THE PUBLIC can soon expect to see a reduction in the price of chicken arising out of a meeting yesterday between members of the Poultry Association and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Camille Robinson-Regis. The decrease is expected to put chicken prices between $3.50 and $4.25 per pound. In an interview yesterday, marketing director of Arawak and Supermix, Robin Phillips, noted that at the meeting producers discussed various prices and arrived at a band of prices ranging from $3.50 to $4.25. However, he stated, the matter has to be taken before Cabinet, when it meets on Thursday, for final determination. “The good news is that prices are expected to go down to at least $4.25,” he said. Last week, Robinson-Regis gave poultry producers exactly one week to reduce their prices to an “acceptable level” or risk the removal of the surcharge on imported chicken.
This surcharge, which currently stands at 88 per cent, protects the local industry from being overrun by leg quarters, namely drumsticks and thigh parts, which are not popular in the United States. Without the surcharge, local producers will be unable to compete with imported chicken, which would be available at a much cheaper price. It is speculated that a removal of this surcharge could destroy the poultry industry, which employs some 10,000 persons. President of Nutrimix Feeds Ltd, Saheed Mohammed, noted that the price of chicken for the last four years was highly subsidised which resulted in a tremendous loss for producers. “We hope to break even this year,” he maintained, “and if it continues we will be able to make a little money next year and put back something for the years we lost money. “We just couldn’t continue selling at the price we were selling at for the last four years.”
The local industry’s main competition, he stated, came from the US due to the fact that it was highly subsidised in all areas of the agricultural sector. “Additionally,” he maintained, “US producers sell a pound of breast meat for US$2 per pound, which is $12, and they sell the legs for probably $20 per pound because they make the money with the sale of chicken breast which is popular there.” “Therefore, you then have the chicken legs, which are highly subsidised and which they dump on third world countries.” When questioned as to methods of ensuring that all independent poultry depots maintain the stipulated price, Phillips stated that they had no control over the independent producers. “All we can do is ask that any price reduction be reflective of the price offered by the supplier and then passed on to the consumer,” he stated.
IN AN effort to combat the ever-present froghopper population, the Sugar Manufacturing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SMCTT) — the entity which has replaced the defunct Caroni (1975) Ltd — has carried out aerial spraying over heavily infested sugarcane fields yesterday. The action brought a measure of relief to farmers who had been complaining that the pest, if left unchecked, could pose a major and serious threat to the viability of the upcoming 2004 sugarcane crop.
According to Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers Association (TICFA), public relations officer Lallan Rajaram, the company had resumed aerial spraying after TICFA chairman Raffique Shah met on Monday with Agriculture Minister John Rahael and SMCTT chairman Prem Nandlal. “Farmers were complaining that even though they were looking after their fields, the froghopper was still posing a serious threat to the canes,” Rajaram said. He observed that the pest would often burrow into the sugar cane stalks and destroy the canes by killing the leaves. “Whole fields which have been decimated by the froghopper turn brown as if a big fire passed through the rows,” he said, adding that aerial spraying was the most effective method for controlling the pest. He said that the SMCTT had also agreed to send observers into affected fields to assess the level of infestation. Rajaram said fields from Forres Park to Reform to Masseyland in Central Trinidad were among the most affected by the froghopper.
RBTT Financial Holdings Limited recently acquired Ernst and Young Trust Corporation in Barbados. The acquisition which was made on July 31 marks the entry of RBTT into Barbados. RBTT, listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange since January 2, 1998, now adds an offshore banking and trust business to its otherwise complete portfolio of financial services throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Peter July, group chairman, RBTT Financial holdings said the bank’s strategic goal is to be the leader in the development and implementation of integrated financial services and this includes the development of its private wealth management portfolio. This coincides with Ernst and Young’s global policy of divesting itself of non-core business, and provided an excellent opportunity for RBTT to achieve its goal.
The trust corporation now known as RBTT Trust Corporation, is the largest of its type in Barbados with a wide range of clients from outside the Caribbean region. This adds an important international dimension to RBTT’s private client business and a new block of foreign funds under administration. The Barbados Central Bank and Ministry of Finance were extremely co-operative and facilitated the permissions and ownership very quickly. Towards its goal of enhancing shareholder value, RBTT will expand the business to its full potential in order to provide a better and more complete service to existing international private and corporate clients. With this acquisition, RBTT will be in a position to further leverage its ability to serve foreign owners and investors in the Caribbean.
The two leaders of Government business in Parliament have given contradicting statements on when Parliament will be prorogued. Contrary to statements made by Ken Valley on Friday, Dr Lenny Saith announced yesterday that Parliament will not be prorogued this Friday. It is understood that the Cabinet is expected to discuss at its regular Thursday meeting, a proposal to have the Parliament prorogued on September 17. Saith’s disclosure came in response to a request from Opposition Senator, Robin Montano, to have the Standing Orders suspended to allow all questions on the Order Paper to be answered. Question time ceases at 2.15 pm — 45 minutes after the Parliament begins — according to the Standing Orders.
Montano noted that the newspapers reported that the Parliament was to be prorogued this Friday. However Saith rose to give the assurance that Parliament would not be prorogued this Friday. There would be a sitting of the Senate next week, he stressed. “I too read it (that the Parliament would be prorogued on Friday) in the newspapers. I also read in the newspapers that the UNC was going to find a new leader,” he teased. Parliamentary experts stated that Parliament could not have possibly been prorogued this Friday because the Report of the Finance Committee for the supplementation of the 2003 Appropriation has to be debated and passed in both Houses. The House Finance Committee meets today in closed session to discuss the Report. The Report is to be presented for discussion in the House of Representatives on Friday and then it has to go to Senate next week Tuesday.
Saith later described Valley’s announcement, which came in defence of Government’s lack of legislation, as “premature.” In a related development, Government yesterday was forced to pull back the Report of the Joint Select Committee to consider and report on the Police Bill. The Report had caused some controversy in the House of Representatives last week after it was discovered that it didn’t have the required signatures to be properly tabled. Obviously determined to embarrass the Attorney General, the Opposition in the Senate (as it did in the House) raised objections after the AG presented the motion to have the Senate accept the Report. Senator Wade Mark pointed out that the Senate had not been given “one clear day’s” notice in which to consider the Report as required by the Standing Orders, which basically asked the Parliament to allow the Committee to continue doing its work. Mark argued that as a member of that Committee, he was not consulted about the Report. In fact, he stated, the last time the Committee met was in May. “It tells me of a political attitude bordering on arrogance and reflects an undemocratic approach,” he said.
He added that because Government was able to get a quorum of six signatures from among its members and from the Independent Senator on the committee, the Chairman of the committe (the AG) decided to bypass the Opposition. Saying that he had no difficulty in signing the Report, Mark invoked Standing Order 75 (which deals with the need to give notice) to allow the AG to bring a Report with the signatures of all the members attached. Saith said it was never the intention of the Government to ride roughshod over the Opposition. He suggested that the Senate deal with the motion to accept the Report at its sitting next week.
Government has spent over $24 million purchasing lands from private owners in order to “meet the needs” of its housing programme. Housing Minister Martin Joseph revealed this in the Senate yesterday in response to a question from UNC Senator Wade Mark. In some instances, Government paid as much as $335.48 per sq metre of land. Land at Vistabella, for example, cost this much. As Joseph named areas in the marginal seats, Opposition MPs whistled. “San Fernando West, again.
Why are we surprised?” UNC MP Robin Montano asked rhetorically. Joseph, in itemising the parcels of land and their prices, stated that Government paid $4.4 million for lands at ByPass Road, Arima; $3.7 million for lands at Lady Young Road; $3.2 million for lands at Upper Mendez Drive, Champ Fleurs; $1.9 million for lands at Carib Gardens, Arima; $671,894 for lands at Green St, Tunapuna; $4.3 million for lands at Circular Road, San Fernando; $1.1 million for lands at El Dorado Road, Tunapuna; $950,393 for lands at Purcell Street, Vistabella; $4 million for Todd Street, San Fernando; $500,000 for lands at Church St, La Romaine and $388,140 for lands at Chin Aleong Road, La Romaine. The names of the private owners of these lands are RA Mohammed Estates Limited; Junior Elgin Sammy; Vistaplan Limited; Malabar Farms Development Company Limited; Futura Enterprises Limited and Hafeez Karamath Limited; Trevor Hewitt and Elizabeth Hewitt; Vencor Investments Limited, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago; Abdul and Naziran Mohammed and Merle Clothilda Hope.
THE FOUR police officers currently under investigation into the suspicious death of 23-year-old Shaun Mc Leod are still on the job, police sources said yesterday. Inside sources told Newsday the officers were on patrol duty and disciplinary action was yet to be taken against them. Senior police sources confirmed that the police corporal and three police constables were still on formal duty. Sources explained that there were certain procedures to be carried out before suspension or dismissal of a policeman could be done since the Police Service is regulated and controlled by the Police Service Commission.
The source said when the officer appointed to probe McLeod’s death completes his investigation, the file would be submitted to the Head of Southern Division — Snr Supt Desmond Lambert — who would then forward it to Acting Commissioner of Police, Everald Snaggs. Snaggs will then meet and hand over the file to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson. If DPP Henderson decides there is sufficient criminal evidence against the officers, he would then advise Ag CoP Snaggs who in turn would inform the Police Service Commission, under whose sole authority the officers in question can be suspended (pending the outcome of a criminal case).
Sources told Newsday that several statements have been taken from eyewitnesses and the file is expected to be completed by tomorrow. In the absence of any criminal charges being laid against the officers, Mc Leod’s family is making preparations to proceed with civil action. Several witnesses have already given statements to the family’s attorney. His wife, Mackiba, said tentative arrangements are being made to have his funeral service on Friday. Mere minutes after being arrested for obscene language at Library Corner, San Fernando last Friday, Mc Leod, of South Oropouche, was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital. An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force trauma to the head. ASP Ruthven Paul of the Southern Division Homicide Bureau was mandated by Snr Supt Lambert to carry out investigations.
SELWYN ‘Robo Cop’ Alexis, along with Kevin Simpson and Rooplal Harricharan, reappeared in court yesterday charged with the kidnapping of South businessman Saran Kissoondan on February 23 this year. Two weeks ago, State witness Kevin Richards was found murdered. He was at the time still giving testimony. However, the case could not proceed yesterday because of the absence of another co-accused — Brian Cole — since no Court Note, compelling Cole to appear in court, was forwarded to Remand Yard. The other three appeared before acting Deputy Chief Magistrate, Mark Wellington.
Cole also faces the charge of wrongful imprisonment of Kissoondan. This charge is being heard at the Couva Magistrates’ Court. Cole has been denied bail for this offence and re-appears on this charge, along with the three other defendants, at the Couva court on September 15. Attorney Gillian Lucky, who has been given a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions to appear on behalf of the State, expressed disappointment that they were unable to continue with the case because of Cole’s absence. Alexis and Cole are being represented by attorneys Ian Gray and Keith Beckles. Beckles said in court yesterday that, “if the State did not have any frivolous objections to bail, this matter would have been finished already.” Complainant in the matter Cpl Roopnarine, the virtual complainant Saran Kissoondan, his wife Esther and brother Frank Kissoondan were present in court yesterday, as were a few of Alexis’ relatives, including his mother.
The matter was adjourned to September 18.
JUSTICE Humphrey Stollmeyer yesterday advised attorneys who filed a motion on behalf of a man imprisoned for a murder at the President’s Pleasure, to await the outcome of a motion relating to Chuck Attin and Keston Adams, who were similarly detained at the President’s Pleasure. Justice Stollmeyer gave the advice to prisoner Otis Melville’s attorneys’ Gerald Ramdeen and Mark Seepersad, who wanted to proceed with the matter yesterday when it was called in the San Fernando Civil Court.
State attorney Krishendath Narinesingh opened the proceedings by requesting the matter be postponed until after the hearings of Adams and Attin’s matters on September 25 and October 6 respectively. Ramdeen wanted the court to proceed with his client’s case yesterday, contending that Melville’s case was different to Adams’ and Attin’s, but Justice Stollmeyer said the latter cases might provide guidelines for Melville’s matter. Melville was convicted of murder in 1996 when he was 15 years old, and was sentenced at the President’s Pleasure having regard to his age. Melville, now 26, has filed a constitutional motion in the High Court contending that he has a right to be informed when he will be released from prison, if at all.
THE NEXT United National Congress (UNC) political leader must be democratically elected by the party’s membership and not selected by any clique within the UNC. This was the hope expressed by Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan who has allegedly been identified as a possible contender for the UNC’s top post, along with fellow MPs Ganga Singh and Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Khan told Newsday yesterday that the only way the UNC’s leadership question can be resolved is “through free and fair elections.” He warned that the UNC would be courting disaster if someone replaced incumbent leader Basdeo Panday by non-democratic means.
Khan explained that the process of leadership by appointment was a flawed one and would not guarantee that the next UNC leader will meet the approval of the party’s entire rank and file. He also expressed the hope that in reforming the party’s constitution, the UNC has learnt from the disastrous internal elections of June 6, 2001 and said it was clear the “one man, one vote” system was ineffective. In those elections, Panday disapproved of then AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj being elected UNC deputy leader because he reportedly favoured then St Joseph MP Carlos John for that post.
The subsequent rift between Maharaj and Panday caused a major spilt within the UNC and ultimately led to its removal from government. Khan added that the People’s National Movement (PNM) has learned from the UNC’s mistakes and was certain to retain the delegate voting system for its convention in October. St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran, who presented a paper on leadership at a UNC special retreat on Sunday, has been touted as Panday’s likely successor but has publicly denied having leadership ambitions. Meanwhile, Persad-Bissessar told Newsday she “has no idea” how anyone could say she was interested in the UNC’s top post. She added that she was unware that all of the UNC’s executive posts would be up for election.
A TOCO man, who was allegedly injured by a police officer and is unable to work or walk for too long, is seeking some kind of justice after the Police Complaints Authority closed his 1996 complaint because of insufficient evidence. Calvin Maxwell told Newsday yesterday he was disappointed with the Authority’s decision, especially since no one ever visited him to investigate the matter during the seven-year period. The complaint was lodged in 1996 and the Authority made its decision in June of this year. Maxwell explained that on August 31, 1996, he was hired by a police officer (name called) who was stationed at the Toco police station to help “clean up” a recreation club where the officer had hosted a party.
Maxwell, who lives at Steven Street, Toco, said he was accused by the officer of using obscene language. The confrontation then resulted in a struggle between them. He said as he was walking away from the officer “he held me and flung me to the ground and left me there.” Maxwell said he hit his left ankle on the side of a concrete drain. He was subsequently taken for medical attention and he had to undergo surgery to his ankle on October 24, 1996. Doctors said there was “soft bone” which was unable to adequately hold the plate and screws that had been planned. Instead K-wire fixation was done.
A review of Maxwell’s injury in a letter dated July 22, 2003, by Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr David Santana, states that Maxwell “walks with no movement of the ankle and he is unable to stoop.” The doctor further stated that Maxwell, being a handyman by trade, was required to do prolonged walking as well as stooping. The doctor said he will have great difficulty in doing either of those activities. Maxwell said his mother made a complaint to the Authority on December 3, 1996, however only on July 1, 2003, did the Authority respond by letter, informing them that the complaint was considered at a meeting on June 27, 2003 and it was agreed that “the matter was closed due to insufficient evidence.” Maxwell said he was not satisfied with the way the matter was handled and is asking anyone in authority to review the matter.
