His political career, including his famous falling-out with late prime minister Patrick Manning and the events which immediately followed the 2010 elections have now been catalogued in his biography.

However, speaking with the Newsday, Rowley said his book was dedicated to his grandson and the generation he was born into. The PM also has a granddaughter. “It is written with an eye of the young people who would probably read about a life they would never know because it represents a period of time and a kind of life that maybe no longer exists in this country. It is about growing up in the ‘60s and developing in the ‘70s, taking responsibility in the ‘70s into the ‘80s and facing the challenges of life, the ups and downs and staying alive,” he said.

Rowley said he intended to try to teach his grandchildren and other persons he came into contact with because he thought his life has been an interesting one, adding that the book was one that was easy to read. “I have had a very interesting life, very enjoyable to me. Sometimes it was very challenging, but by and large if I had to do it over again I would hardly want to change it,” he said.

The title of the book was interesting, but to the Prime Minister, there was an underlying, deeper meaning.

“The Whitehall is very symbolic and Mason Hall is really my root as deep as it gets with me, so it’s a journey. Maybe if you read it you might see where I’ve been and who I am,” Rowley said.

However, the larger question of strategic deployment remains to be addressed.

While engaging with our maritime neighbours and international partners is a necessary part of the equation, no amount of assistance from foreign States can plug gaps in coverage. That requires effective management as well as the necessary resources.

We have long gone past crying over spilt milk in relation to the highly controversial OPVs planned by the Patrick Manning administration more than six years ago.

Today we can safely question whether vessels alone are the panacea to the ills that are said to plague our maritime security.

The drug and gun trade, as well as the potential for human trafficking, are all matters in the middle of this maelstrom.

“We have engaged our neighbours (Venezuela) to cooperate with us because we believe the national security thrust in the maritime environment is fundamental to how we treat with crime and criminality in TT,” said Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon at the commissioning ceremony for the two new vessels.

“We recognise, to a large extent, that some of the issues we confront on a day-to-day basis have their genesis in the penetration of our borders,” he said.

But whether the new vessels will make a difference now depends on how the TTS Moruga (CG 27) and TTS Carli Bay (CG 28) are deployed. Thus far, it has been difficult to discern a bigger strategy or plan, particularly given the drip-feed nature of this procurement.

The vessels were built by Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde (Damen). They are the most recent delivery in a 12-vessel order made by the TT Government back in May 2015.

The first six vessels were delivered in July 2015.

Dillon said the new vessels should spend more time monitoring our maritime borders than at dock.

He also said while Government welcomes these additional vessels, it also believes that in an international environment, we must be able to cooperate with our partners.

This involves support of joint initiatives aimed at intelligence and information-sharing as well as operational effectiveness.

Caricom is also a central part of the equation, regardless of its flagging role in economic and social integration.

There is also a need to reassess the practice of procuring equipment in the absence of key stratagems and systems.

We welcome these new assets but anxiously wait to see how they will be deployed in the fight against the gun and drug trade.

The vessels should be adequately equipped to be able to spot contraband carriers. We hope the new ships are not going to be left parked up at Staubles Bay. It also must be remembered that the equipment should function within a system germane to their maximum utilisation.

So, for example, it makes no sense deploying them if basic radar systems are not working and if the Police Service, Coast Guard and other agencies are not working in tandem.

If all of these matters are not attended to, we will simply end up with big toys in a crime situation that has become our deadliest game.

CHRISTMAS fruit cake is made in homes throughout the Caribbean but, in my opinion, our Trinidad Christmas black cake is the “greatest”.

Among Trinis there is friendly rivalry for the title of best fruit cake, best pastelles, and best ponche de cr?me. Like parang, the pastelle was introduced to Trinidad by the “cocoa panyols” who arrived from Venezuela during the 19th century to work on cocoa estates.

Our Trinidad-style pastelle is filled with cooked minced beef, pork, chicken, raisins, capers and olives enclosed in a thin layer of cornmeal dough. The Venezuelan hallaca is much larger with a thicker dough enclosing the meats, raisins, capers, olives, pimentos, potato and hard-boiled egg. Wrapped in banana leaves, the dough with the enclosed meats is steamed.

There is no pastry as delicious as a well-made pastelle. My complaint is that after hours of preparation the pastelles are all soon eaten.

In many countries Christmas dinner is served on Christmas Eve or soon after the traditional midnight Christmas Eve Mass.

On Christmas Eve night, Santa Claus arrives from the North Pole bearing gifts for the children. In Venezuela and in Honduras that function is performed by San Nicolas and in Argentina and Bolivia, Nicholas brings gifts for the children. Colombia, Peru and Paraguay it is performed by Papa Noel.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Christmas luncheon is served on Christmas Day, and the menu varies according to the household income. In a middle income home the menu may be a selection from baked turkey, baked ham, baked pork leg, stewed pigeon peas, stuffing, chicken salad, potato salad, macaroni and cheese pie, cole slaw, and pastelles.

Before household refrigerators became available, the ham was a smoked pork leg or shoulder encased in a tar jacket which was removed and the ham boiled in what was called a “pitch-oil tin” (really a cooking oil tin) over a wood-burning fire in the backyard.

Dessert may be from a selection of black cake, sponge cake, cr?me caramel, fruit cocktail, or ice cream.

The drinks selection may be red and white wines, whisky, rum, gin, vodka, beer, ponche de cr?me, home-made cr?me de menthe and, depending on the household income, champagne or sparkling wine. Vermouth and anisette have disappeared from the list of drinks but sorrel and ginger beer continue to be available.

A selection of chocolates, nuts, dates, figs and Danish cookies may be available.

In some country areas of TT, the Christmas Day menu may include wild meat. In Puerto Rico and for Filipinos, including those resident in TT, the centrepiece of the Noche Buena is lechon, or roasted pig. In Germany as in some other European countries it is roasted goose. Salted fish or bacalhau is a traditional Christmas dish in Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and in its former colonies.

Boxing Day originated in England when the “alms boxes” containing donations to the poor were opened in churches and the contents distributed. In Trinidad, Boxing Day was a family day when family members travelled from various parts of Trinidad to picnic together at the Queen’s Park Savannah. It was also the biggest horse racing day on the calendar, before its relocation to Santa Rosa Park.

After Christmas the turkey bones are used in a sancoche (traditional soup) with the ham bone often retained for use in the pigeon peas soup on Carnival Monday.

Do have a Merry Christmas of love, h a p p i n e s s and family to

A subdued Seecharan wore an orange and black t-shirt and grey jeans when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Eighth Court, where the charge that on a date unknown between December 4 and December 9, he murdered Banfield at IAM and Company was read.

Seecharan of Constantine Road, St Helena, was not called upon to enter a plea for the charge, which was laid indictably, but his attorney Larry Williams sought disclosure of evidence which he said was in the possession of the police.

Crucial to the defence, according to Williams, is alleged fingerprint evidence which he said was needed so the defence can conduct its own independent expert testing. Williams also asked that he be provided with photographs which he said were not shown to him during his visit with his client.

“I have been advised that the police are in possession of a fingerprint belonging to the accused but I don’t recall seeing that photograph at all,” Williams said in his application for disclosure. “The first time my client was in custody, fingerprints were not taken but when he was arrested the second time, on an unrelated matter for which he was not charged, fingerprints were taken and suddenly they end up with fingerprints on his third arrest,” Williams said. The lawyer also asked that he be provided with full video recording retrieved from IAM and Company as opposed to the three ten-second clips he said he was shown. Seecharan was charged earlier yesterday morning, after he was arrested for a third time just before 9 pm on Monday, at his St Helena apartment. The case was adjourned to January 17 and the accused was remanded into custody.

“I feel much better now. It gives me a little peace of mind that the police have made an arrest. My staff, my entire family are feeling so good that the police have made an arrest. I think the whole of Trinidad is feeling a sense of relief,” Ali said. He told Newsday yesterday that on account of the incident, his business and family including his grandchildren at school, have suffered. Over 100 staff were also affected.

Yesterday, he said, Ag Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Wayne Dick paid him a visit at his Trincity office and they held discussions. The keys to the Charlotte Street branch, Ali said, were returned to him but Ali added that he would not reopen this branch for the rest of this week leading up to the Christmas weekend. “I have to tidy it up. Some of the workers will be scared to go back there, so we will do a little prayers for the place. We will get a priest to bless the building and then reopen,” Ali said.

Asked if he had made contact with Banfield’s parents, Ali said he was trying to make arrangements through a priest who was at the funeral as to how he will go about meeting with Shannon’s relatives them. Though he reiterated that he wants to help the family, Ali admitted, “I have not offered anything as yet.”

Alibey was spared a jail term by Port-of- Spain Magistrate, Christine Charles, who told him that as a well qualified person academically, it was no excuse to say he relied on bad advice.

Alibey has been given until Friday to pay $5,000 and the balance of the fine by January 30.

If he fails to pay the fine, he will be sentenced to two years in prison.

He was also ordered to repay to the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) the sum of money he fraudulently recovered in VAT by March 29 or spend two years in prison if he fails to do so.

Alibey’s company Agro Aggressive Organisation and Maintenance Services was reprimanded and discharged by the magistrate.

Alibey was before the court on a charge of recovering VAT although his business was not registered with the BIR.

He pleaded guilty to the charge laid by the Criminal Tax Investigation Unit of the BIR when he appeared before Charles last week.

As director of Agro Aggressive, Alibey received a contract for $832,703.50 on July 1, 2013, to carry out refurbishment and maintenance work at the Valencia Community Centre by the Ministry of Sport. The company issued an invoice in the sum of $253,000 to the Sport Ministry for payment which was approved and received on September 6, 2013.

It was later revealed that Agro Aggressive was not registered to collect VAT despite billing the Ministry $33,000 for VAT on its invoice.

Alibey was expected to register his company with the BIR when his company exceeded the vatable threshold of $200,000 and had failed to do so when he acquired the $832,730.50 contract for the work on the Valencia Community Centre.

Attorneys representing the three, who were issued subpoenas last week, yesterday raised the issue of the court’s jurisdiction as well as provisions under the Constitution which permits the members of the court to refer to the High Court, any allegation of constitutional impropriety.

Presiding over yesterday’s proceedings were Industrial Court president Deborah Thomas- Felix and members Larry Achong, Ramchand Lutchmedial, and Albert Aberdeen.

According to attorney Christopher Hamel-Smith, SC, who represents the Chamber and its chief executive, there are “serious questions that arise” on whether the court could embark on the contempt enquiry at all.

He said the court could not be prosecutor and judge in the same matter.

Also raising questions on the court’s jurisdiction was Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, who represents Mouttet.

He said the subpoena issued to his client was “extra ordinary” and also raised the issue of freedom of expression and self incrimination as his client was asked to furnish the court with copies of all reports, interviews, inserts, programmes, audio visual clips and CCTV footage in prints and electronic, inclusive of blogs, and commentary pertaining to a breakfast meeting held by the Chamber on November 30, under the theme “The Impact of Industrial Court Judgements on your Business.” Hosein asked that the jurisdiction and constitutional points be heard before the court embarks on any contempt proceedings.

“The Court has to ensure that its reputation is enhanced and maintained. Let us clarify those issues first,” he said. Attorneys representing the three are expected to file their applications by December 29 and their submissions by January 31. The matter has been adjourned to February 10. Senior Counsel Reginald Armour, who represents Ali, also raised the issue of the court’s jurisdiction as well as the constitutional claims. He appears with Vanessa Gopaul, while Senior Counsel Elton Prescott appears for the Law Association, which has been granted permission to make submissions on the matter.

At the panel discussion hosted by the Chamber, Mouttet and Ali were critical of the court.

Mouttet blamed the Court for low productivity in the country and described the court as harsh and oppressive in its judgments, favouring workers and unions against employers while Ali called for a lobby for pro-business judges on the Industrial Court bench.

Earlier last week, the National Trade Union Centre issued a statement challenging Mouttet for his statements while head of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), Ancel Roget, on Wednesday, demanded a retraction. Roget said the comments by Mouttet showed a gross disrespect for the court.

The six are, Atiiba John, 24, Robert Latchmansingh, 22, Maiciah Revallac, 18, Dareem Sampson, 18, Shaquille Pierre, 21, and Niccoli Hills, 21.

Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John read the charge to them on December 13 at about 2.20 am, they broke and entered Rennie’s Variety Store on High Street, San Fernando.

Police Constable Markus Lange of the San Fernando CID who laid the charge, brought a black bag into the courtroom packed with 131 p airs of sneakers.

Attorneys Cedric Neptune, Ainsley Lucky, Annalee Girwar and Frank Gittens represented the six.

Forde-John granted John, Latchmansingh, Revallac, Sampson and Pierre bail in the sum of $100,000 with a surety.

Hills was granted $120,000 bail with an alternative cash deposit of $35,000.

Cash deposits as an alternative to their bail in the sum of $15,000 were granted to the other five accused. They are to return to court on January 20.

The management of the restaurant was advised by health officers to close down until they can address several health and safety violations. Officers of the CTU are expected to interview several Chinese nationals who were taken into custody during the search. Deputy Director of the CTU, Alana Wheeler, told Newsday that the immigrants working at the restaurants may not only be victims of poor living conditions but poor labour conditions as well.

“Human trafficking is not just about sexual exploitation, human trafficking is also about labour issues,” said Wheeler. “For example what you would find here is that some people are being paid below minimum wage. If their sleeping or living conditions are not up to a certain standard, those are also violations and we are seeing that there are persons that live on the compound.” On Monday, ten persons were detained and taken to the CTU office on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, after CTU officers, health inspectors, immigration officers and police officers conducted a search of Me Asia on Ariapita Avenue.

According to a media release,. the men were rescued at about. 9.15 am yesterday after leaving. for a fishing expedition almost 24. hours before.

Newsday understands that. Othneil Ramsey, Anderson. Smart and Christian Mitchell left. Tobago to fish. While in the water,. their vessel __ a 22-foot-long. pirogue named “Ocean O’Neil”. began experiencing mechanical. problems and went adrift.

The men were reported missing. after they did not return to shore. and officers of the coast guard. in the Coast Guard Vessel TTS. Brighton (CG24), conducted a. search in the ocean while the Air. Guard Helicopter (AG 313) provided. air support. When the men. were found, they were examined. by a physician on the coast guard. boat and they were towed, along. with their vessel, back to Store. Bay, Tobago.

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