Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Wade Mark, yesterday accused the Government of high-tech spying on the Opposition, just one charge he levelled in the Senate during a stormy debate on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003.

Mark said: “It has been brought to my attention that the present regime has embarked on a programme of electronic spying, and the Opposition is its first target. If you have a cell-phone it is the most dangerous device to walk with under the PNM.” At that Government Senator Danny Montano interjected to complain: “He has said we stole an election, and now he’s using the time to say all kinds of things.”  President of the Senate Dr Linda Baboolal told Mark to stick to the bill under debate, warning: “It is not right for you to make those kinds of accusations unless you have evidence.”

Mark continued: “The PNM used $61 million of yours and mine, taxpayers’ dollars to buy an automated monitoring system, and you know that Madam President. Capable of analysing voice-data, fax-calls, e-mails…Madam President they have done that.” Again Danny Montano interjected to complain about Mark. President Baboolal sternly ruled: “I specifically asked you to stop making reference to what you have no proof about and to come back to the amendment. Please don’t let me have to talk to you again.” At that another UNC senator suddenly stood to declare: “I have evidence my telephone is bugged,” drawing looks of uncertain bemusement from those present. Mark stood his ground, asserting: “I have proof of what I’m speaking about. I will produce the evidence.”

He claimed the Government had destroyed sensitive documents which could have been sought out under the Act, alleging: “I’d like Dr Saith to tell us what steps his Ministry is taking to ensure the records of the State are not tampered with? I have brought to your attention how documents within the State apparatus are being wilfully and maliciously destroyed by agents of the State. I’d like to now what Dr Saith is doing about that. When you call for information, you may have personnel who may be innocently directed to have those documents destroyed or damaged, so the population may not have access to that information. I’d like the Minister to say what attempts are being undertaken by his ministry to ensure public documents are preserved from destruction.  We have information of State documents being wilfully tampered with by agents of the State. That’s an area that will ultimately harm public access to information within the State apparatus.”   

Mark underlined the importance of the parent Act by stating that it had been used by the Opposition to expose alleged corruption at WASA, resulting in Prime Minister Patrick Manning recently vowing to employ forensic investigator Bob Lindquist to inquire.  Mark said: “One of the objectives of this Act is to expose corruption in the PNM.” Danny Montano yet again interjected: “Nobody on this side has been charged or convicted of any crime.” Mark asked Saith to give concrete details as to how he was setting up the automation of access to the Freedom of Information programme.  Despite having begun his contribution by praising the work of the former UNC regime in passing the Freedom of Information Act 1999 amidst the then Opposition PNM calling it “diabolical subterfuge filled with trickery, deceit and deception”, Mark ended his speech by declaring that the Opposition reserved its rights on how to vote on the amendment, in light of the impasse over Caroni (1975) Limited.

TEACHERS are running scared of students, Ann Mari Grant, public relations officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said yesterday.

Grant was speaking to 15 retirees, two of whom were women, in the office of Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes at the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Depart-ment (CID). Retired Sgt Ernest Perez had raised questions on the school system, saying that teachers weren’t prepared to take any blame for any untoward happenings at school. But Grant told the retirees that they could never imagine what teachers have to go through in schools. “Teachers are scared and they have said this at a town meeting,” Grant said.

She said that condoms and change of underwear are found in the bookbags of several 11 and ten-year-old students who are sexually active. Grant continued that parents are aware of this and encourage it because the children can bring back money. She added that when the parents are spoken to, teachers are often verbally abused. In response to another question from Perez that there are rogue cops in the service, Grant also said “this is the real world.”. Perez had expressed the view that certain police officers are encouraging crime in the country. He was highly critical of officers who use their cars for hire and those who allow PH drivers to ply for hire. “They should not be on the road,” Perez said.

Reyes told the retired cops that when they observe officers behaving in an inappropriate manner, they should make a report and the necessary action would be taken since more often than not there is insufficient evidence to prosecute them.Cops came in for further bashing from the retirees, when one of them stated categorically that there are certain officers who don’t know where Duke Street is, and that some of them complain that there are no vehicles when the crime had occurred within walking distance of the police station.

Another one added that he saw a policeman on Sunday speeding down Charlotte Street with both his hands off the motorbike handle. One of the retired female officers also expressed concern about female officers who wear their handcuffs at the back of their bodies. “This is quite dangerous. Anybody can take the handcuffs and do anything to them,” she said, suggesting that the handcuffs be placed in their pockets. There were also concerns about traffic officers who are seen with a big book in one hand, while trying to direct traffic with the other.

Two St. James men charged with last week’s murder of a teenager, yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

Rodney Rodriguez, 38, of Baksh Street, Upper Bournes Road, and Cliff Murphy, 42, of Jameson Street, are accused of stabbing to death 18-year-old labourer Ashley Mathlin, at Bournes Road, St James, last week Wednesday. Rodriguez, a shopkeeper, and Murphy, a labourer with the Port-of-Spain City Council, were charged following instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson on Friday. The charges were laid indictably by Sgt Nandram Moonilal of the St James CID.  The accused told the magistrate they had an attorney but could not remember his name. The matter was adjourned to Monday.

BEETHAM RESIDENT Marvin Boiselle yesterday continued to proclaim his innocence, even after the 12- member jury delivered a guilty verdict, in the trial into the November 2000 murder of a San Juan barber. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

Boiselle, 27, of 21st Street, Beetham Estate, Port-of-Spain, appeared before High Court Judge Rajendra Narine in the Port-of-Spain Sixth Assizes, charged with the November 4, murder of Earlon Gill of Ajodha Street, San Juan. Gill, 31, was shot to death at his home in front of his then five year old son. Following the verdict, Justice Narine, asked Boiselle if he had anything to offer to the court before sentencing was handed down. Boiselle stated in a subdued voice  “I innocent of this. Everybody know me, everybody know me. “I have to be a mad man to do something like that, but God is good. I will be set free”. Following the judgment and sentencing, the judge thanked the jury for serving in the trial and informed them that he (Narine) thought the verdict was “in accordance with the evidence”.

The Government spends $84 million (including VAT) annually to rent out 140 buildings to house various ministries and departments.

This was disclosed by Minister of Public Administration and Information Senator Dr Lenny Saith in the Senate yesterday in reply to a question from Independent Senator Prof Ken Ramchand. Ramchand had asked about the number of buildings rented by the Government, and details such as usage, rent, address, ownership, and the date of the start of the lease/rental. Saith referred the Senate to a written document duly distributed to members. The document showed that the Government was renting 140 buildings at a total monthly rent of $6,131,546 plus VAT of $879,932, which translated to a gross annual rent of $84,137,749.

Ramchand remarked aloud: “Is the Minister aware that in some cases the monthly rental is such that one year’s rental would be enough to purchase the building?” On the document the largest single rental was the Ministry of Science and Technology’s head office and information division located at the corner of Agra and Patna Streets, St James, the 40,934 square feet being rented from NJ Nahous Investments at a rent of $350,000 per month plus $52,000 VAT, or $4.2M per year or $4.8M including VAT. This lease began on 1 January 2001.

The Custom and Excise Division head office at 70 Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, is being rented from Nicholas Development Limited for $246,600 per month plus VAT of $36,990. The lease for this 49,838 square feet began on 1 June 2001. Other costly premises are those of the Elections and Boundaries Commission head office, Frederick Street, being rented from Winfield H Scott for $174,139 per month plus $26,119 Vat, and the Inland Revenue Division at 82-84 Queen Street rented from Victoria Court Limited for $179,830 plus $26,974 VAT.

Opposition Senator Robin Montano blew his top in the Senate yesterday and  stormed out of the Chamber after Senate President Linda Baboolal ruled that he was being irrelevant.

“This is an abomination!” Montano fumed, as he slammed his papers into his briefcase. His colleague, Senator Carolyn Seepersad Bachan was tugging at his sleeve in an obvious attempt to calm him down. But Montano was not going to be subdued. “Madame President, it is clear to me, absolutely clear to me, that you are not interested in a free debate! And I will take no further part in this! I am out of here!” he ranted. “Anybody else (to speak)”, Baboolal asked, seemingly unperturbed by  the incensed Senator.

Independent Senator Dana Seetahal rose to make her contribution. “Go ahead Senator,” the President said to Seetahal,  as Montano marched out. His five colleagues kept their seats and the Senate continued calmly with its business. The Senate was debating an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act when Montano, who accused the government of “hypocrisy”, cited  the statements made by Health Minister Colm Imbert in the House of Representatives at the time the Freedom of Information Bill was being piloted in 2001.

Government senator Rennie Dumas rose to point out that it was a convention not to  refer to debates in the “other place”. The President concurred. And Montano commented that he was “astonished”. Every time the Opposition came “close to the bone”, the government tried to shut them up, the UNC senator stated. He then proceeded to give his experience in trying to get information under this government, more particularly from the Attorney General. But he was also denied the opportunity to give this “very relevant evidence”. This time, Senator Joan Yuille-Williams pointed out to Baboolal that Montano was being irrelevant. “Good grief!” Montano shouted exasperatedly. He explained to Baboolal what he was trying to do, but she ruled that he was irrelevant