President of the San Fernando Business Association, (SFBA) Daphne Bartlett, as well as former Member of Parliament for San Fernando West Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, both welcomed the statement by San Fernando West MP, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi that Government had sourced $500 million for an early start of some aspects of the project. However, both Bertlett and Seepersad- Bachan expressed the hope that the original design would be maintained and that it would not be a clone of the Port of Spain Waterfront Development, replete with glass buildings.

Seepersad-Bachan, who said she handed over some 3,500 files prepared by southerners on the project to Al-Rawi when he succeeded her as the MP for San Fernando West, said she hopes they maintain the quaint architecture that characterises the southern city.

“It will be an honour to see the project continue as it was stakeholders from San Fernando who came forward and put this idea together in the interest of San Fernando and its environs. Most important is that it was designed on the basis that it would maintain the old architecture of San Fernando and in keeping with the tourist attraction that is different from Port of Spain.” She said she was also happy San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello has taken the decision to relocate the train engine from its temporary home on the Harris Promenade to its original home on King’s Wharf.

“That is where it belongs, the old toll bell is still there, the museum can be built around it and we could recreate that effect of the Last Train to San Fernando calypso,” recalling that she was privileged to witness the historic last train which made its way to San Fernando.

Bartlett, who was appointed to chair the committee undertaking the project under the last administration, said while she is no longer consulted, “We are very happy the project is going to be started as we have big plans for the southern part of the island.

“This will create a lot of opportunities, especially for tourism, including sporting tourism.

I just hope they maintain the original plan and do not change it.” Pointing out that a final project was approved and there was agreement to accommodate firshermen on the waterfront, Bartlett questioned a decision to remove them. She also queried figures relating to the number of squatters to be relocated.

“I am not sure how they arrived at a figure of 144 squatters because the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) had settled some of them, and there were about 70 left to be settled.

I am not sure what part of the plan they will be executing, but I think they need to communicate with San Fernandians who hold the project near and dear to their hearts.

The end result must be worthwhile for everyone and bring value to the area.”

Police said that at about 5.30 pm, the bandit stormed Flourishing Supermarket in Cipero Road, Retrench Village, San Fernando and announced a hold up. He proceeded to rob the cashier of over $1,000.

The guard, whipped out his firearm, confronted and shot the bandit. Eyewitnesses contacted the Ste Madeleine Police Station and police found the bandit bleeding in the supermarket.

He was taken to San Fernando General Hospital where he remains warded in stable condition under police guard. The bandit’s gun was seized and the money returned to the owner of the business.

Another weapon was also found at the supermarket and when officers determined it to be unlicensed, they arrested the guard.

Police said the guard will be charged with possession of an illegal firearm and possession of illegal ammunition.

The bandit, when he is discharged from hospital, will face a number of charges including attempted robbery and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

In Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicle (1) it is written that Magog was the second son of Japheth.

It is also said that Magog was a people east of the Cimmerians and west of the Medes.

In Ezek 38:2, Magog is described as a country and the leader is Gog. Magog also stands for tribes near the Black Sea.

In London there are large effigies of God and Magog.

Preservation of the effigies can be traced in English history to show that the Angles and Saxons were connected to different races living in Cancasus or the Black Sea.

Their ancestors are the Teutonic and Slav races mentioned in the Quran. It is said that their ancestors will dominate the European nations.

God said: “I have created some of my servants whom none can destroy but myself ” (KU. P 301).

The Gospels state: Nations shall rise against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms.

There shall be famine, pestilence and earthquakes in several places which are the beginnings of sorrow (Matthew 24:7, 8 and Luke 21:11).

The Holy Quran emphasises that references to nations against nations is the great European conflict happening today.

AHAMAD KHAYYAM Curepe

With this in mind, five gunmen who gunned down a Laventille man on Wednesday afternoon, turned their weapons on the victim’s elderly neighbour, shooting him several times and leaving him now warded in a critical condition.

According to reports, at about 5 pm, 71-yearold pensioner Melville Rawlins was standing in front of his Upper Wharton Street Extension, Laventille home looking on as his neighbour Kirwin Williams mixed some concrete.

The gunmen ran up to Williams and shot the 38-year-old man repeatedly, killing him on the spot.

The gunmen, seeing Rawlins looking at them, turned and opened fire, hitting him in the arms and chest before running off. Residents who heard the gunshots, ran to the elderly man’s aid and he was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was treated and remains warded.

Police who were called in, cordoned off the area where Williams’ body lay on the road. Nearby, children – some still in school uniform – sat outside a building and looked on as the district medical officer Dr Balkaran examined the body which was later removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy.

An eyewitness later told police that when the shots rang out, she saw Williams on the road while the gunmen stood over him and continued shooting.

Seconds later, Rawlins was shot. The murder toll up to press time stood at 343 for the year. No arrest has been made in the murder of Williams. Investigations are continuing.

Rowley, for the first time, publicly disclosed that A&V Drilling and Workover Limited owner Nazim Baksh is his friend. Rowley said he does not disown his friends when allegations are made against them but also that his friends do not receive special treatment from his administration.

He also disclosed that Cabinet is now discovering a problem relating to natural gas production and exports. Reminding reporters Government recently dealt with a red sand shortage issue, Rowley said the gas matter is now being reviewed. He described it as a very large problem which is, “in fact, very real.” Rowley said Persad-Bissessar has had a lean period “bussing marks” since the People’s National Movement (PNM) has been in office.

While she can make politics out of any issue she wishes as Opposition Leader, Rowley described her ‘fake oil’ outburst at a UNC rally last Sunday as, “a bit of an overreach.” “You can behave as an effective Opposition Leader. I think the country’s better for that…but ‘jamettery’ is not really the way to deal with this thing if you are going to get the best out of it,” Rowley said, adding, “Sometimes that kind of behaviour itself might be an impediment to getting to the root of the problem.” The word ‘jamette’ comes from the French Patois word ‘diametre’ and means a loose, low-class and socially unacceptable person (usually a woman).

‘ALL AH WE TIEF’ SCENARIO Rowley said by Persad-Bissessar making the issue political, it could make the miscreants happy by creating an ‘all ah we thief ’ scenario. “I don’t subscribe to that and the PNM does not subscribe to that,” Rowley declared. He said Persad-Bissessar is well aware, “you don’t just refer a matter to the Fraud Squad.” He said Petrotrin submitted preliminary reports on August 8 and 17, on this matter.

Rowley said in both cases, Petrotrin said it had more work to do in determining what the matter is.

(See Page 10A) Expressing his hope that Petrotrin will appoint independent investigators soon to examine this issue, Rowley said if the final report confirms the preliminary findings, “then it goes on to the Fraud Squad and wherever else you want to send it.” Saying all citizens must be concerned about this issue regardless of political persuasion, Rowley said, “If this particular matter pans out, it raises greater and more serious concerns about what goes on in Petrotrin.” Rowley said he was concerned to the point of frustration that mechanisms to accurately report the State’s revenues on certain commodities have broken down over time.

PM CALLED BAKSH In confirming Baksh is his friend, Rowley said, “I am not carrying any chip on my shoulder…my shoulder is very square.” The PM said he first heard the news about the ‘fake oil’ scandal while in the US for a medical check-up.

Confirming that he telephoned Baksh about the scandal, Rowley said Baksh flatly denied the allegations.

Reiterating that this matter is being handled by Petrotrin, Rowley said, “We are all to be held accountable for our own individual conduct.” Rowley said the selection of Baksh’s daughter Allyson as a government senator was based solely on her own merit. While she participated in the PNM’s 2015 general election campaign, Rowley said, “I don’t think she should be pilloried for anything which does not concern her.” Rowley, who is PNM political leader, said he did not know if Baksh or his company contributed financially to the party. While indicating he would be surprised if Baksh did not contribute, Rowley said, “I don’t know what all of my friends are doing all of the time. I am glad to know there are people who I can count among my friends.” In an immediate response, the UNC’s Women’s Arm slammed Rowley’s “jamettery” description of Persad-Bissessar’s behaviour as distasteful and demanded an immediate apology from Rowley to all women. The Women’s Arm said it continues to be dissatisfied with Rowley’s references with regard to women.

“We hope this alarming occurrence will be rectified since it is reckless and demeaning,” the Women’s Arm said.

He made this comment yesterday before hinting that Finance Minister Colm Imbert could announce the date for the 2017/2018 Budget today in the House of Representatives. The House sits at Tower D of the Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre.

With Imbert looking on as he addressed the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Rowley said there was an established practice whereby finance ministers announce budget dates.

Last week, Imbert said he would make a statement about the Budget this week.

Asked to describe the country’s current economic position, Rowley replied, “ Not very good.” He recalled that TT enjoyed a period of good revenues from 2003 to 2015, much of which came from its export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Rowley said negotiations with Atlantic for a new gas supply contract for its train one are ongoing at this time. The contract expires next year.

While TT was able to save much of those revenues and use it for critical activities, Rowley said some people were partying “very merrily” while gas supply contracts with several producers were not renewed. He said it was nonsense now for certain people to be calling for certain things to be provided, when TT no longer had the means to do so. Rowley did not comment on speculation the 2017/2018 Budget would be a $35 billion fiscal package. However, he recalled the budget increased steadily from $47 billion in 2010 under the PNM to $63 billion in 2015 under the People’s Partnership.

Rowley was confident the moratorium on public sector retrenchment with the labour movement would work but admitted that Government could not force the private sector to take a similar action.

He hoped, however, the private sector would not resort to retrenchment as a first option in times of economic difficulty.

The Prime Minister was also confident that the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC) would be revamped.

He was heartened that labour was not pressing for wage increases but was instead looking for different ways to help workers.

Rowley said he was surprised that certain “energy voices” in the country had nothing to say about Government’s efforts to obtain gas from Venezuela’s Dragon Field.

He reiterated this agreement was with the Venezuelan government and was not contingent on its composition.

However, the Prime Minister must do more than mouth off. He must take decisive steps to tackle the sleaze within the State sector.

Rowley’s statement on Wednesday at a public town hall event was the third time in the space of a few weeks that he has placed a heightened emphasis on this issue. He made clear his view that corruption is the biggest challenge facing his tenure only a few weeks ago while hosting a radio programme, and made similar remarks addressing the media. He again underlined the need for action at yesterday’s Cabinet briefing.

Is the Prime Minister laying the groundwork for a decisive intervention? If he has a plan to tackle this problem, he must now tell us what that plan is. It is one thing to not want to be a populist tactician, it is another to remove oneself from true dialogue and responsiveness to one’s constituents.

Give us a plan.

A good place to start is to shatter the myth that when it comes to white-collar crime, a government’s hands are tied by the workings of the Police Service.

For sure, no government should direct any police force to lay charges. But there are other crucial matters that cry out to be addressed that have little to do with the activities of independent law enforcement agencies.

White-collar crime has a direct nexus with the matters of campaign finance reform and public procurement. Both can, to varying degrees, be addressed by official State policy and by the passage of legislation.

Campaign finance reform is a global issue. For instance, Hillary Clinton promised American voters “a plan for aggressive campaign finance reform” last year.

Her opponent, Donald Trump, put it more nebulously, promising to “drain the swamp.” The world over, politicians are funded by business groups that then expect some benefit in return.

This can be completely innocuous, such as a stable business climate. Or it can be utterly nefarious, such as the handing of a billion-dollar contract to friends.

Too often there are suspicions that Peter pays the piper.

Very often the means of making these payments involve breaches of good procurement practices.

Side by side with this is the unofficial economy, the dark realm in which institutions like the Financial Intelligence Unit can flag hundreds, even thousands of suspicious transactions yet little official law enforcement action results. Money laundering is a serious issue and eventually the trail leads to other things like the drug, gun, and slave trades.

The Government cannot prosecute, but it can resource. It cannot throw money at the country’s problems, but at the same time it must. This is the price we are paying as a society: money that could be funding our hospitals, paying our doctors and nurses, keeping our cities beautiful, and sheltering our homeless must be spent reading the forensic details of balance sheets.

But what about measures like a voluntary system of penalties for registered companies in which any company that breaches the rules is blacklisted? Or repealing the funding provisions of the Representation of the People Act? Or reforming the Constitution to allow more effective disciplinary action against corrupt technocrats? Or the long-delayed code of conduct for parliamentarians? As Finance Minister Colm Imbert might say when he presents his Budget: every little counts.

Do something.

Commissioner Alexander yesterday met with the 82 inmates, some of whom have been deemed ‘high risk’, to give them an opportunity to air their grievances with him.

On Wednesday, a remand prisoner who was not taken to court because police officers failed to show, began vandalising the cell where he is housed by breaking pipe fittings and the toilet. Sources revealed that another prisoner also tried to rip off tiles from the ceiling.

A prison supervisor tried to subdue the prisoner who grabbed a length of metal pipe and beat him.

Other prison officers intervened and the inmate was subdued.

He sustained a hairline fracture to his leg while being subdued and was taken to hospital for treatment. Other prisoners claim the prisoner suffered the injury as a result of a savage beating at the hands of prison officers.

Commissioner Alexander confirmed that the prison supervisor suffered injuries to his abdomen and that a prisoner suffered a hairline fracture. He said that the matter was now under investigation. Alexander said that despite his busy schedule, he decided to visit the facility yesterday to speak to the prisoners.

“I spoke with all of them and I told them to let me know what their grievances were, I told them not to exaggerate their situation, to come clean with me and I will do my best to sort out their complaints,” Alexander said. He added that most complaints were about the need for more airing out time, a request for more silent fans and cleaner cells.

Alexander said others complained of being incarcerated too far from their families who live in Port of Spain and West Trinidad. He promised these prisoners to try and have them transferred to the city prison.

Four members of the Broadbridge family including son environmentalist Stephen Broadbridge, sat in the public gallery alongside relatives of Smith and Nedd in the Port of Spain Eighth Court.

Smith, 34, a joiner and Nedd, 32, a janitor, both of Seales Avenue, Morvant appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle. Smith’s attorney Roland Bain complained that his client was denied medication on one occasion last week while in police custody.

The attorney did not identify Smith’s medical condition. Bain said Smith also had a concern for his personal safety and asked that personal items confiscated by police including clothing, $1,809 and keys to his workshop and vehicle, be returned to the accused man’s mother once they are not deemed part of the police’s inquiry.

Arrangements have been made for the items to be collected while Nedd’s attorney Darryl Worrell asked that his client’s cell phone be returned to Smith’s mother or any other relative. Worrell’s request was denied since, according to prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon, the cellphone forms part of the investigation.

Worrell complained that when Nedd was arrested on September 5, she was not allowed legal counsel although she was told at the time that she was not a suspect.

He said she was placed in a holding cell and not told that she was being held in a homicide inquiry.

The attorneys’ complaints were noted by the acting chief magistrate. The couple will return to court on October 12. Broadbridge, 80, was found stabbed and her throat slit at her Fondes Amandes Road, St Ann’s home on September 2. Smith and Nedd were charged by Ag Insp Glendon Richards. Insp Creighton Hudson, Cpl Ameer Mohammed and PC Nikruma Porter are involved in the investigation spearheaded by Ag ASP Suzette Martin.

The compensation order was made by the Equal Opportunity Tribunal (EOT) yesterday in favour of Derek Salandy. Presiding over Salandy’s case were chairman of the Tribunal Rajmanlal Joseph and assessors Leela Ramdeen and Harridath Maharaj. Salandy was represented by attorney Shankar Bidaisee while Senior Counsel Russell Martineau appeared for Petrotrin.

According to Salandy’s complaint, he held the position of process engineering superintendent in the Refining and Market Division at Pointe-a-Pierre since 2002, but in 2007 a Venezuelan national was hired on a two-year contract in the position of Process Engineering Superintendent – Heavy Oils, although he (Salandy) had more experience.

Salandy said the position was similar to his and pointed out that he also served as Acting Chief Process Engineer on several occasions but the foreigner received a substantially larger pay package, company perks of a leased vehicle, housing accommodation, free gas, as well as a gratuity.

In their ruling delivered, the Tribunal found that Petrotrin deviated from its employment policy when it hired the foreigner and treated Salandy, who was employed with the state-owned company since 1980, ‘less favourable’ when he asked to be paid the same as his colleague.

Since the complainant (Salandy) suffered injury to his feelings and that the discriminatory acts were serious and continued for almost four continuous years, he has to be compensated appropriately, the Tribunal concluded.