He said the TT Women’s Cricket Association under Jocelyn Francois Opadeyi continues to establish itself as a proud asset of the TT CB, spiralling upwards as the positive results of the last season clearly show.

Bassarath heaped plaudits on the women’s game recently when he addressed the graduation ceremony of the 2016 inductees of the NGC Cricket Academy at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre in Balmain, Couva.

He said the Red Force Divas won both the Senior Women’s 50-Overs, and T20 titles in the West Indies Cricket Board regional tournament staged in Guyana; while the Under-19 team were victorious in the T20 competition played here at home. The TT CB’s top official also pointed to the contribution made to the stellar cricket product by the Tobago Cricket Association and its president Kerwin John, under whom a bright future is being charted, building on the work of his predecessors.

“Facilities are being improved, clubs are being engaged, cricket development is ongoing, and recognising all of this, more cricket is being promoted by the TT CB for the people of the sister isle,” said Bassarath. He also pointed to the excellent work being undertaken by the Secondary Schools Cricket League which he described as “a creative organisation” under its top official Surujdath Mahabir.

“Their competitions attract wide interest and participation and we are extremely pleased with the efforts of this affiliate in building the foundation for future generations of local cricket stars,” said Bassarath. Also, noted for their input as development partners in crafting a culture of excellence and success in cricket was the Primary Schools Cricket Association which will be working closely with the national governing body for the sport to ensure cricket thrives from the infant level and upwards.

“The Primary Schools Cricket League under the guidance of Mr Brent Francis and his hard-working team has also delivered with its usual gusto. This is the starting point of development for education, cricket, most sports activities and life,” said Bassarath.

Lauded for their support which has significantly contributed to the strength of the local cricket product were the umpires, match referees and scorers who Bassarath said provide yeoman service over the years.

“Though at times they are maligned, the game cannot really be played with match officials and adjudicators and urge them to continue to work towards increasing the level of professionalism within the fraternity,” he said.

“We observe the upward mobility of many of our umpires and urge them to continue to work towards increasing the level of professionalism within the fraternity,” he said.

And he had a special word for the scorers and statisticians. “You all are playing a greater role in the sport of cricket and will be called upon to deliver accurate and real time information for our coaches, managers, journalists, fans and supporters who will increasingly call for, and utilise your services,” Bassarath said.

These components form a crucial part of the engine that has worked well over the past years to create the success being enjoyed by the national team which this year swept an unprecedented seven regional championships.

He said the TT CB remains proud of their hard work and achievements despite the serious challenges faced and the unjustified criticism levelled against the administrators by the naysayers who only preach doom and gloom.

“Congratulations to each and every person who has assisted in making history for Trinidad and Tobago and for going beyond and above the call of duty for the sport of cricket and the nation at large,” said Bassarath.

The TT CB official said there is much unseen work being done on behalf of national cricket in the field of grass root development, community and specialist coaching, technical workshops, and the training of officials and administrators throughout the year.

“As we come to the end of yet another calendar year, we have much to reflect upon and much to celebrate,” Bassarath said as he thanked his organisation’s loyal partners in the sport, including the National Gas Company Group, PowerGen, Atlantic LNG, Courts, Ashmead Ali Contracting Services Limited, Metro Hotel and several others which support the growth and development of the local cricket.

Trinidad and Toba go’s achievements in 2016 NAGICO Super50 Champions WIUnder-19 Three-Day Champions West Indies Under-17 Champions West Indies Under-15 Champions West Indies Women’s T20 Champions WI Women’s 50-Overs Champions WI Women’s Under-19 50-Overs Champions

Cuffie in a release yesterday informed stakeholders and citizens concerned about the issue of scratch bombs and illegal fireworks that their views have been heard and he will be forwarding their suggestions to the Attorney General.

This commitment was given during a week of stakeholder meetings which were part of the Ministry’s anti-scratch bomb campaign themed “Have Fun without Having a Blast.” Since the campaign was launched just over two weeks ago, there have been numerous suggestions, concerns and conversations on social and traditional media surrounding the proliferation and wanton use of scratch bombs and fireworks, the release stated.

On December 14, Cuffie met with executives of FireOne Fireworks to discuss the Government’s crackdown on scratch bombs and the illegal use of fireworks. On December 16, the Director of the Human and Environmental Care and Management Foundation (HAECMF), Lisa Ramlogan, brought forward concerns from the animal welfare community. She noted that more and more local vets are reporting cases of animals being brought in after scratch bombs were inserted into their mouths and lit.

In a letter to Cuffie dated December 12, president of Animals 360 Foundation Incorporated, Derek Mohammed called for fireworks to be banned, “and failing that, the legislation governing the use of fireworks should be strengthened and strictly enforced to ensure controlled and responsible use to protect our citizenry including our elderly, infirm, infants and animals”.

Animals 360 Foundation Incorporated founder Roger Marshall said they would support an outright ban if they cannot get legislation that can be implemented and enforced. He said the primary reason is to protect the infants, elderly and animals.

“I don’t think people understand the amount of harm done by fireworks. People are killed.

People are injured badly. Animals run away from home. They get confused. They get disoriented.

It is a very sad state of affairs,” he said.

He reported that every year they have to safeguard animals and help them get back home.

What the law says According to the Summary Offences Act 99 (1): “Except as prescribed by regulations under this act, any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of $1,000.

(2) … “town” includes the City of Port-of-Spain, the City of San Fernando, and the Borough of Arima, and every part of the area within two miles of the boundaries of such city or of either of such boroughs, and also any place or area declared by the minister, by order, to be a town or to be deemed to be included within a town for the purposes of the said sections.

Any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks into, in, or upon any street not being in any town, or into, in, or upon any place being within 60 feet of the centre of any such street, is liable to a fine of $400.

Marshall reiterated his organisation would support the use of fireworks if the legislation was amended where it is an activity where you must have a licence by the community police. He explained that with this in place the police will know where approved fireworks will be let off and discharged.

On the current legislation, he pointed out that it refers to city limits and the 60 feet restriction was “nothing” and it should be done in open fields. He explained animals can hear four times what humans hear and when fireworks are discharged in the Queen’s Park Savannah it can be heard in Westmoorings by dogs. He pointed out there are silent fireworks available which could be a solution.

“We cannot just close our eyes to the inconvenience that fireworks causes,” he added.

Marshall said there are “several pretty simple things” that can be done to make it permissible but if Government is not willing to do so, it should be banned outright.

“If you go out to the citizenry in general the majority will support the ban on fireworks. Every year the hullabaloo is significant,” he added.

He continued: “John Public should not be able to go and buy fireworks just like that. It is a dangerous thing. And we need to protect it,” he said.

AG: Police must enforce law Al-Rawi in a telephone interview yesterday called for the police to enforce the law with a “zero tolerance” approach and also for the public do its part.

“There is more than enough police power and existing legislation to deal with this situation,” he said.

He made the comments in response to an incident on Saturday morning where illegal scratch bombs were thrown at former Housing Development Corporation managing director Jearlean John and her sister while jogging around the Queen’s Park Savannah.

John thought she was being shot at and injured herself while climbing walls with barb wire.

Police are investigating the incident.

He pointed out the police have to apply the existing law which is “absolutely clear” and the Commissioner of Police has the immediate ability to enforce it.

“We do not need to tinker so much with laws as we need to apply them,” he stressed.

He also spoke of the anti- scratch bomb campaign recently launched by Cuffie and said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon is “side by side” with Cuffie on the initiative.

Al-Rawi explained the Communications Ministry was doing advocacy work and the National Security Minister is in contact with the police to have the law applied.

“We have to take a very zero tolerance approach to this,” he stressed. He said the first factor was to make sure importation of illegal fireworks “is completely stamped out”.

He explained there can be self-policing and neighbourhood policing for an issue “as small as this”. He said, however, there will be no fines if people do not report it and if the law is not enforced by the police.

Also in the release, Cuffie, reaffirmed that the objective of the Scratch Bomb Public Awareness is to eliminate the use and stop the importation of scratch bombs in Trinidad and Tobago.

He advised that the Ministry’s campaign is based on strong collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, who have “committed to treat firmly” with the scratch bomb issue. However, he advised, “it is incumbent on the population and we as citizens” to not participate in illegal activities, and to report to the police incidents of scratch bombs being used.

During Divali celebrations of this year, a grandmother of Talparo, Sally-Ann Cuffie (no relation to Minister Cuffie) was seriously injured when a scratch bomb exploded in her hand as she attempted to shield her grandchild from its blast.

Asked yesterday what was his view on an outright ban of fireworks, Cuffie responded he would not give his personal position but what obtains in the law.

Speaking yesterday to Newsday, Al-Rawi pointed out that the budgetary allocation to the police for the period 2006-2016, both appropriations and supplementary appropriations, was $20.8 billion which is “no small sum of money”. He reported the Attorney General’s office will be conducting a fact-finding mission, which they will bring to the public, to ascertain how many police there are and in how many stations, how many reports received, and tracking of these reports and how many are turned into an investigation, charge and conviction and over what time period. Al-Rawi said these things were never brought to light in Trinidad and Tobago and when they are not measured it “encourages a lack of performance” and “throwing money at solutions without value for money”.

He stressed this country has a higher ratio of police per capita than most other jurisdictions, though he did not have the figure off hand.

“We have police in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Police Service is well manned,” he said.

He said this is why the Prime Minister and the National Security Council have been speaking with the people under the Commissioner of Police together with him including divisional heads and station commanders.

He pointed out that in terms of international standard this country has a significant number of police to population, they have spent vast sums of money on the Police Service and “it is now for police to apply the law”.

“We continue to call upon police to do their job,” he stressed.

Speaking about the need to enforce legislation relation to fireworks in particular, he gave the example of the speed limit always being 80 km/h but when six speed guns were introduced the driving structure in this country was changed.

Returning to the performance of the police service, he stressed that you have to know what are your key performance indicators (KPIs) and only when you know this you can do something about it.

He pointed out that under previous Attorney General Anand Ramlogan $137 million was spent on attorneys while under him $6 million was spent in one year on the same number of lawyers.

He said when he entered the ministry, he realised there were no systems in place for tracking what was happening and this leads to the top becoming heavy and the base being disenchanted.

Attempts to contact Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams yesterday on the initiative by the Office of the Attorney General’s were unsuccessful.

In October last year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley described the murder detection rate of 10 per cent as “unacceptable”.

In August this year when the murder rate was just over 300, he summoned divisional heads of the Police Service to a meeting at the Diplomatic Centre calling on them to “manage the crime situation”.

According to reports, in early December, Quincy Daniel, Keylon Chapman and Trevaugh Noray died in an accident on the Claude Noel Highway and up until yesterday their bodies remained at the mortuary despite several attempts by relatives to have the autopsies carried out so they could bid their final farewell to the three victims.

Newsday understands the other four cases were persons found dead at their homes or in public places which requires that autopsies be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.

Sources revealed relatives contacted a high official from the Government complaining bitterly about their situation and the matter was then referred to Dillon under whose ministry the Forensic Science Centre falls. Yesterday, Dillon telephoned Alexandrov, who was supposed to be travelling to Tobago at midnight yesterday with his wife Ala and granddaughter, along with other relatives, and asked him if he could facilitate seven autopsies. Alexandrov informed Dillon that under the law he cannot carry out more than 250 autopsies and he had already breached the international standard by performing double that figure. Alexandrov said with the additional autopsies, he was concerned about the breach.

However, due to his sympathy over the grief being experienced by relatives of the dead, Alexandrov agreed to forego his vacation for two days and today he will carry out four autopsies and the other three will be performed tomorrow.

Contacted yesterday, Alexandrov confirmed receiving the SOS from Dillon and said the way a country treats its deceased and the relatives of deceased persons is important and he was willing to put aside his quality time with his family to bring some sort of relief to those who are already grieving.

Alexandrov told Newsday the ministry was considering flying the bodies to Trinidad but one of the bodies is terribly decomposed and there are no encased metal boxes in Tobago to fly a body in that condition to Trinidad.

Additionally, the cost of flying the bodies was also a constraint for some of the relatives who were not in a position to travel to Trinidad.

Checks by Newsday with the Scarborough Hospital administration revealed that relatives of the seven deceased persons have been turning up at the hospital almost on a daily basis since December 13 begging and pleading for the autopsies to be done and when they realised the year was coming to a close with no remedy in sight they decided to use all their resources to have their plight reach the right ears. Newsday also understands the families were informed yesterday that the autopsies will be carried out today and tomorrow which gave them some relief.

In the past, two other pathologists based at the Forensic Science Centre, Dr Hughvon des Vignes and Dr Eastlyn McDonald- Burris as well as Dr Alexandrov would travel to Tobago and carry out autopsies when their expertise was required. It remained unclear why the autopsies were never carried out between December 13 to date.

Yesterday, Alexandrov told Newsday that after giving Dillon the assurance that he would carry out the autopsies, he tried contacting FSC director Annette Lewis to inform her that he would be travelling to Tobago but up until late yesterday, calls to Lewis’ cellphone proved futile.

According to reports, officers led by ASP Ajit Persad, including Sgt Anthony Williams along with officers of the Port-of- Spain CID cordoned off several areas at Nelson Street during the early hours of Monday morning where they raided apartments in search of drugs, arms and ammunition and other illicit items.

During the exercise, several drug dens were also raided however at one apartment which appeared to be unoccupied officers found the weapon and ammunition.

The gun was taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James for ballistic tests to be carried out to ascertain if it was used in any recent murders and crime.

Newsday understands that between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (December 24-26) there were no reported serious crimes in the city of Port-of-Spain as a result of anti-crime measures put in place by ASP Persad.

Even as one family in their home was spending precious moments of family-time together – with children eating and drinking and playing and laughing at the feet of the family’s 84-year-old matriarch, Agnes Stannis – came an alarm of fire.

Alas, the fire all too quickly engulfed the home and that next door, rendering 26 persons homeless in the height of the festive season. Fortunately, no-one was killed or injured by the inferno.

Indications are that it is a closeknit community, which we trust will go a long way towards helping the affected families get back on their feet, even as we’d appeal to State agencies, corporate TT and the general public to each pitch in to assist in however small a way.

Coincidentally, the same day a tyre shop and family home burnt down in Moruga, leaving six persons homeless.

Earlier in this Christmas season, some 11 persons lost their home in a blaze at Second Caledonia, Morvant on December 16, while nine persons were rendered homeless by a fire razing their Claxton Bay home on December 12, but fortunately with no lives lost, and we hope all victims can rebuild their lives.

If it is that TT annually sees a seasonal upsurge in home fires, the authorities could seek to avert future incidents by a public education campaign on fire hazards, posed by open flame, gas-tanks and faulty electrical wiring.

Meanwhile we must express our grave concern over what seemed to be an emerging trend of apparent arson against private business places, which in the case of one grocery was followed by looting.

Over a 10-day period before Christmas, some four business- places were targeted by arson attacks, seemingly done with an intent to loot. The four targeted businesses were: the Benefit the People Supermarket in Barataria on December 12; D and J Warehouse in San Juan December 19; Sookhoo Supermarket in Marabella on December 19: and Stackhouse Company Limited in San Fernando on December 22.

At the Barataria supermarket, hordes of looters brazenly ransacked the burnt out premises, in a scene surely sending shudders down the spine of the country’s entire business community, the protective services and all right-thinking people. What the looters may have regarded as a pre-Christmas windfall, to other observers signalled the first steps of a descent into anarchy in a society already destabilised by homicides and other crimes of violence.

While we commend the vigilance of the security guards and business owners in thwarting the arsonists, the authorities must now send a clear message that arson/looting will not be allowed to take root in TT as a phenomenon.

The police must view CCTV footage to try to track down the miscreants in each case. The Office of the Attorney General must review the laws on the books to see if stiffer penalties are needed, or even fresh legislation (on top of standard notions of larceny and criminal damage). We’d suggest the Police Service run a public education campaign to clearly state the illegalities linked to looting, even of a burnt out premises.

Arson and looting are crimes, they pose a danger to life (even of the arsonists and looters themselves) and raise the cost of doing business which will ultimately hit all consumers in our pockets.

In the four cases of arson and four house-fires we are thankful that no lives were lost. We truly hope this is not a topic that we have any reason to return to in the New Year.

THERE ARE numerous names for Cannabis sativa including marijuana, ganja, weed, pot, grass, joint, joystick, and maryjane, to name a few. In South Africa it is dagga, in North Africa kiff, in Spain mota and in Hawaii pakalolo. In some Latin American countries high quality marijuana is called punto rojo or colombiana.

Cannabis sativa originated in Asia, possibly in India, where it has a long history veiled in legends and religion. It is mentioned in historical scriptures and in sacred Hindu texts as early as 1500 BC.

According to the sacred texts, cannabis was one of five sacred plants and a guardian angel lived in its leaves. It was reputed to be a source of happiness, a joy-giver and liberator that was given to people to help them attain delight, lose fear and release them from anxiety.

Cannabis is illegal in India, but it is readily available and no attempts are made to arrest the sellers.

The 1961 international treaty on narcotic drugs included cannabis among the hard drugs. During the discussions, the Indian delegation opposed the meeting’s intolerance to the social and religious customs of India and as a compromise “bhang”, a milk-based drink which is traditionally prepared from pulverised buds and leaves of the cannabis plant, was excluded from the definition of “cannabis”. This allowed India to carry on its centuries- old tradition of consumption of bhang during Holi and other religious festivities.

For centuries the villagers of Malana in north India have been growing cannabis from which they produce “charas”, the sticky black hashish called “Malana cream” which, although illegal, is the villagers’ only source of income.

Few people would associate Israel with marijuana but for more than 50 years, Israel has been a pioneer in medical cannabis research and development. The cultivation, possession and use of marijuana is illegal in Israel, except when used for medical purposes, which are strictly controlled.

Decriminalisation of marijuana has been on the Caricom agenda since September 2013 when Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, wrote a letter to then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the then chairperson of Caricom, calling for serious discussion on the medicinal value of marijuana at the Caricom level.

At the Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Antigua in August, 2014, it was agreed to establish a regional commission to conduct an inquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use. The commission was expected to submit its report by Caricom’s next summit, scheduled for last February, but no such report was tabled.

Meanwhile, in 2015, Jamaica took the lead and decriminalised the possession and use of small quantities of marijuana, paving the way for the legalisation of the drug for medical purposes.

In colonial Trinidad and British Guiana (Guyana), East Indian indentured workers were issued with a monthly supply of ganja (marijuana) by the colonial government.

In Trinidad the imported stocks of ganja were stored at the Queens Warehouse of the Customs.

Unfortunately, during the fire which destroyed the Custom House in 1978, a significant loss of important historical artefacts occurred when the “Ganja Register” and other documents, the scales and other items used in the issuing of ganja to indentured workers were lost.

It is important to note the significant difference between decriminalisation and legalisation. With decriminalisation there are no jail sentences or monetary penalties imposed for simple possession. It does not cover use, sale or storage, for which there would still be criminal penalties. The legalisation of marijuana or other drug means that you can acquire, possess and use said drug without fear of any criminal prosecution.

* Next week, in Part II, I will discuss the sale and price of m a r i – juana in some US states

According to a police report, it was at about 8.45 pm on Monday (Boxing Day) when police officers in a marked police vehicle called on the driver of a silver-coloured Mitsubishi Lancer to stop.

However, the driver sped off and headed from the Palmiste intersection towards Rambert Village and then proceeded to Hermitage as he was being pursued by the officers. Police report the speeding driver broadsided several parked vehicles. Police Constables Sujeet Ramcharan and Aaron Mahabir repeatedly called, via loud speaker, on the driver to stop but too no avail.

The police report driver almost struck a woman on the road, who at the time, was holding a threemonth- old baby. She had to scamper off the edge of the roadway, narrowly escaping being hit by the left side of the front fender of the Lancer.

The police vehicle eventually cornered the Lancer and arrested the driver. Another occupant was in the vehicle.

Police said yesterday the driver had no driver’s permit and the insurance for the vehicle had expired.

He was given a breathalyser test which, according to the report, he failed to provide.

He was slapped with several charges and will appear in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court today.

According to reports, 28-year-old Fabian Patrong of Maycock Street, was liming with friends along Simon Street, Carapo, when they were approached by a gunman at about 5.30 pm on Monday.

The suspect opened fire and shot Patrong several times before fleeing the scene. Patrong later succumbed to his injuries, adding his killing to the murder rate at 451.

At his home, relatives said Patrong who worked as a labourer with the Ministry of Works and Transport never interfered with anyone.

His girlfriend, who did not want to give her name, said Patrong was a man who, “spread love throughout the whole neighbourhood.

He was never in a gang and was never involved with drugs.” She said every Boxing Day, Patrong will pick up his friends to lime in Carapo.

“This is real hard to deal with because he was never in anything, he was a real humble person,” she said.

One relative said he warned Patrong to be careful this Christmas as there were, “all kind of mad men outside.” “God will deal with everything. Fabian was a nice guy, so I will let God take his justice, I’m trying to be strong,” the relative said.

Police are continuing investigations.

Reports revealed that Darron Boyce alias “Robo” of Paradise Heights, Black Rock, Tobago was flying a kite at about 6 pm. The kite became entangled in a tree at Old Grafton Road, Pleasant Prospect and he went to retrieve it when tragedy struck.

It is reported that Boyce fell 30 feet off the tree onto the ground, where he rolled down a precipice a further 20 feet causing him to sustain multiple injuries.

Boyce was rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at about 8 pm on Monday.

A number of relatives, friends and well-wishers gathered to offer comfort to the grieving family at their home yesterday.

The family objected to being interviewed, as they asked for a private moment to deal with the untimely passing.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on Boyce before funeral arrangements can be made.

Woman Police Corporal Caterson of the Old Grange Police Station is continuing in