“As espoused by our union’s founding father Adrian Cola Rienzi, one could not control one’s destiny at the workplace without having some say in directing the nation’s course.

Thus agriculture, fishing, livestock farming, the taxi driver, the salesperson in a store, the CEPEP worker etc, are all working class and all contributed to the development of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore all have a right to celebrate Labour Day wherever and however is convenient to them.” The union cited the national Carnival celebration which had “gained impetus on Duke Street but is now celebrated in every nook and cranny from Port of Spain, to San Fernando, to Couva, to Sangre Grande, to Tobago.” The union said it believes Labour Day, as the next working class holiday, should also be celebrated everywhere.

“It should not be isolated to one geographical location, since this defeats the very purpose for its vision – to educate and raise the awareness of the general population.

It is a national celebration and the time has come for it to be truly celebrated nationally.” The celebration is expected to begin with a march from the Esperanza Recreation Ground to Dow Village onto the California Main Road and continue through the Couva main road into Rienzi Complex for a mass meeting and cultural show.

“We believe it is better to have one hundred thousand people celebrating throughout our beloved country rather than fifteen thousand in Fyzabad alone.”

The incident took place shortly after 5 am at the St Martin de Porres RC Church compound in Gonzales, near a dormitory where Fr Harvey — who is on sabbatical — had over-nighted to prepare for a seminary at Mt St Benedict. After being robbed, the priest was hottied and gagged.

For close to half an hour, the outspoken priest who is known for his decades of working with at-risk youths struggled to free himself while silently praying to the Almighty to get through the ordeal.

The drama unfolded when Fr Harvey was leaving the quarters when he was accosted by a gunman.

A stunned Fr Harvey was escorted back into the living quarters of the church by the gunman who was joined by two accomplices, all armed. The bandits ransacked the presbytery.

At one point, Fr Harvey later told police, one of the gunmen became agitated and said to him, “You is a priest, you must have money.” The gunmen threatened to kill Fr Harvey. It was reported that when one of the bandits asked Fr Harvey if he was kidnapped, would Archbishop Joseph Harris pay a $50,000 ransom? The distressed priest answered, ‘no.’ The priest was robbed of $1,000, a watch given to him as a gift and a cell phone. The bandits then used tie-straps to hog-tie Fr Harvey while they covered his mouth with duct tape. The bandits moved to the church where they forced open a door. The House of God was also ransacked but when nothing of value was found, the three ran out of the church and escaped.

Fr Harvey later told police he began to flex his bound hands in such a way that he was eventually able to free them from the straps.

He then alerted nearby residents who alerted the police. The shaken priest would later tell shocked parishioners, “I now know how a pig feels when it is tied up.” Fr Harvey said nowhere is safe in this country and not even a man of the cloth is safe. He feels the bandits knew who he was when they carried out the robbery. Fr Harvey refused to be taken for medical treatment telling police he was alright although a bit shaken up. He later went to TSTT to deactivate the sim card in his stolen cellphone.

Yesterday, the Catholic Media Services Limited (Camsel) issued a press release on the robbery.

“Police are currently investigating a report in which Roman Catholic priest Fr Harvey was robbed at gunpoint by three men. The incident took place outside the St Martin’s RC Church, Gonzales early Monday morning.

“Fr Harvey was reported to have spent the night at the church to prepare for a seminar at the Seminary of St John Vianney on the Uganda Matters at Mt St Benedict.

The bandits tied up Fr Harvey, ransacked the presbytery and took a $1,000, a mobile phone and other items from the church before making their escape. The assailants also threatened to kill the priest,” the release stated. Yesterday, Monsignor Christian Pereira said he was deeply saddened over the incident and said thanked God that Fr Harvey was unharmed. “The reality of crime is coming home to all of us and we are all saddened to see how far it has gone where criminals have no regard for a man of God. We trust and pray that these persons will find some mercy from God,” Msgr Pereira said.

The reason for the school’s early dismissal remained unclear as parents gave differing accounts as to why they had been asked to collect their children with one parent stating he had been informed by text message about a rodent infestation at the school.

“The reason why I came to pick up my son today is because I get a text that there is a rat infestation and a cockroach problem in the school and until they don’t sort it out, the Ministry, the teachers wouldn’t be coming back,” the parent said after picking up his son who is in standard three.

Another parent who was picking up seven students said she had been informed that there was no water.

An education ministry official said classes had been dismissed around lunch time to give parents enough time to collect their children.

The official said there were several issues at the school including a need for repairs to be carried out and a “pigeon problem” for which the principal had contacted an exterminator to deal with.

“In the short term, the city corporation would be working to sanitise and clean the school so that the EFCL would be able to effect repairs in the shortest possible time.”

I wonder if the Prime Minister would have noticed the deplorable conditions of the terminal buildings, where people have to wait to board the ferry and the kind of seating arrangements they endure doing so.

I understand the trip was delayed by 45 minutes, and I wonder if he had to sit there not knowing what was going on, since no one bothered to inform the travellers about the delay, or did so at some point later than the scheduled departure.

I wonder if he received a complimentary bottle of water, at least.

I wonder if he could relate to three and more hours of this situation as we have now become accustomed to.

I understand that it may have been raining in Port of Spain. Did the Prime Minister have the unpleasant task of walking to the ferry in the downpour since there is no sheltered walkway to the vessel, or negotiating the slippery gangway to get on board as so many of our older folk would have to do? I understand also that he mingled with the passengers, getting their views on the ferry service and no doubt catching up on some good Tobago ole talk.

But I wonder if he noticed the cramped conditions of the seating arrangements and the unhealthy conditions of the washrooms on the vessel, in spite of the tremendous work done by the crew to keep these in good condition.

Certainly he experienced the crawl of the fast ferry, which we are advised was operating on only three of its four engines, one of which blew out on the way.

That meant that the usual three-hour journey would have gone to five, giving the Prime Minister enough time to fully experience the gut-wrenching rocking of the boat making its slow way through the Bocas, and to observe the many people vomiting their guts out, trying desperately to reach the washrooms in safety.

I tip my hat to Rowley as I cannot recall in my limited knowledge of any Prime Minister being brave enough to travel on the ferry between Trinidad and Tobago.

We know of course of those who did the helicopter trip on a regular basis.

That he made the decision to make this journey at the height of all the controversy surrounding the sea bridge and to mingle with the irate travelling public suggest to me that Rowley wanted to have first-hand, experiential knowledge of the woes of the sea bridge, so that he can take appropriate action to eradicate these issues once and for all.

So, like the rest of TT , I sit in anticipation of a swift solution to the problems of the sea bridge. Clearly, based on his actions on landing in Tobago, the Prime Minister must have been terribly disappointed, angered even, at the state of affairs. I empathise with the truckers who felt snubbed by his response, but recuperation from the ordeal must have been uppermost in his mind.

Once again Rowley has broken ground and has demonstrated that indeed he is a man of the people.

But I sit and I wonder…

He is not superman.

He is a geologist and not a magician. So I know that he will once more have to depend on the Port Authority to perform the herculean task of fixing this ongoing, overbearing situation, which is costing and hurting Tobagonians in so many ways.

Yes, I wonder… Would his trip be in vain?

GARVIN COLE Tobago

Through the eyes of many parents living a life of poverty, early marriage of their daughter reduces in some way their poverty and creates a better life for their daughter.

Little do they know their daughters’ dreams are not to be married off at an age 16 but to become educated, be independent and make something of themselves, to assist their parents and siblings out of a life of poverty.

How does marrying a daughter at age 16 reduce poverty for parents? Does it mean one less meal to cater for? Is it one less child to protect and secure? Is it one less child to provide for? No, marrying a daughter at age 16 simply means relieving parents of a burden while hoping she has a better life. But what better life can she have when married at such an early age? It is the greatest news for the year so far that child marriage has been abolished. It was an amazing relief to wake up and read, “No more child brides.” These girls can now chase their dreams and discover new ways to help their families out of poverty. They can be independent and make something of themselves.

Parents must realise daughters are not a burden but a gift from God. They are no different from sons and should be respected the same way.

NIRMALA GOORDEEN via email

Last Friday, the Lower House followed the Senate to introduce a universal marriage age of 18, but an irate Maharaj has since hinted at a legal challenge to this new law. Edwards in a press release said Maharaj’s stance taints the image of this country and, “All right thinking citizens.” He said Maharaj was wrong to support old laws which according to him, are gender biased and contrary to children’s rights.

“The youth of today respect tradition in as far as there is a proper rationale for its continuance.

History shows that child marriage was once somewhat accepted globally as it tended to have several benefits for a minor whose family wished them a better life when opportunities for progress were scarce. However this must no longer be an option,” Edwards said.

“Respected societies periodically take the time to assess its traditions and practices that have the potential to either facilitate or stymie growth.” He urged Maharaj to not try to reverse Parliament’s prohibition on child marriage.

“Having debated and voted in the Senate on this issue, I stressed the dangers of retaining legislation which promotes slavery or child labour; a foregoing of opportunities; unhealthy physical, mental and emotional development and forced marriage. Today my position remains the same,” Edwards said.

He said Maharaj’s post as secretary general of the Maha Sabha gives him a certain degree of influence and he hoped Maharaj’s stance would not hurt efforts to advance society.

“On behalf of the Commonwealth Youth Council, the TT Youth Convention and the youths who share similar views, I wish to commend fellow Members of Parliament for taking the most obvious decision to protect the children of this country and positively shape the environment in which future generations will be raised,” Edwards said.

Charles was taken by ambulance to St Clair Medical where he was listed in critical condition.

On Sunday at around 1 pm Charles succumbed to the injuries sustained. Police investigators said yesterday that they were treating the death as an accident and they have ruled out suicide as a motive for the incident.

Employees and co-workers of Charles were in a state of mourning on Sunday after learning of his demise. The management of National Flour Mills also expressed condolences to friends, family and co-workers of Charles who had been working with NFM for the past 25 years.

Officers of the Central Police Station who are probing the incident went to NFM yesterday and interviewed several persons as part of their investigations

According to the recommendations, the President appoints: * One from among people who hold or have held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court; and * Two from among people with legal qualifications, at least one of whom is not in active practice as such, after the President has consulted with such organisations, if any, as he thinks fit.

The members are usually appointed for three-year terms.

Based on my level head and common sense: * There are two people “who hold or have held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court.” * There are three people “with legal qualifications, at least one of whom is not in active practice.” Usually, former judges are not in active practice, at least for 10 years.

Could somebody please explain to those of us with simple but non-legal minds where is the problem?

PHILIP AYOUNG-CHEE via email

Harry’s relatives were among several families gathered at the Forensic Science Centre in St James awaiting autopsy results on loved ones murdered on the weekend.

“Why take him to Port of Spain and not Mt Hope,” a relative asked.

“We believe had he been treated earlier, he could have survived. Mt Hope is a shorter trip from where he was shot, instead of Port of Spain.” Harry, 21, was at Maraj Street in El Socorro liming with family and was about to go home when at 12.30 am, he was caught in a drive-by shooting.

Relatives said when they arrived he was still alive. Police told them they would take him to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope. But when they arrived at that hospital, relatives were told Harry never arrived.

They later found out he died while be taken to Port of Spain General Hospital. An autopsy confirmed Harry died from gunshot wounds.

Police are also investigating the murder of 22-year-old Kareem Joseph of Quevado Circular, East Dry River. His relatives were reluctant to speak with reporters yesterday at the Centre. Police said Joseph, who was shot, was found on Duncan Street near Freelancers Steel Pan Orchestra. He died later at the city hospital.

Also at the Centre yesterday, relatives of Christopher Walker who was shot dead on Saturday by a masked man, described him as a pillar of their family.

They said Walker also known as “Moman”, was a jack of all trades who last worked in construction.

“He was always ready to provide for us and anything he could help us with, he wouldn’t hesitate,” a relative said.

He gave the assurance yesterday during the opening address at a Caricom counter-terrorism strategy conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.

Dillon said a changing global climate has forced regional law enforcement agencies to re-think traditional counter-terrorism initiatives and incorporate a multipronged approach to treat with the threat of terrorism.

He added that while any country is a potential target to international terrorism, greater cooperation and exchange of intelligence between regional and international partners can go a long way in rooting out extremists.

“As we sit here today, we must all acknowledge two undeniable truths, that terrorism and the threat it poses has changed the world and; no country is immune to its impact.

“But our geographical position has also contributed to the osmosis of ideas and ideologies between the Caribbean region and wider global community and shaped our societies in both positive and negative ways,” Dillon said. In addition to terrorist threats and the recent phenomenon of home-grown extremists, the transshipment of arms and narcotics continues to present a challenge to regional security agencies.

Dillon maintained that government is prepared to do whatever it takes to disrupt lines of transport for illicit items as well as the inclusion of communications technology in the fight against terrorism. “The region’s counter-terrorist framework must incorporate development of succinct counter messages at national and regional levels and use physical as well as cyber communication platforms to disrupt destructive ideologies.” He said while government plays a key role in the fight against terror, all stakeholders must do their part as he called on Caricom to be more inclusive of those most susceptible to radical ideologies and engage in activities that would prevent extremism before it begins.

“Importantly, these counter messages must not only discourage use of violent extremism as a mechanism for expressing grievances by vulnerable individuals.

Such messages must also avoid antagonizing sentiments of mistrust in vulnerable populations.

Key components of Caricom’s counter terrorism strategy must also give primary focus to the empowerment at regional level, of communities, the youth and women given the proven ability of these groups as change agents.”