IN THE aftermath of  Monday’s overwhelming Local Government Election defeat, Opposition leader Basdeo Panday has said that the election results did not have any bearing on his political future as leader of the United National Congress.

He was speaking to reporters after a special UNC executive meeting at, the party’s Rienzi Complex, Couva, headquarters yesterday. “The election result has nothing to do with my future as political leader of the UNC,” he said, and reiterated his willingness to retire from active politics after a suitable successor had been chosen by the party’s executive. And, flanked by members the party’s Local Government campaign team, comprising of Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, Senator Wade Mark and Dr Tim Goopeesingh, Panday conceded that while the party had lost control of several electoral districts, the party had polled more votes than the ruling PNM. He said that according to preliminary results released by the EBC, the Opposition party had polled some 147,214 votes as compared to the PNM’s 146,000. “And this is just because we only contested 107 seats, while the PNM contested all 126 seats, so one can imagine what would have happened had we contested all of the seats,” he said.

While Government is prepared to examine as a remedy to kidnapping, the freezing of the assets of victims of kidnapping and their families, such a proposal needs the support of the Opposition in Parliament. Prime Minister Patrick Manning stated this, in response to a comment that in countries where such a law had been passed, there was a drastic reduction in kidnapping because kidnappers knew from up front that there was no financial benefit to be gained from kidnapping someone.

Manning said Government was prepared to examine such remedies to the escalating problem of kidnapping. But, he noted, that to freeze the assets of an individual violated Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution and therefore required a special majority, “So we come up against another brick wall” he stated. Manning said the PNM “deeply regretted” that the Government’s no bail for kidnappers proposal was not accepted. The Prime Minister disagreed with the statement that the police were not having success in finding the kidnappers. Saying that there was a difference between information and evidence, Manning stated that the police had a lot of information, but couldn’t convert it into evidence.

On the issue of the Police Commissio-ner, Manning stressed that government was examining the options for the selection of a new Police Commissioner. Stressing that Government would operate within the confines of the law, Manning pointed out that   there were “serious constraints” in choosing someone from outside of the Police Service. Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith stressed that it was the Police Service Commission which made the recommendation and which appointed a Commissioner — not the Government. What the Prime Minister had the right to say was that he had no objection to, or that he was not happy with, the recommendation of the PSC, the minister stated. He added that if the Prime Minister was not happy, the Government could not  say who it wanted. Rather the PSC had to come up with a new recommendation, Saith said, Manning added that there was one other possibility: “The Police Service if it so wishes can engage in a discussion with the Prime Minister to see what the Government’s thinking  on the matter might be… But it is entirely within the discretion of the Police Service Commis-sion, and not at the instance of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Manning pointed out that that the vacancy for the position of Police Commissioner did not exist until September when the  term of office of the substantive Police Commissioner ends. “We have an acting Commissioner. Mr Snaggs, who I anticipate will do a very good job,” he said.

Although the PNM has never done better, even under Eric Williams, an upbeat Prime Minister Patrick Manning,  stressed yesterday, that Dr Eric Williams still remained the “ultimate in politics”.

Questioned yesterday about Monday’s historic success in which his party was able to achieve what Dr Eric Williams, couldn’t, Manning paid all the homage to the party’s founder, saying that he (Williams) laid the foundation for  the party’s tremendous victory. “You have put my back against a wall, because for us (in the PNM) Dr Williams remains the ultimate in politics,” the Prime Minister stated. He was speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet briefing. He also paid tribute to former PNM leader George Chambers, saying that “it has all been cumulative”.  “After 47 years, and after lots of ups and downs, parties coming and parties going…I think people are beginning to see the PNM as we really are,” he stated. Manning said he would be seeking ethnic balance as is the custom, in the appointment of mayors, aldermen and chairmen of regional corporations. By Monday the party should have decided on the additions to the councils.

Asked what specific policies were responsible for the PNM’s electoral success, Manning singled out four factors a) the party’s policy of multi-racialism; b) Government’s  targetting of  the needs of the people, particularly through programmes such as the $100 million National Social Development Programme which involves giving water, electricity and rectifying other minor irritants; c) Government’s efforts to meet the requirements of the young people through various programmes and d) Government’s effectiveness in addressing the issues of the elderly. Stating that the question of job creation now topped the agenda, Manning predicted a reduction in the unemployment levels. Noting that there was a definite wind of change between October last year and now, Manning said the PNM would  continue working in the national interest, recognising the plural nature of the society as it implemented the promises it made and will continue to discuss Constitution and local government reform. It would also bring forward its proposals on power sharing, he said.

PNM Campaign Manager, Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith said that while there had always been an ebb and flow of  the support to the PNM in Central Trinidad, the challenge was how to sustain “this latest movement”. Saith said that on the basis of the preliminary figures the bulk of the additional votes which the PNM obtained on Monday’s election came from Opposition strongholds. He added that the PNM had to build the party organisation and the party  structure in these areas so that people would participate. It also had to make it quite clear that it was governing in the interest of all, Saith added. He said the PNM needed to educate both the people within the party and those outside who might want to come in, on the way forward in order to avoid tensions between the traditional supporters and newcomers.  Asked how important it was to have a strong and effective Opposition, Manning stressed that the PNM had no interest in “wiping out” the Opposition. “But it appears that the Opposition needs no assistance from us in this (being wiped out),” he quipped.

On Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday allegation that there were Israeli spies in the country, Manning said if Panday remarked that, then he must be “spy smasher number one”. “The Israelis are known to be very good in covert operations. If the Leader of the Opposition is able to identify them ‘just so’ then surely something must have go wrong…” he said.

FATHER Clyde Harvey, officiating at yesterday’s funeral service for murdered Chaguanas businessman Gerard Punch, said Government’s vision of this country attaining developed-nation status by the year 2020 meant nothing if the public continued making excuses for the rampant level of crime and lawlessness plaguing the country.

“We must stop making excuses that crime and lawlessness happens in the United States, so who is we. That is not good enough, and if we cannot get out of this way of only making excuses, then 2020 means nothing to this country,” Fr Harvey thundered as he spoke to a packed congregation of mourners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church, Harris Promenade, San Fernando. He then called on the country to rise up spiritually and find the greater purpose and meaning of life. Punch, 36, the owner of Fotocraft and Cellular store at Centre Pointe Mall, Chaguanas, was one of three persons murdered on Monday night, hours after the polls for Local Government Elections had closed. Among those murdered that night was a 13-year-old girl, who was cut down in a hail of bullets by gunmen who apparently mistook her for someone else. Punch was shot by four bandits who tried and failed to force him to hand over money and the keys to his car. Up to late yesterday, police had not made any breakthrough in their investigations. At the funeral service, Punch’s weeping wife Shasmin fainted when she saw the coffin bearing her husband’s body being wheeled to the front of the church at the start of the service. Shasmin sat at the front pew with other close relatives. Punch’s mother, Pamela, and her two daughters Gabrielle and Allison quickly went to Shasmin’s aid when she collapsed and managed to revive her. Following the service the body was taken to Belgrove’s Funeral Home where Punch was cremated.

Deaf/mute Bharath Mansingh is going to enjoy his freedom for the next couple of months before seeking his old job at Peake’s where he worked before he was charged with his brother’s murder.

Mansingh was acquitted on Wednesday of murdering his brother Mukesh in 1999, after a ten-minute deliberation by the jury in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court. At his St John’s Road, St Augustine residence yesterday, Mansingh, through his sister Melissa’s interpretations, told Newsday that while in jail for the last five months he was sad. He was first picked up in 1999 and was incarcerated for 11 months, before getting out on bail on a manslaughter charge for his brother’s killing. Mansingh then spent the next two years on the outside before he was once again picked up in February this year and charged with murder.

During his last five months incarceration, Mansingh said he spent most of the time watching fellow inmates play basketball, and when not doing that, he slept. He never attempted joining any game of basketball nor did he want to communicate with other inmates even though they tried to reach out to him. Instead Mansingh kept to himself and prayed. He said he knew all along why he was in jail but that he hardly ever thought about it. Now, he wants to relax for the next couple of months and the job that he once held in Peakes, he hopes that he can once again be employed to do it. Given his freedom now, when asked if he will be looking for a girlfriend in the immediate future, Mansingh furiously signaled an emphatic NO!

His father Gunness who was also present at the interview said that the first thing Bharath did on reaching his home was to spend time taking in the surroundings at their St. John’s home. Now that the ordeal is over, Gunness said that he will try to help his son with whatever he needs or chooses to do, and the first thing that came to mind is that Bharath loved going to church so this entire weekend he will be partaking in services at a Jehovah Witness church. Gunness also pointed out that while Bharath was incarcerated, it was just the mother of the accused and himself who stood by their son throughout the whole ordeal. The elder Bharath lamented that none of the friends who used to “lime’ with his son found the time to visit him at the jail. He added that he is only looking out for the best for his son and vowed to be home with and there for his son for as long as he lives. He added that he was grateful to his son’s lawyer, Israel Khan SC, who represented his child pro bono.

Six and a half months into the new year and the Health Ministry is yet to release any figures on the number of reported dengue cases in TT.

For the past three weeks the Ministry has been contacted for figures, but they have been unavailable. Public Relations Officer at the Ministry, Keith Sancho, said the PR section moved to another area and the file with the figures was misplaced. He advised Newsday to call back. The file is yet to be found. Last year figures from the Ministry’s National Surveillance Unit showed the number of reported dengue cases  tripled for the period January to June when compared with 2001. There were 1,480 reported cases and 156 were lab confirmed (for January to June 15) and 483 reports (January to June 16, 2001). Fifty-six were confirmed after laboratory testing. The highest number of reports came from Victoria and St George East. The increase in the number of dengue cases was attributed to increased rainfall and the introduction of Type III dengue in 2001.

The principal vector of dengue is the  Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease is sudden in onset with typically a high fever accompanied by severe headache, nausea, vomiting and rash. A complication of the disease is Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, which can result in death. Symptoms are the same as dengue but with the addition of bleeding tendencies—bleeding from skin, gum, nostril, gastrointestinal tract (black stools, vomiting blood and injection site), blood in urine.

A BELMONT man yesterday said that he has forgiven his former lover for throwing acid on the left side of his face although the incident has permanently affected his hearing on the left.

Yesterday Frederick George made this declaration after High Court Judge Rajendra Narine ordered the jury to return a guilty verdict against Catherine George. She was charged with throwing sulphuric acid on Frederick’s face with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on January 17, 1996, at Belmont Long Circular Road. Catherine, who had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence, informed the court that she was changing her plea to guilty when the matter resumed yesterday. In mitigation, Defence Attorney Ken Wright asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence on his client and informed the court that she was willing to pay compensation to Frederick for the injuries he received. Justice Narine bonded Catherine in the sum of $10,000 to keep the peace for five years. In default she will receive two years’ hard labour. In addition, she is required to pay compensation to Frederick in the sum of $3,500, in default she would serve six months’ simple imprisonment. She was granted six months to pay the compensation.

Speaking to reporters outside the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court yesterday, Frederick, 62,  said that the compensation rewarded to him was inadequate. However, he admitted that it was wrong of him to get involved with Catherine in the first place. In his evidence to the court on Friday, Frederick told the court that he was involved in a relationship with his next-door neighbour Catherine in 1993. However, he broke off the relationship after he found out that her husband was having problems with her. Frederick told the court that Catherine lived adjacent to him on Barton Lane, Belmont, with her husband of 20 years and two children. Recounting the incident, Frederick said that around midday on January 17, he was standing on Belmont Circular Road awaiting a taxi when Catherine approached him, took out a soft drink bottle from her handbag, used her teeth to open the cap, poured some of its contents into a silver cup and threw the liquid on him. The acid burnt the left side of Frederick’s face and shoulder. Frederick made a report to the nearby Belmont Police Station. Catherine, however, denied that she had a relationship with Frederick.

A 19-year-old man appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls yesterday charged with manslaughter for killing his 17-year-old friend and neighbour Venol de Bique.

Mario Browne, unemployed, of Dundonald Hill, Long Circular, Debe, is charged that on July 4 he unlawfully murdered de Bique at Dundonald Hill. The decomposed body of  de Bique was found  in a latrine pit at Dundonald Hill on Monday. He reportedly died as a result of a gunshot. Browne was arrested on the same day the body was found and the charge was laid by Cpl Charles of the St James CID. Browne told Mc Nicolls that he did not have an attorney. Mc Nicolls then asked Browne if he had anyone to stand his bail. Browne replied, “Yes,” and pointed to a person sitting in the court. Mc Nicolls set bail at $50,000 which is to be approved by the Clerk of the Peace. The matter was adjourned to July 26.

A Venezuelan convicted and sentenced to 12 years hard labour for trafficking in cocaine was ordered a re-trial yesterday by the Court of Appeal.

The Court, comprising Justice Lionel Jones (President), Justice Anthony Lucky and Justice Stanley John, expressed concern about the instructions given by accused  Oswaldo Carillo to his defence attorney, Theodore Guerra SC. At the Court of Appeal hearing, Carillo made certain allegations through his attorney that his instructions were not followed at his trial. The Court noted that in the absence of written instructions, it could not say what really transpired, and urged attorneys to ensure that instructions from clients are written, signed and kept. In this case, there was allegedly non-written instructions. Carillo, of Sucre Sate, Venezuela, was found guilty of trafficking in cocaine and was sentenced by Justice Paula Mae Weekes in November, 2001. Arguing the case for the State was prosecutor Wayne Rajbansee while Carillo was represented by Ian Stuart Brook.

SCORES of disabled persons stressed yesterday that they are not as disabled as Trinidad and Tobago thinks.

They sent home the message at the second annual convention of the Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of  Disabled Peoples International (DPI) held at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. By way of posted signs at the Centre of Excellence auditorium, the disabled’s needs read: “Equal Transpsort for All”; “We want a chance, not Charity”; “We demand our Equal Rights”; “U2 Can become Disabled”; “Full Citizenship is all We ask” and “Let us Aspire Together.”

From the rostrum, former Minister of Health, Dr Emmanuel Hosein, himself a disabled, presented the demands of the disabled in a broad way. He made it clear that all persons with disabilities should receive an education. Special schools like the Princess Elizabeth Centre for Handicapped Children and the School for the Blind should be supervised and assisted by the Ministry of Education, and specific schools in pre-determined locations should be identified so that a broad-based intake of students can be accommodated. Hosein thought that disabled persons should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs and should not be subjected to discrimination of any kind.

The disabled also want housing, public transportation, health rehabilitation, sports and recreational facilities as well as insurance coverage.  All the demands have been sent to the government, through the Prime Minister, explained Dr Hosein. One speaker at yesterday’s meeting said no area of national life should function without the disabled.  “After all, we are people too,” he added. Another speaker thought that the disabled should be allowed to own and drive vehicles. One physically handicapped person was sure that the government and other people do not like to deal with persons with disabilities. “They feel that we are a burden to society,” he added.