Even though CXC results were released fairly late to school principals yesterday at 1.30 pm, Principal of Fatima College, Anthony Garcia, said, “Fatima boys are good boys,” as he revealed that 90 percent of students who took this year’s exam had achieved full certificates.

Speaking with Newsday from Fatima College yesterday afternoon, Garcia expressed joy with the results, and said they were actually swamped with calls from students enquiring about the results as well as persons wanting information about collecting results. Revealing that many students had obtained “straight Is,” he said the school once again recorded outstanding successes in areas such as English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography. He congratulated both the teachers and students, who he said “worked very hard.” An official at St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain, would only say that the school recorded a 100 percent pass rate, which they described as “excellent.” Checks with South-East Port-of-Spain and St James Secondary revealed that not many students had collected results and that they were expecting many students tomorrow following announcements in the media that the results were at the school today. Eastern-based schools such as the Tunapuna Government Secondary School and St Joseph’s Convent, St Joseph, stated their results would be released tomorrow and that they had gotten results consistent with the standard to which they were accustomed.

A student of the Couva Government Secondary School reliably informed Newsday that following checks with the District Education Office and the school, the principal would not be releasing the results until today. In south, ASJA Boys’ College principal, Alim Ali, revealed that “a handful of students” had come to the school to collect their results. “They were here and looking anxious so we obliged,” he said. He said at first glance, the results had been “very good” for the school. Ali said that some 90 percent of the student body received full certificates of five subjects. At Presentation College, San Fernando, Ag Principal Errol Jaikaransingh also confirmed that the results were “looking pretty good.” He too said that “a few” students had come to collect their results, but he expected the main student body to come out today to collect the results.

THE Piarco Fire Station is five months behind schedule and $4 million over budget.

This was disclosed to the media yesterday by fire officials during a tour of the construction site by Minister of National Security, Howard Chin Lee. Chief Fire Officer, Lennox Alfred, told reporters construction began last September and the station was supposed to be completed this month. However because of several issues which arose, there was a delay and the new completion date is January next year. Alfred confirmed the cost will escalate. He said the initial cost was $18 million.

However his representative on the project at the Caroni North Bank Road, Fire Substation Officer Ian Green told Newsday the initial cost was $16 million and the final cost is expected to be $20 million. Alfred said the new station will be up to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He explained that the minimum requirement was that there be three major vehicles operating at one time. He assured there will be equipment at the station. “We have some under repair and several on order, which will augment the strength to ensure we maintain the international standard at all times.” Those vehicles will include “two major vehicles, one medium range, one full-strike appliance and one tanker, including two ambulances and a utility vehicle.” Green said the estimated cost of the new equipment will be $17 million. He explained the delay in the completion of construction was due to the fact that plans had to be redesigned.

He said original plans put a part of the two-storey building on the compound of the Airports Authority Administrative offices, which is located to the side of the current building. The AA offices were supposed to be relocated but Green said because they have new developmental plans, they are to remain on the site for another year. Alfred told reporters the current fire station was prepared to deal with any emergency. He said if an accident occurred at the airport, “appliances from the Piarco station will be sent and we have backup response from Tunapuna, Arima and from Headquarters in Port-of-Spain.” Chin Lee said he was impressed with the building, describing it as one of the “higher standards in the Caribbean.” The station will also have administrative offices, training and storage rooms and a refuelling station. NIPDEC is the project managers and Bull fabricators are the main contractors.

THE 17,000 odd nationals who have responded to newspaper advertisements for Saturday’s Special Reserve Police (SRP) exam have up until 3 pm tomorrow to come and collect their letters of acknowledgement.

The first elimination process, a dictation exam, will commence promptly at 8 am Saturday and all applicants are asked to be at their respective divisions from 7.30 am. The exam will be done in alphabetical order. Those who have applied in the North Eastern Division, which comprises areas such as Morvant, San Juan, Barataria, Blanchisseuse and other surrounding districts, are to go to the Barataria Junior Secondary School. In the Northern Division, applicants are advised to go to the Arima Senior Comprehensive School. This division includes areas such as Arima, St Joseph, Curepe and Arouca. The Diego Martin Junior Secondary School is the exam venue for the Western Division, while the Port-of-Spain Division says applicants are to go to the Woodbrook Government Secondary School.

The Central Division has chosen the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive School for its dictation examination, while the exam venue for the Tobago Division is at Bishop’s High School, Mount Marie, Scarborough. In the Southern Division, which includes areas such as Marabella, Gasparillo and Moruga, applicants are to go to the Pleasantville Junior Secondary School, while in the South Western Division, applicants are advised to go to the Siparia Junior Secondary School. The South Western Division comprises areas such as Siparia, Santa Flora, Erin and Oropouche, while in the Eastern Division, the North Eastern College is the venue. This Division includes Sangre Grande, Toco, Matelot, Rio Claro, Mayaro, Biche and Gran Riviere.

TWO Trinidad and Tobago senior lawyers are among ten Caribbean personalities to be sworn in this morning as members of the Regional Judicial and Legal Service Commission which will have the task of selecting the first panel of judges for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Kenneth Lalla SC and Allan Alexander SC, two distinguished TT lawyers will be sworn in by this country’s Chief Justice Sat Sharma at the ceremony to be held at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, beginning at 10 am. Lalla is currently the chairman of the Police Service Commission and the Public Service Commission. He has been a member of the TT Judicial and Legal Service Commission for the past 13 years, and is the chairman of the Defence Force Commission’s Board. When contacted yesterday, Lalla told Newsday that he was pleased that he was asked to serve at another level. “I feel I can make a contribution. I have been rendering services to my country at various levels. I certainly will find it a pleasure to make a contribution, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but within the Caribbean region.” Alexander is one of the most senior lawyers in this country, having appeared in several high profile cases. The last high profile case in which he was involved was leading the defence team for former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday who is charged with three counts of failing to declare his account at the National Westminster Bank, London. The other members of the Commission to be sworn in are Sir David Simmons, Chief Justice of Barbados, Sir Vincent Floissac, Dr Lloyd George Barnette, Professor Aubrey Bishop, Mrs Gloria Gray, Professor Magda Hoever, Ms Nelcia Robinson, and Othniel Sylvester QC.

Robinson is the co-ordinator of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA). She was nominated by the Secretary General of Caricom and the Director of the OECS. She was born in St Vincent and has been a development worker for the past 30 years. The swearing in of the 10 members of the Commission is the first step towards the functioning of the CCJ. The Commission will have the task of choosing the first panel of judges of what will be a landmark occasion when the CCJ is inaugurated in Trinidad in November. After the swearing in, the ten members of the Commission will sit down and elect the Chairman. It is expected that the Barbados Chief Justice will be elected chairman. The intention of the CCJ is to function as the highest court of appeal within Caricom. The regional court is to have original jurisdiction in matters pertaining to the functioning of the Caribbean Single Market, as well as the final appellate jurisdiction for member countries of the institution, once they have severed links with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. While some countries have received the all clear to move ahead with the CCJ, Trinidad and Tobago is still waiting. The TT Parliament is yet to debate legislation which will give this country the all clear to be part of the CCJ. That legislation is expected to be placed on the agenda in time for the reconvening of Parliament on August 29.

A CARAPO gardener was yesterday sentenced to two years hard labour after he pleaded guilty to bestiality of a cow when he appeared before High Court Judge Herbert Volney in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court.

Through his attorney Wayne Sturge, Carapo gardener Sham Radoo, 35, told the court that he never had sexual intercourse before the incident. He also stated that his parents had died since he was 13 years old and he has been forced to work for “below minimum wage” to survive and thus could not maintain a relationship with a woman. In passing sentence, Justice Volney stated that he “could not believe that Radoo could not get a woman.”

The facts related to the court by State Prosecutor Cheron Raphael stated that around 11.30 am on January 21, this year, Pooran Ramdial, who is the caretaker of Ridgewood Farm at Caparo Road, Arima, observed Radoo engaged in sexual relations with a black and white cow. Ramdial said he looked on for a while and then went into the farm house from where he called the Arima Police Station and reported the incident. PC Lalla and a group of officers attached to the Arima Police Station visited the farm and conducted an investigation after which they went in search of Radoo.

Radoo was found hiding in a bamboo patch and he reportedly told the officers, “Boss, it’s the first time. I’m very sorry.” Radoo was taken to the Arima Police Station where he was charged with the offence. The animal was also examined by veterinarian Dr Don Nicholas who reported that the animal was found to be in a state of distress and there was evidence of human semen. Following the guilty plea and the evidence presented to the court, Justice Volney ordered the jury to return a guilty verdict after which he handed down the sentence. Radoo, who has been incarcerated since the charges were laid, was ordered to begin serving his sentence from today.

“POVERTY is hell,” said calypsonian Shadow in one of his ditties a few years ago.

A typical example of the sentiments expressed by Shadow was seen on Friday when Newsday visited a home in Second Caledonia, Morvant. Here was 51-year-old Elizabeth Pollard and her 11-year-old son, Jonathan, making ends meet in what can easily be called a shack, not fit for human habitation. Her house has no electricity or running water. It was with this in mind that the San Juan Regional Corporation decided to lend a hand by assisting mother and son to acquire proper living quarters.

The Chairman of the Corporation, Jeffrey Reyes told Newsday: “My heart bled when I saw where Pollard has been living for the past 25 years.” Fired by his pledge to eradicate poverty in his Electoral District, Reyes directed the Corporation to provide materials and labour to help Pollard. He was impressed with the “try and help yourself” attitude displayed by Pollard whose only means of survival is through a monthly disability grant  provided by Government. Pollard, who is not in the best of health, sought assistance from kind neighbours and some corporate citizens. She was able to acquire concrete blocks and other materials, and this encouraged the Corporation to do the rest by supplying sand and other materials as well as labour.

Last Friday, a gang of about ten Regional Corporation personnel started work on a new home for Pollard. It is hoped that within a matter of weeks, Pollard will move into her new home. An obviously happy Pollard said with a winsome smile, “Thank God my prayers are being answered.” For all of this, she lives a contented life and is well liked by all around her.

A nation-building music video titled “God Bless Our Nation” was yesterday launched at the National Petroleum (NP) House in Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain.


When asked to say a few words after the viewing of the video, an emotional Mavis John, who did a cover version of the late Marjorie Padmore’s song done back in 1962, started by saying: “The time is right, the time is now,” before moving away from the podium to compose herself. She returned with tears streaming down her face to say that doing the song meant a lot to her at this time. “We know what the country is going through at the moment and we really hope that it can make a difference. I hope the song will do what it set out to do,” said John and then thanked Marjorie Padmore, who she said had some vision 41 years ago. John said: “When you listen to the lyrics of this song, this woman wrote this song knowing what it meant to her at the time of becoming an independent country so I’m telling Trinidad and Tobago, let’s sing once more, let’s sing this beautiful song and may God bless our nation.”

Earlier, Marlene Goddard, NP’s Public Relations Officer, said that there was a lot of talk about the 2020 vision but that if we do not have a mission, we cannot have vision: “It is a fact that TT is going through some very difficult times with the spate of crimes plaguing our beautiful country. We at NP are hoping that each time this video is played, citizens would reflect on the beautiful island that is TT. Every time it is sung, automatically, a prayer goes out to TT”. Goddard too, as well as Corporate Communi-cations Manager Keith Subero both echoed John’s sentiment about Padmore’s composition and expressed the wish that the CD/video will have maximum rotation on all the local radio and television stations, long after our Independence and Republic days have come and gone. The CD/video is NP’s gift to the nation on its 41st anniversary of Independence. It was shot in just 2 ? weeks and produced by Robert Ramesar with the national oil company as the executive producer. A presentation of the music video was then made to the Acting Chief Executive Officer at NP, Coreen Jones.

SAN FERNANDO Mayor Ian Atherly lost the latest round of his legal battle yesterday when a San Fernando magistrate declared that there was sufficient evidence to make out a prima facie case against the Mayor in a charge of ballot-box tampering during the 2002 General Elections.

The ruling was made by Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington who presided over the San Fernando First Court. Mayor Atherly is charged with committing the offence on October 4 at the South Divisional Fire Headquarters, Mon Repos, during voting of special electors. Wellington made his ruling as he overturned a no-case submission made by Atherly’s defence team, which is headed by attorney Theodore Guerra SC. Atherly is also being defended by attorney Ian Suekeran. The defence — when asked by the magistrate whether or not they wanted to call any more witnesses in the matter, or reserve this for the High Court hearing — called two more witnesses to testify.

Guerra called to the witness stand, Cpl Selvon Lewis of the Mon Repos Highway Patrol and Fire Officer Billy Martin, of the San Fernando Fire Station. The defence intends to call one more witness to the stand on Friday when the matter will be heard next. So far, nine witnesses, including journalists from CCN TV6 have testified in the case. Mauriceia Joseph is prosecuting the matter. At Friday’s hearing, more than likely, a final decision would be made as to whether or not Mayor Atherly would be committed to stand trial in the High Court. Atherly was sworn in as San Fernando’s new Mayor on July 28. Two days later he made his first court appearance in the  matter.

DEFENCE ATTORNEY Gordon Lamming on Tuesday stated that the delay by the police in presenting the results of the tracing on his client Gabriel Taylor, was an apparent case of discrimination because the victims of the crime were police officers.

He also stated that the delay was a plot to keep Taylor in custody for as long as possible without the possibility of bail being granted. He stated that police officers must not be given the authority to abuse what power was given to them. He then called on Magistrate Melvin Daniel to use the powers given to him by the court in granting bail, since his client was charged with bailable offences. However Magistrate Daniel informed Lamming that he would wait for the results of the tracing before dealing with the issue of bail. He then adjourned the matter to yesterday. Taylor, 20, of Sparrow Drive, Petit Valley appeared before Magistrate Daniel charged with separate counts of shooting at PCs St Bernard, Linton, Villarel and Thomas with intent to do them grievous bodily harm. In addition Taylor is charged with possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition to endanger lives and possession of a firearm to endanger lives. All the charges were laid indictably and stemmed from an incident which occurred at Sparrow Drive Petit Valley last Sunday.