Staff at the unit have been complaining that they have been unpaid for months with some of them going without salaries for as many as three months.

They say that they have held several meetings with the project manager of the project, which is funded by the IDB and the bank has paid all the money it was due to pay for the support of the project so they cannot understand why they are having problems to get paid their salaries.

A spokesman said some of the workers do not even have current contracts although every week they are promised that they will get new contracts.

The spokesman said that in the case of some of the workers, their contracts expired on November 1 and they have been promised renewals every week since then but nothing has been done. In addition, some thirty to forty workers are on three month contracts but have not yet been paid for the first part of the contract.

With Christmas just a day away, the workers say they are in a pitiful situation with some of then not even having food in their homes and unable to send their children to school.

Some of them are students themselves.

“We have bills to pay, rent to pay. And now we face Christmas without pay. There will be no joy in many homes in this season of goodwill,” said one employee in a statement to Newsday.

Efforts to contact Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Stuart Young, on the issue yesterday were unsuccessful as calls to his cellphone went directly to voicemail and there was no response to text messages.

In a statement, Imbert said Petrotrin did not inform the Government, “that it had commenced negotiations for the collective bargaining period 2014 to 2017.” Imbert, who is also Acting Energy Minister, further indicated, “Petrotrin acted unilaterally without informing the Government or seeking a remit from the Public Sector Negotiating Committee (PSNC).”He said it is well known by all concerned that State Enterprises must seek and obtain guidelines from the PSNC, which is a committee of Cabinet ministers, which is chaired by the Finance Minister.

“This procedure has been in place for over 20 years,” Imbert added.

The minister also said Petrotrin received no authorisation from the Chief Personnel Officer on this matter.

He said only when media reports appeared indicating there was disagreement between the OWTU and Petrotrin over the collective agreement for the 2014 to 2017 period, did the Government become aware that these negotiations had, “commenced without authorisation.” Imbert said the matter is now being addressed by Government and will be considered by the PSNC at its next meeting.

Imbert also said he has sought an explanation from Petrotrin and it was only on Wednesday that the company first sought guidance from him on this matter.

He said in Petrotrin’s letter to him, the company advised him that any increase in manpower costs at this time will result in increased losses and further exacerbate its cash flow, thus exposing Petrotrin to the risk of funds not being available to meet its operational expenses.

Referring to statements made by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Stuart Young at the post-Cabinet news conference at the OPM on Thursday, Imbert said, “The Government has not authorised Petrotrin to make any offer of any kind for thr 2014-2017 period simply because the collective agreement for the previous period 2011 to 2014 is currently before the Industrial Court and has not been settled or determined.” Imbert further stated that as a result, “it is impossible to quantify the cost of an agreement for the subsequent 2014- 2017 period.

The awards are voted on by the readers of the award-winning Caribbean World Magazine.

Jefferis, who developed and owns the Coco Reef property in Tobago, said, “I am exceedingly honoured to have been voted the Premier Hotelier of the Year at the International Caribbean World Awards. I am living my dream of developing and owning hotels in the Caribbean.

My success is due in part to the incredible team at Coco Reef – Tobago, whose professionalism, hospitality and efficiency have ensured that guests from all over the world have the time of their lives when they stay with us.” Jefferis has won countless accolades and awards throughout his career, including: Bermuda Hotel Association’s first “Bermuda Hotelier of the Year” in 1989; The Caribbean Hotel Association’s “Caribbean Hotelier of the Year” in 1991; EY’s “Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in 2000; Caribbean World’s “Lifetime Achievement Award in Tourism and Travel” in 2008; and International Caribbean Life’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2014.

In 2015, Jefferis celebrated 50 years in the hospitality industry and was inducted by the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association into the Tourism Hall of Fame – one of only two people to be inducted.

For the past 13 years, Jefferis’ Coco Reef – Tobago resort has won the World Travel Award for the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel.

Jefferis is a past President of the Bermuda Hotel Association and a past member of the Bermuda government’s Tourism Board and Marketing Committee.

Other previous recipients of the award were Butch Stewart from Jamaica and Professor Kevin Morley from Barbados.

He indicated that there is no indication as yet as to when Khan will be returning home. At the post-Cabinet news conference at the OPM in St Clair, Young said certain media reports which claimed Khan suffered a heart attack were incorrect, Young explained, “It is a complication to do with his heart and brought on by a viral infection.

They found fluid in his lungs and they are treating that situation now.” Indicating that it was Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who advised the Cabinet about Khan’s situation, Young said, “There has been conversation directly with Minister Khan and Mrs Khan.

Young told reporters that before attending the briefing, he saw a photograph of Khan in his hospital gown with a “Frankie Khan smile on his face.” He said preparations are being made to have Khan return to Trinidad as soon as he is in a proper state to travel.

Indicating that Government is monitoring the medical treatment which Khan is receiving in Thailand, Young said, “Our understanding is that the facilities in Thailand, and especially where he is receiving medical attention, are world class facilities.” On Khan’s Facebook page yesterday, people continued posting their good wishes to him for a speedy recovery and urging him to keep on smiling.

Shiva Buchoon jumped for joy while hugging his uncle and brother when, by process of elimination, he was announced the grand prize winner out of nine finalists in the promotion which was organised by the Scotch whiskey’s local distributor, AS Bryden & Sons (Trinidad) Limited (Bryden’s).

Speaking with Newsday shortly after informing his wife via telephone of his good fortune, 30-year-old Buchoon said it felt “great, really great” to win the BMW car. “It’s the perfect Christmas gift. This was something I really wanted,” Buchoon said while smiling broadly.

Although he already owns a car, the young man told Newsday he wasn’t sure if he’d sell his other car; “I have to talk to my wife first before deciding on anything.” Buchoon was one of the last finalists to be selected by random draw. He was notified on Thursday, the day before the grand prize draw.

Marketing Manager at Bryden’s Dominic Lau, said the Code Black promotion ran from October 15 to December 22, 2016 and that this helped JW, “the number one Scotch whiskey globally to (also) maintain its number one ranking in Trinidad.” Other prizes in the promotion included eight Samsung 55 inch television sets, eight Samsung S7 phones, JW Gold Reserve, JW Black Label, JW Double Black, JW knapsacks and brand memorabilia.

“On behalf of my own family and myself, I urge you to enjoy the festivities but to do so responsibly,” Cuffie advised.

“If you must drink, then designate a responsible and sober driver.

If you are too tired to drive, pull into a Police Station or Fire Station and ask to remain in the parking lot for a while or call someone to get you.

“Remember too, firecrackers are illegal and have the potential to cause serious injury to others.

Don’t let your enjoyment spoil the fun for others.” Cuffie also urged citizens to heed the lessons of the Christmas story, of the birth of Jesus Christ, even as we busy ourselves with the cleaning, the shopping, and all the other preparations.

“The birth of Jesus Christ to the previously unknown Mary who came from an even more obscure village called Galilee, should remind us of how often we ignore those who, because of accidents of geography, do not satisfy our own notions of acceptability, of class, of education, of social standing, and are therefore relegated to the peripheries of society,” Cuffie remarked.

“Mary and Joseph’s inability to secure a proper or acceptable place to give birth to Jesus should not only cause us to be grateful for the roof over our heads, but to be even more mindful of those who have no such luxury, who will spend this Christmas homeless and with not even a garage open to them.” Cuffie said King Herod’s willingness to kill Baby Jesus should cause us, particularly those in public life, to reflect on our own willingness to remain in power at any cost, even by constructing a morality of our own.

“In our country today, there are as many Jesus’ waiting to bring salvation to this country, as there are Marys and Josephs and Innkeepers and Herods,” said Cuffie.

“As we go about this task of building our country, we have the opportunity to choose which one of these characters we are going to be. Will we choose the path of least resistance or will we choose the road less travelled, the one that will cause our country to achieve the heights that we all know are indeed possible?”

“Around the time, when the Ministry of Education vacated this compound there was a change in the provision of security services to the Office of the Prime Minister across the road, with the Guard and Emergency Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service being mandated to provide the security for the Office of the Prime Minister,” said the statement.

“Accordingly, one of the buildings on the compound was temporarily provided to the Guard and Emergency Branch whilst another appropriate building is being located to house these officers and the necessary support services. This arrangement is a temporary one.” Cuffie has noted the various claims to the property. He said the property has not yet been handed over to his Ministry, even as the Ministry of Education is still evacuating the buildings there.

“The settled policy for the allocation of the State’s limited property resources is that a request is made by the line Ministry to the Property and Real Estate Services Division (PRESD), through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications,” said Cuffie’s statement.

“After considering the request, PRESD makes a recommendation to the Minister which, if he supports, it is taken before Cabinet for approval.” Cuffie met Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, and the duo will meet officials from Queen’s Royal College (QRC) early in the New Year regarding their interest in the property.

Imam Musthtaq Sulaimani while delivering the Friday Juma’h Kutbah (sermon) at the ASJA Mosque, Mucurapo Street, San Fernando yesterday, told worshippers not to celebrate the birth of Esau (Jesus), the son of Mary, with drinking alcohol and eating pork at parties which have come to characterise this time of the year.

Jesus is the mightest messenger of God and no muslim can claim to believe in Allah if he does not believe in the miraculous birth and in Jesus’ second coming.

In fact, Jesus is mentioned about 15 times in the Holy Qu’ran and his mother, Mary, even more. Muhammad, the last and seal prophet of God, is mentioned quite less.

Such is the respect one must have for Jesus, Sulaimani said, that in the celebration of his birth, it is an act of abomination against religious doctrine that “people are engaged in parties all over the country in the name of celebrating Christmas”. Sulaimani said to a packed hall of muslim men and women observing the weekly Friday prayers, “Someone asked me today why do we Muslims refrain from these two things that many people consume, especially during this season – alcohol and pork.

The Lord has made forbidden for you, blood, and the flesh of the pig and that which has been consecrated to the name of any other than God. But, he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him.

For Allah (God) is Forgiving, Most Merciful. O you who believe, verily alcohol and all intoxicants and the games of chance and sacrifices at altars and divining arrows. It is the handiwork of Satan. So avoid it so that you will successful.” The tendency to engage in just the opposite, Sulaimani said, is a contradiction which have implications for society.

But apart from the festivity, he added, the year is approaching the end which he likened to the page of a book in the life of a person – each year a new page he or she has turned. “ So, instead of drinking and dancing and eating pork at the end of the year,” Sulaimani, who holds a Masters Degree in Islamic Theology, “people should contemplate on the page of life they have turned and which will never come back.”

In many Christmases of the past, children who were off from school would long to decorate their Christmas trees and help their parents hang curtains and wrap toys in gift paper.

But for the past days, there is a sombre mood at Ragoo Extension Trace leading to the home of missing hairdresser and mother of two Ria Sookdeo.

The 32-year-old woman was kidnapped at the corner of Papourie Road and the Picton Estate Drive, at about 8.30 am on September 22, shortly after dropping off her two children at the Picton Presbyterian Primary School.

Yesterday, Sookdeo’s husband, Mark, was at home with his mother and his daughter, Ellena.

The girl who is nine years old, seemed oblivious that Christmas without her mother would not be special like childen of her age who look forward to their mommy giving them dolls as Christmas gifts.

When Mark emerged from the living room, he said, “We are trying to cope with this situation, but it is obviously very difficult for us.” He said that he is not feeling the Christmas spirit.

Three months have passed and according to the husband, he has not gotten any positive feedback as to his wife whereabouts.

Mark sat with his legs crossed and gave short answers to questions by Newsday about how he intends to treat his two children for Christmas.

He declined to be photographed.

In one corner of the living room, there was a box with toys and Ellena walked about quietly. Her brother who is five years old, was not at home. Mark said, “I have no clue what happened to my wife. I pray each day that she would return home. I have little to say to the media.” The husband said that members of various churches and temples visit his family and have consoled them.

Jadoo appeared in the Second San Fernando Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay yesterday morning and pleaded guilty to the charge that yesterday morning, he assaulted his wife. The court police prosecutor Sgt Sylvan, told the magistrate that at about 1 am yesterday, police officers arrested Jadoo at his 27 Christian Street, San Fernando home.

He had dealt Candice Mohammed several blows to her body. The court heard that upon his arrest, Jadoo said, “Officer, I really beat she because she tell me she wanted to leave.” Jadoo accepted the facts as presented.

Representing Jadoo was attorney-at-law Ainsley Lucky who said that Jadoo left home to collect car parts and ended up in a “lime” with friends. After drinking “one beer”, Lucky said, Jadoo returned home and got into an argument with his commonlaw- wife. He lost his temper and struck her. In Jadoo’s defence, however, Lucky said Jadoo came from a broken home and his parents had divorced when he was eight months old.

He described his client as a “semi-reclusive” who prefers to do things for himself.

Lucky said that his client’s behaviour was “out of character” for him, even though “smatterings of arguments pepper” his relationship with Mohammed.

Lucky said that Jadoo was willing to apologise to Mohammed with whom he has a one-year-old girl. Mohammed, however, did not show up to court yesterday.

Dubay withheld sentence pending Mohammed’s appearance on January 20.