contended that the movement to change the marriageable age to 18 comes with a damning subtext — “that the Hindu community has been in the perverse habit of paedophilia, which has only now come to light of day.” “We reject any such insinuations.

There was a time when the very law that is now being flounced about, could not rescue us from the colonial masters who insisted that Hindu marriages were not legal, and our children were illegitimate.

Back then we relied on our religion for upholding the sanctity of our marriages. It was what helped us stay whole as a people in the face of legal non-recognition,” Maharaj said, adding: “Today, the Attorney General, guardian of constitutional rights, seems to be telling us that marriage is not a religious issue, but merely a legal one. Indeed, tables have turned, but the Hindu community is prepared to counter any suggestions of who we ought to be from persons outside the community.” He said the Maha Sabha takes umbrage at the idea that the religious (marital) rights of a Hindu which are constitutionally guaranteed “are being so flippantly reduced to a social evil that must be exterminated.” He also said they are not convinced that the statistics (produced by the AG) have been rolled out in a consistent or precise manner.

“Conflating issues of abortion, pregnancies and early marriage muddles the picture. As such it has become difficult to reliably present trending social norms within the various communities,” he explained. He also stated that the Maha Sabha “has never promoted child marriage.” Maharaj said “the AG and others have disingenuously used the emotive term ‘child marriage’ to evoke images of paedophilia and prepubescent sexual activity.” He also expressed concern about consultation on the issue. “Finally, the conduct of this consultation exercise by the AG worries us deeply.

We consider that for many reasons the Government’s legal agenda was a foregone conclusion, and consultation amongst the interested groups was merely a farce. Many of the concerns raised were, in the end, not properly considered,” he said.

Maharaj stressed that the Maha Sabha does not promote marriage of people at a young age. “In fact, it is a well documented that our flagship cause is promoting education up to and beyond secondary level.

As such, it would indeed be contradictory for us to promote marriage during the teenage years,” he said.

In explaining the reasons that the Maha Sabha is opposed to discarding the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, he pointed out that one of the Romeo Clauses of the Sexual Offences Act accepts that a consenting male person of 17 and a consenting female of 14 may not be guilty of a sexual offence. “In other words, the law sees this kind of sexual behaviour as a plausible and normal situation, and not deserving of punishment. It naturally follows that girls as young as 14 may become pregnant. What happens next,” he asked rhetorically.

According to Sinaswee-Gervis, these sums were based on a 2008 rate, adding,“We are going out shortly to tender and we expect that (the security bill) would be higher for 2017. “ The expenditure covered government secondary and primary schools, some early childhood centres, and the ministry’s buildings at various locations.

Sinaswee-Gervais said that the 2015 budgetary allocation was actually $185.7 million, but the expenditure was $172.4 million.

In 2014, the allocation was $165.8 million, and the expenditure was $165.7 million.

The MTS and a variety of companies provide security for the Ministry..

Noting that the security costs were very high, PAC member Senator Dr Lester Henry asked if the ministry was doing anything to reduce it.

Sinaswee-Gervais said that due to the number of thefts and losses by districts, it would be difficult to reduce the security bill, particularly in some communities.

“We have a different environment, and the community to deal with it now,” she said. “It is difficult to say that we could find a way to reduce this bill.” In terms of the service the police service provides in protecting schools, she said there were links with community police who would visit schools to mentor students on safety and security issues. Some schools also have police youth clubs.

Meanwhile, on concerns expressed about the great deal of expenditure to replace furniture at schools, Sinaswee-Gervais said, “I have to admit that we do not get furniture built as they were made during my time in school.” She said that bonded contractors provide the furniture, so that the ministry at this time cannot choose someone who may produce better furniture.

Children would not have changed so much to damage furniture due to fights or vandalism, she said.

The Ministry of Education spent a whopping $12 million to transport pupils from the Piccadilly Primary School to the Tranquillity Primary School, both in Port-of-Spain, in less than one calendar year.

This was revealed in a document recently circulated to parliamentarians pertaining to the Finance (Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2016) Bill 2017.

He said he visited a doctor in the hospital where he received a sick leave.

“I went inside (Accident and Emergency Department) and told them I got stick by a needle and they gave me tablets. They gave me seven days and when I came back and tell them the thing getting worse they gave me seven more days. I took it (the first sick leave) to the manager and supervisor.

Some of them (employees) didn’t know I get the sick leave so they think I was missing days,” he explained.

Osmond claimed this was not the first time something like this had happened at the hospital.

“Management trying to make this look like is a small thing. But getting chook with a needle is no small thing. It could lead to life threatening diseases being passed on,” the worried man said. He said a blood test showed he picked up no infection as a result of the mishap and was medically sound.

Days after being stuck, he began to feel unwell and was granted an additional seven days sick leave.

Employees from Osmoand’s department staged a protest outside the hospital to express their displeasure and call for strict health and safety protocols when it came to dealing with the disposal of bio-hazardous waste.

Osmond says he is exploring all “options and avenues” as he seeks to get compensation for his injury.

“They are acting like nothing happened and this is not right at all,” he said.

The Tobago Regional Health Authority, responded to Osmond’s issue via a press release. “The TRHA will like to state the facts regarding this matter. An employee was involved in an incident on December 29th 2016 at the Accident and Emergency Department while performing his duties.

“All protocols and reporting processes were observed when he was treated at the Accident and Emergency Department for his injury and was subsequently granted sick leave with full pay.

The TRHA is committed to providing the best treatment and care to our employee to ensure his full recovery.

As a result of misinformation, some employees from the Environmental Services unit engaged in protest action. They were advised that such action, according to the union agreement, must not be taken during working hours.

No services were disrupted as a result of the protest action.”

Explaining that this was a matter of safeguarding the assets of the State, Mark said it was troubling that an inventory went missing at the ministry. “We need to take our task a little more seriously,” he said.

National Security Ministry Permanent Secretary Lydia Jacobs said the inventory in question went missing in the period 2012 to 2015. She gave the assurance that the matter is being addressed.

Earlier in the hearing, Director of Personnel Administration Anastasius Creed spoke about challenges which the Service Commissions Department has had to deal with regarding staff shortages with respect to inventory control. She explained that this system is not computerised and legislative changes are required to implement a computerised system at the department.

Creed and Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary Angela Siew said the Service Commissions Department and the ministry are proceeding with preparations for the implementation of new public procurement legislation in March.

He was burnt beyond recognition after being trapped in his bedroom where firemen discovered his charred remains.

Fire prevention officers were called to the scene after the blaze was brought under control and residents living in the vicinity of Christopher Warner’s apartment were interviewed.

A party of officers from the Port-of-Spain CID led by ASP Ajith Persad, and Inspector Harvey Jawahir also visited the scene and interviewed persons.

Yesterday, some of the apartments close to the fire remained water soaked from the efforts of the fire officers to control the blaze.

Angela Edwards, Warner’s caregiver who was in her apartment a short distance away, was preparing coffee and breakfast to take to him when she heard persons shouting that the apartment was on fire.

Edwards told Newsday she looked out and saw Warner’s apartment ablaze but there was nothing she could do to assist because of the intensity of the blaze. She also told Newsday that ten years ago she took a decision to assist Warner and an elderly female companion who lived in the apartment close to hers.

She said that one year ago, Warner’s companion died and he became very lonely and only got up from his bed to go to the bathroom.

She said that she provided meals and ensured that he was all right from the goodness of her heart.

Edwards related, “On Tuesday night between 9 and 10 pm, I checked in on Warner and asked him if he needed anything, but he said no and I retired to my apartment.” According to Edwards, she has no idea how the fire started but as far as she is aware there were no threats on Warner’s life.

She said that Warner will be missed and added that his only child, a daughter visited the scene of the blaze yesterday and left.

According to Edwards, she may have to bear the full cost of Warner’s funeral, something which she is prepared to do because of the close relationship she shared with the victim.

Yesterday, traffic backed up as a result of the fire with motorists stopping to look on at the police and fire activities at the scene.

However, by 11 am traffic returned to normal, and officers of the Besson Street Police Station continued enquires into the incident.

The charred remains of the victim were ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Yesterday, President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Inspector Michael Seales said he was disturbed to hear of the demise of the retired police officer who lived alone. He said “that problem of retired officers who find themselves living alone persists because of the demands of the job which destroys most of their relations with their families and friends.” He said the Association has recognised that and has partnered with the Police Retirees’ Association to try to alleviate those circumstances, “because we have had a number of cases – 100 plus so far – that we have identified policemen in particular living by themselves without any support, and they have difficulty managing their day-to-day life. So the Police Retirees Association and the Social and Welfare Association will be looking at that keenly to try to get some support services and social activities that can lend itself to strengthen the human relation that these officers suffer as a result of their lonesome life.”

According to reports, at about 3 pm on Tuesday, three men including one armed with a pistol walked into Hong Kong Restaurant located at Montrose and held up the security guard and robbed him of a 9mm handgun. They then robbed the two proprietors of over $4,000 in cash, cellphones and other valuables and also removed the camera surveillance equipment.

According to reports, the men then went to the back of the restaurant and attempted to escape.

Officers of the Central Division under Senior Superintendent McIntyre responded and the men were cornered a short distance away. According to reports, one of the bandits fired at the police who returned fire grazing one of the suspects in the leg. Police were able to apprehend two of the three suspects who are in their early 20s.

Officers recovered $3,400 in cash, the 9mm which was stolen from the security guard and a pistol along with a quantity of ammunition and some of the stolen items.

Yesterday, a search continued for the third man who escaped.

The two suspects are expected to be placed on identification parade for the robbery at Hong Kong restaurant and other robberies in the Central Division.

Bissessarsingh, 34, is battling pancreatic cancer and doctors have told relatives that nothing more can be done for him at this stage. In early December, he was discharged from the San Fernando Teaching Hospital where he had been warded for three weeks after contracting pneumonia.

Yesterday, his father, Rudolph Bissessarsingh expressed his gratitude to the many well-wishers who remain steadfast in their prayerful support for his son.

Rudolph told Newsday, “The support from his friends has been overwhelming. They have been praying for him and supporting him so far and that is the most we can ask for.” In November, Bissessarsingh was awarded an honorary doctorate from University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) for his relentless work in his chosen field.

His father explained his son’s condition at this time, “He is slipping in and out of consciousness.

Since the first week in December he was discharged from hospital as doctors said there was very little they can do for him again. He is at home here with a nurse at his side.

He remains on heavy morphine as he is in extreme pain.” Positive messages continue to flood Angelo’s Facebook pages from his many fans.

Among some of the many messages on his page one post reads : “You are one of a kind, a gem, a national treasure. I send positive thoughts your way and I thank you for your incredible life’s work.” Another says: “Stay strong Angelo Bissessarsingh we are all rallying alongside you, hoping and praying for you to continue defying the odds.