The Ministry of Planning and Development announced the project’s approval in a media statement yesterday.

The project also includes the upgrade of the Plaza San Carlos historical district for commercial and heritage activities and will feature high quality public spaces as well as revitalisation and re-purposing of buildings located within the plaza. The Public Transport Service Corporation maintenance facility at Lady Hailes Avenue, which services operations in South Trinidad is also scheduled for relocation as lands have already been identified at Tarouba. The plan also calls for the relocation of approximately 64 households along the water front and which would be managed by the Land Settlement Agency. The selected projects are based on the 2014 Integrated Feasibility Assessment Report that assessed the practicability of redeveloping the San Fernando waterfront, the Ministry stated.

The report is credited by a series of consultations with stakeholders during the period of March 24, 2014 and August 13, 2014 and included the San Fernando Fishermen Association, the San Fernando Business Association, (SBA) and a presentation of a demand assessment report to the Mayor and Councillors of the San Fernando City Corporation. Contacted for comment, SBA president Daphne Bartlett said no one in the ministry had contacted the association and they were made aware of what was taking place after it had appeared in the newspapers. The ministry said the phase one projects are “within a trajectory of eight to 12 months for completion from start date.

With its success, a multi-story car park, recreational fishing, a modern public fish market and a waterfront boardwalk are some attractions of interest.”

He was acquitted of the unlawful killing (manslaughter) of a Cunupia pipe fitter in 2003. Samad was one of several police officers who went to George Street, Cunupia, on February 5, 2003, to execute a search warrant at Bernard Albarado’s home.

He was armed with an Uzi sub machine gun which he claimed was accidentally fired resulting Albarado’s death. In their ruling, Yorke-Soo Hon and Mohammed held that the judge was correct not to send the case to the jury since the prosecution failed in its duty to establish that a case had been made out against Samad. “In this case, the direct evidence and the medical evidence are in violent conflict,” Yorke-Soo Hon said.

She said by withdrawing the case from the jury, the judge acted in the best interest of justice and did not usurp the jury’s function as the State claimed in its appeal.

“Before getting to the stage of inviting the jury to consider the evidence, the prosecution must have established a prima facie case. The difficulty for the prosecution is that they were unable to pass this first hurdle because there was a material defect in that they were unable to produce any evidence to support the trajectory of the bullet and explain the exact manner in which the deceased met his death.”

Commissioned officer Winston Springer sued the defence council of the TTDF for its failure to hear his challenge to the decision of his commanding officer to adjust his seniority date and promotion.

In a ruling in Springer’s judicial review claim, Justice Ricky Rahim ordered that he was entitled to a decision of the council and there was unreasonable delay on its part to treat with the complaint.

Springer’s complaint was lodged on June 5, 2014.

After that seniority dates as a Lieutenant, as he then was, will be effective from July 25, 2011 rather than June 15, 2005, as he expected.

In his lawsuit, Springer, of Bon Air, Arouca, said despite all efforts on his part the council failed to make a decision on his complaint and his career advancement was in abeyance.

He also noted that his compulsory retirement date was due on June 17, 2016.

In a letter dated June 12 to Springer’s attorney Gerald Ramdeen, the secretary to the council said the council met on May 5 and agreed to promote him retroactively to the rank of captain effective June 15, 2009.

The letter also stated that the chief of defence staff will take steps to have the quantum of the salary arrears and terminal benefits calculated.

Only last week it was revealed that the council failed to meet for over five years, from 2012 to 2016 when a meeting was finally held on July 14, 2016 to treat with complaints before it by serving officers.

In that ruling, Justice Frank Seepersad was critical of the former People’s Partnership administration for failing to convene the council.

He said, “Such a circumstance is simply unacceptable and really amounts to a gross dereliction of the statutory obligation that it was mandated to follow.”

In one of the incidents, police jointly charged Dareem Hamilton and a 15-year-old boy who was released in the care of his mother after he pleaded guilty.

Hamilton, of Thompson Gardens in Tarodale, appeared yesterday in the First Court charged with several counts of robbery with aggravation and possessions of guns and ammunition.

Prosecutor Cleydon Seedan told the court that on September 13, 2012, at about 11.20 am, Irma Samlal was at her businessplace Samlal’s Grocery at Southern Main Road, La Romaine, when Hamilton armed with a cutlass entered and announced a hold-up.

He demanded cash and Samlal handed him $3,500. Hamilton walked away and Samlal called the police.

On December 8, 2012 police met Hamilton at the San Fernando Police Station where he confessed to the crime.

He said he shared up the money at Peters Street, La Romaine.

PC Poolchan of the Southern Division Task Force laid the charge.

Two months later at about 9.30 am on November 12, Shova Moonilal-Forbes was at her businessplace also at Southern Main Road when Hamilton robbed her of $5,000 and two bottles of rum together valued $200. He was charged with that robbery by PC Noyan on December 8, 2012.

Seedan told the court that about 8.10 am on December 6, 2012, Peter Rattan, Narvin Jaimungal, Narine Jaimungal and Samaroo Seelochan were at La Plaisance Road, La Romaine when Hamilton, armed with a gun, robbed them of several items including four gold chains, two gold pendants, TT$ 1,115, US$ 627, two TT driver’s permits and one USA driver’s permit.

Police went to Temple Street, La Romaine and saw Hamilton sitting in a green. Police told him of the report of robbery with aggravation.

They searched him and found a gun with a magazine, which contained eight rounds of ammunition, in the waist of his pants. In the left front pants pocket, they found the stolen chains and pendants.

In his right front pocket, police found the money as well as the drivers permits and other items. PC Gerod of the Guard and Emergency Branch laid the charge.

At about 2 pm on March 19, last year, Vishal Moonlalsingh was on duty at Charran’s Cosmetics and Beauty Store at Ste Margaret’s Junction, Claxton Bay when he saw the 15-yearold boy and Hamilton, who had a firearm, enter the establishment.

They robbed him of a quantity of items. Police went to Old Train Line Road, Claxton Bay where they met the boy in the presence of his 19-year-old brother.

On March 27, police met Hamilton at the Marabella Police Station. PC Gordon of the Ste Margaret’s Police Station charged them.

The last set of robberies took place at about 8.48 pm on April 2, last year.

Constable Smith and other police officers received a report and went to Jing Supermarket at Southern Main Road, Marabella.

They saw Hamilton pointing a gun at a man on the ground.

Police ordered him to put down the gun but he left through a back entrance. He was chased and arrested a short distance away in some bushes with a gun in the waist of his pants.

Police searched a black bag which he had and found $1,724 and a quantity of Digicel and Bmobile cards.

Smith charged him with possession of a firearm, ammunition and robbery with aggravation.

Yesterday defence attorney Perusha Lord represented Hamilton and the minor.

The minor, she submitted, had neither previous convictions nor pending matters.

He understood the seriousness of the offence and expressed remorse, Lord told the magistrate.

Lord said the boy does not want to be labelled a scum of society and aspires to become an underwater welder.

Antoine released him in the care of his mother and ordered a probation officer’s report. She adjourned the case to July 31.

Hamilton spent one year and three months in custody and was remorseful for the wrong he did, the attorney said.

“He is prime minister only by virtue of a piece of paper signed by the President,” Moonilal said on the weekend at the Mohess Road Hindu School where he hosted an open clinic and medical fair for those affected by Tropical Storm Bret.

“It is very unfortunate that incident (the hiring and firing) came at a time when the country is in mourning,” he said, referring to the murders of Hafeeza Rose Mohammed and her 13-year-old neighbour Videsh Subar last week in Malabar.

Moonilal said since the prime minister appointed and then fired McDonald, he is ultimately responsible for the unsettling brouhahah.

Speaking on the free-for-all at the Office of the President in which members of McDonald’s constituency were able to rub shoulders with President Anthony Carmona at McDonald’s swearing in last Friday, Moonilal said there have been contradictory information which speak volumes as to how something like this could happen.

It shows, he added, that Mc- Donald lacked discretion and judegment as an individual was not invited, but based on the recommendation of Mc Donald, was allowed inside President’s House. He said that the fact that Rowley had to go back on his own decision to hire McDonald, shows the leader of government is incapable of making sound decisions as leader of Cabinet.

Commenting on the issue of a Rio Claro resident posting threats to the primie minister and his family via social media, Moonilal said, “I do not condone persons using social media to threaten anyone. Whether it is the prime Minister or the Opposition Leader.” He however said that there are many in society who are lashing out because of anger over the government’s bumbling when it comes to managing the affairs of the country.

The health clinic was coordinated by Dr Rai Ragbir and saw Dr Rishi Rampersad as well as nurses and health specialists in charge of the fair at which there were free diabetes, blood pressure and other tests conducted.

Moonilal said parts of his constituency suffered tremendously following the tropical storm. From a medical standpoint issues of concern, post Bret include an increase in mosquito- borne diseases and floodwaters invading homes and business places leaving people especially chidlren susceptible to water-borne diseases.

“We are not satisfied that the Ministry of Health and the public medical institutions are doing enough to handle the health issues sustained by flood victims,” Moonilal said adding that because a large number of those affected by the flood include children and the elderly, he decided to arrange this medical fair in collaboration with Dr Ragbir.

He said that the people of Penal, Debe and Oropouche are still waiting for health workers to spray their villages for mosquitoes and other insects.

Moonilal claimed that recently, a 26-year-old died of dengue and this is why the Ministry of Health should be concerned.

“Dengue appears to be back and with the aftermath of the floods there are mosquito infestations everywhere.”

The double tragedy has left two families from Fyzabad and Penal in mourning. According to reports, Ravi Ramnarine, 50, who is spending a few days with relatives in South wanted to eat a meal of bake and shark and his relatives along with a few friends went to Maracas Bay on Sunday afternoon.

After eating the meal late Sunday, Ravi decided that because he was scheduled to leave on Tuesday (today) he wanted to take a sea bath and encouraged his other friends and relatives to accompany him into the waters, however by that time lifeguards had completed their duties but one of the guards was still in the life guard quarters.

Ravi along with Premchand Singh, 50, of Fyzabad and Sandra Singh, 53, on Penal along with others were heard screaming frantically after they were swept further into the sea by a monster wave. The life guard along with others wasted no time in attempting to rescue the bathers. However, due to the strong current Premchand was swept away but Ravi and Sandra were rescued by the life guard and others.

Two other persons who are yet to be named were also rescued closer to the shoreline. Ravi and Sandra were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where Sandra succumbed to drowning while Ravi was warded for observation. At about 10.30 pm on Sunday, persons in the vicinity of Sam’s Bar saw the body of Premchand wash ashore and District Medical Officer Dr Pooran along with Senior Superintendent Sagramsingh and Inspector Taylor, Cpl Ali and Cpl Rajkumar along with others visited the scene.

Yesterday, Parbatee Ramlall, sister of Premchand said that she was told the dreaded news on Sunday that her brother had drowned and she was asked to go to the Portof- Spain mortuary to identify his body. Parbatee said that she did not know how her brother ended up at Maracas Bay or the details surrounding his death.

However she noted that she along with relatives were deeply saddened over his demise and were awaiting further details on the incident. Investigations are continuing.

On social media, pictures of horrendous torrents in Cascade circulated. Numerous streets in the city were submerged. And businesses that were open were forced to close.

“Our capital city floods every rainy season, every year and pedestrians are made to suffer,” remarked businessman Gary Aboud.

“After decades of energy wealth, we fail at even the simplest organised management and preparedness of basic recurring events like flash flooding and heavy rains. Will we ever get it right?” We welcome the effort by the Ministry of Works and Transport to be responsive to these issues.

In a statement, the Ministry of Works said a technical team had been dispatched to conduct preliminary assessments in affected areas with an aim of providing immediate relief to residents.

The ministry further advised residents to visit its website to identify all infrastructural issues so that the relevant agencies can be sent to provide the necessary assistance in the shortest possible time frame.

Social media is a useful tool which can enable the State to get a clearer picture of the situation and to respond in a timely way.

But the issue is what happens when things become so bad that residents are unable to have the luxury of turning on their computers or connecting their smartphones to the Internet? The more long-term issue is the need for the State to stop placing emphasis on being reactive and to always be proactive.

For sure, it is very important that mechanisms are in place to respond to events.

These mechanisms must be tested and refined and subject to review so as to work as efficiently as possible.

However, we are sure the ministry will agree that there is a need to have water courses cleared regularly. What happened in Cascade is indicative of how saturated that area quickly became.

It is also clear that not enough long-term planning work is being done, despite there being several State entities dedicated to this. Not only must plans in the regional corporations be devised on the level of local government, but there needs to also be a national plan.

Further, these plans must be consistently enforced.

It seems by now we all know the causes of flash flooding: over-development of elevated areas; blockage of drainage by pollution; unstable top soil due to deforestation; and improper land use practices.

We have spent millions of dollars on plans to deal with drainage in Port of Spain and it seems strange that after so much expenditure, we are still not getting a handle on the situation.

Has the time come for a specific agency to deal with the question of drainage nationally? Has the current arrangement — with a ministry, a town and country planning agency, and various public utilities — worked efficiently? We may also consider whether there needs to be more proactive action on the part of citizens.

For example, in the US and Canada, there is a growing movement — called Depave — which is tearing up concrete and asphalt in local neighbourhoods and replacing it with gardens to soak up rainwater and help prevent flooding. And although Depave is largely unknown here, it taps into the fact that citizens, too, have a role to play in combating the deluge.

TIC 2017 opens on Thursday and runs until Sunday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

The association also said yesterday that its membership readily came forward to donate more than 400 hampers “which they envisioned would be essential in such a critical period for those affected.” To date, hampers have been distributed to people living in areas such as Caparo, Endeavour, Las Lomas, Rio Claro and Brasil.

“However the process has not curtailed, as members continue to be moved to send assistance,” the association said.

TTMA president Christopher Alcazar said, “While it is devastating to see the damage after the storm, it is heart-warming to see the manufacturing community rally together.

I think this response is important to note not as a PR initiative but rather what should be highlighted is that it is up to us all as a community of ‘Trinbagonians’ to lend a helping hand to those who need it.

The TTMA secretariat thanked all who assisted in its relief effort but said special mention had to be made of the companies “who answered the call immediately and without reservation”.

These include National Flour Mills, Premium Products, VEMCO, Nestle Trinidad, Dumore Enterprises, Langston Roach Industries, S.M. Jaleel & Company, Trinidad Tissues, Associated Brands, John Dickenson & Company (W.I.), CGA, Happi Products, Ace Printery Fed-Traders, Albrosco, Global Marketing Enterprises, Angostura, Caribbean Packaging Industries, Bermudez Biscuit Company and the staff of NGC.

Someone who was not a listed guest ended up taking photographs with the President at his office.

If the alleged activities of this person are true, then there is even greater cause for alarm.

The old people say that one must be careful of the company one keeps. The minister involved exercised extremely poor judgment in not having the person listed as a guest.

LINUS F DIDIER Mt Hope

In making the request, the group referred to statements by Cuffie on May 8, 2017 at the formal opening of the Government Campus Plaza. Cuffie was quoted as saying government was saving $22 million in rent for the various government departments when it moved ministries into the plaza.

Cuffie said when the PNM administration assumed office there was significant spending on unoccupied buildings but the government was not renting any unoccupied buildings at the moment.

Gary Aboud, corporate secretary of FFOS, said the group made numerous requests for the information from the government including the prime minister but the information was not forthcoming.

He said in a situation in which the government was retrenching people, he was asking the government to save the economy by cutting the waste out of government expenditure and one of the ways in which the government was wasting money was in the many buildings rented from alleged party financiers at exorbitant fees.

He referred to One Alexandra Place which, he said, was rented from one of the party’s faithful and several other buildings which FFOS had identified publicly to the government and appealed to them to rationalise these rentals rather than laying off people.

He said the government could regain public confidence by showing that its rentals are along the same expenditure levels as private sector levels. He said if the prime minister is saving the economy, he has to justify to the public that the government is not throwing away money through exorbitant rentals as payback for campaign financing which, he said, was something very common in the Third World.

He said instead of making a public boast, Cuffie should supply the requested information to FFOS so that the group could compare what the government is paying with private sector rates. He said what is needed is more than just showing that the building is occupied, but there needs to be a clear rationale of the need to spend money on rentals.

He questioned whether the buildings were fully occupied or whether space was being saved.

He said if the minister embraced accountability, he would welcome the idea of comparing private sector rental rates to those paid by his Government.