N Touch

Ramesh leads Integrity action against Govt

FORMER Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj will be leading legal proceedings in the High Court to force Government to implement the provisions of the Integrity in Public Act 2000.

In a release yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Rights Association (TTCRA) said Maharaj will be heading a team of lawyers on its behalf in proceedings against Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the Cabinet “for not performing their mandatory duty to uphold the Constitution and the law by their refusal and/or neglect to implement” the Act. The TTCRA said its application contends that since the People’s National Movement (PNM) took office in December 2001, “over $30 billion of taxpayers’ money has been spent, Government has refused to implement the Act and Government ministers and persons in public life “have escaped the provisions of this law and have not made and are not making any declarations to the Integrity Commission.” “The Integrity Commission therefore cannot investgiate to determine whether ministers of Government or persons in public life are corrupt,” the Association added.

The TTCRA said while the prescribed forms and regulations made by the Commission were laid in Parliament on September 7 2001, Parliament was prorogued before they could be approved. The application, the Association continued, is asking the Court for an Order of Mandamus against Manning, the Cabinet and Attorney General Glenda Morean to lay the prescribed forms and regulations (made by the Integrity Commission) in Parliament and Cabinet must take steps to implement the laws passed by  Parliament and “it cannot frustrate the will of the Parliament.” The TTCRA said its actions were in keeping with the provisions of the Judicial Review Act 2000 which “empowers public-spirited organisations to challenge governmental action, even though the organisation may not be directly affected by the wrong.” The Association added that under the Judicial Review Act 2000, the Registrar of the Supreme Court has a duty to publish notice of this application and other public interest groups and individuals can make an application to the Court to join the applicant and be part of the action. Other members of the TTCRA’s legal team are Darrell Allahar and Rikki Harnanan while Garnet Mungalsingh is the instructing attorney. TTCRA secretary Agnes Dara Young-Hoo told Newsday the Association is a wholly philanthropic, non-profit organisation incorporated under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago by the Companies Act of 1995 on March 12, 2003. The Court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the matter.

Another Trini in the CCCU

THE GENERAL Manager of CUNA Caribbean Insurance Society Limited (CUNA), Anthony Hall, has been returned to serve as a Consultant/Director of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU).

This took place recently at the 46th International Convention and 32nd Annual General meeting of the CCCU in Aruba last month. Hall, who is based at the CUNA Caribbean’s Headquarters in Port-of-Spain, will assist the Confederation’s Board of Direc-tors as an ex-officio executive in charting the development and transformation thrust of the regional body. Specifically, he will spearhead the market research activity that will inform the insurance products and services for the entire territorial credit union system.

Other directors elected to the Caribbean body are Joselyn Jolly, President, (Jamaica); Leroy Summer, Vice-President, (Bahamas); Trevor Alleyne, Secretary (Trinidad and Tobago); Melvin Edwards (St Kitts/Nevis); Ashston Turney (Barbados) and Gilroy Graham (Belize). The CCCU, which represents constituent Leagues in the English, Spanish, Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean, is involved in transforming financial co-operatives so that they can become the engine of social and economic growth for large segments of the population in the region. The Confederation’s Secretariat is headed by Trinida-dian Martin Guevara, who is also Chief Executive Officer.

New Mayor takes charge of Chaguanas

In just one week after being installed as Mayor of Chaguanas, Suruj Rambachan was on the streets with workers from the Borough Corporation cleaning up his town.

Yesterday Mayor Rambachan was on the Chaguanas Main Road with the workers as they removed larger than life posters advertising fetes and events. He told Newsday he was on a “Clean Up Drive”. “I want the sight of the borough to be a pleasant one. People must want to walk through the streets of Chaguanas,’ he said. According to Gopaul Doodan from the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, “We intend to work with two schools in the area, Presentation College and Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive, so their art students can utilise the spaces on the walls. “The wall on the popular ‘Busy Corner’ will be adorned with murals done by these students.” Mayor Rambachan was also very concerned about the safety and health of the people of Chaguanas as he expressed shock and horror at the condition of several food stalls he saw on the side of the road. He intends to work with the Public Health Inspectors to bring these vendors in line.

Welcome, Mr Chavez

TOMORROW’S meeting between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, although informal, should have an urgent and formidable agenda. Trinidad and Tobago and its South American neighbour have a lot of new and unfinished business to settle, matters which may have fallen into suspension as a result of the recent political problems experienced by both countries. Whether any hard or conclusive decisions would be taken on the wide range of issues to be discussed tomorrow is uncertain but it is reassuring to know that this informal summit is taking place, that the two leaders are meeting personally and that, at least, the quest for solutions and agreements will be actively resumed. Mr Chavez’s difficulties, it is true, are far from over and the situation in Venezuela remains uncertain but the former army lieutenant has managed to survive a coup attempt and a prolonged national strike. In any case, he remains the elected President of Venezuela and head of its government, the man we must deal with in pursuing a more settled relationship with our traditionally friendly neighbour.

Perhaps the most crucial question that will be discussed between the two leaders is the mining of oil and gas reserves on either side of the maritime boundary which divides our two countries. With TT’s thrust to maximise the benefits of its natural resources, the expanding exploration and exploitation of its marine fields, this matter has now apparently assumed urgent and critical proportions. The situation here may well be unique, of two closely situated countries, both producing oil and gas as the mainstay of their economies, and both drawing from common reserves that cross their borders. It is understood that the leaders will attempt to fine tune a 1990 agreement between TT and Venezuela, to establish a clear policy on how the countries will share reserves where these resources and the borders overlap. According to Venezuelan Ambassador Hector Azocar, joint venture co-operation in this area could focus on the Deltana Platform field which is estimated to contain 38 trillion cubic feet of gas and which may end up being produced through Trinidad. These are matters, of course, which we expect Mr Manning to look at very carefully.

Tomorrow’s discussions, we expect, will also include the need for the two countries to establish closer security ties, particularly with respect to dealing with the illegal drug trade. As part of the battle against crime, National Security Minister Howard Chin  Lee had called for this in May last year and he may have some ideas as to how this co-operation in security may be achieved. PM Manning may also been keen on discussing with Mr Chavez and his team threats to our security and the rising crime rate caused by the trafficking in firearms. Another important matter which Mr Manning is likely to raise with the Venezuelan president is TT’s bid to host the headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas due to be launched in 2005. While it is expected that our quest to be the site of the FTAA secretariat will have Venezuela’s support, it would be good if Mr Manning obtains a firm assurance from Mr Chavez. The fact is that TT and Venezuela have always enjoyed an amicable relationship, inspite of the problems our fishermen have experienced. However, we have never managed to establish an active on-going mechanism for mutual co-operation; the hope that we once placed in a mixed commission seems to have died a natural death. It is now obvious that a whole host of important and urgent issues between these two close neighbours demand the setting up of such a mechanism. Maybe tomorrow’s meeting will lay the groundwork for it. Welcome Mr Chavez.

Think about it

I was listening to a panel discussion on an American radio programme the other evening, the focus of which was the charge of sexual assault brought by the police in Eagle, Colorado in the United States against the American superstar basketball player Kobe Bryant. He has been accused by a young woman of rape in a hotel room in an exclusive resort in the Colorado mountains where Bryant was staying.

One man suggested that Kobe Bryant would not be able to get a fair trial in the area of the alleged incident, because he was a black man who would be facing a panel of 12 white jurors. In the dock, would be a black man, the accused, and the alleged victim, a young white blonde woman. His point was that Eagle was a very conservative place, and far too steeped in its prejudices to see anything but a young innocent white woman, at the mercy of a big bully of a black man. It was the sort of response that was not totally unexpected, but what interested me more was the opinion of a panellist who, believe it or not was a woman and who was more concerned with whether or not the alleged victim should be identified. She argued that natural justice demanded that in a criminal matter once you identify the accused you must identify the accuser. She considered the absolute protection afforded the accuser to be anachronistic and in this day of sexual equality saw no justification for the veil of secrecy. Even when the matter is heard in court, her name cannot be published or broadcast whether the man is found innocent or guilty.

Is it fair, she asked, that a man’s reputation could be ruined completely and the general public who do not have the time to be in court — do not know who his accuser is, even when the accused is found to be innocent of the charge? She was careful to distinguish between the rape of a minor or of a physically or mentally disabled person of whom advantage has obviously been taken and who has absolutely no means of defence. She argued that where — as apparently happened in the Kobe Bryant case, an off-duty worker in a hotel, goes up to a man’s room in the middle of the night, she is not going just to change the sheets! The panellist allowed that a woman has a right to go to a man’s room and then at the last minute change her mind about having sex with him and in such a case he must understand when she says NO, she means NO. But assuming he did not stop when she said stop, did she not put herself in danger in the first place? There are also reports, which no doubt Bryant’s lawyers will use that the woman had afterwards been talking about this “encounter” with her friends and joking around about Kobe Bryant’s anatomy. Of course Kobe Bryant was not just being unfaithful to his wife but was singularly stupid and no US$5M diamond gift ring can reverse the jeopardy of his predicament.

I have to say that I find some merit in the argument that if a woman goes to a man’s room in the middle of the night and then accuses him of rape, she should be identified particularly when he claims it was consensual sex. She might indeed have been raped and if so the alleged rapist should pay the price. But shouldn’t we know who she is? After all, it is not unknown for women to stalk superstars for all sorts of reasons and when things don’t work out their way, shout rape. Now having said that, one must also go to the point that when a woman says stop to a man, he must understand that she means stop, and because she’s gone to his room it does not mean that he is to absolutely and totally have his way with her if she at some point decides not to go any further. She’s got to be allowed to leave. But once she decides to accuse him of rape we must know who she is. We should think about this because I am pretty certain that while there are beastly men who do in fact rape women, including their wives, there are many men who have been very wrongly accused of rape for all sorts of reasons. In our country the laws are rigid and the alleged victim can never be named. In the Untied States it is clear that as the Bryant trial goes on the identity of the woman is going to be made public. In fact one radio station has already identified the woman by name and address but the newspapers have been more cautious, choosing instead to challenge this issue in court. Rape is a terrible violation of a woman and this has to be borne in mind at all times. I do believe we must protect our children and other defenceless women who suffer such violation and abuse. But are there not instances where circumstance may decide that the accuser should be identified? We should think about it.
jstarr@newsday.co.tt

Coach gets serious with seniors, Under-23s

Trinidad and Tobago football coach Stuart Charles Fevrier has decided to have separate sessions with members of the Senior and Under-23 teams, as they prepare for upcoming international matches.

 Over the past few weeks, Fevrier had been training both teams together but has now decided on  separate two-hour sessions on a back to back basis, twice per week. The senior team is scheduled to depart for Morocco in the first week of September, while the Under-23s also have 2004 Olympic qualifying matches away against the Bahamas on September 5 and 7. This means that Fevrier will have to properly plan how the technical staff prepares both teams.  The St Lucian-born coach got his first victory from the senior team last Saturday, 2-1 over St Kitts/Nevis but it was far from smooth sailing according to him. “Now we are getting ready for the Morocco trip and I am awaiting word on which of the overseas players who we have requested, will actually be available for the trip. The Under-2  3 team also has a match against Costa Rica coming up before the two qualifiers in the Bahamas,” he said. Training sessions are  at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo tomorrow.



Senior Team: Kelvin Jack,  Michael McComie, Trevor Nottingham, Anton Pierre, Reynold Carrington, Dwayne Demmin Keyeno Thomas, Ian Gray, Keon Archie, Kurt Danclair, Kerwyn Jemmot,Anthony  Haynes, Kurt Williams, Trent Noel, Dale Saunders, Travis Mulraine, Stokely Mason, Aurtis Seaton, Lyndon Andrews, Cornell Glenn, Nigel Pierre, Larry Joseph and Peter  Prosper.


Under 23 Team: Jan Williams, Daurance Williams, Kevin Graham, Jace Peters, Ronald Primus, Lyndon Diaz, Kenwyne Jones, Corey Rivers, Glenton Wolfe, Nigel Daniel, Josh Johnson, Nicholson Thomas, Kevon Clement, Michael Celestine, Silvio Spann, Devon Caseman, Andre Toussaint, Kendell Davis, Ryan Stewart, Devon Mitchell and Conrad Smith.

Russell most valuable n-baller

LAS LOMAS Marjorie John “A2” Division goal-shoot Racquel Russell was adjudged Most Valuable Player in the Port-of-Spain Netball League for the just-concluded season.

And Tricia Roberts of Malta Carib Senators was named “Golden Girl” of the league. The 19-year-old Russell who later read the vote of thanks, proudly received her trophy from PoSNL president Debbie Ann Francois at the 64th annual prize distribution ceremony of the league at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo on Sunday night. But the biggest cheer was reserved for Police who recaptured the Pearl Francis Championship Division title from Defence Force. Althea McCollin, coach of the policewomen and assistant national coach, was all smiles as she took possession of the trophy from Miss PoSNL beauty queen Raisa Thorne. As a consolation however, Defence Force collected the open knockout tournament trophy in which Las Lomas were runners-up. National goal-attack Simone Morgan of Mucurapo Ex-Pupils in the Championship Division,  scored 302 goals to be the leading shooter in the league.


Honour roll:
PEARL FRANCIS CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION:
League – Police; Runners-up Defence Force.  First round – Police. American-style – Defence Force; Knockout – Police.  Most goals – Simone Morgan (Mucurapo Ex-Pupils) 302 goals; Anastascia Wilson (DD/Force) 260; Patrice Goring (Police) 208.
ANGELA “PINKY” DRAYTON-THOMAS “A1” DIVISION:
League – Soul City; American Tournament – Defence Force; Knockout – NFM Uppers; Golden Ball – NFM Uppers; Most goals – Debra Martin (NFM Uppers) 191 goals.
MARJORIE JOHN “A2” DIVISION:
League – Las Lomas; First round – Mucurapo Ex-Pupils; American Tournament – Hampton Jesters; Knockout – Las Lomas; Most goals – Racquel Russell (Las Lomas) 272 goals.
LADY ERNA REECE INTERMEDIATE DIVISION ONE:
League – Printery Sports; American Tournament – San Juan Jabloteh; Knockout – Printery Sports; Most goals – Candis Nelson (Printery) 196 goals.
PHYLLIS PIERRE-WALKER INMTERMEDIATE DIVISION TWO: Champions – Mucurapo Junior Secondary; American Tournament – Mucurapo Junior Secondary; Knockout – Malta Carib Senators; Most goals – Afeisha Noel (Mucurapo) 200 goals.
BARBARA CHANDLEUR “B1” DIVISION:
Champions – Horizon; American Tournament – Chips; Knockout – Printery Sports; Most goals – Petal Wilkins (Zenith) 116 goals.
BARABARA BURNETTE “B2” DIVISION:
Champions – Sparkles; Asmerican Touyrnament – Sparkles; Knockout – Harlem; Most goals – Ria Roache (Sparkles) 86 goals.
Under 21 Tournament – Chips; Queen of Parade – St. Jude’s; March Past Parade – Horizon.

Gray not worried about U-19 batting in Guyana

Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 cricket team Anthony Gray is not too concerned his team scored only 190 in 48.2 overs against the lowly Rest of Americas team in their opening match of the TCL Group West Indies U-19 cricket challenge that began in Guyana on Tuesday.

Trinidad and Tobago batted first against the Rest of Americas and skipper Dinesh Ramdin leading the way with a top score of 68. The Rest of the Amercas team were then bowled out for 66 with Ravi Rampaul taking six wickets for ten runs. Last year Rampaul took all ten wickets in an innings when the two teams met in Jamaica. ”The batting performance in this first match does not worry me because the pitch and outfield were not the best for free scoring,”the former West Indies fast bowler said yesterday in a telephone interview from Guyana. Gray who has a very good record as coach of the team with three second place finishes in four years said he was satisfied with the bowling performance. “I thought they fielded very aggressively,” he said. Gray however added that he was looking for an improved performance from his boys in the second round match against Jamaica yesterday at the Uitvlught ground. Trinidad and Tobago have never won the regional limited overs Under-19 title since the tournament began in 1998. The last time they copped the league title was in 1987 under the leadership of Brian Lara now the West Indies captain.

Army on rampage in north football

DEFENCE FORCE crushed SKHY 5-0 as action in the Premier Division of the Northern Football Association continued.

Curtis Thomas and Kenroy Calliste both grabbed doubles, while Sayed Freitas got the other goal for the winners. Maple, popularly known as “The Government” suffered another humiliating 5-1 beating, this time by La Famille. Marvin Francois, Hugh Morgan, Shelock Baird and an own goal accounted for the La Famille tally.  Julio Dos Santos got the lone goal for Maple. Akiel Laurie blasted home a hat-trick to guide Harvard to a 3-2 victory over champions Superstar Rangers. Fire Services had a narrow 1-0 victory over Harvard on Wednesday last on a Hayden Dumas goal. And Maraval Youth Academy shut out Excel Oriental 2-0 with Steve Gray and Ainsley Joyeau doing the scoring. St Francois Nationals got a double from Devon Jack and other goals from Andre Joseph, Rafer Ross and ex-national striker Marlon Morris to whip Cocorite United 5-0.


Youth League Scores:
Under-11 Division — SKHY (1) Andrew Smith vs NET SHAKERS (0); TRENDSETTERS HAWKS (3) Akiel Stapleton 2, Shaquille Rogers vs |SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (1) Mack Isaac; MARAVAL YOUTH ACADEMY (3) Tevin Celestine 2, Joseph Edwards vs SUPERSTAR RANGERS (1) Timothy Alleyne.
Under-13 Division — MARAVAL YOUTH ACADEMY (4) Shakie Diaz 2, Akim Jones, Brandon Boisson vs ST FRANCOIS NATIONAL (0); NET SHAKERS (1) Anthony Miguel vs NEW MILLENNIUM (1) Ishmael Smith; DEFENCE FORCE YOUTHS (4) Ross Russell Jnr., 2, Brandon Victor, Micah Lewis vs ST FRANCOIS NATIONAL (0); TRENDSETTERS HAWKS (1) Mekiel Williams vs SKHY (1) Bradley Lawrence.
Under-15 Division — SUPERSTAR RANGERS (1) Elisha Belgrave vs TRENDSETTERS HAWKS (3) Keron Ross 2, Akim Armstrong; DEFENCE FORCE YOUTHS (11) Sherron Joseph 3, Lester Peltier 2, Kwasi Bruno 2, Welton Paul 2, Christopher 2 vs ST JAMES JETS (0); NET SHAKERS won by default over YOUNG LIONS.
Under-17 Division — DEFENCE FORCE YOUTHS (6) Devon Moleira 2, Lehann Anderson 2, Ricardo Zpeltier, Lance Haynes vs C.R.E.W (1) Joseph Strong; YOUNG LIONS (1) Marvin Baptiste vs TRENDSETTERS HAWKS (12) Richard Charles 4, David Nicholas 2, Ibu John 2, Kendell Gilliard 2, Nevi Fraser, Keston Phillip.
Under-19 Division — DEFENCE FORCE (3) Shato Ollivierre, Jamal Simmons, Ricardo James vs SUPERSTAR RANGERS (5) Josimar Belgrave 2, Ken Williams, Shem Mcfarlane, Lech Cox; TRENDSETTER HAWKS (3) Kerch Grimes, Johann James, Dereck Charles vs HARVARD (0).

Hampton Games make $49,000 profit

THE 29th Hampton International Games have raked in a profit of $49,377.25. But according to administrative assistant Lindra Quamina, Hampton Athletic Club remain $228,204.37 in the red.

Statement of receipts showed $170,046 was pulled into the games coffers, but payments totalled $120,668.75. Quamina in her statement indicated that the surplus from the games run off on May 3 and 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo was put toward liquidating debts incurred in staging previous events. Hampton chairman Rawle Raphael said dates for the 2004 edition of the games have been decided. He said the 30th Hampton International Games will be held on May 1 and 2 next year, with elimination heats taking place on April 17 and 18, and heats for Caribbean athletes on April 20. Raphael said an application was made out to the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs for the use of the Hasely Crawford Stadium and the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima. He said his committee has indicated a preference for the Arima venue, providing electronic timing and field event facilities are provided. Already the organising and planning committee for the games have been meeting, with the next get-together scheduled for Tuesday from 5 pm at the Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain offices of Raphael.