The full impact of newspaper giveaways during the April-May MFO Media survey could not be ascertained by MFO when collating the results of this survey, the results of which were presented yesterday.
MFO found of all the free newspapers given out, Express gave away the most. For example on Saturday, Express gave away over 60 percent of all free newspapers captured in the survey as compared to Guardian 12 percent and Newsday just over 20 percent. The presentation was made by Cassian Gyan of MFO and under special notices the survey report added, “The free distribution of newspapers in locations across the country continued during the survey period, we are not in a position to determine the full impact of this situation.” Newsday held its exclusive core readership position at 64 percent as compared to 12 percent to the Guardian and 28 percent to the Express. The survey showed the Express emerging in the number one position in daily readership with 43 percent Mon — Fri, compared to 36 percent for Newsday and 21 percent for Guardian. The Sunday Express was at 47 percent, Newsday 31 percent and Guardian 22 percent. The Saturday Express was 45 percent, Newsday 34 percent and Guardian 21 percent.
In the last survey, Newsday was number one with 41 percent compared to Express 36 percent and Guardian 15 percent. In that survey as well the Sunday Newsday was 38 percent, Express 43 percent and Guardian 19 percent. Newsday has held the number one position in the previous ten consecutive MFO surveys, and this year Newsday is marking its 10th Anniversary of success in the media industry.
A Welsh national was yesterday committed to stand trial for the motor manslaughter of a Chaguanas man.
Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the Chaguanas First Magistrates’ Court made the committal order after ruling that a prima facie case had been made by the prosecution. Lance Waters, an engineer at JUSAMCO is charged with the death of Hamid Hosein near Guyamare, Uriah Butler Highway on May 16, 2001. Hosein, a former employee of Rip Speed Company Limited, died as a result of vehicular injuries that were sustained in a car crash. Waters was also charged with dangerous driving and driving without due care. He appeared in the Chaguanas First Magistrates’ Court. The magistrate overruled the defence’s ‘no case’ submission stating that she was satisfied that a prima facie case had been made by the prosecution. The prosecution’s evidence was presented by Insp Ashton Clarke. Defence counsel Rangee Dolsingh SC and Devesh Maharaj appeared for the accused. Waters was granted bail with a surety in the sum of $50,000 and is to stand trial at the next sitting of the High Court.
A WOMAN who made a living frying doubles was awarded $265,000 by the High Court yesterday for injuries she sustained in a vehicular accident almost six years ago.
Maurisha Ali, 38, and two other employees of Ali’s Doubles in San Fernando were being transported to their workplace at around 8 am on August 2, 1997, in a van owned by Mustapha Ali and driven by Nazim Ali, both employees of Ali’s Doubles. According to a writ filed in the San Fernando High Court Sub-Registry, an accident occurred at Tarouba Village, near the intersection of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway when the van she was in, collided with another vehicle. Ali sued the owner and driver of the van, as well as the owner, Fazad Khan and driver, Kooffa Khan, of the other vehicle. She named all four as defendants in her lawsuit, in which she claimed negligence.
Ali suffered multiple fractures to her right leg and left arm. Ali also claimed that she often lost consciousness. On March 22, 2001, Justice Joseph Tam held all parties equally liable for the negligent driving of their vehicles and ordered that each pay 50 percent of damages, to be assessed by a Master of the High Court. Yesterday, the matter came up for hearing before Master Brenda Paray-Durity. The Master accepted the submission and ordered the sum be paid to Ali with interest at 12 percent from yesterday. The defendant parties were also ordered to pay Ali’s legal costs.
A Guyanese woman went on trial yesterday for killing a 23-year-old Guyanese clothes vendor in front of a Port-of-Spain supermarket almost three years ago.
Denise Hilliman aka Joy King is before Justice Herbert Volney in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court charged with stabbing to death Mark Gordon in front of Back to Basic Supermarket, at the Corner of Independence Square and George Street, Port-of-Spain, on August 24, 2000. State prosecutor Alexander Prince in his opening address to the jury, stated that around 8.15 on the night of the murder, Hilliman armed with a bottle and knife had a confrontation with a woman on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. Hilliman allegedly threw a bottle at the woman who then began to run east along the square. She was pursued to Back to Basic Supermarket by Hilliman whose path was blocked by Gordon. Hilliman had a conversation with Gordon who struck her with a piece of wood. She then stabbed Gordon several times. Gordon died on the spot. Hilliman was taken into the supermarket by Edwin Prescott, Director of Prescott Security Services, who was on duty at the supermarket. Prescott then called the police.
Police complainant Cpl Kenneth Williams of the Port-of-Spain CID said he saw Gordon dressed in a plaid boxer shorts and green and white jersey, lying on his back in what appeared to be a pool of blood. Williams said that Prescott gave him a black handled knife with a four inch silver tapered blade with what appeared to be bloodstains on it. He stated that he approached the accused and told her he was investigating the death of Gordon. He showed her the knife, and told her that he believed she was the one who stabbed Gordon. Hilliman was taken to the Besson Street Police Station. He said the accused said she would not give a statement in writing unless her lawyer was present. She added that she had no attorney in Trinidad. She did however state that she had no intentions of killing Gordon, but that he was beating her with a piece of wood. She said that someone called “Sue” handed her a knife, and when Gordon was beating her, she stabbed him.
Under cross-examination by Osbourne Charles SC, Williams admitted that he did not go in search of the piece of wood that was used by the deceased on the accused. He said he received information about the wood after midnight following the murder and that he did not think that it could be useful as it may have been tampered with by that time. Justice Volney then adjourned the matter to today when the cross-examination of Williams will continue. The State also intends to close its case today following the testimony of two eye-witnesses.
ONE day after plans were announced for Atlantic LNG’s train IV project, an environmental activist has questioned the true revenue that would be derived from the natural gas facility.
In a telephone interview, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) spokesperson, Gary Aboud, also alleged that the Environmental Management Authority, (EMA), was in the business of “protecting Government’s interests” at the billion-dollar plant. Aboud, who was attending an EMA public consultation at the Point Fortin Civic Centre, said that a former official under the previous administration had once told the nation that over $1B would be earned from trains 1-3. “Now, according to official Government figures, this country earns TT $2.5 m per train, so when another Government leader stands up and says we will earn in excess of one billion, we have to question that,” he said. Aboud also reiterated that residents who live “downwind” of the plant were being exposed to a “multiplitcity” of respiratory and skin diseases. “Asthma is on the rise, so are skin rashes, broken lips and blood ailments,” he said, adding that the complaints had only started since the building of the plant.
Aboud said a preliminary study conducted by the EMA had alleged that there was no appreciable rise in respiratory diseases among Point Fortin residents. He slammed the study as “misleading,” saying that Point Fortin was an extremely large geographical area, while the approx 400 persons who lived close to the facility were the ones mainly affected. Asked whether the group would continue its battle if the EMA nullified its objections, Aboud said “a journey to the Courts” may be the environmental group’s last recourse.
FORMER Finance Minister Gerald Yetming said on Monday night that Prime Minister Patrick Manning was biased towards the Caribbean and against Trinidad and Tobago.
Addressing a UNC public meeting at Port-of-Spain City Hall, the St Joseph MP predicted that because of this bias, the country would see none of the projected revenue from Atlantic LNG (ALNG) Train IV. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced in Parliament that Government had signed the contract for ALNG Train IV and outlined the numerous economic benefits for the country. However Yetming declared: “That money will go everywhere else but it’s not going to benefit you. It is a bias of the Prime Minister to things Caribbean than things Trinidadian.”
The UNC MP criticised Manning for issuing letters of comfort to the tune of $50 million while allegedly turning a cold shoulder to BWIA’s financial woes. Stressing that he was “not defending BWIA,” Yetming said $50 million will never be seen “for the rest of our lives.” The former Finance Minister wondered why Manning seemed ready to help St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, but slow to act on the homefront. Yetming also wondered why Manning, who is also Finance Minister, never piloted any finance legislation in Parliament but left it to his “obedient servant” Junior Finance Minister Ken Valley. He described Valley as a man fighting for his political survival ever since former NFM chairman Christine Sahadeo was appointed as the third junior minister in the Finance Ministry.
Yetming said because of its parliamentary majority, Government would get the $740 million it was asking for, but warned “none of that $740 million is going to affect you in any significant way.” Touching on the UNC’s concerns about the Oil Revenue Stabilisation Fund, Yetming said the Opposition was still waiting for Government to bring legislation to Parliament that will formalise the Fund. He also wondered how many regional governments, besides Trinidad and Tobago, had legislated monies for the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Chairman of the Environ-mental Management Authority (EMA) Dr John Agard has stated that Atlantic LNG (ALNG) has the “blessing” of the EMA to continue with Train IV, as it was found to have satisfied the list of conditions attached to the Certificate of Environmental Clearance(CEC) issued by the EMA.
Speaking at a press conference at EMA’s offices yesterday, he added that results of the EMA’s investigations into complaints by residents of the area can stand up to public scrutiny by private individuals and concerned organisations. EMA’s Corporate Commun-ications Officer, Neil Parsanlal, said ALNG was not immune from the imposition of penalties if they are found to be breaching any conditions of the CEC, adding that, “Whenever they break the law, they will pay for it.” Agard also dispelled claims that there was political interference in the EMA’s arrival to grant the CEC to ALNG, as the EMA Act 2000 of Private Party Action prevented this kind of occurrence.
The list of concerns as presented by residents included noise and vibration; dust, soot and toxic gases; health effects (eyes and respiratory illness); employment; risk assessment; coastal erosion; property damage; emergency response; relocation of residents; and traffic management and road conditions. Describing dialogue between the EMA and ALNG as “long and arduous,” Agard said they had employed international consultants to deal with the concerns of persons in the area. “Anything that is done has to stand up to scrutiny and that is why the EMA cannot be guided by heresay,” Agard stated. Questioned as to whether the EMA had any doubts granting the CEC to ALNG, he replied, “There isn’t any fatal reason,” but admitted “that there are concerns and mitigation measures.” He revealed that quarterly reports were to be submitted to the EMA by ALNG as regards piling activities; in addition to ALNG liaising with the Ministry of Health to conduct a comprehensive survey of on-site activities which may impact on residents.
Another promise secured by the EMA indicated that labour for this project would be sourced locally, so that economic benefits can be communicated to the government. MP for Point Fortin, Larry Achong said he had two basic concerns about the beach and the health of the residents, but that he was “more or less happy” that they were being addressed in “tangible ways.” Promising that within two weeks persons can expect some “positive decisions,” Achong said “this is what happens when you have a government who knows what it is doing.” Claiming that they got the best deal out of Train IV as a result of negotiations, he added that “if the UNC weren’t so corrupt, we could have prevented a lot of damage to Point Fortin from Trains I, II and III.” When contacted in Point Fortin, General Secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS), Gary Aboud said they were very upset and were as “unhappy as anyone would be if their mother was raped” as regards EMA’s granting the CEC to ALNG.
The Diego Martin Regional Corporation yesterday issued a notice to Valeview Terrace developer, Gowkaran Mahabir, to stop construction immediately on his Diego Martin property and also gave him 24 hours to pave the road he dug up last week and to unclear clogged drains on St Lucien Road. He also has a week, according to corporation chairman, Bridgette Anisette Georg, in which to put in a box drain. George said there would be a police presence throughout the paving of Valeview, which begins this morning.
Anisette George added that yesterday’s stop notice was the second one issued to Mr Mahabir by the corporation, the first coming in March 2003, when according to its chairman the corporation noted the hillside was being cleared for the contruction of townhouses, for which the corporation had not been asked, nor had it given any permission. Mahabir she said, when asked about the development, provided only an EMA Certificate of Clearance, Town and Country outline approval and permission from WASA. But she added, Mahabir had no approval from the Chief of Designs, the Fire Services nor the Drainage Division. Furthermore, she said, after the stop notice of March, she asked the developer to do only “restoration work” to repair the “substantial scarring” of the mountainside. He was told to put in proper drainage and retention ponds.
Yesterday, Newsday received a copy of the EMA certificate, signed by its director Dave Mc Intosh, to which were attached several conditions. Among them was that construction hoardings and fences should be established to minimise disturbance on neighbouring fences with respect to noise, dust and runoff, and one month’s porior notice should be given not only to the Highways Division, Traffic Mangement Branch and Police but to the public. Temporary drainage was also supposed to be designed and approved by the Drainage Division, site preparations should have had minimal disturbance on neighbouring residences with respect to noise, dust and run-off. The developer was also liable for damage to adjoining properties caused by his work.
Yesterday, residents laughed at the EMA’s certificate and its conditions, stating that Mahabir was clearly not adhering to many of these.They said he told them the land had been his father’s and he could do with it as he pleased. They added that he never gave them a month’s notice. The EMA’s Corporate Communications Officer, Neil Parsanlal, yesterday said he was aware of the Valeview situation, and added that the EMA was monitoring it. When asked exactly what he meant by monitoring, if the EMA had sent an officer to speak to the residents and view the problems on the site, Parsanlal said he could not say.
CRIMINALS AND public servants know they are dealing with a weak government, UNC MP Gerald Yetming said Monday. “The chickens are coming home to roost,” he declared.
The St Joseph MP warned Government that if it continued its pattern of engaging in “wild non-productive spending” there would be inflation, devaluation and increased unemployment. He was speaking on the motion to adopt the Report of the Finance Committee on proposals for the Supplementation and Variation of the 2003 Appropriation in the House of Representatives. Noting that the Public Service Association (PSA) was calling for a 45 percent increase in salaries, Yetming said there would be an “unprecedented amount of pressure from the labour front and the PSA is only a start.” He said this is what happens when a government and Prime Minister agrees to meet with known criminals, euphemistically called ‘community leaders.’ Yetming said the Government itself took two increases in its pay within the space of one year. “You will pay the price,” he said. The UNC MP also slammed Government for “rushing” to help LIAT, giving it $30 million, while responding in a cavalier fashion to BWIA pleas for assistance.
A TT$8 million agreement was signed yesterday between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), for the implementation of a regional HIV/ AIDS project.
The agreement for the project, “Building a Faith-based Response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean,” was signed at the Canadian High Commission, Sweet Briar Road, St Clair. The three – year project, which is being implemented by the CCC, aims to mobilise and enhance the response of faith – based organisations and strengthen their projects on HIV/AIDS, especially in the areas of care and support initiatives, education and awareness building. Canadian High Commissioner Simon Wade re-affirmed the Canadian Government’s commitment to assist the Caribbean in its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He said while the virus has been around for the last 21 years and many medical advances made during that period, no cure has been found. He noted that over 15,000 people worldwide are infected every other day. The Caribbean is recorded as having the second highest infection rate in the world, with 2.4 percent of the population HIV infected.
Wade said although there is no known cure, every possible measure must be taken to educate the people on the simple, straightforward precautions which must be taken, if the steady upward incidence of this disease is to be arrested. Wade also explained that CIDA is assisting two other local projects on HIV/AIDS run by the Caribbean Epidemiology Research Centre (CAREC) and the UWI’s Arts in Action Theatre Group. CCC General Secretary Gerard Granado said the project was established to respond to human developmental issues in the region. To date, the CCC has implemented training programmes in awareness building, counselling and behaviour. The current project will be done in conjunction with CCC members churches and the wider religious community.
