Underscoring the need for improved race relations between the nation’s two major ethnic groups, Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, has exhorted traditional supporters of the ruling party to welcome returning members of the Opposition UNC with open arms. He was addressing a mass political meeting at Centre City Mall, Chaguanas on Friday evening where the ruling party presented its slate of candidates for both the Chaguanas Borough Corporation and the Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Cor-porations in the July 14th Local Government Elections. Manning, who stated that “inter-racial solidarity” was one of the founding principles of the PNM said the present crop of candidates were the “most reflective of the national community.” And he advised supporters that the days of “partisan” politics were over. He said inappropriate racial jokes and slurs had the effect of driving perspective members away from the PNM. “I can tell you that it will pose some problems in the PNM, there is a tendency for people to talk loosely about race, and some of the things that some people use as joke when heard by others has a devastating effect on those who hear them,” he said. “And so I want to exhort all PNM members, especially those of African extraction that the days of loose talk about race is behind us.” Manning added: “We are determined to do things at the level of the Central Government to ensure that our policy positions as adopted by the PNM are devoid of bias, and are policy positions that will have the effect of treating all citizens equally.”
Internet service provided by Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) was crippled yesterday when the telecommunications conglomerate experienced an outage on its Americas II international submarine cable. Americas II is one of three submarine fibre optic cables that connects Trinidad and Tobago to the rest of the world. Up to press time TSTT engineers and technicians were working to determine the nature of the outage and how it should be remedied. As a result, all international voice traffic has been switched to the two other submarine fibre optic cables which are Americas I and the ECFOS (Eastern Caribbean Fibre Optic System). According to TSTT Corporate Communications Manager Rae Ann Harper-Walters, The Americas II cable, which runs from Puerto Rico, has not only affected Trinidad and Tobago but other English-speaking islands as well as Martinique, Curacao and Venezuela. The outage, Harper-Walters said, is the first of its kind locally and has affected all of TSTT’s ISP customers and direct customers. Customers are not able to browse the Internet or send and receive e-mail. TSTT Ltd is the sole licensed provider of telephone services in Trinidad and Tobago. The company, jointly owned by the Government (51 percent) and Cable & Wireless (49 percent), has experienced a 4.8 percent growth in its customer base over the past five years. In December 2002, TSTT’s customer base stood at 324,330 lines. Services provided include basic telephone, mobile (GSM and TDMA), Internet, lease lines and data services. TSTT apologises for any inconvenience caused by the outage, a release from the telephone company stated.
QUICKLY dismissing her fears when she awoke yesterday to find her home on fire, 19-year-old Lydia Baptiste saved her two sisters from being burnt to death by throwing them through a window. However her youngest sister, six-year-old Anna, suffered first degree burns to both arms and minor burns to her forehead, and is warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Baptiste, who lives with her mother, Joanne Thomas was alone home with her two youngest sisters, Anna and Makiba, 8, when the fire broke out around 2.30 pm, at their Lucky Street, La Romaine home. Investigators believe that the fire may have been started by sparks from electrical wires. Sitting at her sister’s bedside at Ward 5 yesterday a weary-looking Baptiste recalled that at first she was frightened when she awoke and saw her bedroom on fire. “But I say I not going to let my sisters die. I say if I die God will know why,” the brave teenager said. Recounting the incident to Sunday Newsday Baptiste said she was asleep when she heard the neighbour bawling: ‘fire fire’. “When I opened my eyes all around me had fire. I picked up Makiba who was sleeping next to me and I throw her out of the window. Then I run into my mother’s bedroom where Anna was sleeping and picked her up,” she said. Baptiste said her sister started crying when she woke up and saw the fire. She held her weeping sister, ran out the room and into the nearby kitchen and threw Anna out of the window. Satisfied that her sisters were safe, Baptiste then jumped out of the window, landing eight feet below.
Minister of National Security, Howard Chin Lee, announced his Ministry was building new fire stations to upgrade the Fire Service to meet the increasing demands made on it. He was addressing the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Passing Out Parade for 2003 yesterday at the Heliport, Chaguaramas. Chin Lee said: “Construction work on two new fire stations at Sangre Grande and Piarco is nearing completion and plans are being finalised for the acquisition of land for the construction of nine fire stations to be located in Central, South and East Trinidad, and a new headquarters for Tobago.” He added that the Service would soon acquire a hose-laying lorry, a recovery fire rescue vehicle and a water tender. He revealed that because this year had seen the most intense dry season on record, the Fire Service had responded to 4,000 calls for assistance. Noting the Fire Service was now playing an expanded role, Chin Lee said: “No longer are its responsibilities confined to performing duties directly related to preventing and fighting fires, but entail assisting victims of vehicular accidents and natural disasters, responding to medical emergencies, and dealing with medical disasters.”
Plans are in the making to turn Nelson Island, one of the islets off the North Coast of Trinidad, into a historical landmark. President George Maxwell Richards visited the island yesterday along with members of the Department of History of the University of the West Indies to view the restoration works which have already begun on the island. The restoration project, which is expected to cost approximately $10 million, is the work of a group of concerned citizens, including Professor Bridget Brereton, Professor Ken Ramchand and Professor Julien Kenny all of the University, as well as Curator of the National Museum and Chairman of the National Trust, Vel Lewis. They are all members of an 18 member Cabinet appointed committee which has been charged with overseeing the works. Professor Ken Ramchand explained that the group first came up with the idea to turn the island into a historical monument in 1997. However, he noted that the project was put on a back burner until now. Referring to Nelson Island as “the gateway to Trinidad,” Professor Ramchand revealed that historically it was used as a transhipment point for Indian Immigrants, before they were taken to the estates in Trinidad to work.
In the 20th century it was used by Austrian and German Jewish refugees who were attempting to escape the tyranny of Adolf Hitler during World War II. He explained that although they were refugees, they were regarded as aliens and incarcerated on the island. “The long and short of it,” Professor Ramchand said, “is that once you start looking at it as a gateway island you realised that it was a gateway not only for the Indian Immigrants but for all the people who came to TT.” “The idea is to form a museum of the peoples of TT or as it will be called a museum of the people and the peopling of TT,” he maintained. President Richards commended the committee on their work, noting that it represented a major element in the heritage of the people of TT. “It is my wish,” he said, “that we should be able to take this project forward.” Comparing the island to Ellis Island in the US, the President noted that what he wanted to see was a restoration of sights and a conversion to what could be called a proper national heritage sight. He recommended that the Government hand over the facility to the National Trust and provide them with the adequate resources to fund the project. “We have history and we have to preserve,” he said. It is a project worthy of all of us.”
The older children of Philadelphia murder victim Pramatee Celestine vowed yesterday to do all that is necessary to gain custody of their younger siblings, Michael and Randi Diaz, who are now in the care of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services. Vidyawatee and Alvin Deopersad, the first two children of Pramatee said yesterday that it would have been the wish of their mother that the children return to Trinidad and be in their care. The two will be approaching the American Embassy shortly to secure visas so that they could petition the court for custody of their brothers Michael,14, and Randi, ten. Vidyawatee said yesterday that she is concerned that the Diaz family is seeking custody of the children, especially at a time when a relative of that family is charged with the murder. “Those children could never be comfortable with that family,” she insisted. She pointed out that when her mother divorced her father Seepersad Dookram in 1980, she went to live with her mother and Cyprian Diaz.
She added that she took care of Michael and Randi, while her mother sold food at the Tunapuna market. “My mother was beaten almost daily by Diaz, and every time she left, he would find her, force her back home and then beat her for leaving,” said the grieving woman. She claimed that Diaz even ill-treated her during her stay with him and her mother. After ten years of abuse, scars and emotional pressure, Pramatee left Diaz and went to the United States with Michael and Randi. She got a job as a baby-sitter but after several months on the job Diaz found out where she was staying, and beat her so badly that he broke her ribs. She claimed that Diaz returned to Trinidad, and her mother who could not take care of the boys, telephoned her and asked that she keep the children until she recovered. “Shortly after, Diaz found out that the children were with me and he started visiting them. He then took them to Tamana and later all three returned to the United States,” she said. Vidyawatee denied reports that her mother was living with both Celestine and Diaz. “My mother telephoned me one week before her death and said that Diaz was always harassing her and she was fearful for her life. She even telephoned her father in Lopinot and told him that she had a feeling that she would die before him.” She described her mother as a good person who only wanted to feel a sense of safety, and love. “I hated that man when I was five years old, and witnessed the beatings, and I hate him more now for taking away the one and only mother that I had,” said Vidyawatee.
Responding to comments made by Dr Keith Rowley concerning the crime situation in Laventille, Member of Parliament for Laventille East/ Mor-vant, Fitzgerald Hinds, yesterday embraced Rowley’s remarks, ad-ding that they were in sync with the comments that he himself usually makes on a daily basis to the people of Laventille and other people of TT. Hinds said he was quite excited by what Rowley said. Rowley, Minister of Planning and Development, was addressing a sod turning gathering for the Beverly Hills Housing project on Friday, when he waded into the residents about their condoning, and even encouraging an attitude towards crime. Hinds said the potency of the truths Rowley spoke was very stimulating indeed. Hinds said he also noted the responses of the people who are affected and afflicted by the crime situation in Laventille. Hinds added that what is left now for the people of Laventille is not for them to hear but to heed the advice of Rowley and take immediate changes in attitude — “ then can we move forward, converting Laventille to a happy existence renamed, “Loveuntil.” Hinds said that in his opinion the Government can, must, and is doing its part, but at the end of the day, it’s really the people who will make the difference. He ended: “I am hopeful and optimistic that we as a community can resolve these issues and return to normalcy again.”
Agriculture Minister, John Rahael’s decision to announce retrenchment plans for 9,000 daily paid Caroni workers on the same day the Industrial Court ruled that Caroni did not negotiate the VSEP plan in good faith with the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) was deliberate and intended to “dampen the mood of workers.” This was the view expressed by President General of the ATSGWTU Rudranath Indarsingh. Speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday he said, “It (the announcement) was deliberate on the part of the Minister to put fear and scare into the workers. Apparently the Minister’s pronouncements has dampened the order of the Court.” Indarsingh also accused the Minister of acting high handedly and added, “No Minister of government must be allowed to get away with this kind of behaviour.” Indarsingh made the point that the Industrial Court is an arm of the Judiciary hence for government to act against it’s ruling would mean that they are acting “above the law.” However he maintained, “ I would abide by the laws of the land” and the union would do all it can.
On Friday the Minister maintained that this eventual move was “very unfortunate” since not all workers would benefit. Indarsingh yesterday suggested that Caroni return to the ‘drawing board.’ The Industrial court ruled that Caroni breached Section 40 (1) of the Industrial Relations Act by not negotiating the Voluntary Separation of Employment Package with ATSGWTU. On Friday he said that the ruling by the court was a “landmark decision.” He also said the outcome reinforced the position of a trade union caring for it’s members. Yesterday he said, “It is the first time in history a full quorum of judges sat on an issue like this.” Indarsingh said that he dispatched a letter to Caroni on Friday afternoon in the aftermath of the court judgement expressing his willingness to meet and speak with them. The ruling by the Industrial Court on Friday ordered that both parties meet within five days. The advancements made would be reported to the court on July 10.
FEARS that the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) has made inroads into Chaguanas for the July 14 Local Government elections came to life Friday night when the United National Congress’ (UNC) bandwagon rolled into Chaguanas. Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagassar admitted that some measure of support had come to the PNM in the Longdenville/Enterprise districts. Speaking at UNC’s political meeting at the Triangle in Endeavour, Nagassar made no bones about announcing to supporters that the PNM had finally made their presence felt in the Borough. “But they (PNM) have come to Chaguanas to take what you have built by your sweat and blood. They have come to Chaguanas because they’re jealous of Chaguanas. They have some support in Longdenville, but we will show them,” Nagassar thundered. Other speakers were political leader Basdeo Panday and Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh. The meeting, which MP Manohar Ramsaran chaired and had to on three occasions urge supporters to draw closer to the stage, witnessed a a heckler among the crowd. Nagassar accused the PNM of deliberately witholding $.5 million for the paving of roads in the Borough. “Nagassar…yuh is a waste of time!” the heckler, shouted.
The mayor retorted: “Examine the traitor on board.” The heckler’s shouts dissipated with a barrage of picong from Nagassar who accused him of being a PNM stooge armed with a CEPEP contract. The UNC currently hold all eight seats in the Borough Council, having retained from the PNM the Long-denville/Enterprise districts in the previous Local Government elections. Nagassar called on supporters to ensure Chaguanas remains the flagship of the UNC. He said: “They are coming into Chaguanas, because they want what you have built by your sweat and blood. They are going to use you then dump you. They are coming because they are jealous of Chaguanas.” Around the same time the PNM held a massive political meeting Friday night at Centre City Mall in Chaguanas.
The efficient and sustainable use of TT’s plants and animals will be studied by a virtual Centre for Research in Natural Products which will be established by the University of the West Indies (UWI) at the St Augustine campus. The Centre will bring together the required expertise of a wide range of different disciplines with groups of researchers working toward this goal. UWI is currently finalising a proposal to get funding from an international agency. A Physick Garden will also be established for teaching and research into medicinal plants. Tewarie said it will serve as an “an important plank” in UWI’s wider programme of study and research that will include biological diversity, resource management, forestry, a renewed thrust in agriculture and health and wellness. Principal of UWI, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie made these announcements last Friday at the opening ceremony of the three-day Caribbean Association of Researchers and Herbal Practitioners (CARAPA) (in collaboration with UWI’s Pharmacology Unit) sixth annual workshop at the UWI Learning Resource Centre.
Angostura Ltd has provided seed funding for the Garden, which will become part of an international network of similar gardens engaged in teaching and research. Tewarie said the university is also encouraging links with other institutions in other countries where similar developments are taking place. A working relationship has been initiated with CDRI in Lucknow, India, to allow UWI to access expertise in commercialising the results of its research. The National Herbarium based at St Augustine will play a vital role in identifying and vouchering plants for scientific purposes and Tewarie said it will continue to be involved in this “budding sector.” The herbal medicine workshop had four sessions: the Scientific Evaluation of Medicinal Plant Extracts, Developing a Viable Caribbean Herbal Industry, Issues for a Caribbean Herbal Industry and Continuing Education in Herbal Medicine.
