THE CLINT Huggins murder trial was adjourned early yesterday because the advocate attorney for one of the accused was not present. Two witnesses testified, but they were warned by Justice Alice Yorke Soo-Hon that they might be recalled for further cross-examination. They were PC Inshan Jagmohan and retired Senior Superintendent of Police Mervyn Ghatt.
When the matter was called yesterday, instructing attorney, Dawn Mohan, told the court that advocate attorney Keith Scotland, representing accused Leslie Huggins, was unable to attend court because he was out of the country. Mohan explained that Scotland had an emergency which took him out of the jurisdiction on Friday. He is expected to be back in court today. Cousins Arnold Huggins and Leslie Huggins, together with Junior Phillip, are before the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court, charged with the February 20, 1996, murder of Clint Huggins, the key State witness against gang leader Dole Chadee. Arnold is being defended by Ian Stuart Brook, Leslie by Scotland instructed by Mohan, and Philip by Osbourne Charles SC instructed by Chryslin Moore. Senior State attorney Wayne Rajbansee and Natasha George are prosecuting.
Mohan told the court she was supposed to ask for an adjournment, but instead suggested that evidence be led from witnesses which would not directly affect Scotland’s client. PC Jagmohan was the first witness. He testified that he escorted Clint Huggins’ partially burnt body from the Uriah Butler Highway to the mortuary of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Under cross-examination by Charles, Jagmohan could not say in exactly whose custody he had left the body, except to identify the person as a mortuary attendant. Jagmohan accepted that on his return to the St Joseph Police Station he would have had to make an entry in the station diary as to what he had done. Charles made an application to have the diary brought to Court.
Ghatt, the second witness, said he knew Clint for about eight to nine years and identified the body at the mortuary to forensic pathologist Dr Ramnath Chandu Lal. The body was also identified by Clint’s father, Neville Huggins. In response to Charles, Ghatt said he would be guessing if he said who had custody of the body at the time. Charles did not question Ghatt any further, but reserved the right to do so later. Rajbansee told the Court the evidence of the third witness would have a direct impact on Scotland’s client. As a result, the judge decided to adjourn the matter to today.
THE SON of former National Calypso Monarch Shadow (Winston Bailey) appeared before Port-of-Spain Magistrate Ejenny Espinet yesterday on fraud charges. Shawn Bailey, 29, of Cocorite and his girlfriend Joanna Young-Janet, 20, of Morvant, were charged with fraudulently converting $58,500 to their own use.
The money was the proceeds of tickets sold for the National Lotteries International Soca Monarch Finals 2003, issued on the account of Caribbean Prestige Limited between February 22 and March 7. They were arrested and charged by Sgt Kester McKaine of the Fraud Squad last Friday and were granted bail with a surety of $45,000 by a Justice of the Peace on Saturday. Bailey, the owner of Bailey’s Entertainment Centre, was represented by attorney Elvis O’Connor. Young-Janet initially told the magistrate she did not know who was representing her in the matter, causing the magistrate to stand down the matter for her to locate her attorney. When the matter was recalled, Young-Janet told the court she was being represented by Richard Mason. Both accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The magistrate adjourned the matter to May 19.
WHEN Garvin Andrews was seen watering plants on the porch of his Marabella home at around 8:15 pm on Friday, police officers on patrol did not know he was actually tending to a marijuana plant until his suspicious behaviour caught their attention.
Officers dressed in plain clothes approached the 22-year-old. Upon investigation, the officers realised Andrews was watering a marijuana plant in a flowerpot, and arrested the unemployed man. He was charged for possession of marijuana and taken to the Marabella Police Station. When he appeared yesterday before San Fernando Magistrate Gloria Jasmath, Andrews pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000, or three months in jail with hard labour in default of payment.
AN APPLICATION by the state to review a decision previously made by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls in the Airport Authority fraud case caused another adjournment in the matter yesterday.
Former Minister of Finance Brian Kuei-Tung, Former Minister of National Security Russell Huggins, Ishwar Galbaransingh, Amrith Maharaj, Steve Fergueson, John Smith, Renee Pierre, Barbara Gomes, are jointly charged with Maritime Fidelity Finance and Leasing Company, and Northern Construction Limited (NCL), with conspiring to defraud the Airport Authority of over $19 million by false pretenses between July 26 and December 21, 2002.
Roy Holford led the defence in the absence of Karl Hudson-Phillips QC, who is to be sworn in as an ICC Judge in Holland today. Holford said an application was made to review the decision of the Chief Magistrate, which stated that the prosecution must give to the defence, a list of all the documents and materials they intend to use in the preliminary inquiry. He added that the Court of Appeal will decide on the application on April 28. He asked the magistrate to adjourn the matter to a date following the outcome of the appeal. However, defence counsel for Smith and Gomes, Frank Solomon SC, said there was no need to adjourn the matter as the proceedings before the Court of Appeal were not sealed.
He said the defence was willing to proceed with the matter and the prosecution should call its witnesses. Holford replied that it would be an “exercise in futility” to proceed with the matter. Magistrate McNicolls said it might be premature to allow the Court of Appeal to rule on the application and then disturb the proceedings of the inquiry. He adjourned the matter to May 5 for mention pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.
ATTORNEY Joseph Melville, who was charged with perverting the course of public justice. had his matter dimissed by Port-of-Spain Magistrate Melvin Daniel yesterday. The magistrate’s decision followed the state conceding to the defence’s submission that a prima facie case had not been made out against Melville.
Melville was charged with perverting the course of public justice by “knowingly and wilfully” attempting to tender into evidence a false affidavit of Crystal Natasha Primus on June 25, 2001. It is alleged Melville caused Primus to change her testimony in the affidavit and then attempted to tender that affidavit before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls. The application was refused following an objection by state attorney Alexander Prince. The evidence was referred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) who forwarded it to the police. Following investigations, Melville was charged by Cpl Rocky Mohammed of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau.
Melville was represented by attorneys Ken Sagar and Thomas Cunningham. Nadia James appeared on behalf of the state. The state closed its case yesterday after Prince, the final witness, gave evidence. Prince was cross-examined by Sagar, after which the defence made their closing submission. Sagar told the magistrate the prosecution had failed to prove that the evidence Primus gave in the affidavit was false. He said this proved that Melville did not “knowingly and wilfully” attempt to tender a false affidavit before the Chief Magistrate.
JUST SO, Mr Manning?
Chalkdust, it seems, has a new example to add to his classic 2003 calypso – that is the decision of the Prime Minister and his government to relocate the seat of Parliament to a building to be constructed on the other side of Knox Street. Whatever the antecedent contemplation about it, the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that his government intends to sever the traditional connection between Parliament and the Red House has come as quite a surprise and shock to the citizenry, indeed as another “just so” action.
Apart from the inherent insensitivity and misguided nature of the decision, the fact that Mr Manning did not see the need to first consult the people about the removal of their parliament – the people’s parliament – from its historic place in the Red House is a matter of serious concern. Instead, the PM has decided to drop it on them “just so” and is determined to go ahead with this dubious plan in spite of the mounting level of dissent coming from a cross section of the population. Many, in fact, may now begin to feel a sense of betrayal after expecting a higher level of commitment to transparency and accountability from Mr Manning and his government.
The message now being sent by the PM is a truly disturbing one, that consultation is no longer important and that the opinion and voice of the people, no matter how reasonable, anxious or logically expressed, counts for very little. The attitude of Mr Manning in this matter is also illustrated in the fact that the idea of discussing the plan with the Chief Justice did not even occur to him, although the new parliament building he envisioned would replace the newly renovated Magistrates’ Courts, a costly new wing of which is yet to be occupied! Mr Manning has decided unilaterally to relocate the parliament, which belongs to the people, and that is that. He remains quite unimpressed, it seems, by a petitioning letter from Senator Ramchand which is also signed by 46 prominent citizens including academics, artists, conservationists and historians.
In reply, the PM told a public meeting on Saturday night that the protestors were making the fundamental error of believing that the Red House was the traditional seat of Parliament. Instead, he said, “it is the seat of government and it is to those historic roots that we are determined to return it.” Mr Manning’s intention is now becoming clear; he apparently wants to relocate the PM’s office from Whitehall to the refurbished Red House. Sad to say, however the Prime Minister desperately needs a lesson in the political history of Trinidad and Tobago. The fact is, the country’s law making body, through all the stages of its constitutional evolution since 1848, was always located in the Red House. Michael Anthony indicates this in his “Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago.” The Ramchand petition also records this historical fact: “The Red House has always been the seat of law making.”
While it is true that the Red House once also contained the offices of the Colonial Secretariat, that extinct pre-independence agency could hardly have had the organic, indeed visceral, connection with the populace as the Legislative Council-turned-Parliament which traces so much of their vital history. The fundamental error, it seems to us, is being made by the Prime Minister who is not only misusing history but is ominously ignoring the fact that the Parliament is not his; it belongs to the people. He cannot move it just so.
WITH IMMEDIATE effect, students of the Rousillac Hindu School will receive only strict vegetarian meals from the School Nutrition Programme.
Yesterday, some 231 students began classes at the Rousillac Mandir after a weekend fire that completely gutted their school building. Consumption of meat and meat by-products is not permitted on the mandir compound. Principal Sawitri Ramlogan said a request for strict vegetarian meals had already received a favourable response from the School Nutrition Company. When Newsday visited the relocated school yesterday morning, two Standard Five classes were being accommodated on an upper floor of the mandir, while Infants classes were being held in a converted kitchen area and Standards One to Four were in the main worship hall. T&TEC officials were on the compound speaking to the principal. They are looking into a possible electrical fault as the cause of the blaze which extensively damaged the school building.
The school’s public relations officer, Denis Tara, said efforts were made on Sunday to have the mandir ready in time for classes yesterday. Pipes and troughs were installed, rooms were re-painted and some electrical re-wiring was done. Up to yesterday work was still being done. Tara gave the assurance that classes at the mandir would not affect devotees wanting to pray. “First and foremost, this is a place of worship,” he emphasised. At the beginning of the day a prayer service was held by pundits of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha. The school has already received assistance in the form of chairs and desks from Mohess Road Hindu School, Springvale Hindu School, San Francique Hindu School and the Longdenville Presbyterian School. The Rousillac United Sports Club has promised to donate 12 fans and paint.
ARSON has been established as the cause of a fire which on Sunday destroyed the St Augustine apartment home of a Police Constable attached to the Homicide Bureau in Port-of-Spain.
And in an unrelated fire which happened yesterday, a Works Ministry employee attached to the President’s House had his Malick home destroyed by fire, which police believe was maliciously set. In the first instance, the 28-year-old Constable, who asked not to be named, secured his St Augustine apartment home around 5 am on Sunday and left. Around 7 am, he received a telephone call from a neighbour informing him that the apartment was on fire. The officer later telephoned St Joseph police and Tunapuna Fire officers.
The firemen arrived in time to save part of the $500,000 building in which the officer’s apartment is located, but not before the fire completely destroyed the apartment, taking with it $150,000 in household items. Sgt Don Lezama and a party of St Joseph detectives arrived on the scene and began investigations. Police are working on the theory that a molotov cocktail (a homemade bomb) was tossed through a window which set fire to the apartment. A motive for the arson has not yet been established. And in yesterday’s incident, around 10.45 am Denise Ravello left her San Juan home to visit Kenley Clifford, who lives as Upper Seventh Avenue, Malick.
On reaching Clifford’s home, Ravello heard the sounds of persons running in the yard and on checking, noticed smoke coming from the kitchen area. She quickly contacted the Morvant Fire and Police stations. However, by the time officers arrived, the fire had already completely engulfed the concrete house, leaving behind $250,000 in losses. FSO Ramsaroop and FSO Phillips spearheaded the futile fire-fighting effort. Visiting the scene were Insp Koon Koon, Cpl Walker and PC Antoine. Up to late yesterday no motive had been established for the blaze and Cpl Walker is continuing investigations. When Newsday visited the scene yesterday, neither Ravello nor Clifford was around.
SIX fires which occurred over the weekend in various parts of the country have left 24 persons, including children, homeless and a total of $2,040,000 in losses. Arson has been suspected in at least three of the fires.
The first blaze occurred on Friday night and left the Rousillac Hindu School almost completely destroyed. The last major fire reported was yesterday when a Malick house went up in flames.
The following is a run-down of the weekend fires:
FRIDAY
Fire at the Rousillac Hindu School leaves behind $900,000 in damage. The blaze was first noticed around 8.50 pm by security guards on duty. Recently, the school gained national prominence after persons threatened to physically harm students and teachers of the school, prompting the posting of armed guards. The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha manages the school.
SATURDAY
Two houses, standing side by side, and occupied by 13 persons who are all related, were destroyed by fire in which arson is suspected. Fire in one building quickly spread to the other. The blaze occurred moments after one of the female occupants had an argument with a male companion, who was later seen tossing a lit match into the house and running. Losses by the fire have been placed at $75,000. A family of eight including four children, were left homeless when a house in Union Road, Marabella was gutted by a fire, the origin of which is yet to be ascertained. The fire started at 10 am. Matriarch of the home, Ena Edwin, 64, suffered a heart attack less than 24 hours after the blaze destroyed her home. Losses caused by the fire have been put at $150,000.
SUNDAY
The St Augustine apartment home of a police Constable attached to the Homicide Bureau was gutted by fire which police have already established as being maliciously set. The officer secured his home around 5 am and left. Two hours later he received a telephone call and was told that his home was on fire. Losses have been estimated at $650,000. Carlton Arindell, 80, a pensioner of Laventille was left homeless after fire gutted his house with losses amounting to $15,000.
MONDAY
Kenley Clifford, 53, an employee of the Works and Transport Ministry was left homeless after his Upper Seventh Avenue, Malick home was destroyed by fire which police suspect was maliciously set. The house and its content were worth $250,000.
“The Mantric Approach of the Vedas” is a work in progress by Vamadeva Shastri (David Frawley) to be published later this year.
Frawley a long time correspondent to the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad & Tobago has kindly sent a sampling of this interesting work in progress. Frawley, true to his trademark style, explains complex Hindu thought in simple language so that it makes sense to the Western mind. Frawley observes “The Vedas are mantric teachings. They consist of various mantric chants or hymns cognized by different seers or Rishis from the Cosmic Mind. They set forth Dharma or natural law, which is mantra in manifestation. As such the Vedas are impersonal and eternal, just as cosmic law cannot vary. This same mantric knowledge gives rise to different sciences (vidyas) according to the angle of vision with which we approach it.
Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology, Yoga, and Vedanta all arise from it and represent different ways of looking through it.” “The Vedic language is based upon an earlier more primordial language of seed (bija) mantras. These are single syllable sounds or roots like OM that have multiple meanings and indications depending upon their intonation and the intention with which they are used. Out of the bija or root language arises the language of the Vedic texts, which is already differentiated, though not fully, into nouns and verbs.” Frawley introduces the reader to the Vedic mantric approach with a few important bija mantras and then the main Vedic chant, the Gayatri mantra, of twenty four syllables.” Frawley explains.
Five Main Bija Mantras OM is the most important of all mantras. All mantras generally begin and often also end with OM. However, there is much confusion about OM. OM is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energises whatever we say after it. That is why all mantras begin with OM. OM is also the mantra of ascent and causes our energy to rise upward into the infinite. OM is expansive and increases the fire, air and ether elements, particularly ether. It also gives strength, protection and grace. It connects us with the guidance power of the inner Guru.
The Four Great Goddess Mantras : There are four great Goddess mantras that govern the prime forms of energy as magnetic force, electrical force, heat, and light. This is a Tantric teaching that reflects the Vedic Word and the four main Vedic deities. HRIM (pronounced Hreem) is the prime mantra of the Great Goddess and ruler of the worlds and holds all her creative and healing powers. HRIM governs over the cosmic magnetic energy and the power of the soul and causal body. It awakens us at a soul or heart level, connecting us to Divine forces of love and attraction. HRIM is the mantra of the Divine Maya that destroys the worldly maya. It has a solar quality to it but more of a dawn-like effect. It is charming and alluring, yet purifying. Through it we can control the illusion power of our own minds.
KRIM (pronounced Kreem) is the great mantra of Kali, the Goddess of energy and transformation. It governs over prana as lightning or electrical energy. KRIM grants all spiritual faculties and powers – from the arousing of kundalini to opening the third eye. It has a special power relative to the lower chakras, which it can both stimulate and transform. It helps awaken and purify the subtle body. As a mantra of work and transformation KRIM is the mantra of Kriya Yoga, the Yoga of practice. It is the main mantra of the Yoga Shakti. As it is a strong mantra it should be used with care.
HUM (pronounced Hoom) is a mantra of the inner fire or thermogenic force. It both calls the divine down into us and offers our soul upward to the Divine for transformation in the sacred fire of awareness. It is a Shiva mantra but also a mantra of Chandi, the fierce form of Kali. It is used to destroy negativity and creates great passion and vitality. As a powerful mantra it should also be used carefully. Yet it can be used in a more gentle manner to invoke divine grace and protection. Through it we can offer ourselves or our afflictions into the Divine for purification and transformation.
SHRIM (pronounced Shreem) is a mantra of love, devotion and beauty, relating to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Beauty and divine grace. Yet SHRIM works at a deeper level than merely to give us the good things of life, including health. It takes us to the heart and gives faith and steadiness to our emotional nature. SHRIM allows us to surrender to, take refuge in, or be immersed in whatever we offer the mantra to. It is the mantra of beauty and delight and has a pleasing lunar quality. It also relates to the head and can be used to flood the senses with divine beauty and delight. It promotes health and aids in fertility and rejuvenation.
HRIM is a mantra of the Sun, particularly in terms of illumination. It increases our aspiration and receptivity to Divine light, wisdom and truth. It is a mantra of the region of heaven or the consciousness space in which all the worlds exist. KRIM is a mantra of Indra, the supreme deity of the Vedas, the Divine as the cosmic lord and enlightenment force. It represents the force of the atmosphere (Atmic sphere) and carries the supreme life force. HUM is a Vedic mantra of Agni or fire. It is the mantra used to make offerings into the sacred fire. It represents the soul hidden the body, the Divine immanent in the world. It governs the earth and the material sphere in general. SHRIM is a Soma mantra. It purifies and integrates the various aspects of our nature and renders them into ambrosia.
