The 12-member jury retired at 1.40 pm to deliberate on the evidence but returned to the court at 5.40 pm and informed Justice Malcolm Holdup that they had not arrived at a verdict. Asked whether they required additional time, she shook her head in the negative and replied no. Holdip then thanked the jury for their time before ordering a retrial for Hosein. He was remanded into custody. Hosein, of South Oropouche is charged with the shooting death of Richardson in front of a South Oropouche bar on October 7, 2005.

He made the revelation on Wednesday night at the People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting at Bournes Road, St James.

To supporters, he stressed that to stay home “is as good as voting for them” and reported that the PNM candidates were chosen by a proper screening process and they settled on people they can vouch for. He recalled that during a walkabout in Charlieville last Sunday a man approached him and told him that for the last two years someone had been using his name and committing fraud and forgery to obtain money from CEPEP.

“He told that to those on the other side, UNC people, and the next thing he know, the man that was accused of doing that is a UNC candidate down in central Trinidad in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation,” he said.

Rowley reported that he advised the man to inform the police about the matter and the man filed a complaint “and the police have taken a statement of fraud and forgery against a front line UNC candidate in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation”.

He said that with four to five days before the Local Government election the Opposition was talking “about all other kinds of things” but not the issue of Local Government.

Rowley reported that he saw the United National Congress (UNC) Local Government manifesto in the newspapers that morning and he saw on television news a comparison between the PNM position, which advocated for the last two weeks non-stop and from Opposition days, election manifesto and consultations, and the UNC manifesto.

“And he (the reporter) went down item by item and every single item that the PNM had spelled out as what our major plans of Local Government reform change for the better it was put in their manifesto,” he said.

He pointed out the similarities include using the Tobago House of Assembly model to use taxes for the corporations and the social services system being on a local level.

Rowley said that the UNC was fighting the Movement for Social Justice over an old PNM slogan “send a message” but he urged supporters for the Local Government elections “to send a message to them that you don’t want them back”.

He pointed out that they have now produced a manifesto with issues of “plagiarism and cut and paste”.

On Wednesday evening before a huge crowd at John Dial Community Centre, John Dial, on the outskirts of Scarborough, and after four hours of deliberations, political leader of the PNM Tobago Council Kelvin Charles announced the 12 candidates confirmed to contest the election under the new slogan ‘Fresh Face, Fresh Start’ following two days of screening.

Three incumbents Huey Cadette, Denise Tsoiaffat Angus and Deon Isaac were rejected by the screening committee.

In addressing the media thereafter, Charles said the decision on the final 12 candidates was done in the best interest of the party. “We did have the best set of candidates coming forward and I feel confident that even though our opponents have not yet named their full slate that at the end of the day they will not be able to match us in terms of youth, gender, experience neither capacity,” Charles said.

“It is in fact a historic occasion in the PNM in Tobago because never before have we had a situation where there were 23 candidates who were willing to be screened and be tested to be afforded the privilege of representing the PNM in an election and for that I want to thank all the nominees,” Charles said.

PNM THA candidates

1. Canaan/Bon Accord – Clarence Jacob

2. Buccoo/Mt Pleasant – Ancil Dennis

3. Lambeau/Signal Hill – Jomo Pitt

4. Scarborough/Calder Hall -Marslyn Jack

5. Mason Hall/Moriah/ Providence-Sheldon Cunningham

6. Parlatuvier/ L’Anse Fourmi/ Speyside – Marissa Williams

7. Roxborough/Delaford – Gary Melville

8. Bacolet/ Mt St George- Joel Jack

9. Bethel/Mt Irvine- Shomari Hector

10. Black Rock/Whim/ Spring Garden- Kelvin Charles

11. Goodwood/Belle Garden- Hayden Spencer

12. Plymouth/Golden Lane -Marisha Osmond

“The Minister who wants to donate his salary to clean some pool by the Prime Minister’s residence, when you start going through Cabinet notes to try to victimise people, when you start a witch hunt against our public servants, be very careful Sir, that you have no cocoa that cannot take rain!” said Persad-Bissessar at a UNC public meeting at the Penal Secondary School on Wednesday.

Persad-Bissessar trained her guns on Young, a Minister in the Office of the Attorney General, as he, in a press conference, produced copies of three invoices from three different caterers paid for the provision of services in the 2014 Divali function.

She said when the PNM criticised her for “profligacy” or overspending on “roti” for the 2014 Divali function, they were in fact criticising public servants who are responsible for signing cheques and handling expenses.

“As prime minister, I did not sign any payments. I signed no cheques because the law of our land does not permit that to be done.” Further, she said, “Minister Young, you are in fact attacking chief accounting officers of our country, permanent secretaries who sign off on expenses. These officers are dedicated public servants – men and women who spend days and nights ensuring things are done in a right and proper way.” Persad-Bissessar also criticised Attorney General Faris Al Rawi’s “hypocrisy”, saying that despite his constant preaching about whistle- blower legislation, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has “shut down” internet access to employees to prevent whistle-blowers from leaking information about corruption in the corporation.

The HDC says it “has noted with concern that since the dismissal earlier this year of its Managing Director (Jearlean John), and even more so, since the recent filing of a matter before the High Court by the Honourable Attorney General (Faris Al Rawi), it has been the target of an ugly campaign of entirely spurious allegations either emanating from or supported by members of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC).

The press conference called by…Ramdeen on November 22, 2016, who is also the attorney- at-law for (John), is quite obviously part of this campaign.” In a three-page statement issued late Wednesday evening, the State agency expressed regret that it had to expend “much time, effort and expense…towards correcting calculated misrepresentations from those opposed to the efficient, effective and fair operation of the HDC.” This past Tuesday, Ramdeen had claimed there was collusion between the HDC’s Land Coordinator, Deborah Cheesman and Director of Media 21 Limited (Media 21), John Afoon on “expressions of interest” in the $8 billion Public Private Partnership (PPP) HDC housing project.

The HDC denied this, emphasising that “the receipt of expressions of interest is not a competitive process, nor is it a tender or a bid, as stated by Senator Ramdeen and as such, there are no tender documents to pass to a third party, nor are there bids which are capable of being rigged.

“It is also important to note that at the end of this process, no contract is issued.”

He was speaking on Wednesday night at the People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting held at Bournes Road, St James. At the meeting he presented to supporters documents which he said were invoices from Ramdeen.

Young, also an attorney, recalled he had cases against Ramdeen between 2010 and 2015 and never in his 17 years of practice had he charged a fee on brief of $1 million. He pointed out that Ramdeen as an attorney is more junior than him.

On the reports of Young’s earning for the Udecott enquiry he confirmed that he earned $1.9 million but that was for a period of six months being in the Commission day in and day out. He said Ramdeen in contrast had advised on a case and he had an invoice which covered from when they first went to him up to the point of drafting a statement of case.

Young said that should not cost $250,000 at a high level for a junior lawyer but he charged taxpayers $1 million.

He also said he had an invoice, approved by then Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, for a case Ramdeen had with the Caribbean Court of Justice.

He reported that Ramdeen had a fee on brief of $1,150,000 and another case for a total of $750,000 when it should have been a maximum of $250,000 for a junior counsel. “So people let him come now and explain to the taxpayers in three invoices how he amassed $3 million of our taxpaying money before he want to go and terrorise poor public servants,” he said.

In a message to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women being observed today Hogan-Rufelds said, “Gender-based violence affects us all. It destroys families, weakens the fabric of our society, and takes a heavy toll on our communities and our economy.” Unequal treatment is one of the main reasons, she said, women and girls were unable to realise their basic human rights, and sexual violence was a violation of their rights.

Canada is a strong supporter of the UN Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security, she said and has implemented a National Action Plan.

The plan, she said, includes provisions to support programming to address the protection of women and girls in conflict, advocate for further implementation of international norms and standards on this issue in multilateral fora.

The plan also provides for personnel to respond appropriately when they are faced with situations where there are serious violations and abuses of human rights, including sexual violence.

The Canadian government, she said, “will be coming out with a strategy for Canada’s renewed engagement in UN peace operations, one component of which will be how to stamp out sexual exploitation and abuse by UN military, police and civilian peacekeepers.

In the Caribbean, under Canada’s Jurist project, she said sexual offences guidelines are being developed which will give clear directives on the procedures from the time a crime is reported until it is taken to trial.

The directives, she said, will help ensure that persons affected are treated with respect and dignity throughout the process and that their cases can be fast tracked The project is also developing a gender equality protocol for magistrates and judges, which will help them deal with their own implicit biases when it comes to issues of gender and justice.

At the local level, the Canadian government has supported, through grant funding, a number of projects by non-governmental organisations such the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development, Family Planning Association, Janus Consulting, the Teocah Dove Foundation, and the Lily Foundation and THETA (Transforming, Healing and Empowering Through Arts).

Canada will also fund a training workshop for judicial officers, lawyers, social workers, probation officers, police officers and other community representatives.

The workshop, billed for March 2017 is being led by the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where the focus will be on advocating to hear the voices of children in proceedings affecting them.

There was no post-Cabinet news conference last week, which saw a hectic level of local government campaigning by the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), UNC and other parties contesting next Monday’s local government elections.

The campaign entered its final lap this week, with the PNM holding meetings from Monday (in Moruga) to last night (in Sangre Grande), with Rowley speaking at all meetings. The UNC was in Tunapuna on Monday and Penal on Wednesday, with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar being the feature speaker.

The PNM and UNC end their campaigns in Tacarigua and Couva respectively tomorrow.

Following the weekly Cabinet meeting under successive PNM, UNC and People’s Partnership (PP) administrations, there have been periods under each administration when no briefing took place.

In a statement, UNC chairman David Lee said, “Accountability is a cornerstone of a functional democracy and one may argue that the Parliament is the place for accountability.

“The public’s interest is better served when through the questioning of Public officials by the media, Government’s decisions can be subject to more detailed scrutiny.”

The ministry said while PTSC general manager Ronald Forde revealed plans to approach the Cabinet about a possible increase to fares, “this intention will not result in an immediate cost increase.” Forde first raised these plans during a public hearing of the Land and Physical Infrastructure Joint Select Committee at Tower D of the Portof- Spain International Waterfront Centre on Tuesday.

The ministry explained, “In order for an official fare increase to happen, PTSC must first consult with all relevant stakeholders, including the public.” While a possible increase in bus fares may take place in the future, the ministry reiterated, “Fares will not increase at this present time.” The ministry added that any updates on this issue will be communicated to the public via an official statement from the PTSC.

To highlight their protest to the national community, the parents and students gathered at Ramai Trace Junction and not at the school which is located a short distance . Armed with placards with the messages: “We need a school”; “We don’t want Christmas treats”; “We want our school”; “Mr Minister Schools are more Important than Stadiums”; “Rowley 0%- Kamla 100%” ; and, “They discriminating – They hesitating”, the group attempted to block the flow of traffic on the busy thoroughfare but the police arrived and they retreated to the pavement.

President of the Parent/ Teachers Association Indar Jairaj said parents can no longer wait for the completion of the school.

“The school is ninety percent completed.

All we need is the cable for connecting the electricity and toilet facilities and furniture,” Jairaj said, adding that students were relocated from the school two and a half years ago following major landslips that affected the physical structure of the old school. The population of the school stands at 275 students with 20 teachers.

Surujbally Persad, a parent, said the students’ education is at stake and Government should now step in and look at what is happening at Ramai Trace. “First, the students were sent to Monkey Town Government Primary School and we encountered problems with the sewer system. The students were relocated once more and sent to the Hanuman Milan Temple on Penal Rock Road,” Persad said, adding that parents are now encountering additional costs to send their children to this location which is six miles away from Ramai Trace.

Jairaj says the Hanuman Milan Temple is no longer suitable for the children as there are just four toilets. “The classrooms are cramped as there is not enough space at this location.” He noted ten students got ill with the virus and it is spreading as more and more students are reporting sick each day.

Jairaj called on Minister of Education Anthony Garcia to look into this matter as the children are not comfortable with the present arrangement.

“The Minister should take notice of these issues affecting the children of this country,” Jairaj said. He said protest action will continue.