TIGER, the pet dog of  lifeguard Andy Seeraj, spent most of yesterday swimming the waters off Mayaro in search of his beloved master, unable to comprehend that his master had been killed on Sunday in a freak accident with a fishing boat.

When Newsday visited the home of Wendy Seeraj, his sister, located near the beach where Seeraj lost his life, members of the family were trying to get the dog out of the water. They succeeded in doing so late yesterday afternoon. The  woman said her dead brother and his dog were “inseparable for the past two and a half years. Whenever you see one, you see the other. He is finding it hard to be without Andy since Andy loved him so much.” According to Wendy, it was around 1 pm when her brother told her he was going into the water for a swim. Conditions were calm, and there was a low to rising tide. “He was swimming just beyond the breakers,” she said, “but there were a lot of people around and he was a very good swimmer,” she added.

The police reported that Seeraj was struck and slashed by the propellers of a fishing boat on which two fishermen were aboard. According to Seeraj’s fellow lifeguard, Yusuff Ali, he (Ali) and others had to use a fishing net to pull Seeraj out of the swirling waters. Seeraj was still breathing when he was taken to shore although, according to Ali, he had been in the water struggling for more than half an hour. Ali, 50, said he responded to a call that someone was in trouble.  He did not know it was his colleague. Ali, a lifeguard with over 20 years’ experience and Seeraj’s colleague for the past eight years, said he was on mobile patrol when he got the message in Mayaro around 1 pm. He shortly dived into the sea with another lifeguard, Ian Persad, in search of Seeraj. Admitting that he was still “reeling from shock”, Ali recalled: “We searched for about 20 minutes but we couldn’t find him because the waters were so dark. I didn’t even know it was Andy we were looking for.”

As the minutes ticked by and with Seeraj still under the water, Ali and the other lifeguard decided to drag the seabed with a seine (a fishing net) in an effort to retrieve the body. Within an hour, Seeraj was brought up in the fishing net. One of his hands was almost completely severed and there was a deep gash on the side of his head plus several cuts and bruises about the body. According to Ali, Seeraj was still alive when he was rushed to the Mayaro District Hospital. “It is a real tragedy how Andy died and a real loss to the lifeguard service,” Ali said.  Mayaro lifeguards, in full regalia, will perform a guard of honour duty at the funeral service, scheduled for Wednesday. Seeraj’s grieving sister, Wendy, 30, said her family was having a hard time coming to grips with the sudden death.

Seeraj’s stepfather, Romeo Alibocas, believed that negligence on the part of the boat captain was responsible for the unfortunate incident. “I can’t understand why he was driving the boat so close to the shore when there was a crowd of people bathing in the water. While accidents can and do happen, sometimes it is due to negligence,” Alibocas said.  An autopsy, carried out at the Forensic Sciences Centre yesterday by Pathologist. Dr Hughvon Des Vignes, revealed Seeraj died of asphyxia consistent with drowning. Mayaro police are continuing investigations. In tears, Wendy described her elder brother as the “peacemaker” in the family and someone who had a soft spot for animals.

THE State has refused to release $15,000 from the $3.3 million in seized assets of convicted drug dealer Mantoor Ramdhanie, which Ramdhanie’s relatives requested, in order to give him a funeral in his hometown of Icacos, following his death in prison last Thursday.

Ramdhanie was serving a life sentence for trafficking in illegal narcotics. Having refused the request, attorneys attached to the Confiscation of Property Unit in which the seized assets have been vested have advised Ramdhanie’s relatives to seek financial assistance from whatever property the convicted drug dealer left in his will. Through their attorneys, Ramdhanie’s wife and children yesterday expressed shock that the money was not released by the CPU. The attorneys of Lincoln Chambers told Newsday that Ramdhanie’s relatives of Icacos Village were told by officials of the CPU that only the court had the power to release the funds. In confirming this yesterday, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Carla Browne-Antoine expressed regret that the monies could not be released for relatives to bury their loved one. “But it’s not in my power to do so. I have to be advised by attorneys of the Confiscation Unit,” Browne-Antoine said. The Ag DPP said when the request was made to her yesterday morning, she immediately read the file on the confiscation matter.

A total of $5.5 million was seized under the Dangerous Drugs Act when in 1996 Ramdhanie, together with his son Deochan, Patrick Toolsie and Ken Gresham, were convicted and jailed for life on drug trafficking charges. Ramdhanie died of complications caused by chronic diabetes and heart failure after he took ill at the Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain prison. Ramdhanie’s body was released yesterday to family members by prison authorities after an autopsy was performed. This was done upon a written request by attorneys to the Acting Commissioner of Police. The letter was copied to Minister of National Security, Howard Chin Lee. Attorneys confirmed to Newsday yesterday that they had drafted a letter to the Commissioner seeking to have Deochan Ramdhanie freed from life sentence temporarily to attend his father’s funeral in Icacos. Deochan is being kept at the Maximum State Prison under extremely tight security, since his escape from the Princes Town Magistrate’s Court in 1998 to Venezuela. Attorneys told Newsday yesterday that relatives were in need of between $15,000 to $20,000 to facilitate Ramdhanie’s funeral, which is to be done according to Hindu rites. Attorney Mark Seepersad of Lincoln Chambers said discussions were held yesterday morning with Ag DPP Brown-Antoine and subsequently, with attorneys of the Confiscation Unit. Seepersad said the CPU attorneys deliberated on the matter and around 1.30 pm, and advised that relatives apply to the High Court.

Triple swap kidney transplants is medically possible in TT, but if it is legal to do so is a question yet to be answered. Transplant surgery has never been done involving people who are not related.

Professor Vijay Naraynsingh, vascular surgeon, described the transplant surgery involving three donors and recipients as historic.  He said the question is whether it can be done legally in TT. Professor Naraynsingh said only “live-related” (including people related by marriage) transplants are done in this country. The swap, which was done last Saturday in the US at John Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Centre, Baltimore, is regarded as historic because none of the donors were related to recipients. Among the donors was Trinidadian Paul Boissiere, who donated a kidney to Jeremy Weiser-Warschoff. Boissiere’s fianc? Germaine Allum received a kidney from Connie Dick, whose sister Tracy Stahl got a kidney from Julia Tower, a friend of Weiser-Warschoff. Johns Hopkins Centre has a co-ordinating department which deals exclusively with matching donors to recipients. Boissiere has called for passage of legislation in TT to permit organ transplant by persons not related to each other.

Professor Naraynsingh said there is no law prohibiting or permitting non-related transplant surgery. Asked why it has not been done if there are no laws making the surgery illegal, he said the surgeon can be held liable if anything goes wrong. Other legal/ethical issues arise should the surgery be done in the absence of laws dealing with issues such as the sale of organs. Professor Naraynsingh said laws are needed which clearly define what is and is not permissible “or else the person doing it will have no defence.” Urologist Dr Fuad Khan said “with correct, staff, theatres, equipment, it can be done locally.” While there is less chance of rejection and better “immunological match” from a relative, all recipients receive immuno-suppressive drugs to prevent their white blood cells from attacking the organ. Kidney transplant costs approximately TT$75,000. The cost can go up to $100,000 should complications occur. For three transplants to be done, the cost triples because three sets of nurses, theatres, etc are required. Khan said if two theatres are used, the cost can be reduced. Live kidney transplants are nothing new in TT. They have been done at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Dr Khan recalled four were done over a period of days.

SHELDON LOVELL, alias “Skelly”, the man described as the country’s most wanted man, is willing to surrender to the police any day now because he wants to clear his name.

He is also willing to reveal sensitive information to National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee, and added that he does not trust any police officer. He is also concerned about his safety when he is arrested and in custody, but  feels that he will be executed if he fails to surrender. Sheldon Lovell has been in contact with Zaki Aubiah, expelled member of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen; David Mohammed, local representative of the Nation of Islam; Gemma Ayres, his mother; a newspaper editor,  and a close relative. “Those are the only people Lovell trusts,” said Zaki Aubiah, who is almost sure that Lovell will surrender shortly. Aubiah told Newsday that Lovell, 33, has lost all confidence in people he once considered his close friends, and feels that most of his close associates are interested in “selling him out” to collect the $100,000 reward posted by Crime Stoppers. “He is willing to surrender, but he feels that the timing has to be right.” He claimed that Lovell is not the criminal that he is being made out to be, but added that he is willing to take Lovell to the police when he is ready to do so.

Yesterday, David Mohammed, the local representative of the Nation of Islam, said that he spoke with Lovell last Tuesday night, and he claimed that he was being made out to be a “scapegoat.” He also told Mohammed that he is not the mastermind behind kidnappings in the country. Lovell was advised by Mohammed to surrender, but up until yesterday, Lovell made no attempt to do so. Police sources told Newsday that based on information received, Lovell is one of the main suspects in the kidnapping of Anthony N Sabga III. Sabga was kidnapped last year and released in Belmont after a ransom was paid. Police investigators told Newsday that Lovell was reportedly paid a huge sum of money for his role in that kidnapping. On August 5,last year Lovell was kidnapped outside Alicia’s Guest House, St Ann’s. He was released 19 hours later in Aranguez. Nursing wounds to his face, neck, back and arms, Lovell told police that after being kidnapped, he was blindfolded and taken to an area with thick bushes and beaten for over half an hour by his four kidnappers. In an interview with Newsday after being treated at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital on August 6 last year, Lovell claimed that he was forced to hand over large sums of cash to people he knew. Senior officers insisted yesterday that the search for Lovell will continue round the clock. They added that Lovell is armed and dangerous. He has been described as a menace to society.

A 35-year-old Gran Couva man, who was beaten on the head after being accused of stealing a bottle of methylated spirits, died around 3 pm at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

A 39-year-old man, who was detained, is expected to be charged with the murder of Simon Villafana. Today, police investigators will consult with DPP Geoffrey Henderson on the matter. Reports revealed that around 10 pm last Tuesday, Villafana and another man were drinking methylated spirits at Losattajos Village, Gran Couva, when Villafana was accused of stealing a bottle of the methylated spirits. He was beaten on the head with a piece of wood. A relative of Villafana later found him frothing and took him to the Chaguanas Health Centre after which he was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Emergency surgery was carried out to remove a blood clot. He was warded at the Intensive Care Unit and a suspect was detained. A party of officers, led by Sgt Leo Duncan and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad, along with PCs Kalloo and Maharaj, went to the  scene of the incident and seized a weapon. The suspect in the beating death was still in custody at the Couva Police Station up to late yesterday.

The matter involving the firebombing of a tractor at Beverly Hills, Laventille has been resolved.

The work will continue, sources said, adding that it was a small group which does not have the support of the residents in the community behind the action. The new housing  project is intended to house  residents of the Beverly Hills area as well as other persons in 120 apartments in ten buildings as part of Government’s Urban Renewal Programme. Meantime, Police said they are continuing investigations into the fire-damage of the tractor/backhoe that took place on Saturday night on the proposed housing site.

THE 60-year-old husband of a UNC alderman who received death threats prior to her swearing-in, died from a massive heart attack during a game of cards at a Princes Town recreational club on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, Fyzool Fakira was playing all fours with friends when he is said to have suffered a heart attack. The report said efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The retired insurance agent is reported to have suffered a stroke ten years ago and has a history of heart disease. His wife Zaniffa made headlines last week Monday prior to her election as a UNC alderman in the Princes Town Regional Corporation, when a shot was fired at her home, shattering a glass door. Zaniffa is also reported to have received a threatening letter the week before her election and a bullet casing was found wrapped in paper within the same envelope. While Zaniffa did not publicly comment on the threats, Fyzool claimed the attacks were politically motivated because the family had no enemies and such threats never occurred before. The UNC has publicly condemned the incident. The Fakiras have three children.

Reiterating that the UNC’s “about-face” on the CCJ has hurt the party, UNC MP Gerald Yetming said yesterday that he had not yet worked out in his mind what position he would take when the legislation establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice comes to Parliament.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning said on Thursday that he planned to canvass UNC MPs individually in order to get support for the CCJ bill. The bill requires a special majority and therefore Government would have to get the support of at least four UNC MPs. Yetming said his own view “was and is” that the UNC’s position of non-cooperation on that matter ought to be revisited by the parliamentary caucus. “When we visit it at caucus I guess we will decide collectively or individually, what course of action we will take,” he said. He added: “All I said was that it should be revisited. That our about-face on those issues has hurt us, and I think continues to hurt us, and that we need to revisit that policy position”.  He said at the appropriate time he would expect that the matter would be re-visited by caucus. “At which time I expect that every person would be allowed to have a say. And I’ll wait and  see how that goes. I am not unduly concerned,” he stated. On Panday’s statements that members of Parliament would stand “the consequences” of the actions they take on the CCJ,  Yetming said he agreed with Panday. “Everybody would know that if they take a particular course of action, there could be consequences. I don’t see a problem with that. He is correct. I assume he means political consequences”.

The UNC MP, who came out two weeks ago and expressed independent views on number of issues, is still in Mayaro. Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan said yesterday that before the CCJ could become a reality, two things had to happen-( a) the Constitution must be changed so that people who sit on the bench must be recommended by persons who are apolitical and ratified by the Law Association; (b) the Equal Opportunity legislation had to be implemented.  “After Prime Minister Patrick Manning has done that he can canvass as much as he likes, he will get fruit,” he said. Khan said it was not far-fetched that Manning — who put his friend Malcolm Jones on Petrotrin board, his wife in the Cabinet and Errol Grimes at WASA — would put people like former Chief Justices Clinton Bernard and Michael De La Bastide on the bench of the CCJ.  Khan said both men had showed their “leanings” and bias. He added that Bernard’s level of competence was already demonstrated at the Piarco Commission of Inquiry. “It is frightening that this type of attitude could perpetrate itself on the Caribbean Court of Justice,” he said.