Since when has dismissal been affiliated with performance in this organisation? With a murder detection rate such as TT ’s, the entire homicide unit should have been sent packing years ago, along with those dealing with stolen vehicles, robberies, and all the other units.

However, in the letter from the Acting Commissioner, in reference to the officer in charge of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Mr Rajkumar, there in bold print was the paragraph which caught my attention.

Located in the Trinidad Express, is said following: “The figures showed that there was an increase of 250 percent in kidnappings, 114 percent in murders, 81 percent in woundings and shootings, 61 percent in burglaries and break-ins, 41 percent in robberies, 36 percent in larceny dwelling house, 32 percent increase in serious crimes, and three percent increase in general larceny.” These numbers are conflicting and rather disturbing to a population which has been spoon fed information from weekly police briefings assuring the nation that “serious crime is down.” So which is it Mr Williams? Is it that serious crime is down or that the numbers quoted to dismiss Mr Rajkumar is accurate? It cannot be both. Citizens demand an explanation.

Failure to do so would only nourish the conspiracy theory currently being bandied around that these men were sent packing because of their dedication to the job, and because they apparently stepped on some toes.

Please clear the air on this, for us lesser informed peasants.

Rudy Chato Paul D’Abadie

Genuine, impartial reflection on the issues is not a requirement.

Public shaming has become the order of the day with little regard for the rights of individuals to make their own decisions.

Just look at what happens when the police actually arrest someone for a crime __ people who have nothing better to do mob the arrestee on the way to the court, no consideration given to the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

But among the baying crowd comes one voice of reason in the person of a former Minister of Energy, who, unlike another of her erstwhile colleagues, did not simply parrot the popular line, but applied common sense and reason to the situation. She contends that it is unfair to “ask the workers to take the burden only for the inefficiencies at Petrotrin “.

This is the very contention of the OWTU. The bad management and financial decisions of the executive team is what has the company in its present crisis. Until something is done to correct this severe shortcoming the problems that strangle development at Petrotrin, and all other state enterprises, will not be overcome.

Prime Minister, the ball is in your court!

Karan Mahabirsingh Carapichaima

What they left behind is such a good example of their disregard for the citizenry: their garbage is strewn across the lot (the old Bagshot site), with a heap of loose cardboard and trash discarded next to the recycling bins. Did the company responsible expect CaribGlass and Plastikeep to clear away their debris? Or perhaps SWMCOL workers? As usual, they only care about making money and then the rest of us have to “ketch”, right? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their disregard of the community. Their tent went up on December 11 on Saddle Road, and operated for weeks (from well before Christmas until midnight on Ole Year’s night). Every year, residents have to endure the round-theclock noise and light and disturbance of their diesel generators. Beyond commiserating with each other, we have made appeals to the owners of this fireworks business and its personnel.

They don’t care.

They claim they need it all for “security”. But it’s not residents’ fault that they insist on their unsecured “pop up shop” every year, is it? Why should we be made to suffer while they chase the almighty dollar in a tent we’re not even sure should pass muster for “securing” explosives? What’s worse is that these heartless mercenaries pump the area full of heavy duty fireworks, even though it is against the law to set them off in this and many of the areas where they set up shop. But they don’t care about the law, because their personnel set off fireworks right on the lot. Why, then, are they allowed to sell them in areas like these? Who are their customers not going to be but the same people driving into and out of this same area where it is illegal to use them? I had hoped that Philip Edward Alexander was right in claiming that his fireworks boycott was working.

But anyone living in the area, whether liming with family or tending to frightened dogs, knows that this year was as loud as or louder than ever. The Prime Minister and Minister of Information can call for the law to be enforced, but then what? There are not enough police to track down the perpetrators.

Even if they do, that nuisance fine is one that those in the “high class” areas, that are among the worst offenders, can easily pay.

To the authorities: must we all endure this fireworks scourge every Christmas, New Year’s, Carnival, Independence, Divali, and on and on? You must realise these businesses will continue to try to ingratiate themselves into every festive season and holiday until there is no peace left. If fireworks aren’t banned from residential areas, environmentally sensitive areas, and from close to hospitals, why aren’t they and all event organisers not mandated to use silent fireworks, to give the elderly, the sick, and the animals a little break? Or is it as everyone says, and that the authorities and even elected officials are being bought off by this fireworks mafia? Please, to all the powers that be, demonstrate that we are a society that values law, order, and care for our most vulnerable. Do not let these purveyors of short term thrills but long term misery back into our communities.

And make them clean up their own messes!

Faith L Maraval

Knowingly issuing “bounced” cheques in Trinidad and Tobago is a crime.

However, pannists, who are genuinely fighting for change, must be careful. There are some persons behind the scenes, who are looking to get their hands on Pan Trinbago’s money.

It would be very hard if, after all their struggles, pannists find themselves even further locked out of decision-making and control of their affairs.

A classic case of moving out of the frying pan into the fire.

It will be very interesting to see what happens once Panorama 2017 is over. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Linus F Didier Mt Hope

In this little neck of the woods it is well known that come January 20 (the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump) TT will be advised to pass the FATCA.

bill, it can be dealt with swiftly since the opposition’s objections are meaningless, or so corrupt in thought that it can only be interpreted or intended to further increase hardship, in an attempt to embarrass the government. This topic is becoming political clutter and must be passed so we can go on to deal with the pressing issues of crime, the economy and accountability.

Colin Fortune’ Arima

Dennie, of Galaxy Gardens, D’Abadie, filed the claim last year in the Civil Registry of the San Fernando High Court.

Dennie, who was fired from the agency on December 14, 2015, claimed in his lawsuit that he was fired after he refused to assist and be part of a racial conspiracy to rid the agency of workers of East Indian descent at the agency.

Dennie, who was employed for the agency for 19 years, is claiming a total loss of $993,720.

His letter of dismissal stated that he was being relieved of his duties because of “loss of confidence and trust” by the Minister of National Security in his ability to perform his duties.

Dennie is claiming he was fired without being given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him and wants the court to declare that his termination was unlawful and illegal.

Dennie, who joined the agency in 1997 after being transferred from the Defence Force, which he joined in 1981, said his dismissal has left him embarrassed and has put his family under tremendous financial strain.

Representing Denny are attorneys Anand Ramlogan,SC, Kent Samlal, Jayanti Lutchmedial and Douglas Bayley.

Justice Vasheist Kokaram granted leave to the teen whose mother brought the action, complaining that her son was being kept in solitary confinement and was depressed.

He was placed in the house after Kokaram, in May of last year, ruled that the YTC was not suitable as a remand facility for young offenders.

Kokaram held that confining juveniles with adults at the YTC and the Women’s Prison, in Arouca, amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

He ordered that the juvenile be placed in a community residence to be determined by the Children’s Authority.

The teenager was placed in a house as there are no community residences in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to the lawsuit, the child’s detention at the house amounted to solitary confinement and was illegal, unconstitutional and cruel and unusual punishment.

He is said to be suffering from depression, loneliness and frustration as he was the only person in the house, other than the staff. He has also told his mother he was “so lonely that it hurt”, and on one occasion escaped the house by destroying the burglar proofing to his bedroom.

The mother called the police who took him back to the facility, despite her son begging her not to send him back.

The guards at the house, according to the mother, did not even know her son had gone missing.

In the lawsuit, the teenager’s mother is asking that he be immediately released into her custody until the authorities find a suitable community residence as provided for under the Children’s Act.

Representing the juvenile are attorneys Anand Ramlogan SC, leading Ganesh Saroop, Jayanti Lutchmedial, instructed by Alvin Pariagsingh.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, leads Josefina Baptiste-Mohammed, Amrita Ramsook instructed by Keisha Prosper for the Attorney General.

Attorneys Sharlene Jaggernauth, Denelle Singh and Nafeesa Mohammed appear for the Children’s Authority.

At a news conference at the J. Hamilton Maurice Committee Room of the Parliament, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, the committee said in its report “the rationale here is that the continued ‘secrecy’ about the true state of gas availability leads to significant speculation and misinformation being publicly discussed when a simple, regularly updated public data release by the company would remove all of the existing speculation in the marketplace.” It added that beginning in March 2017 the NGC should hold quarterly meetings with the key players in the energy sector including all of the business chambers to receive and provide information about its operations.

The recommendations were made by committee chairman, David Small who was flanked by committee member, Allyson Baksh and Dr.

Lester Henry, the Vice Chairman of the committee and were based on a public hearing on May 9, 2016 and written submissions to the committee on April 14th. Small also criticised the NGC for paying dividends out of its retained earnings in 2014 and 2015 which he said were “multiples” of the company’s stated profit.

“So you had a company making profit and then paying significant multiples of that profit in dividends out of its retained earnings. That is a financially imprudent practice.” However, he said he understood that the company was owned by the state and the Minister of Finance “had total call on all the assets of the company because it is owned by the State.” The recommendations on the NGC was contained in one of three reports released at yesterday’s news conference.

The committee also released recommendations on the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin) and the operations of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott).

Small said liquidity was a major and immediate challenge for Petrotrin and urged the company to continue to look for ways of deferring the payment of some of its bond commitments to give it some breathing room to stabilise its revenues.

Asked about the company’s ability to afford the interim five percent settlement reached with the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) on Monday, Small said the committee had not had a chance to discuss this because these were recent events.

Launched on Wednesday at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber), Westmoorings, “Leaders Build” will be held in TT on March 19.

It is one of the Habitat for Humanity’s international projects, with country leaders and business executives in cities where there are Habitat for Humanity chapters, putting down their pens and smart devices to spend a few hours building homes for families with limited incomes.

Speaking about the role SMEs can play, TT Chamber President, Robert Trestrail, said “Sometimes, it’s many hands that help to pull this off, as opposed to one large organisation.

Leaders Build (presents) a tremendous opportunity for many in the SME sector to consider a small contribution that would go towards the development of a particular home and a shelter for a family.” Noting that “having a place to call home is not only a benefit to the individual but to the society, as it enhances prospects for peace, security and sustainability”, Trestrail said the TT Chamber hopes to encourage an even higher level of participation from among the leaders and staff of companies and corporations throughout TT during the March 19 event.

“This is an opportunity to demonstrate, in the most tangible way, how business can make a difference in the lives of those considered marginalised or disenfranchised.” TT Chamber CEO, Gabriel Faria, added to what Trestrail said about how, apart from smaller financial donations, businesses can donate in-kind or the use of machinery to help HFHTT and other NGOs meet their goals.

“We have a CSR Committee and we have found many small companies asking, ‘How could we contribute? We don’t have the capacity to have our own CSR infrastructure, so what can we do to contribute?’ This (Leaders Build) is an example of how we are hoping we can bring out many of our 600 members,” Faria said.

As Newsday reported Tuesday, none of the checked bags belonging to passengers on that flight were actually placed in the cargo hold of the LIAT plane that day.James had been since then to find out when the forgotten luggage would be flown from St Vincent to Trinidad.

Frustrated by the lack of information, he turned to Newsday.

Persons familiar with the situation said the luggage belonging to James and the other passengers from LI 771 arrived overnight (between Monday and Tuesday) along with other delayed baggage on a baggage only flight and a commercial cargo flight.

“All passenger bags are being processed with Customs for delivery to the various travellers including of course the baggage for Mr and Mrs James.” Newsday understands that a scheduled commercial cargo flight, “which had to clear customs at the Cargo terminal first and then transfer to the passenger terminal, brought St. Vincent baggage.”