Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, described by the police as their ‘‘most wanted man’’ and his associate Sean Vincent alias “Gumbo,” who were on the run for the past 20 days, yesterday surrendered to Army officers from Teteron, close to Maritime Plaza, Barataria, around 6 am yesterday.

The two men contacted attorney Patrick Godson Phillip and asked him to make arrangements for officers of the Defence Force to pick them up close to Maritime Plaza. The two asked that no police officers be informed of their surrender, and further requested that no members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad be informed. They made it clear that if any police officer was informed of their surrender, they would abort the plan. Vincent and Lovell boarded an army vehicle and were taken to the Central Police Station, now based at the Old Police Headquarters. They were met at the station by their attorney. The two wanted men were later escorted to the office of the Port-of-Spain CID where they were interviewed by senior officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the presence of their attorney. They were later photographed by police officers and their fingerprints taken. Vincent remained silent during his stay at the Port-of-Spain CID while Lovell told police officers that he decided to surrender because he knew that the matter against him in the kidnapping of Yves Ayoung Chee and Bendedict Barrette was listed for hearing yesterday.

Lovell admitted to being involved in one kidnapping but “not the kidnapping he is charged with” and claimed that the money he received from that has been depleted. He added that he has been unable to move freely among his friends so he wanted to surrender, prove his innocence and then be allowed to go about his life a free man. Lovell denied reports that he was planning to skip the country and claimed that at all times, his hideout was a house at Egypt Village, Morvant. He denied that he was part of a kidnapping ring and also claimed that to be placed on the country’s most wanted list really hurt him. On Thursday July 30, Ag Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs announced that Lovell was the country’s most wanted man. A $25,000 reward was offered to anyone with information leading to Lovell’s capture. The next day, Crime Stoppers increased the reward to $100,000.

Warrants were later issued for the arrest of Lovell,  Vincent,  and another man known as “Fruity” to face charges of kidnapping and falsely imprisoning teenagers Yves Ayoung Chee and Benedict Barrette. The three are charged jointly with Special Reserve Police Officer Reginald Gibson and Kenny Bonnet of Laventille. A warrant for the arrest of a sixth man in connection with the kidnapping was issued recently Yesterday, Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee said that that he had been prepared to increase the reward for the arrest of Lovell from $100,000 to $250,000. He added: “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to bring swift justice against known kidnappers.We are pleased with the outcome, however the fight must continue.” He congratulated the Police, Defence Force and Crime Stoppers for the roles they played in getting Lovell to surrender. He reiterated his call for the police, army and citizens to avoid becoming complacent in the fight against crime.

DEFENCE ATTORNEY Patrick Godson-Phillip yesterday told the court that the media hype surrounding the country’s most wanted man, Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, may cause great injustice in his hearing and in the judicial process regarding his kidnaping charges.

Godson-Phillip made this remark while applying to Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrates’ Court for bail on his client’s behalf. “Skelly” is jointly charged with Sean “Gumbo” Vincent in the kidnapping of Benedict Barette at Queen’s Park Savannah West on July 17, 2003. The two are also charged with imprisoning Barette at 58 Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, on July 17. In addition they are charged with kidnaping Yves Ayoung-Chee at Queen’s Park Savannah West on July 17 and with falsely imprisoning him at 58 Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, from July 17 to 26. All the charges were laid indictably, so the men were not called upon to enter a plea. In applying for bail on behalf of his clients Godson-Phillip explained that both “Skelly,” 31, and “Gumbo,” 29, of Pelican Ext, Morvant have lived in Trinidad and Tobago all their lives and had no intention of  leaving the country prior to the completion of their cases.

He also noted that both accused had no previous nor pending matters before the court besides the one they are presently charged with, and as such did not pose a flight risk. He also noted that his clients both surrendered to the Army at Maritime Plaza, Barataria yesterday, and since they were charged with bailable offences, he was calling on the magistrate to grant bail to his clients based on these conditions. In response Court Prosecutor Cpl Alexander confirmed that both “Skelly” and “Gumbo” had surrendered to the army yesterday morning, and had their fingerprints taken. However, he was asking the court for some time to have the prints processed and tracing completed before the question of bail is addressed.

KEN GORDON, Chairman of the Government-appointed committee to find ways to deal with the crime problem, revealed yesterday that 28 of the 30 recommendations were accepted by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Gordon said the Prime Minister rejected two recommendations, but was not at liberty to reveal them. However, he did address most of the recommendations which he and other committee members agreed upon. The other members were retired Major General Ralph Brown, former Coast Guard Commander Kayam Mohammed and Crime Stoppers Chairman Martin George. They were appointed by the Prime Minister a month ago and after three long days, they submitted their report at Whitehall. Gordon met with heads of media houses at the FCB Corporate Center, Queen’s Park East, yesterday to request assistance from the media. He dealt with two issues — mobilising the media to get involved in a campaign to promote the restoration of positive values and respect for law and order; and secondly, the implementation of the laws of the country. Gordon also revealed that acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs, who was present, will address the nation on August 31 on what plans are to be implemented dealing with the cooperation of the media.

The committee chairman told the media of several of the recommendations. They included —
• Implementation of  the Crime Stoppers Programme.
• Extension of the joint police/army patrols.
• Use of close circuit television cameras.
• Ongoing surveillance training for certain agencies.
• Rapid response from air, land and sea.
• Enforcement of all laws.
• Enhancement of the environment.
• Improvement in the disciplinary standards in schools.
• Improvement of the school transportation system.
• Mentoring programme in schools.
• Amendment to the Police Service Act.
• Amendment to the Firearms Act.
• Allowances for evidence by electronic means.
• Re-introduction of the Administration of Justice Bill.
• Introduction of the DNA Bill.
• Implementation of the breathalyser.

Gordon said the Advertising Agencies Association has agreed, free of charge, to produce advertisements for the launch of the campaign, which according to their representative, should be ready by Republic Day — September 24. He said the heads of media houses agreed to assist in the campaign. Details of the campaign will be revealed at a subsequent date. He said the media responded favourably to the campaign, reminding those present that this was not a crime plan.

POLICE officers investigating the $50,000 robbery at Medford’s Gas Station on Sunday have secured warrants for five members of a gang based in Central and Port-of-Spain.

The warrants were secured yesterday by police officers investigating the hold up and robbery in Chaguanas. Newsday learned that the five gang members first went to the gas station last Sunday, a week before the robbery, dressed in clothing similar to those worn by police officers and told Winston Medford, owner of the gas station, that a silver car was seen lurking around the area. They returned around 8.30 am on Sunday and again asked for Medford. When told that he was not around, they asked for the manageress Ingrid Medford. The two men claimed to be police officers and added that they were investigating a robbery at the gas station. They then placed a gun to the neck of Medford and ordered her to hand over $50,000 from a vault. They then removed the tape from a surveillance camera.

The bandits escaped in a Nissan car which was later found abandoned at Success Street, Chaguanas. Police have secured fingerprints from the car. Investigators said yesterday that the two bandits who robbed Medford were not wearing identical police uniforms when they carried out the robbery. They claimed that the two men wore dark coloured pants, boots worn by security officers, and grey shirts. “The bandits were definitely not wearing the uniform of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, when they carried out the robbery,” said an investigator yesterday. The investigation is being spearheaded by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard, and assisted by Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgt Dennis Housend and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad.

BAGHDAD, Iraq: A cement truck packed with explosives detonated outside the offices of the top UN envoy in Iraq, killing him and 19 other people and devastating the UN headquarters here in an unprecedented suicide attack against the world body. At least 100 others were injured.

The bombing blasted a two-metre-deep (6-foot) crater in the ground, shredded the facade of the Canal Hotel housing UN offices and stunned an organisation that had been welcomed by many Iraqis in contrast to the US-led occupation forces.  Except for a new concrete wall built recently, UN officials at the headquarters refused the sort of heavy security that the US military has put up around some sensitive civilian sites — because the UN “did not want a large American presence outside,” said Salim Lone, the UN spokesman in the Iraqi capital. Emergency workers pulled bloodied survivors from the rubble and lined up the dead in body bags. Survivors reported other victims still buried.  The 4.30 pm (1230 GMT) blast brought down the office of the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, where he was meeting with other UN officials. Vieira de Mello — a 55-year-old veteran diplomat serving in what one UN spokesman called the world body’s toughest assignment — was wounded and trapped in the rubble, and workers gave him water as they tried to extricate him. Hours later, the United Nations announced his death. “Those who killed him have committed a crime, not only against the United Nations but against Iraq itself,” UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement, calling the Brazilian diplomat “an outstanding servant of humanity.”

UN officials vowed to continue their mission in Iraq. But the blast, the shock at being targetted and the death of a rising star beloved in the organisation struck deep. All the national flags that ring the UN headquarters’ entrance in New York were removed from their poles, and the blue-and-white UN flag was lowered to half staff. Staffers, tears in their eyes, gathered in hallways and watched in shock as televisions reported on his death. UN and US officials called the bombing a “terrorist attack,” but there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The bombing came nearly two weeks after a car exploded and killed 19 people at the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad and after a string of dramatic attacks on oil and water pipelines in Iraq. Like the remote-controlled explosion at the Jordan Embassy, the suicide bombing on the UN headquarters focused on a high-profile target with many civilians inside and resembled attacks blamed on Islamic militants elsewhere in the world. It was far more sophisticated than the guerrilla attacks that have plagued US forces, featuring hit-and-run shootings carried out by small bands or remote control roadside bombs.

As FBI agents joined the investigation, Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who is rebuilding the Iraqi police force, told reporters that evidence suggested the attack was a suicide bombing. But he said it was “much too early” to say if Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network was behind the attack. “We don’t have that kind of evidence yet.” A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in Baghdad that the truck did not breach the wall that had been erected around the hotel within the past month. He said the truck was parked on an access road just outside the compound.  US President George W. Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, called the bombers “enemies of the civilized world.” “These killers will not determine the future of Iraq,” Bush said. “Every sign of progress in Iraq adds to the desperation of the terrorists and the remnants of Saddam’s brutal regime.”

GOVERNMENT MINISTERS yesterday condemned the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) for alleging that members of the Government were afraid to publicly declare their assets along with those of their spouses and children.

The Ministers told Newsday all People’s National Movement (PNM) members could hold themselves accountable to the population and were eagerly awaiting Parliament to approve the forms required for them to declare their assets and those of their immediate families to the Integrity Commission (IC). Works Minister Franklyn Khan, who has been a regular target of the UNC following his purchase of a house in Moka, declared: “No one in public office should be scared about it.” Khan said since he entered public life, he always “knew this was on the drawing board” and there was no reason why any frontline parliamentarian or minister should not declare their assets. On his recent purchase, Khan reiterated that he worked in the energy sector for over 20 years and he had nothing to hide. “Yes but of course! Nobody in the Cabinet objects to it,” Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Danny Montano declared. Montano said there was a lot of misinformation over the declaration of assets and it was false to say that ministers’ assets would be published in the newspapers. Montano disclosed there was “at least one UNC senator” who was unaware that all parliamentarians had to declare their assets under the law. “We are all caught by it,” he added.

Junior Trade Minister Diane Seukeran stated that once anyone “stands for office”, declaration of their assets is a must because “the idea is to protect against corruption.” Seukeran noted that the main area of concern regarding the declaration of assets was “the width of the band. “Last week, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said one of the concerns raised about the Integrity legislation was whether “the net” of persons who must make declarations was not cast too wide. Seukeran said several of the persons raising these concerns had “good grounds” to do so and if the current legislation “leaves loopholes,” Government would be prepared to either amend it or bring new legislation to Parliament. The Minister added that Government was also working to ensure that any information declared to the IC is kept in the strictest confidence. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday first brought the issue of public officials’ assets to the fore when he was charged with failure to declare an account at the National Westminister Bank in London in his name and that of his wife Oma for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 (when he was Prime Minister). The matter will be heard in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on October 20. Historically, former NAR Attorney-General Selwyn Richardson (who was murdered in 1995) who waged a vigorous anti-corruption campaign from the mid-70’s to the late 80’s, always insisted that public officials declare their assets and always did so himself. To a lesser extent, former government minister Trevor Sudama was the only member of the UNC to publicly account in Parliament about his personal assets and patterns of expenditure.

MINISTER in the Ministry of Sports Eddie Hart was held up at gunpoint and robbed of a car loaned to him by a friend on Monday night.

Reports revealed that around 10.20 pm, Hart was driving a B-15 vehicle, registration number PBO 5517 along the bus route, when on reaching a traffic light at Orange Grove Road, the traffic light turned to red. Hart brought the car to a halt and waited for the light to turn green. He was confronted by two masked men armed with guns who ordered him out of the vehicle and robbed him of a wallet, a cell phone and documents and then drove away with the vehicle. Hart did not report the matter to the police until 9 am yesterday. Newsday learned that ASP Fitzroy Fredericks took a report from the MP and an All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police divisions to be on the lookout for the vehicle. Hart told the police that the car was loaned to him by a friend from Chaguanas. He claimed that after being robbed, he could not remember the registration number of the car and waited until he was able to get the necessary information before contacting the police. Investigators told Newsday that every effort is being made to recover the stolen vehicle.

A Belle Garden, East Tobago man appeared before Senior Magistrate Betsy-Ann Peterson in the Scarborough First Court yesterday charged with the murder of 49-year-old Trevor Romeo, who was also of the district.

Keith “Madmax” Andrews, 40, of Zion Hill, was charged with chopping Romeo to death at Belle Garden last Friday. Charges were laid by Sgt Williams of the Roxborough Police Station. Andrews was remanded to the St Ann’s Medical Hospital where he will undergo pyschiatric evaluation. Romeo’s body, bearing multiple chop wounds, was discovered lying face down in a ditch about 150 feet south of the Windward Main Road in the Bad Rock area at Belle Garden around 6 pm. It is alleged that he was previously involved in a dispute with another man. An autopsy conducted by Dr Hughvon DesVignes on Sunday revealed that the victim’s death was due to shock and haemorrhage consistent with multiple chop wounds. The accused is expected to reappear in court on September 2.

THE United National Congress (UNC) claimed Prime Minister Patrick Manning “willfully ignored” the correspondence and advice of former Integrity Commission (IC) chairman, retired Justice Gerald Des Iles to lay in Parliament the declaration forms for persons in public life who come under the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000.

In a statement yesterday, the UNC declared: “The failure of the Manning Administration to heed the advice of former IC chairman Gerald Des Iles virtually rendered the Commission powerless as regards its constitutional role and function. Prime Minister Manning had an entire year to lay the declaration forms and failed to do so. The Opposition sees this as an act of gross incompetence tantamount to a dereliction of duty.” The Opposition wondered “if this deliberate and calculated strategy on the part of the Prime Minister of ignoring the advice of the former IC chairman was designed to cover up corruption in the PNM government and to protect the perpetrators of that corruption.” The UNC called upon Attorney General Glenda Morean to lay the declaration forms in Parliament forthwith “so as to facilitate urgent investigations into the finances of Works Minister Franklyn Khan” who recently purchased a house in Moka. The UNC added that only Parliament could alter the the present integrity legislation and Cabinet would be in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers, the law and Section 138 of the Constitution.

Trinidad and Tobago is on sound financial footing, with a stable foundation for sustainable and equitable economic growth, according to Conrad Enill, Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

“Financial indicators for the commercial banking system suggest that the system is sound and adequately capitalised. The Government has avoided destabilising fiscal imbalances and high levels of public sector debt, maintaining its position as one of the few countries in Latin America which issues sovereign bonds rated at investment grade,” said Enill. He added that in April 2003, Standard and Poor’s upgraded the country’s investment grade rating to BBB from BBB. Enill was speaking at the launch of Intercommercial Bank’s Signature Portfolio as part of its private banking service, at the Crowne Plaza on Monday night. He said the expansion of savings and investment is a critical public policy objective since it directly affects the growth and development. “We are also aware that if economic growth is to be encouraged, investment has to be financed not only by domestic but also by foreign savings,” said Enill. He added that from 1998-2002 gross national savings relative to Gross Domestic Product averaged 24.5 per- cent an increase from the previous five -year period. Foreign Direct Investment also increased to US$629 million over 1998-2002 from the previous five years. “I have no doubt that the increasingly healthy growth of domestic savings and the performance of foreign direct investment have limited the country’s need for debt creating flows from international capital markets and thereby ensured the stability of TT’s external debt,” said Enill.

According to Enill, the Government has been promoting the savings culture by establishing good macro-economic conditions through the formation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, the Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Unit Trust Corporation. The Government is also in the process of reforming the financial sector starting with the evaluation of comments from the national community on the Final Report on the Financial Sector, said Enill. “We intend to proceed urgently to put in place international best practice codes and standards covering the financial sector, in particular areas relating to banking and insurance supervision as well as securities regulation,” said Enill. Also speaking at the launch was managing director of Intercom-mercial Bank Varun Maharaj. He said the portfolio will afford investors capital appreciation combined with income generation by offering them various investment instruments including fixed income paper, hybrid repo, bank index funds, bonds, money market funds, secured investment certificates and equities. Intercommerical partnered with Caribbean Money Market Brokers to develop the product. CEO of CMMB, Ram Ramesh gave a presentation on thriving in a declining interest rate environment. He said there has been a dramatic drop in the 90-day bill rates from 11.4 percent in early 2000 to 4.5 percent now. He gave a short term forecast of what the market would be like in the next couple of years. According to Ramesh, bonds will trade at a premium due to low interest rates, stock prices will rise and interest rates will remain flat. Ramesh said there is likely to be expansion in liquidity and possible inflation. He also predicted that the TT dollar will appreciate.