THE LAW Association yesterday held an emergency meeting to discuss statements made by former Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, at Wednesday’s 167th sitting of the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco airport project, where he labelled former Justice Richard Crane as a “drunkard.”
The meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain. The Association was expected to issue a statement on its position on the matter. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, who was also chastised by Bernard at the sitting, yesterday refused to comment on the matter. However, one attorney who participated in the Inquiry, Carol Gobin, in a release suggested that the country either ignore the “antics and shameful conduct” of Bernard and “pave the road to tyranny”; or those in authority intervene to “disband the Commission now.” She further expressed hope that if the latter measure was adopted, that the public “never remembers that the Chairman was a former Chief Justice, a holder of our nation’s highest award and an ‘eminent jurist’.” Gobin represented the former Airports Authority Chairman, Tyrone Gopee at the Inquiry. However, Gopee refused to take part in the proceedings because Gobin submitted that a proper explanation was never forwarded by the Commission as to why her client was named a “subject.”
Bernard on Wednesday used the live telecast of the Commission to allege that former Justice Richard Crane, who died last year, was a “drunkard.” In making the allegation Bernard boldly challenged anyone to sue him for his remark. Bernard’s allegation was made when he referred to a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, in which the DPP drew Bernard’s attention to fairness at the Inquiry. Henderson used the Rees vs Crane judgement to make his point to Bernard. Bernard was upset at the reference and questioned how the Commission could be accused of not practicing fairness, when it had invited persons who were implicated to challenged the evidence given. Crane was suspended from the bench in 1990 based on recommendations from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC).
GLENROY LONDON praised God and his attorney after he was acquitted yesterday of the murder of Cedros gardener Clifford Mark. London was all smiles as he strolled out of the San Fernando High Court hand-in-hand with his common-law wife, Geeta Denise Maharaj. It was his first taste of freedom since being incarcerated, after his arrest on December 22, 2000.
London said he was looking forward to getting his life back on track and will be returning to running a parlour business with his wife. “I used to sell drugs but I live a completely different life now,” he told reporters. After a three-hour summary of the evidence of the case by trial judge Justice Melville Baird, the jury retired for just 45 minutes before returning with the not-guilty verdict. London, 43, a labourer of Point Ligoure, was pointed out by the State’s star witness Byron Vespry as the main participant in Mark’s murder on November 14, 2000. Vespry who gave evidence that he and London were among a gang that killed Mark in the Cedros forest, was granted immunity after agreeing to testify for the prosecution.
Pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes said the deceased had suffered extensive bleeding to the skull and brain, and five of his ribs were fractured. The cause of death was ascertained as blunt cranio-cerebral traumatic force, with evidence of ligature strangulation. London, however, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Maharaj, his wife, testified that London was at their home at Alexander Street at the time he was accused of participating in Mark’s murder. London said he did not have any fears as he walked out of the court a free man. He stated, “I fear no one. The only one I fear is God.” Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore Paul prosecuted the case.
A taxi driver who was freed on a charge of rape yesterday, said it was a “blight” to have sex in his car, so he did it outside, standing against the vehicle.
The 26-year-old taxi driver of John Eli Road, Chase Village, walked out the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court a free man yesterday, after a jury of seven women and two men found him not guilty of rape and indecent assault after two hours of deliberation. The taxi driver was accused of raping the woman, a domestic worker of St Augustine, in a canefield off Chaguanas, on May 2, 2000. She said he locked his car doors and drove around for a while before taking her to a canefield to have sex.
The Court heard that he then demanded that if she did not come out of the car to have sex, he was going to kill her and leave her in the canefield. He explained that he did not want to “blight” the car by having sex inside. However, the taxi driver, who was represented by attorneys Israel Khan SC, Ulric Skerritt and Dawn Mohan, admitted having sex with the woman, but said it was not rape. He explained to Justice Alice Yorke Soo-Hon, that he picked up the woman at St Mary’s Junction, Freeport, and agreed to take her to St Augustine for a fee of $20.00.
He said, the woman explained that she went to meet a man who had promised to marry her, but instead the man “set her up.” The taxi driver said that while driving, “the woman was coming on to me.” When he reached a traffic light, he said, the woman leaned over and kissed him. He said he drove to a canefield and when he asked her if she was ready to have sex, she said yes.
The Court heard that the woman came out the car and they had sex leaning against the side of the car. The driver made it clear to the Court that if he had sex in the car it would have ‘jinxed’ the vehicle. He said after having sex they made a date to meet the next evening at six o’clock. However, the next morning he was greeted at his home by the police who later charged him with rape. Representing the State was prosecutor Debbie Ann Bassaw.
BAGHDAD, Iraq: The US government is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Saddam Hussein or confirmation of his death, in addition to up to $15 million for information leading to his two sons, the occupation administration said yesterday.
The offer was made in a prepared release by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority and applies to Saddam and both his sons, Udai and Qusai, said Sgt. Amy Abbott, a US military spokeswoman in Baghdad. Saddam was last reportedly seen alive in the war’s waning days in the Azamiyah neighbourhood of northeastern Baghdad. At least two US airstrikes targeted him during the war but it is not known if any were successful. US officials say capturing Saddam and his sons is crucial because the uncertainty surrounding his fate can be used as a rallying point for anti-US forces. Attacks against occupation forces have been increasing in recent weeks, with at least 26 US troops killed.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Eugene Bastien yesterday stated, that he is aware it is an offence under the “Motor Vehicle Act”, not to render assistance to a person who was injured in an accident.
However, it is not a criminal offence under the “Standing Order of the police service” if a police officer did not give aid to an injured person. He explained that the Standing Order is a guide to police officers on how to conduct themselves while performing their duty. He also said that although this course of action is not an offence, disciplinary action can be taken against an officer for neglecting to assist an injured person. Bastien was at the time being cross-examined by attorney Shastri Parsad, in a negligence lawsuit brought against the State, by Canadian resident Diane Guide-Bird. The matter is being heard by Justice Amrika Tiwary-Reddy in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Civil Court. Guide-Bird claimed that she lost over CDN $9,000 in earnings as a result of injuries she sustained when she fell and was dragged by a wrecker along High Street, San Fernando in 1995.
In his evidence in chief, Bastien — who said that he has 35 years experience in the police service — told the court that when he arrived at the scene of the incident, he saw blood on the roadway and pavement. He said he collected statements from the people involved in the incident, including Guide-Bird, who told him that the wrecker wheels rolled over her left foot, when she attempted to get into her car. He said that Guide-Bird did not tell him that PC Kenrick Rampersad told her to hurry up or that she was taking too long, on the day of the incident. He also testified that what he wrote in the statement is “exactly what she (Guide-Bird) said to me.”
Under cross-examination Bastien said that he had deduced that the blood on the main road and pavement came from Guide-Bird, since it was found in the area where the incident reportedly occurred. He said he was informed that she was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but did not ask who had called the hospital. He also testified that he did not inquire if the wrecker’s driver, Victor Baron, had offered any assistance to the injured woman. However he knew that Rampersad did not offer any assistance. Asked by Parsad why he did not take any disciplinary action against Rampersad for not offering assistance to Guide-Bird. Bastien explained that he did not treat this as a disciplinary matter. He explained that Guide-Bird was already getting assistance from the EMTs and he did not see the necessity for the officer to render further aid to her. However, Parsad reminded Bastien that the ambulance only arrived on the scene after Rampersad and the wrecker crew had left.
Asked if his investigations had revealed when the officer left the scene, Guide-Bird was being propped up by two or three persons, Bastien said that his investigations revealed that the ambulance drove off and left her there. Parsad then asked Bastien if he believed that an incident where a victim was bawling, and had to be propped by other people, warranted an investigation. Bastien told him yes, and stated that it was not enough for the officer to ask the victim if the car that was being towed belonged to her. He agreed that the officer should have at least asked if the victim was okay, or of she needed assistance in any way.
Following the testimony by Bastien, Justice Tiwary-Reddy directed State attorney Adrian Darmanie to produce the statement made by Rampersad to the police on the day of the incident, so that it could be tendered into evidence. The attorneys then advised the judge that they will be making their full closing submissions in writing. She then advised Darmanie to have his submission filed by August 15, after which Parsad will respond to the submissions made by Darmanie by September 30. She also said that if Darmanie saw it necessary to respond to Parsad’s submission, he must do so within 14 days of the filing by Parsad. She then adjourned the matter to October 27, and explained that any short oral submissions will be dealt with at that time. The State is being represented in the trial by Darmanie, Nirad Ramrekersingh and Grace Jankey, while Guide-Bird is being represented by Shastri Parsad and Alvin Ramroop.
UP TO late yesterday, officials from the Ministry of Labour were meeting with emergency health technicians to resolve an industrial impasse which has seen the country’s emergency ambulance service grind to a halt.
Yesterday, only one ambulance was providing a service in all of South Trinidad. The Emergency Medical Services of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed to Newsday yesterday that almost all of the 270 medical technicians were not working. Officials denied that supervisors were being trained to perform the jobs of the technicians in order to ensure a level of ambulance service to the population. The technicians are protesting the lack of medical supplies to perform their duties; cramped conditions of their bases and safety in the performance of their duties. Yesterday, a delegation from the medical technicians’ representative body, Pre-Hospital Care Providers Association, met with representatives of the Ministry of Labour at Riverside Plaza in Port-of-Spain. Also sitting in at the meeting as industrial adviser to the medical technicians was Vincent Cabrera, general secretary of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers Trade Union. The meeting was still in progress up to late yesterday.
Police Commissioner Hilton Guy yesterday denied a newspaper report that officers of the Anti-Crime Task Force have embarked on a sick out to protest their working arrangements.
In a release yesterday, the CoP claimed that police officers attached to the Inter-Agency Anti-Crime Task Force, based at VMCOTT at Beetham Estate, are disturbed about a report in a daily newspaper which stated that they are participating in sick-out/strike action. According to the release, officers of the protective services who comprise this task force have been patrolling Morvant/Laventille and its environs in an attempt to strike at the heart of crime in those areas. Guy added that as with any new initiative, there are some issues that he and his executive officers have been addressing with the Social and Welfare Association, but the issue of strike action has not been mentioned or considered by his officers. The Commissioner assured the national community that his officers would continue to work assiduously to provide a high level of service to them. He appealed to the community to continue to support the efforts of the protective services.
Checks with the officers at VMCOTT revealed that they want duties changed so that they work 24 hours and then be allowed 48 hours leave. They added that while they are not involved in any sick out action, if their demands are not met then they will be forced to take action. Newsday learned that additional manpower will be introduced to the unit shortly, which will ensure that officers get their two days’ leave. Senior officers explained yesterday that they are intent on putting a stop to criminal activities in Laventille, and this can only be achieved through the commitment and hard work of officers involved in the anti-crime plan.
Only a few doctors have seen the Medical Board (Amendment) Bill, 2003 and they are concerned about the content and implications of the Act which proposes to establish a five-member panel, headed by the Chief Medical Officer, to issue “Special temporary licences” to foreign doctors.
The move is intended to allow easier registration for Cuban doctors, who have been recruited by the Health Ministry to address the shortage in the health sector. For the past 50 years the Council of the Medical Board had the responsibility of issuing temporary licences. The duration of the licence is based on the type of graduate and their medical school. Licences do not exceed three years. “We have always taken a firm view there has to be a close period of supervision so that we do not put the public at risk. The Medical Board would be negligent in registering persons who we put to practice medicine where their competence is not fully assessed,” said President of the Medical Board Dr Albert Persaud yesterday. A meeting will take place at 9.30 am on Sunday at Amphitheatre A, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex to provide doctors with information and canvass opinion. The feedback will be used to “advise the Minister of Health and Government accordingly whether this type of legislation will enhance the practice and standard of medicine in TT.”
Questioned yesterday about the input of the Medical Board in the changes to be made, Dr Albert Persaud said the Board was aware of the aspects of the Bill to be changed but did not know the “particulars” until the Act was published. He said the Board never received an “official copy” but was sent one from another source. Copies will be distributed to doctors at Sunday’s meeting. “It is only fair when a Bill is to be introduced that the public at large should be able to comment on this and certainly the group of medical practitioners will, of necessity, have very important concerns in a technical and professional sense.” Persaud agreed that it was “unusual” that the Board was not made aware of details before the amendments were made, but he added, “thankfully we have seen it before it was debated in the House.” Attorney General Glenda Morean brought the Bill to the Senate last month. Persaud hoped that after doctors have highlighted their concerns, those involved in the passage of the Act would make an informed decision.
Opposition Senator Caroline Seepersad-Bachan said technocrats in the Ministry of Energy were sounding alarm bells over the recent agreement for the Atlantic LNG Train Four, and she wants the Government to state its Gas Master Plan to reassure both this country and foreign energy-sector investors.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday evening, she warned that the agreement involves too many unknowns, including those entailed in the clandestine nature of the negotiations. Seepersad-Bachan wanted the Govern-ment to assure that the country had sufficient gas reserves to continue to attract foreign investors in the gas-based sector and to reassure that the country would amass adequate revenue from sale of its gas. Urging the Govern-ment to ensure the country has a high gas reserve-to-production ratio, and to “prove up” the existence of these resources, she warned: “There has been little or no exploration activity since 2001. Our deep water exploration programme has not been successful due to the fault of no-one. There has been no proving up of re-serves”. Moreso, she said, Train Four will consume one billion cubic feet of gas each day, with all LNG Trains using up 60 percent of our current proven reserves, threatening the gas-supply available to other investors in the gas-based sector.
Seepersad-Bachan said: “Our calculations show that the reserve-to-production ratio is expected to fall to below 15 years, meaning that with no new gas finds, our natural gas industry shuts down in 15 years. Imagine, within 15 years our whole natural gas processing sector can come to a halt… “No banker will advise an investor to come to Trinidad and Tobago without a reserve-to-production ratio of at least 20 years. For the aluminium smelter they (Norsk Hydro) wouldn’t even start to talk to the Government of Trini-dad and Tobago without a reserve-to-production ratio of 30 years. Have we given up on the smelter and on the gas-to-liquid project?” She slammed the Government for signing for Train Four without getting a commitment from its LNG partners for an ethene (ethylene) plant, in contrast to the former UNC regime which, negotiating Trains Two and Three, had said it would not negotiate Train Four unless it got an iron-clad agreement for the ethene plant, with likely participation by the State through NGC and Petrotrin. Seepersad-Bachan said: “The only incentive for Train Four (for Trinidad and Tobago) was the ethylene plant, as it would have contributed significantly to the diversification and deepening of the downstream gas-based sector.”
On the question of local participation in Train Four, she lamented that only 40 percent of the plant’s structural steel was being made in Trinidad and Tobago. She asked whether head of the Train Four negotiating team, Prof Ken S Julien also headed a firm called Kenesjay, which she suggested might be the parent company of a firm called Asset Risk Engineering which a recent newspaper advertisement had said was doing a joint venture with Bechtel which has a contract to construct the Train Four plant. “Kenesjay is being awarded contracts for which there was no public notice — a serious conflict of interest…And the Government says it has no sacred cows!” She urged the Government to gets its LNG partners to help pay the cost (she estimated at half billion dollars) of re-locating Trinmar to accommodate the siting of Train Four, and to pay to restore the environment in south west Trinidad, especially at Clifton Beach.
Seepersad-Bachan told the Government to state whether the Train Four agreement in-volved a minimum guaranteed floor-price (to supplement the net back pricing agreement which links sale price to international market prices) to protect our revenues if the global price of natural gas falls to very low levels. She warned: “The $1.02 billion dollars estimated to be the Government’s take at the well-head, could become zero cents.” She criticised Prime Minister Patrick Mann-ing’s announcement that after 2017 the country would earn a 10 percent royalty rate on gas from the fields of bpTT, saying this had actually already been agreed during the Train One negotiations done under the UNC. As to Manning’s announement that the Government would not grant a tax holiday to Train Four, she said this was nothing new because the UNC government had not permited any tax holiday for Trains Two and Three. Saying the UNC had pressed bpTT to cut the price it sold its gas to NGC to supply gas-based industries (like methanol, urea and ammonia), Seepersad-Bachan asked if the Government, in the Train Four negotiations, had pushed any more gas-price reductions, to spur future down-stream gas-based projects.
SCHOOL teacher Rajpaul Balgobin, 55, is not happy with the People’s National Movement and United National Congress. He is contesting the La Fortune/Woodland districts in the Debe/Penal Regional Corporation as an independent candidate.
Balgobin is not a newcomer to politics. He fell out with the UNC as a former key activist, joined with National Team Unity led by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and once had a short stint with the People’s National Movement. The three parties are not attractive to him these days, he said. He also claimed that the three parties were also not being well supported by many in the La Fortune/Woodland districts located in the constituency of Oropouche.
Balgobin, who teaches at the Penal Junior Secondary School, believes he can capitalise on the disenchantment people feel with both parties, like they did in 1980, when residents of La Fortune/Woodland voted against the then United Labour Front led by current Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, favouring Abdool Aziz, as an independent candidate.
Balgobin, a public servant for the past 25 years, claims to be one of the pioneers of pre-school education in Woodland. Balgobin is not optimistic that he will attain 3,025 votes like Aziz did in 1980. The then ULF candidate had polled only 400 against Aziz. Balgobin said he felt assured of whipping PNM candidate Elvin Tom at the upcoming polls.
