During a one-hour meeting with Seales, the officer who has two years service and is the mother of a seven-year-old daughter, expressed concern over a decision by her landlord to evict her because of the adverse publicity. Coupled with that, the SRP believes with the loss of income during the investigation, she will not be able to take care of her daughter and herself, especially as she is in the first trimester of her pregnancy.

Newsday understands the controversial photos were taken between October and December following a function at the London Street, Port of Spain branch of the Office of Law Enforcement and Policy (OLEP).

The photos were taken by a male colleague as a joke and that colleague later claimed he lost his phone last week. He suggests that whoever found the phone uploaded the photos to social media where it quickly went viral.

However, the SRP is questioning the entire situation where the photos were leaked and while she accepts she should receive some form of punishment, she does not feel that dismissal is the right thing. Yesterday, following the meeting with the SRP, Seales told Newsday: “The association met and had discussions with the SRP.

He said the SRP presented her suspension letter from Acting Commissioner Stephen Williams and the wording was tantamount to telling her that she has been constructively dismissed, because the Commissioner has stopped her from being called out for duty.

“Because of that, it means the SRP would not get any income during the course of the investigation until the determination of a tribunal against her.

This is much different from regular police officers who would get half or three-quarter pay during such an investigation,” Seales said.

He added that the Association will write Commissioner Williams asking him to consider some of the factors the SRP has indicated with the view of him reconsidering his decision (to suspend) on humanitarian grounds.

He pointed out that the officer is inconsolable. Newsday understands the SRP is being investigated for her conduct and the officer who took the photos has been asked to submit a full report.

Nigel “Dufu” Mayers, 40; Nick “Skinnies” Noriega and Miguel Roberts appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle. Their attorney Wayne Sturge was absent and the accused men were informed that their matter would have to be restarted. The row began when prosecuting attorney Danielle Thompson said she was in receipt of the court transcripts and indicated they were prepared to restart the matter and urged the court to do so as the defence attorney was not present.

On hearing this, Mayers and Noriega began shouting, saying to restart the case would not only be unusual but also unfair. They cited the seven years spent languishing in prison while the case remains undetermined. The men began hurling insults at court officers who attempted to restore order in the courtroom.

Earle-Caddle told the men that since their legal counsel was not present, the matter would have to be restarted. Officers later removed the men from the holding cell to the prisoner’s bay before the situation grew out of hand.

This follows similar outbursts by the trio in June.

In Sturge’s absence, attorneys Danielle Rampersad and Joseph Sookhoo represented the men.

Sookhoo later said an application has been filed against the High Court for abuse of power.

Mayers and Noriega were arrested in connection with the murder of shopkeeper Shirley Thomas at her businessplace in Morvant seven years ago.

Founded in 1977 by Sat Balkaransingh and Mondira Balkaransingh, it was incorporated as a non-profit organisation in 1994.

Since its creation, the theatre’s main objective has been to promote, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of Indian Classical dance, drama, song and music in all its aspects.

Forty years later, Nrityanjali is still true to its original vision — teaching classical dance based on a prescribed syllabus, inviting and presenting international artistes and staging annual ballets/ dance dramas.Today the theatre is famous mainly for its Odissi dance performances and ballets, and has presented over 40 stage productions, dance performances and dance dramas over the years in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean, South America, the US, the UK and India.

Over the years, The Nrityanjali Theatre has made a name for itself mainly because of the high standards it sets for its classes and performances, and its extensive use of original choreography in full-length ballets. Its consistent commitment to excellence has been formally recognised over the years by numerous accolades and awards, such as award of National Cultural Icons to Sat Balkaransingh and Mondira Balkaransingh (1992); the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) for Culture (1993); the Coco Vanguard Award (2015) and the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Preservation and Promotion of Indian Culture in TT and other Caribbean Countries (2016).

The 40th Anniversary celebrations begin with a Dinner and Fashion Show tomorrow, at El Dorado Secondary West, El Dorado. The ballet that follows later in the year will honour the theatre’s rich heritage with selected items from past performances and will be held at two venues: at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in San Fernando on September 17 and at Queen’s Hall on November 4 and 5. For more information see Facebook at Nrityanjali Theatre, Trinidad.

Meanwhile, the TT Chamber of Commerce and Industry is urging Government and the PATT to immediately resolve the seabridge issue in the interest of the nation. The chamber is questioning the operations of the cargo vessel Cabo Star, which was also leased by Bridgemans.

On Wednesday, government announced the cancellation of the contract to Bridgemans to provide the passenger vessel Ocean Flower 2, for failure to deliver on time.

Responding yesterday to Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad- Bissessar’s call for a police investigation into the procurement process, which she said was “a scandal of the highest order which reeks of mismanagement and corruption”, Sinanan opined, “It is strange that suddenly the former prime minister knows what is a scandal. From 2010 to 2015, she did not know what was a scandal. In this instance, she should say what is a scandal.” Any legal issue arising out of the cancellation of the vessel, he said, was being dealt with by the lawyers representing the PATT.

On whether there were any agents or middle person dealing with Bridgemans, Sinanan said, the port authority, as Government’s agent, was dealing with Bridgemans.

“What I know for sure,” he said, “is that the port authority paid nobody any commission, or finders’ fee or anything like that. As a matter of fact no money was paid on that vessel. So there is no money that the Port Authority would have had to recover.” Asked what will happen to Cabo Star’s contract if anything is found not right with the operations of Bridgemans, Sinanan said, “If there are investigations, and depending on the findings of the investigations, I am sure the port authority or the ministry will do what has to be done.” In a release issued yesterday, the chamber said, the Cabo Star “is yet to meet the projected service capabilities.” Agreeing there would be an initial three-week teething period, after some ten days in operation, the chamber said, “it is unacceptable that among other challenges, air conditioning units and wash room facilities are malfunctioning.

The cafeteria is not in operation. Cabins remain unavailable to truckers, and sailing time to Tobago is still six hours on average.” The chamber also commended PATT chairman Alison Lewis’ willingness to resign, if the PATT board is found to have failed to follow proper procurement procedures.

Calling for transparent procurement practices, the chamber called on Government, working in tandem with the PATT, to “preserve the highest principles in ensuring that our country is perceived in the best light globally by potential investors.”

Rashaad Mohammed, 27, was reported missing on Tuesday by relatives to the Barrackpore police after he failed to return to his Lalbeharry Trace, Debe home on Monday night from the CPL T20 cricket match at the Queens Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.

Sources say about two weeks ago, Mohammed sold a vehicle to a man who returned days later to say he longer wanted the car and demanded a refund.

Reports say Mohammed told the customer he could not be refunded as the car was already on the way to Trinidad after which the man became enraged and threatened Mohammed.

Mohammed is the father of a two-year-old girl.

His worried relatives are appealing to anyone with information to contact the Barrackpore police station at 654- 0609 Meanwhile police are also seeking the public’s help in identifying the body of a man of East Indian descent, believed to be in his late 20’s, which was fished out of a river in Cunjal in Barrackpore yesterday.

Police say the man who is brown in complexion was wearing a blue long pants and is about 5ft, 6 inches tall.

An autopsy done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James revealed Bharat Ramadhin died as a result of massive head injuries consistent with the fall.

Ramadhin’s sisters Sharmilla and Shamin said although they had not been in contact with him for over a month, news of his death left them traumatised.

They said the 45-year-old man was a helpful, jovial person who would be greatly missed not only by family members but also his friends and villagers.

This MoU would enable the ministry to address growing concerns surrounding anti- money laundering, counter-financing of terrorism and regulatory oversight of the credit union and cooperative sectors.

In a release yesterday, the ministry said the MoU would enable the two bodies to safeguard the interests of the citizens of the country.

Permanent secretary in the ministry Natalie Willis said the MoU would coordinate the approach to transparency, accountability and organisational development for the sector, and supported the contemporary approach needed for promotion and increased compliance required to enhance stakeholder confidence.

The Cooperative Societies Act Chapter 81:03 required the appointment of a commissioner, who would have general powers of supervision to ensure that these societies registered under the Act were in compliance with the stipulations and regulations of the Act.

Director of the FIU Susan Francois said this MoU would set the terms and conditions of this arrangement to facilitate the exchange of information to maintain the integrity of the sector minimising any vulnerability for illicit activity.

She said it was important that these two bodies work together to achieve the common goals of crime prevention and the security of the sector.

“While the regular police officers got both tranches in their salary back-pay, to date about 99 per cent of police retirees have not even got their first tranche.

“All police officers – serving and retired – are entitled to backpay that is, arrears of salary, for 2011 to 2013, but only the regular serving officers have got their two payments.” He said retirees had been promised their salary backpay in one lump-sum but so far have received nothing.

The source said police retirees are also awaiting their arrears of pension and gratuity, adding, “We are only getting promises.” “Officers are frustrated and can’t believe they have to wait so long for their money.

Officers are suffering.

They have health issues, such as some needing to do a prostate test. Others need to repair their homes.

Some houses have almost fallen down.

Many of us are owing the bank. And we’d like to take a little vacation.” The source said that among the ranks of the unpaid of several very senior former officers. “It’s a total disrespect. At least pay us two months after the regulars, but one year has passed.” He said he was fed up hearing what he called “stupid excuses” from the police administration as to why the retirees’ money was being withheld, such as “Your file has not been found” and “Your increments are not up to date.” He said the monies owed are back-pay for the period 2011 to 2013, and consist of gratuity arrears and pension arrears.

This is according to chairman Anya Schnoor at yesterday’s media launch of the annual five-kilometre race at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. The race is being held under the theme Every Stride Empowers, which is an extension from last year’s Making Strides.

Some 17,000 women, mainly from rural communities who would not have ordinarily have access to screening, Schnoor said, have benefitted from education programmes and free breast cancer screening since the event started 19 years ago. On breast cancer, she said, “About one in eight women, or 12 per cent, will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. About 85 per cent of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.” This year, she said, “It is estimated that about 30 per cent of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.” Since 2016, the foundation has raised about $500,000 from the event and the other Women against Breast Cancer hallmark events, such as, the charity golf tournament, she said.

“These funds were donated to the Cancer Society and used towards its community cancer screening clinics in the areas of Mayaro, Matura, Moruga and Tobago,” Schnoor said.

Kevin Cox, general manager of the Cancer Society, said this country “continues to record the highest rate of cancer diagnosis and mortality in the Caribbean.” This year’s partnership and contribution from Scotiabank, he said, will allow the TTCS to enter phase three of its breast cancer awareness community outreach programme in Tobago.

This is clearly needed not only within the public sector but also the private sector. Unfortunately, our watershed legislation on anti- discrimination measures, the Equal Opportunity Act, does not provide adequate protection for persons with HIV/AIDS. It tracks a person’s status only in terms of sex, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, martial status and disability level.

There is nothing to protect an employer from mistreating an employee who is HIV positive. This is a considerable gap especially when we consider the extent of the protections offered by the legislation.

It bars discrimination not only in relation to employment, but also in education, the provision of goods and services, and even the provision of accommodation. In other words, it provides a profound shield against discrimination in all of the major facets of life.

The defects of this statute are well known. Outrageously, it has explicitly barred LGBT persons from protection by striking sexual orientation off the list. The message sent by this appalling law, therefore is this: such persons may be mistreated not only by employers, but also teachers, grocers, service- providers, and even landlords who provide accommodation.

Persons with HIV/AIDS have an even worse fate in the legislation.

Though not specifically barred from protection, they are not even mentioned. Effectively, the law regards the 11,000 persons with this condition as invisible. This new policy changes that. We await the National Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for HIV/AIDS, but in the meanwhile, we note the profound impact this policy can have in relation to the quality of life enjoyed by our daughters, sons, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers who are diagnosed with this disease.

True, it can be said the policy does not go far enough. And the lobby groups that are likely to make this argument would be justified in so doing. We need more than a policy, we need the strength of law and enforcement. And we need the State to overhaul the Equal Opportunity Act completely.

However, we note change in any society cannot be done in a heavy-handed manner. While there is clearly a long way to go in terms of changing attitudes in relation to HIV/AIDS, it is better that the State take a small step instead of none. Over time, this small step is likely to snowball into a bigger movement for change.

No one knows the remedy for prejudice. But when employers and employees see persons with HIV/AIDS working hard and achieving their fullest potential as human beings within the social setting, they will see first-hand what should be self-evident: We are all equal and all worthy of a space on this earth.

We hope the trade union movement will support this workplace policy measure and aggressively lobby for it to become entrenched in law. These trade unions must realise the gravity of their responsibility to ensure that all workers, no matter their status, have an equal chance to earn a living.

We praise Minister Baptiste-Primus and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster- Roy for boldly supporting this measure and urge the State – including the Parliament – to not let the people down. We must not merely treat the symptoms of illhealth.

Over time, we must eradicate the disease of discrimination completely.