Hot homecooked meals for the Naraynsinghs

PRISON sources told Newsday yesterday that prominent vascular surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh, who is charged with his wife and South auto businessman Elton Ramasir with the murder of ex-wife Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, are eating hot, tasty meals prepared by their loved ones, who have been granted permission by the authorities to provide homecooked meals. The professor has been transferred from the Infirmary of the Maximum State Prison on Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain to Golden Grove Prison. Mrs Maharaj-Naraynsingh is being kept at the Women’s Section of the Maximum Security Prisons in Golden Grove, Arouca.

The couple, very prominent members of the local Hindu community, appeared before a San Fernando magistrate on Monday, along with Ramasir, charged with the June 29 1994 murder of Dr Naraynsingh, who was gunned down at the Langmore Health Foundation. Legal sources confided to Newsday that a concerted effort is being made to retain the service of noted Queen’s Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips (who is a sitting judge in the International Criminal Courts) as lead defence counsel for the couple. However, efforts by Newsday to reach Hudson-Phillips and his associates yesterday proved futile. When Naraynsingh, 55, appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, he was being kept at the Frederick Street Remand Yard prison. On Monday, he was taken from Remand Yard, where most prisoners awaiting trial are kept, and given a room in the prison’s Infirmary.

Prisons Commissioner Carlo Mc Honey was not available yesterday for comment, but prison officer Thomas told Newsday that the professor was transferred to Golden Grove and all was well with him. Thomas said that standard security regulations were being observed while Naraynsingh remains at Remand Yard where conditions were less stringent than normal cells. Thomas said homecooked meals are allowed for prisoners awaiting trial, “as long as certain requirements are met.” A close female relative of the Naraynsinghs told Newsday yesterday that homecooked food was being taken once per day since Wednesday to both Naraynsingh and his wife. The relative said Prof Naraynsingh is not a vegetarian, but his wife is. The Naraynsinghs and Ramasir will reappear in San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Monday for the 1.30 pm scheduled start of the preliminary inquiry hearing into the murder charge.