They also saw Francis bleeding from a single gunshot wound a short distance away. The two were conveyed to the Port-of-Spain General hospital where Frank succumbed to his injuries.

Francis was treated and discharged yesterday. Officers of the Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations. In an unrelated incident, a hunter was returning from a hunting expedition at Windy Hill in Arouca shortly after 9.30 pm on Thursday when he stumbled upon the bullet-riddled body of a man clad in a red sweat pants. The police were alerted and the body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. The victim is yet to be identified. Up to press time, the murder toll stood at 455.

At a news conference at the union’s Paramount Building, San Fernando headquarters – hours after marathon talks between the union and Petrotrin failed to reach a settlement – OWTU president general Ancel Roget alerted the population to prepare for hard times as he could not guarantee a ready supply of fuel. “Take notice, we want to warn and advise the motoring public to take precautionary measures and fill up as much as you can. Do as much motoring as you can between now and then because when that time comes, we cannot guarantee you a reliable supply of fuel,” Roget said.

As he defended oil workers’ right to a wage increase – despite a stuttering economy – Roget added, “Petrotrin workers provide fuel for the nation…diesel, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel all of which is produced at that refinery. With this strike people will not be able to go about their normal business and the economy will shut down!” He said the union’s hand was forced when after 19 hours of negotiations, both parties were nowhere close to a settlement.

“We have taken a decision that we are not going to go for any extension and next Wednesday bright and early we are going to serve official strike notice at the Petroleum company of Trinidad and Tobago.

When that happens…then and only then, the public at large will understand that when workers walk out the refinery and leave the producing fields and when workers leave offshore and all of them gather under the strike camp for the next three months, then the nation will recognize the importance of the input of these workers,” Roget stated.

As he continued to state the oil workers’ case for a salary increase, Roget said that for the past six years, Petrotrin had offered zero- zero-zero, denying workers of any wage adjustments. Stating that the ongoing wage negotiation was a political issue because the former People’s Partnership administration refused to settle “out of spite”, Roget claimed the ruling PNM should make the political decision to settle. He lashed the PNM accusing it of bad governance and continuing the victimisation of its predecessor, the PP.

He said that in the present scenario, the only option available to workers under the Industrial Relations Act is to take appropriate strike action. Nevertheless, Roget left a window of opportunity for Petrotrin saying the union is still hoping for a settlement. “Over this weekend, we are prepared at any day Saturday, Sunday and Monday to meet and have discussions aimed at bringing a resolution to this most critical issue.

“If the government sees it fit to put up a proposal, they can engage us in discussion and we are reasonable.

We are going to ensure there is a settlement but failing that, when the conciliation period expires, come Wednesday morning we are going to serve strike notice bright and early.” Petrotrin in a response, said, “both parties signed Terms of Settlements relating to all non-cost Articles and Clauses for the five outstanding agreements for the period 2014 –2018. There was no change in the Company’s position on the cost items – (wages, bonuses and allowances).” A fourth conciliation meeting is to be held at the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development on Tuesday.

Petrotrin President Fitzroy Harewood, in a message to workers, stated that any possible strike action,” given the current scenario is not in our collective best interest.

It could threaten the continuity of our operations. It is our view that any such action at this time will be ill-advised as it would add to the burden on the national community and exacerbate the economic conditions in our Company and the country.” Harewood further stated that the Industrial Relations Act allows for the maximum duration of a strike to be 90 days. Given what now seems an inevitable strike, the Company has initiated a number of contingency measures to ensure continuity of supplies to the local market for petroleum refined products as long as reasonably possible.

Large swathes of the population will hugely appreciate any curbing of the usual sonic mayhem, such as having a 1 am final cut-off time on discharge, or doing so well away from people’s homes. While in theory we fully empathise with one group’s call for a “Night of Total Policing” to curb excessive noise-making, in practice the police simply cannot be everywhere, due to manpower constraints. But we urge them yet to do their best to address any worst cases where illegal use of fireworks cause discomfort.

The police must focus especially on curbing the use of scratch-bombs or firecrackers whose sole purpose is to create a sonic boom, that causes a shock to the human nervous system.

In this crime-ridden nation, this boom is too akin to a gunshot to go unchecked.

For far too long the police have failed to respond to complaints by residents of illicit noise-making, thus leaving the impression of lawless anarchy and police impotence. At present under the Summary Offences Act sections 99 to 101 it is illegal to let off fireworks on any street without a permit from the Police Commissioner or a police superintendent, the penalty being a $1,000 fine for within a town and $400 for outside towns. Further to Public Administration Minister, Maxie Cuffie’s anti scratch-bomb campaign, we suggest fresh legislation soon to recognise that different types of fireworks exist, such as the three categories we have earlier suggested, with scratch-bombs/firecrackers being singled out for special extra scrutiny.

Given the huge public outcry over this festering wound of the firecracker menace, it could well be time for Parliament to craft a “Fireworks Act” as an umbrella Act to tie together sections of the Summary Offences Act and Explosives Act, all updated to recognise the particular nuisance posed by scratch-bombs and firecrackers.

In future, the police and Customs officers must be more proactive to stem the scratch-bomb trade as close to source as possible, tackling firstly, the illicit importers, with further drilling down the supply-chain to retail outlets, and then finally the end-users.

The police in practice and politicians in legislation must decide how to best regulate the time and place at which legal fireworks can be discharged. For example, under the Summary Offences Act could the police grant blanket approval for discharges at community green-spaces/recreation fields located away from houses, between restricted hours wit a definitive end time? Perhaps in future, the grant of import licences could be restricted to just a new type of noiseless fireworks, that provide stunning visuals without any attendant noise. Meanwhile we hail Cuffie for his initiative against scratch-bombs – coming after his constituent, Sally-Ann Cuffie, lost her fingers to a miscreant’s scratch-bomb – plus the advocacy of online groups such as “Regulating the Use of Fireworks in TT” and several animal-rights groups. The deaths of 31 persons a week ago in an explosion at a Mexican fireworks market further underlines the need for TT to firmly address the fireworks issue. Meantime, let tonight be for Auld Lang Syne and not the old loud sound of the scratch bomb.

Cleaning our physical space was important too, mopping the house with a bucket filled with herbs and oils as a regular ritual or to welcome the new year. As a child, I had no choice but to participate in all the cleaning, polishing and scrubbing. This week, when asked by my sons why we were doing this, I managed to patiently respond that cleaning was the practical act of making things cleaner, but was also a symbolic gesture of cleansing one’s space and dissipating negative energies. And that within the context of Christmas, cleaning was also a way of making one’s home ready to welcome the prophet and his teachings, and by extension, to usher in a new year.

I thought afterwards of the importance of cleaning for our many cultures and religions. For instance, at Divali, Hindus thoroughly clean their homes to make way for the arrival of Mother Lakshmi. In December, people of African heritage prepare their homes to commemorate Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa was developed by an African- American professor in the 1960s as a means of injecting positive images of Africa and blackness into the civil unrest caused by the rampant racism of that time; it is still observed around the world today. “Chinese clean their homes in anticipation of the new year (which occurs shortly after the Western new year). The Chinese sweep their floors and clean their homes to get rid of bad luck and misfortune that may have accumulated during the previous year…” It makes sense. Interventions with hoarders, people who compulsively collect items that they do not need, reveal that the desire to hoard comes from personal trauma. They project their pain onto the items, and eventually, the hoard becomes so unmanageable, that many of the victims end up living in houses so filled with stuff that they can barely move about, infested by rats, overrun by pets or covered in dust. Their mental torment means that they are unable to stop collecting, and the size of the hoard often prevents them from getting to the floor, ceiling or kitchen counter to clean even if they wanted to. Not surprisingly, often the hoarder becomes physically sick. Equally fascinating are the negative spiritual effects of the squalor, causing isolation of the victim, arguments with relatives, and serious health complications.

Once the hoard is gone, the victim feels renewed and able to piece back relationships and other aspects of their personal lives.

The broom, that simple symbol of cleansing, takes on new significance with the impending new year. In Indian and African folk traditions of dance, the cocoyea broom is an important feature, used to clean the performance space, and as a symbolic ridding of negative energy.

A new year is a powerful representation of second chances and renewed optimism. Yet, the commercialism of our time has recrafted the cleaning process to mean replacing what we already own with bigger, more expensive versions – upgrading as it is now called. In 2017, what will we throw out and what will we keep? As I discovered, it depends on how much pain we are willing to endure to fully reap the rewards of a thorough clean out.

D a r a Healy is a perform a n c e a r t i s t a n d founder of the N G O , the Indigenous Creative Arts

Questioned by Newsday, on the matter, Gadsby-Dolly said, “Five million dollars were released to Pan Trinbago by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) in October for this purpose. This represented the last tranche of 2016 subventions to Pan Trinbago.

Government has therefore supplied the entire 2016 subvention to Pan Trinbago and expects they would remit what is outstanding to the members of their organisation.” On Wednesday, Pan Trinbago President Keith Diaz told Newsday that Pan Trinbago received $5 million on October 28, “which was a shortfall of $2.7 million and which was spent on the steelband from Tobago for hotel, meals and transportation.” He added, “I did not want to start paying panmen and end up in a situation where all would not have received their remittance but this exercise will begin shortly.” In Wednesday’s meeting, it was reported Diaz said that Minister Gadsby-Dolly was unwilling to meet with Pan Trinbago to discuss the allocation of money.

Asked about it, Minister Gadsby- Dolly said, “I continue to be accessible to all persons as much as possible. In some instances, when I am not, the Permanent Secretary and/or Deputy Permanent Secretary stand in and meet with groups and/or individuals.” Attempts to contact NCC chairman Kenny de Silva and Pan Trinbago president Diaz yesterday for fresh comment were unsuccessful.

Minister Gadsby-Dolly said that $168 million was allocated for Carnival 2017 and given to the NCC.

“I also hope that families — we won’t have peace unless families in Trinidad and Tobago are strengthened — begin to live a family life in a different and more authentic way,” he said.

Meanwhile Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley told Newsday that his wish for the citizenry is to arrive at consensus on national issues such as how to respond to crime, the recessionary times, and how to strengthen the family.

Wishing the nation good health, prosperity and a peaceful 2017, Berkley said, “We need have more prayers, more imagination, and more creativity to help us in the upcoming struggles.” Due to a contracted economy, Berkley said that the marginalised will be needing help.

Asked about tonight’s midnight worships, both Harris and Berkley said that many are no longer held at midnight due mainly to parishes and their congregation taking safety precautions to guard against criminal elements, as well as to enable families to celebrate the New Year together.

Speaking about tonight’s “midnight mass” Harris said he will celebrate mass at the Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain from 9pm. He will be preaching about Mary, “the mother of God and our mother” to place emphasis on motherhood and the role of the family. It is expected that the mass will end about an hour or an hour-and-a-half later.

“We have not been having mass at midnight a long time now. Since I have been back to Trinidad and Tobago in 1987, I have not seen many midnight masses. Masses used to be at 10 pm and 11 pm to end at midnight,” he said.

He continued, “Now they have come forward a little bit earlier, I think because of the crime situation.

People don’t want to be out of their homes too late.” He noted, however, that St Finbar’s RC Church in Diego Martin still holds a traditional midnight mass. While most churches are full for the midnight masses, Harris said that the Cathedral is never overflowing.

“I suspect that this year, because we also have the unveiling of the statue of our Lady of Fatima, there will be more people at the Cathedral,” he said.

The unveiling of the statue, he said, will coincide with World Day of Peace which is observed on January 1 each year.

Berkley said that because of the crime situation most of the Anglican churches this year held Christmas Eve services before midnight and it is expected that they will also hold their services before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

He will, however, be celebrating the Holy Eucharist at St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Tobago from 11pm.

A release from WASA said that workmen were carrying out emergency repair work that was due to be completed by 6 pm yesterday.

The affected areas included St Barbs, Carr Street, and Regents Street and environs.

WASA apologised for the inconvenience caused during the period of interruption.

Yesterday residents expressed relief that WASA was finally carrying out repairs to the line from which water had been flowing for the past three months.

One resident told Newsday that she had been in contact with the office of the Authority’s chief executive officer, and had written letters to the chairman of the board of directors and to WASA’s legal counsel. She had been assured that the situation would have been rectified but to no avail.

The situation had become dire, she said, as water began to flow into people’s yards, including hers, and was eroding the walls of a nearby house.

The resident said that it was also eroding the foundation of the school’s driveway.

Cuffie said QRC principal, David Simon, must draft a letter to apply for use of the site, which will be considered by Cabinet.

A statement later from Cuffie’s Ministry said the QRC head was buoyed by the talks, held at the Education Ministry with the two ministers, plus Minister of State, Dr Lovell Francis.

Cuffie said QRC will make a claim for the site to the Education Ministry. The ministry will examine and, if they support that claim, will in turn make a request to the Ministry of Public Administration which, if they agree, can prepare a Cabinet note for him.

If he supports it, he can take it to Cabinet to make the ultimate decision.

Cuffie said he cannot presume what Cabinet’s decision will be.

Alexis, a father of two, was last seen by relatives on December 20 when he left his San Fernando home. He was not seen or heard from since. According to a police report, a decomposing body was found off a precipice near Quarry Settlement, Siparia. When Newsday visited Alexis’ home, a relative said that based on certain information, the body found was ‘more than likely Alexis’ but he did not wish to further speak to reporters on the incident. Police have since obtained samples from relatives which would confirm the identity.

Kenderson “Ras” Gay was a marked target as he sat on the bonnet of his car outside Copper’s Bar in Valencia which was the scene of several shootings and murders this year.

Eyewitnesses said the shooter laid in waiting as Gay was liming with friends outside the bar.

After the shooting, the assailant escaped through a resident’s yard and over a fence.

Gay was rushed to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he was listed in a critical condition. The latest police report stated that he was at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

Valencia Police officers were still searching for the gunman and no motive has yet been ascertained.

In an unrelated incident, a 34-year-old man, identified as Bevon Mackie of John John, Laventille, was found bleeding from gunshot wounds near the St Phillipa RC School, Laventille.

He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

However, he succumbed to his injuries at about 11am yesterday.

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