Robinson-Regis’ scathing condemnation came after Finance Minister Colm Imbert did a sequel of his challenge to former People’s Partnership (PP) government to “come outside”, challenging the Opposition this time to, “come inside” and debate the Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 which is critical to TT’s FATCA compliance with the United States.

Looking at the empty Opposition benches, as he concluded the debate, Imbert declared, “I appeal to them again…as I appealed in the past..I appeal to the Members opposite again…come downstairs…

come inside!” Government MPs pounded their desks as Imbert continued, “Come inside!…Why are you outside?..They should come inside…This is the people’s House..

Don’t be cowards…What are you hiding for?…Come inside!” In 2015, when the then Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) walked out of debate on a no-confidence motion against then Opposition Leader (now Prime Minister) Dr Keith Rowley, Imbert challenged the PP to “come outside”, and say what they had to say.

The Government yesterday approved several amendments to the bill in the committee stage but did not take the vote on the bill, which requires a three-fifth’s majority, for passage. The House was adjourned to January 6, at 1.30 pm, to complete deliberations on the bill.

Prior to the adjournment, Robinson- Regis declared it was unacceptable for the Opposition for the third time, “ to absent itself from this very important piece of legislation.” She continued, “Our Parliament is here to ensure the conduct of law and order…degradations for the proper organisation of our country.” As Government MPs thumped their desks, Robinson-Regis quipped, “It is indeed passing strange that on three occasions (September 23, December 9 and yesterday)…those in opposition to us have determined they should not participate in this debate.” She reminded Government MPs that when Opposition MPs walked out last Friday, “they indicated they were doing so in solidarity” with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Naparima MP Rodney Charles when they (Persad-Bissessar and Charles) openly challenged Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George’s decision to deny Persad-Bissessar’s request to to adjourn the House to discuss what Persad- Bissessar described as Government’s failure to address an unprecedented number of murders and missing persons in TT.

Saying Persad-Bissessar and Charles displayed “gross disorder and misconduct” last Friday, Robinson- Regis asked Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde, “What is their reason for not being here today?” She found it interesting the Opposition did not want to discuss legislation that would facilitate the exchange of tax information. Robinson-Regis warned that if the bill is not passed, “it can lead to the collapse of the entire banking system in TT.” She continued that even if the Opposition did not want to speak to the Government in Parliament, “why are they not speaking to the Bankers Association?” On the Opposition’s claim of supporting the bill in a joint select committee (JSC), Robinson-Regis said the Government was discussing the bill in committee stage in the House because, “this exercise allows all members…whether on the Government’s side or the Opposition’s side to say clause by clause…what is the concern they have for the bill.” In his contribution, Imbert said Persad-Bissessar was inaccurate to allege that FATCA was not important and only dealt with big business.

He said he was amazed that Persad-Bissessar pretended not to know that FATCA affects, “all 1.3 million souls” in the country if the legislation was not passed.

Reiterating the timelines for passing the bill, the efforts he made to get extensions after the PP missed two FATCA deadlines, Imbert said the country dodged the bullet twice and would be pushing its luck if it tempted fate a third time.

Speaking to reporters after the House’s adjournment, Imbert said, “We (Government) have listened to what they (Opposition) have to say and amended the bill to suit their concerns.” He added, “We did it in the public so everyone could understand what we are about and we will also be informing the public about exactly what we’ve done today.” Imbert stressed, “The business of the Parliament…the business of the country must go on.” Dismissing Persad-Bissessar’s demand for evidence that the economy would collapse if TT is not FATCA compliant, Imbert said, “I think that’s really irresponsible.”

An initial autopsy last Friday, done by Dr Des Vignes, was inconclusive and the pathologist asked police for more time to carry out further tests.

On Sunday evening, Des Vignes returned to the Forensic Science Centre and spent several hours conducting another autopsy following which, he determined that Banfield’s cause of death was a homicide and she was smothered. It is believed the killer/s blocked the nose and mouth of the 20-year-old, resulting in her death due to a lack of oxygen. Yesterday, a team of Homicide Investigations Bureau officers went to the centre, where they also spent several hours with Des Vignes where he explained to them what he had discovered in his second autopsy.

A report on the findings of the second autopsy was handed over to officers. Investigators approached Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard shortly before 6 pm yesterday and were advised that even with the new autopsy report, they needed to tie up a few loose ends before contemplating criminal charges. Banfield’s funeral will be held today. Banfield left her workplace – Republic Bank’s Independence Square branch two Mondays ago – to shop at Pennywise and IAM & Co Ltd before boarding a taxi to be taken to her Santa Cruz home. She never made it home alive.

On Thursday last, her body was found on a shelf in a store-room on the third floor of IAM & Co Ltd’s Charlotte Street, Port-of- Spain outlet. Cardboard boxes were used to conceal the body.

Two men were detained with one of them, an 18-year-old, being released from police custody at about 8.45 pm on Saturday.

The DPP ordered the man’s release after it was determined he could not be linked to Banfield’s murder. Police apologised to the teen who is now trying to recover from his experience of being labelled a ‘person of interest’. However, the second suspect who was interviewed by police on Saturday night and again on Sunday, steadfastly refuses to cooperate with investigators. This suspect has since retained attorney Larry Williams to seek his legal interests.

According to sources, it is believed Banfield asked to use the washroom at IAM and Company and was escorted to the washroom area located on the third floor. It is believed she was attacked and murdered.

Grandfather of two, Teeluckdharry Seenath, 60, of Derry Lane, off Sonny Ladoo Trace, Mc Bean in Couva could not survive the attack as the top of his head was smashed in. On May 18, Seenath’s wife Jenny, 50, a mother of four and grandmother of two, died of natural causes. Residents discovered Seenath’s body yesterday shortly before 8 am, in a yard lying on its back. Police sources said it is believed that a garden fork was used to smash in Seenath’s head. A bloodstained fork was found nearby and seized.

Relatives told Newsday that Seenath lived with two of his four children – Stephanie and Mark- as well as his two grandchildren ages eight and five. Midday on Saturday, relatives left Seenath home alone and went to spend the weekend at the home of other relatives at Chase Village, Chaguanas. They also said that at the time, Seenath was intoxicated. Shortly after 8 am yesterday, relatives received a telephone call from residents with the tragic news.

“We only just lost Jenny recently and now this. This is real pressure.

What could Maraj possible do to deserve this? Them (killers) coming in here to give our village a bad name,” said a relative yesterday. He worked as a gardener and handyman while his wife worked at a B-B-Que outlet in the area, prior to her death.

The campaign, titled “Have fun without having a blast”, was launched last Friday at the Old Fire Station, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

“The damage is not just inflicted at Christmas or New Year’s or Independence or Divali,” Cuffie said. “It could happen at any event, any time, and anywhere.

The ubiquitous use of scratch bombs has become the bane of many events, of many otherwise joyful celebrations. Their indiscriminate and illegal use has resulted in untold damage to property, loss of limbs, loss of hearing, serious injury to pets and other animals and a plethora of complaints from frustrated citizens, particularly the elderly.” This campaign is supported by us and should be promoted actively by members of civil society.

It is long overdue.

Though scratch bombs are illegal under the Explosives Act and Summary Offences Act, you would not be able to tell this given their prevalence and the lack of enforcement.

Cuffie also disclosed an alarming practice that is taking place.

Unscrupulous businesses are using loopholes to allow the importation of scratch bombs under the sanctioned class of “fireworks”.

This cannot be allowed and business chambers must seek as much as possible to exert influence on this matter.

The price we pay as a society is too high. From grannies losing thumbs, to severe injuries to teachers. Not to mention the impact of these devices on animals.

Terrified dogs run into the road and under vehicles, some are lost.

In fact, some dogs have been known to try and attack fireworks or firecrackers, eat them, catch them or try to play with them.

There are many stories. According to one account, in 2010, in the United States, a dog tried to fetch a lit firework and the rocket exploded in its mouth. The dog had to be euthanised. Though meant for entertainment, scratch bombs are a considerable cause of suffering.

There are many letters every year complaining about these bombs and fireworks. But this year we had a graphic reminder of the problem. During Divali observances, Sally-Ann Cuffie, a grandmother, was driving her car when a scratch bomb was thrown through her window and, in order to save her grandchild, she grabbed the device that blew up in her hand leaving her severely injured. Yet, the response to this kind of thing has been relatively tepid.

As one letter-writer recently pointed out, on December 6, the Grenadian police led a massive crackdown on the illegal sale of fireworks. Raymond Matthew of the Royal Grenada Police Force said that “whatever we get on (the) streets, we will seize them and we will also search the stores.” In Trinidad and Tobago, we cannot even arrest the sale of scratch bombs.

While we welcome the minister’s public awareness campaign, this must not be the end of the matter. The approach must go beyond the end-user/consumer and also include the policing of business and the enforcement of laws meant to protect us. It is not enough to merely appeal to citizens to “develop a culture of care for their neighbours and elderly” while these other areas are left unaddressed. Along with the scratch bomb menace, there is also the problem of the indiscriminate use of fireworks in residential areas, and firecrackers.

These must also be addressed.

The Government has made a good start by launching an education campaign. We can only urge citizens to be responsible and end the practice of using these items.

But we warn that it is equally important that the Government enforces the law on illegal import and sale as well.

The UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises the right to education.

However, it sees education as being a lot more than training in skills, as important as that may be. Its purpose is also to inform our societies and reinforce the capacities of people to reflect, engage in critical thinking and adjust.

The mission of education, according to the covenant, is the “Development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity.” Education “shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It goes on to say that “education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups …” This covenant was adopted 50 years ago, but it sounds as if it could have been written yesterday. However, we are seeing eruptions of fear, hostility and of all kinds of bigotry, much of it directed at migrants, disadvantaged and refugee communities.

Fear of others that are different seem to be the driving force behind many politicians and leaders in our supposedly mature democracies.

This fear has permeated societies that ought to be leading the global order to promote social justice, equity and respect for fundamental principles of human rights. It is made worse by those politicians who calculate that there is more electoral benefit to be generated through fear than through fairness and responsibility.

We ask a simple, if undiplomatic, question: is the refugee “crisis” being instrumentalised to erode and undermine democratic values and democracy itself in the world? It is in that context that we need to reread the covenant today and reflect upon the mission of education.

Education International recently held a conference to discuss education for refugees. It was a fascinating meeting that brought together teachers, education stakeholders, political leaders, and academic experts. The main focus was on how education systems can better serve refugees and support their “integration”.

Let us be modest: education on its own cannot confront all challenges, but they will not be met without it.

Countering dark forces requires a political response and teachers and their trade unions must be part of that necessary mobilisation, but we also have a role to play as educators.

But that requires a philosophy of education that considers the whole child, one that includes critical thinking and discussion on global citizenship, social justice and human rights.

It will be ignored, at best, by those who think that nothing has value that cannot be measured. And it will not even be in the same universe with those who see education as a profit centre rather than as a vital mission for society.

Good education is, in fact, part of the glue that holds society together.

And without it, particularly in the fast-moving world of today, we will be scattered in all directions by powerful and destructive centrifugal forces. But sound education, including civic education, is not only the right thing to do because of our concerns about larger society or even because of the values we serve.

It is also good education and provides value to home and host populations.

As John Dewey, the American educator and philosopher, said early in the last century, “The intermingling in the school of youth of different races, differing religions, and unlike customs creates for all a new and broader environment.”

She said FATCA legislation was being rushed through Parliament by a government unwilling to listen or consider amendments intended to protect the interests of the citizens.

She said government’s position was that it had taken on board some of the Opposition’s concerns, but she added these did not sufficiently address concerns raised by the Opposition.

She accused Government of misrepresenting the Opposition’s position, saying this was “politicking in its lowest form.” The Opposition Leader said the Opposition is prepared to pass the FATCA law but will not be bullied into sacrificing the constitutional rights of the people. She added that people have been raising concerns about FATCA legislation with members of the Opposition. “It appears the government MPs are unable to address their minds or contributions to the substantive matter at hand and that is to create legislation which appropriately balances extraordinary access to citizens’ private financial information with US tax evasion concerns.” She said that while the Bankers Association and the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM) may be happy with the bill in its present form, they were not the only stakeholders.

Persad-Bissessar said the legislation would also affect credit unions and insurance companies. She said when Government first brought the bill to the House they told Parliamentarians if the legislation was not passed by September 13, “the country will collapse, the economy will collapse, you cannot send a cheque, you cannot send a wire transfer, you can have no transactions whatsoever relating to the US dollar.” She said this was proven to be a lie because the country did not collapse.

Robert Mc Inniss, 36, a Jamaican national was shot dead just after midnight on Saturday near a bar in Curepe.

The mother of the victim’s one-year-old son, stood outside the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday, having arrived in the country hours earlier.

“Not me and Trinidad.

People fi kill you here for nothing,” said the woman who did not want to give her name.

“Mi ah go back fi Jamaica one time. I cyah deal with the way things are here. I don’t like this country because it is so violent here,” said the Jamaican, whose country is also well-known internationally for its own levels of violence and murders.

According to reports, Mc Inniss who was an employee at a liquor mart in San Juan, was near Bruce Bar at the corner of Bushe and Belle Smythe streets in Curepe when at about 12.30 am on Saturday, gunshots rang out and he fell into a nearby drain on being shot in the head. He was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EW MSC) in Mt Hope, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The woman described Mc Inniss as a jovial, kind-hearted person. She said he was never involved in any criminal activity as far as she could tell and the only altercation he had was with another man in the Diego Martin area. Police are still trying to ascertain a motive in his death, as investigations continue.

The murder toll stands at 442, compared to 394, for the same period last year.

According to reports, shortly before 6 pm, the man was seen close to a car wash at Building Eight, Maloney, washing the white Hilux when several loud explosions were heard.

Police were alerted and when they arrived on the scene, they found the man’s body in the back seat of the vehicle.

The area was cordoned off and there appeared to be no identification on the man’s body. A district medical officer (DMO) was summoned to the scene but up to 7 pm yesterday, police were still awaiting the arrival of the DMO. Officers, led by Senior Superintendent McDonald Jacob and homicide officers were also at the scene of the country’s latest murder.

The teenager, a resident of the St Jude’s Home for Girls, was among a group of four girls reported missing last Friday (December 9) by the home’s Supervisor, Ann-Marie Arneaud- Thomas.

The TTPS, in a bulletin issued late yesterday afternoon (Monday), said Arneaud-Thomas told officers at the Belmont Police Station that the girls were “observed missing” at around 8.20 am that day (Friday).

While the other three girls “have since been safely returned” to the home, the TTPS said Stephenson remained unaccounted for as of late yesterday afternoon.

The teenager, originally from Torrecilla Gardens, Arima, wears glasses, is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, of African descent with black hair, has a tattoo of a star on her right hand and is slim built. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cheniece Stephenson is asked to call 800-TIPS or contact the police at 555, 999, 911 or any police station.

Prior to the arrival of heavily armed police, it was a free for all as men, women and even an elderly woman walked into the supermarket and helped themselves to items which escaped the blaze. A man used a baby pram to cart away items.

Another man, smiling broadly, walked off with three boxes of baby pampers while another held two bottles of puncheon rum in his arms while deftly opening another bottle of the rum and taking a swig to celebrate his good fortune. The fire, which was first detected at two o’clock in the morning, was doused by firemen but not before it caused major damage to the supermarker which is owned and operated by Chinese nationals.

By six in the morning, word spread far and wide that Benefit the People Supermarket’s front door was wide open and no police were around.

The looters descended like corbeaux around rotting meat, going in empty handed and leaving with hands and arms filled with grocery items. Persons used cellphones to record the looting. In one video image, the looter who had the boxes of pampers flashed a big, broad, proud smile. The video images were uploaded to social media.

When police arrived, looters who came too late to participate in the crime free-for-all, turned back including a woman who walked with an empty bag slung on her shoulder.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been ascertained and conservative estimates, provided by police sources, for the damage caused by the blaze plus the looting were at over $2 million.

Investigations are continuing.