Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward J Gilbert has cleared controversial priest Fr Kennedy Swaratsingh of charges of financial and personal impropriety and the priest is to stay as parish priest of St Patrick’s RC Church, Newtown.
In a statement to the media yesterday, Gilbert declared: “As a result of the pastoral visitation, I find no basis at the present time to change personnel at St Patrick’s parish.” The ruling came exactly a week after 300 parishioners attended a pastoral visitation led by Gilbert at which they overwhelmingly supported Swaratsingh, for re-vitalising the church and some threatening to leave if he had to go.
In introducing the ruling, Gilbert said: “The visitation team shares the opinion of those with whom it spoke that the administrator is a gifted gentleman who has touched the lives of many people in a positive manner. It also supports the pastoral initiatives he has instituted to facilitate collaborative ministry in the parish.” The Archbishop said the judgment had been unanimously supported by the visitation team consisting of himself, Fr Allan Ventour, Fr Kenneth Spence and Fr Martin Sirju, and by the archdiocesan personnel board.
On the charge of “personal witness”, Gilbert ruled: “While allegations of sexual misconduct have been made, the allegations have not been substantiated. Consequently the presumption of innocence must be respected”. On the issue of Church finances, Gilbert said: “There have been questions about the financial administration of the parish. In fairness to all parties, I have ordered an audit of the financial records of the parish. Once the audit is complete, I shall personally chair a meeting with the financial committee of the parish with representatives of the Archdiocesan Financial Council”.
On the matter of liturgy-preaching-teaching, Gilbert said he had been assured of a positive response to his request that the church’s liturgy be followed. He added: “I find no evidence of anti-magisterium preaching or teaching by the administrator of the parish. “However I do recommend that the administrator give more attention to pastoral prudence in choosing practical examples for preaching and teaching.”
On the question of pastoral availability, Gilbert said that a pre-appointment agreement meant that he should have been told of Swaratsingh’s change of plans, to also pursue secular employment. Gilbert concluded that the significant tensions among some in St Patrick’s would not just disappear over time but needed to be processed, to heal and build the Christian community. In an immediate response yesterday, Swaratsingh who was at his church, conducting three consecutive meetings in preparation for Holy Week celebrations, politely declined comment, saying “I’d prefer not to be in the news, but thanks for coming, anyway.”
Saying that the crime of kidnapping bore no allegiance to political party or ethnic considerations, National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee yesterday called on the Opposition to stop playing politics with people’s lives.
He was piloting the Anti-Kidnapping bill in the Senate. He said today in Trinidad and Tobago there was a success rate of 44 percent of the cases being solved, while internationally the success rate is three percent. And 55. 2 percent of kidnapped victims are released without the ransom being paid, he added. He said the kidnappers were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the debate on the bill in Parliament, hoping that “political factualism would redound to their benefit”. In a direct appeal to the Opposition, which is not supporting the measure, the National Security Minister urged them to “stop making excuses like ‘we need constitution reform.”
Chin Lee also revealed that many of the cases of kidnapping had been solved because of information passed on by the public on the crime stoppers hotline. Chin Lee praised the business and police service for establishing this “crucial anti-crime information device”. He called on the national community to make maximum use of the service, since many of the cases of kidnapping were solved because of information given by the public on the crime stoppers hot line. This information was also responsible for many arrests, he noted. Chin Lee said it was not only businessmen and women and their families who are targetted, but persons from all walks of life. He said it was time that the legislators pull together and show kidnappers that we mean business…“and that we would not allow so few to terrorise so many”.
He said it was time for the law-makers to launch a relentless assault on the brazen kidnappers. “The citizens are at risk. Our children need your protection,” he said. The bill involved a 25- year sentence, denial of bail, $50,000 fine for information withholding, 15 year sentence for aiding and abetting and five year imprisonment for leakage of confidential bank information. All these were intended to make a career in kidnapping the most risky business a criminal could ever undertake, he said. He said in 2002 there were 29 kidnappings for ransom. He said 13 cases were solved and 38 persons charged. Out of the 38 charged, 20 were released on bail “to continue their trade”.
PRESIDENT George Maxwell Richards yesterday expressed his confidence in all nine Independent Senators, including those who did not support his nomination for the Presidency. President Richards also assured the senators that he would not try to influence how they operate in the Upper House.
When Richards was nominated last month, three Independent Senators voted for Opposition United National Congress (UNC) candidate Ganace Ramdial in the secret ballot. Following a courtesy call on Richards at President’s House yesterday, Leader of the Independent Senators, Dr Eastlyn McKenzie was asked whether this came up during their discussions with His Excellency. “He did not bring that up at all. We just expressed our happiness that he is now the President,” she replied.
Asked about the most significant thing which Richards told them, McKenzie said: “His confidence in our ability, our integrity and our willingness to work hard and our vision for the country as one we’d like to see develop as one people together.” Her colleague, Professor Ken Ramchand added: “He also made it clear that he was not going to try to tell us what to say or dominate us in any way. He used the word. He wouldn’t even try to influence us. He would respect our independence and in fact encouraged it.”
BETWEEN January and March this year, E-999 officers responded to 20,293 distress calls from the public. They responded to 7,552 reports of threats, 4,181 reports of disturbances, 4,618 reports of wounding and 2,137 reports of domestic violence.
According to Glenn Shah, Director Communications Network of the E-999 Command Centre at St James, there were numerous prank calls to the service, most of them from children. Yesterday, the Ministry of National Security opened the doors of the E-999 Command Centre for school children to get a first hand view and learn about the functions of emergency numbers 990 and 999. Shah said the idea of the exhibition was intended to expose children to the serious nature of responding to distress calls. He boasted that the equipment at the Command Centre can compare to any similar facility in the world. He said plans are afoot to improve functions at the Command Centre and operations are proceeding smoothly.
A NEW DATE has been set for the trial into the murder of the former Chairman of the Rio Claro Mayaro Regional Corporation Hansraj Sumairsingh on December 30, 1999. It is now scheduled to be heard before a High Court Judge in the Port-of-Spain First Assize court on September 17.
The date was set after Singh’s attorney appeared before Justice Herbert Volney in the Port-of-Spain First Assize court yesterday. Singh’s attorneys Karl Hudson Phillips QC, Ravi Rajkumar and Jennifer Hudson Phillips, held a late evening conference on Monday to decide whether to challenge a decision by Director of Public Prosecution, Geoffrey Henderson to transfer Singh’s case to the Port-of-Spain Assizes. However no objections were raised by the attorneys. Singh’s trial began in the San Fernando Supreme Court last month, but was aborted by the trial Judge Melville Baird due to legal technicalities on March 20. The State was represented in yesterday’s matter by Devan Rampersad and Angelica Teelucksingh.
MURDER ACCUSED Arnold Huggins yesterday testified that Tunapuna police officers beat and terrorized him into giving a statement in November 1999, after he was arrested for the murder of State witness Clint Huggins. Arnold was at the time testifying in his own defence before High Court Judge Alice Yorke-Soo Hon in the Port-of-Spain Third Assize court where he is jointly charged with Leslie Huggins and Junior Phillips, for the murder of Clint Huggins on February 20, 1996.
The State closed its case yesterday after taking testimony from 27 witnesses in the trial. Arnold told the court that he did not kill nor was he involved in any plot to kill Clint Huggins and that he believed the State’s main witness Swarsattee “Sattie” Maharaj, testified against him because he had refused to “take her back after their split in September 1996”. He said that she also believed that he was “with her for her inheritance money”. He yesterday stated that on November 12, 1999, he was taken to the Tunapuna Police Station and placed in a cell to the back of the sentry post. Sometime later he was handcuffed and taken from the cell by two police officers in plain clothes to a room to the Eastern end of the station and questioned about his involvement in Clint’s murder.
He told the officers that he did not know anything about the murder and was slapped on the right side of his neck. He said that went on for about half and hour. He also testified that he was hit on the head by one of the officers with a station note book about 2 inches thick. He said a document, which was partly hidden was pushed in his direction and he was told that they had information that he had shot and burnt Clint. He again denied that information. He was then taken back to his cell. However, the procedure was repeated about four times. On the fourth occasion he was taken to a corridor on the western side of the building and ordered to lie on the ground. One of the officers placed his feet on his (Arnold’s) back, while the other officer ordered him to take off his shoes and raise his legs. He was then beaten on the soles of his feet with a broken cue stick. One of the officers then told him to stand and pushed him against the wall with his hands placed at the base of his throat and chest, while the other officer hit him in his stomach with a gun butt that was wrapped in a wet towel. He was then placed back in his cell.
A short while after he asked that his mother be called. However the officer on sentry stated that he was told not to do anything for the prisoner. At about 1.30 pm, he was again taken out of his cell and taken to another room where he was introduced to Superintendent Stephen Quashie. He said he told Quashie that he was beaten by the officers. He was again questioned about Clint’s death and denied any knowledge of the murder. Following the interview with Quashie, Arnold said he was taken back to his cell and given two coconut rolls and a Chubby and around 11 pm a box of Royal Castle chicken was brought to him. He was again taken to a room and interviewed by Quashie. He said that he agreed to give the statement because he believed that was the only way the assault and abuse would end. He testified that Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan arrived and witnessed the statement being taken. He also stated that he was officially charged for the offence on November 15.
PLANNING and Development Minister Dr Keith Rowley expressed shock when he found out that Issa Nicholas Development Company Limited was granted “full planning permission” to erect a multi-million dollar town house complex at Goodwood Park without approval from eight other State agencies.
Dr Rowley, the PNM MP for Diego Martin West, pointed out that the approval was granted by his predecessor John Humphrey in spite of significant objections from the Goodwood Park community which was affected by the development. Issa Nicholas, a well-known businessman, is developing an eight-storey block of luxury apartments at the very top of Brook Road. When Newsday visited the site yesterday, there were at least 10 workmen carrying out construction work which is still in the early stages. Residents objected to the development following heavy rains in 2002 which caused significant damage to private property and the roadway in the upscale west Trinidad neighbourhood.
On Monday night, Rowley, who is also a resident of the area, met with about 80 residents to update them on the situation. Noting that proper approval was not given, Dr Rowley said he intends to call in the developer. “I will say to him, look you have standing approval to do this, but the approval is subject to these conditions. It turns out that you have not complied with any of these conditions. We are asking you to stop and seek these approvals and if you get them, they would be valid.” The minister said if the developer refuses to do that, his Ministry will have to take other action. Dr Rowley pointed out that the Town and Country Planning Division can take action by way of enforcement. The third option, according to the minister, is to approach the Solicitor General to go by way of injunction in the High Court to stop the project.
During his meeting with residents, Dr Rowley revealed that Issa Nicholas was granted “outline planning permission” on November 24, 2000 to erect the buildings. But the Goodwood Park resident submitted a letter dated June 21, 2001 to the Town and Country Planning Division objecting to the development. The developer had on May 4, 2001, submitted an application for full planning permission. By memorandum dated July 13, 2001, the Town and Country Planning Division advised the minister of the objections raised by the residents, providing photographs of unauthorised earth works being carried out on the site and sought directives on the matter. The then minister sought the comments of the chairman, Advisory Town Planning Panel, and accepted the recommendation that “full planning permission” be granted for the development. This application was approved by notice dated July 23, 2001 and was signed by Humphrey.
Rowley said the permission was subject to eight conditions which were required to be complied with prior to the commencement of the development. These conditions, he added, included that approval be obtained from the various agencies such as the Drainage Division, WASA, Fire Service, and the Ministry of Works. The minister also stated that no approval was given by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) or the Diego Martin Regional Corporation. Rowley said when the rains came in 2002, which resulted in severe flooding in Goodwood Park, he went to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation seeking information only to find out that proper approval was not given.
POLICE COMMISSIONER Hilton Guy yesterday appealed to the public to work with the police to deal with kidnappings, the solving of murders and the illicit drug trade when he addressed a meeting of the Port-of-Spain Rotary Club at the Queens Park Oval.
Guy said crime cannot be dealt with by the police alone and required the support of the public. He said that up to yesterday there had been 60 murders — 17 in January, 15 in February, 25 in March and three for this month so far. The police have been able to solve 20 of those murders.
Guy also revealed that the majority of murders were the result of the illegal drug trade and domestic violence, adding that support from the various communities was urgently needed to assist the police reducing the murder rate. The Commissioner said that the illicit drugs, heroin and ecstasy, are now coming unto the country, packaged to resemble a vitamin or a tablet for the common cold. He called on parents of teenagers to be very vigilant and observe their children when they are taking tablets. He warned that the police officers will taker strong action against persons caught distributing these drugs. On the question of kidnapping, Guy advised members of the business community to be vigilant when driving to their homes and said anyone who suspects he or she is being followed should drive to the nearest police station. The Commissioner reiterated that paying ransoms is not a guarantee that the victim will be released.
POLICE ARE investigating the cause of an early morning fire which damaged an unoccupied house at Plaisance Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, yesterday. The two-storey house is owned by Winston Simon.
At around 6 am yesterday, a villager was walking along Seaview Ridge when he saw smoke coming from a window on the upper floor of the house. He alerted neighbours who summoned the San Fernando Fire Services. By the time fire personnel arrived on the scene, the entire upstairs of the house was engulfed in flames. However they were able to save the ground floor. Investigators said all the main electrical systems in the house were turned off. The cost of the damage is yet to be ascertain. Investigations are continuing.
This country remains the most attractive for investment but crime is eating away at that, according to an Ernst and Young Caribbean Business Outlook released yesterday.
Crime was the top concern in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the three countries in which Ernst and Young carried out the survey in January. American Chamber of Commerce president Catherine Kumar said foreign investors could be turned off by the high level of crime. She added that crime includes not only theft but also corruption, fraud and money laundering. She said, though, while there is a high incidence of crime, Trinidad and Tobago is still able to attract visitors.
At the same time, she said, crime is leading people to spend their disposable income on security devices instead of more creative areas. Kumar called on the business community to play a bigger role in solving unemployment and poverty which contribute to crime. She also called on the Opposition United National Congress to work with Government to enact crime fighting legislation. She said the opposition must “put its country first before its own political agenda.” Kumar also reporting on crime must be objective.
