Tobagonians and visitors to the island will be in for an entertainment feast this weekend, featuring a mix of gospel and indigenous culture in an unprecedented two days of festivities back to back. It starts today with the first ever Tobago International Gospel Festival at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, which has been specially modified/upgraded for the occasion, and rolls into tomorrow when the curtains go up on the 17th edition of the annual Tobago Heritage Festival, the island’s premier cultural showcase. And this is as it should be, since it is envisaged that the visitors attracted to the gospel festival will stay on for the Heritage Festival. A sort of “double whammy” in events tourism, with the island being “launched” as an effective international gospel fest centre and, at the same time, providing that much-needed impetus in promotion/marketing of the Heritage Festival, according to Secretary of Tourism/Transportation/Enterprise Development/Settlements at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Neil Wilson. This was anticipated in the planning of the event. In fact, Wilson says the question of attracting visitors to Tobago as a favoured tourist destination was the overall objective behind the conceptualising of the gospel fest some three years ago.
On the other hand, he said, it was generally felt that the Heritage Festival has not enjoyed the best of marketing efforts over the years. The International Gospel Fest — featuring Dr Bobby Jones of BET (Black Entertainment Cable tv Network in the US) and other popular US gospel artistes/groups alongside leading local gospel acts — will be filmed by BET for viewing in the US, all towards marketing Tobago. The gospel fest starts promptly at 4 pm tomorrow, ending at midnight, and some 20 hours later, Prime Minister Patrick Manning will officially open the 2003 Tobago Heritage Festival in a traditional “opening night” presentation. This year’s offering is titled “The Best of Tobago” — perenially sponsored by the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago.
Three men and a woman appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls charged with conspiring to import 10.38 kilos of heroin. Erving Torres and Carol Ruiz of Brooklyn New York, Mario Gueteirez Morales, Columbian national residing in California USA and Michael Jacques, originally of Luis Street Woodbrook, presently residing in New York were arrested in December, 2002 by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU). They were allegedly attempting to board BWIA flights destined for the US with the narcotic which is reportedly valued at over five million TT dollars. The charge was laid by Sgt Mc Carthy. The four appeared on July 9 before Arima Magistrate Gail Gonzales for possession of the drug. DPP Geoffrey Henderson offered to have the charges against the four dropped on the condition that the accused agree to leave the country. Ruiz, Morales and Jaques, all represented by attorney Nathaniel King, agreed to the extradition. David Alexander, defence attorney representing Torres, informed Newsday that his client was simply waiting to confirm certain arrangements with US authorities before he agreed to the extradition. Prosecutor David West of the office of the Attorney General made no objection to the submission. Ruiz wept loudly in the court and was told by Mc Nicolls, “there is nothing to cry about mam.” The four will reappear on July 16.
FREEPORT police are investigating two separate robberies in which bandits escaped with over $50,000 worth of cash, jewelry and cellular phones on Thursday. In the first incident, around 1.45 pm, Radii Singh, 20, a sales clerk, of Chaguanas, was at her workplace — Silver Selection Jewelry Shop, at Mission Road, Freeport when two armed men entered and announced a hold-up. The bandits proceeded to grab 12 cellular phones valued $12,000 and a quantity of gold and silver jewelry, totalling $38,000. They then ran out of the store and escaped on foot.
PC Pressed is continuing investigations. In the other incident, around 7.50 pm, Freeport businessman Danny Seunari-ne, 40, was at his business, Views Choice Video Club at Chase Village, Freeport, when two men stormed into the building. One of the bandits, who was armed with a gun, announced a hold-up and demanded that the proprietor hand over all his money. Seunarine handed over $900. The bandits also robbed customer Ashmeed Ibraham, 37, of Freeport, of his wallet containing $60 and a bunch of keys. The bandits then escaped on foot. Cpl Satnarine is continuing investigations. Police are not sure if the robberies were carried out by the same bandits.
A 65-year-old German businessman is to re-appear in court next Tuesday on charges of drug possession. According to police reports, around 3 pm on Wednesday, the man, said to be the director of a car rental company in Germany, was held with 1.057 kilos of cocaine by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU) as he attempted to board a Condor flight to Germany. The cocaine was found in a lotion bottle as the officers carried out their normal baggage search. The man appeared in court on Thursday before Senior Magistrate Annette Mc Kenzie but was not called upon to plead as it is an indictable offence and was remanded into custody until the next hearing.
THE PNM election machine rolled into the Fyzabad home of the labour movement on Thursday evening, with a prophetic Prime Minister Patrick Manning predicting the demise of the Opposition party after the July 14 poll. Addressing hundreds of jubilant, balisier-waving supporters at Charlie King Junction, Manning recalled that shortly after the 1995 General Election campaign, which saw a 17-17-2 result, a “smug” Basdeo Panday had advised him to “resign from the PNM if you love your party.” “But, I want to send a message to Mr Panday. The storm clouds are rising over your party and after the PNM put ah sound licking on you, I hope you can take your own advice and resign,” he said. The Prime Minister seemed to be echoing the sentiments of a leading political scientist who had predicted that the Opposition leader would be forced to resign if the Opposition party lost any of the Regional Corporations under its control. And quoting from the Old Testament book of Daniel, Manning observed that the “writing is on the wall for the UNC” as the massive crowd standing in the heart of the Opposition-controlled constituency cheered wildly.
But it was not all political picong as Manning also revealed that the disability grant would be increased to $90 million in the 2003/2004 budget. Manning again slammed into the Opposition party for not supporting Government’s Kidnapping legislation saying the party had reduced “big men to tears.” He cited the recent kidnapping of chicken magnate Jai Ramkissoon son’s, Syam, saying had the kidnappers been facing “jail without bail”, the young man may not have been abducted. “Here we have a big man crying because the Opposition party does not support the legislation that calls for no bail for kidnappers.” He then slammed the Opposition calls for constitutional reform, reiterating that the process could not be accomplished in “five minutes or two months.” Manning also lamented the stance adopted by the Opposition party on the Caribbean Court of Justice saying the Jamaican Opposition party was now reviewing its stance on the Court. He urged supporters to “bring home the Siparia Regional Corporation” to the folds of the PNM. The meeting ended shortly after 11 pm when soca star, Iwer George, gyrated on stage with a massive balisier in hand and exhorted all PNM supporters to “Wave your balisier.”
OROPOUCHE MP, Dr Roodal Moonilal, yesterday warned that Trinidad and Tobago could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks and accused the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) of initiating “a CEPEPisation” of the local labour market. Speaking during debate on an Act to amend the Customs Act, the Opposition MP warned that terrorist elements would have a field day in Trinidad and Tobago if Government did not institute proper safeguards at the nation’s ports of entry. According to Moonilal, a British travel advisory released earlier this month urged British citizens travelling to TT “to be aware of indiscriminate terrorist attacks.” Moonilal boasted that only the UNC gave dignity to the country’s workers while the PNM’s track record on that score was “horrible”. He claimed the PNM used the promise of a $10 minimum wage “as a hoax to con the voters” and there were no plans to increase the country’s minimum wage. Moonilal also lashed out at what he claimed was Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s attempt to select a person for the post of Comptroller of Customs. He added that this post was more important than that of the Police Commissioner.
Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma stuck to the crime theme played by Moonilal, alleging that $30 billion in dirty money was being laundered through TT. As Sharma attempted to use the recent kidnapping of Syam Ramkissoon and CEPEP to bolster his argument, he was warned repeatedly by House Speaker Barry Sinanan to stick to the debate. The Fyzabad MP even claimed the barriers in front of the US Embassy at Marli Street were directly related to crime in TT. Throughout their respective contributions, Moonilal and Sharma were urged on by Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath who hurled constant barbs at Government Ministers Colm Imbert and Dr Keith Rowley. Sharma found himself in the envious position of being one of the few Opposition MPs to get the Speaker’s protection when Sinanan cautioned Rowley about speaking during his contribution. However Sharma burst his own bubble, by then trying to explain the rules of Parliament. “I will interpret the rules of the House,” Sinanan told Sharma, prompting Government MPs to thump their desks vigorously in support of his statement.
AGRICULTURE MINISTER John Rahael ex-pressed satisfaction with yesterday’s ruling of the Industrial Court on the Caroni (1975) Limited VSEP and declared it was now time to ensure the interests of Caroni’s workers and the sugar industry are safeguarded. In yesterday’s ruling, Caroni and the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) agreed upon August 15 as the date upon which the VSEP would be accepted by Caroni’s daily paid workers and that details be worked out to regarding land distribution for agriculture, housing, small and medium size agro-business. The ruling also suggested that Caroni daily-paid workers who accept VSEP be given first priority to purchase field equipment. Rahael said he was very pleased with the court’s ruling and it was now up to Caroni and the ATSGWTU to work out effective mechanisms to make it work. He advised ATSGWTU President-General Rudranath Indarsingh not to engage in empty rhetoric. “Let’s move on in the interest of the workers and the sugar industry,” the minister said.
Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee yesterday confirmed that retiring Police Commissioner Hilton Guy has not been given an extension by Government. He told Newsday that Deputy Commissioner Everard Snaggs would act as Commissioner effective Tuesday until the new Commissioner is named. Chin Lee could not say when the announcement would be made regarding the new Commissioner. He only stated that it would be a “surprise.” Yesterday Guy had his last meeting as a member of the National Security Council when he was thanked by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Chairman of the Council, for his services. On his return to office at Police Headquarters, Guy handed over the responsibilities to Snaggs. His last day on the job will be Monday, the date of Local Government Elections. Guy, in a surprise move, announced that he would be hosting a press conference today to speak about the crime situation. The Police Second Division said it would protest any extensions or “any outsiders” being appointed to the job. Guy, who is a Tobagonian, has worked in the Police Service for over 30 years, starting out as a constable and rising through the ranks.
Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran yesterday labelled Legal Affairs Minister Camille Robinson-Regis “chicken licken.” He was speaking in the Customs Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. Ramsaran said there was a “fowl fight” going on between the Minister and the chicken producers. “How can she tell people not to eat chicken, such an important staple?” he asked, adding that Robinson-Regis’ call was “irresponsible.” He said she was responsible for the rise in chicken. The UNC MP also took a dig at the “newest minister”, saying that custom officers were lamenting the fact that before “the ink dried” on the appointment of Christine Sahadeo she had made arrangements to bring in a $500,000 Toyota motor car. “The ink wasn’t even dry when she started looking for luxury,” he said. Quoting from a letter written by a Custom Officer on the issue, he said: “Is she taking all she could get early. The signal is that these people only care about themselves.” The Chaguanas MP also targetted the other Government ministers, saying that they didn’t seem to understand that they didn’t have diplomatic status when they pass through Piarco.
He claimed that government ministers were going straight to the VIP lounge with their luggage and then straight to their cars without filling out the custom declaration forms and declaring the “whisky” and other such goods that they bring in. “Whisky?” Legal Affairs Camille Robinson-Regis asked in disbelief. “Don’t talk stupidness!” Planning Minister Dr Keith Rowley declared in anger. “That is what all yuh use to do!” Health Minister Colm Imbert chimed in. “I don’t even use the VIP lounge, so don’t talk nonsense!” Rowley continued, in heated tones. Ramsaran said custom officers still talk about Winston Dookeran, who as a minister in the NAR Government would fill out his declaration form and carry his own luggage. “But you all treat yourself as diplomats,” he asserted, looking towards the Government benches, which again raised their voices in a chorus of denials. Ramsaran stated that custom officers made diaries of these things. “And the diary might say that at 10.30 MP for Diego Martin East (Colm Imbert) went through VIP, took his bags and went into his Benz”, Ramsaran said. “When was that? You making up stories,” Imbert protested.
Ramsaran said stories were also being told by custom officers who work on the Western Peninsula that certain contraband goods are imported and whenever they intercepted it, “Normally there is some high-handed (sic) person behind it.” He added that two weeks ago, a game warden on duty at the Caroni Swamp saw the “importation” of goods on the Blue River. He got a custom officer and when they returned to the Blue River, they saw a “senior official” of the government in front of the trunk. “A senior official of the government or a senior member of the Parliament?” San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran wanted to know. Her colleagues dared Ramarsan to call names, but he did not take up the challenge. Ramsaran also read out a letter from eight of the most senior Customs Officers in which they were protesing the appointment of a Comptroller of Customs who is “politically appointed.”
CONSUMER Affairs Minister Camille Robinson-Regis has warned local poultry producers to expect increased competition from foreign importers unless chicken prices were not immediately reduced. At a Local Government Elections campaign meeting in Fyzabad on Thursday, a tough-talking Robinson-Regis also dismissed as “misleading and deceptive” several newspaper ads by a local poultry giant, which blamed the PNM Administration for the recent increase in chicken prices. She also disclosed that the issue had been raised with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to review Government’s import duties and other “protection” surcharges that were currently levelled against foreign producers. “This Government has between 40 to 80 percent tax protection on foreign poultry products, so that our local producers can give reasonable prices to consumers. But the exact opposite has been happening,” she said. “And if this continues, with chicken prices increasing every single day, we will protect the consumers of TT and allow people to bring in chicken at reasonable prices.” Robinson-Regis then proceeded to dismember the newspaper ads by local poultry producer, Nutrimix Limited, saying each point raised was both “inaccurate and misleading.” “They are saying that Government has increased TTEC rates by 9.95 percent, but after careful examination, we have found that fuel charges have only been raised by one percent,” she said.
The Arouca South MP, also blasted Nutrimix’s charge that the 12 percent increase in land rental at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate also led to the price increase, saying the company was “fully aware” of a potential increase when its five-year lease came up for review at the end of last year. And as for Nutrimix’s claim of increased freight costs, Robinson-Regis described the company’s July 4, 2003 invoice from Maple Leaf Food International, quoting increased freight costs in June 2003, as “highly inaccurate.” She also described the natural gas and grain price increases as “unacceptable,” saying the ministry had found every piece of information produced by the company as being “totally inaccurate.” “I wonder if we are not seeing civil disobedience being manifested in all of its forms by supporters of the Opposition party,” she said. And, in a direct reference to the impending arrival of doctors from Cuba and the United Nations, Robinson-Regis demonstrated her multi-lingual abilities by welcoming the first batch of Cubans in Spanish. “They got upset when I spoke Hindi to welcome our East Indian brothers, and now I will speak Spanish to welcome the Cuban doctors,” she said, before launching into a barrage of Spanish phrases. Robinson-Regis concluded by advising supporters to heed UNC “bombshell” candidate, Anirudh Mahabir’s advice and “vote for the PNM” and secure victory in the crucial Siparia Regional Corporation.
