SECURITY at the San Fernando Magistrates Court was beefed-up yesterday with gun and baton-toting policemen patrolling the courthouse in the aftermath of Monday’s rioting by Remand Yard prisoners.

The prisoners on Monday smashed lighting fixtures in the cell block and used the electrical wires to tie the gates of the cells and prevent the Court and Process Branch policemen from moving in. They also hurled obscenities and faeces at police officers. Sources said the riot broke out when some of the prisoners learnt that their cases were being adjourned after a Magistrate did not show up for duty. However, despite the increased police presence yesterday, inmates who were brought to the court in vans, were once again shouting and cursing, with some even banging the metal sides of the vans. This time, that was all they could do, as the police officers moved in swiftly to maintain order. With the heavy police presence in place, proceedings at the High Court and the Magistrates’ Court were delayed for nearly half an hour as the prisoners were kept in the transport vans longer than usual while police officers took up strategic points around the court-house.

Yesterday, the prisoners once again accused the police of treating them badly. They also shouted to their friends and relatives who had gathered a short distance away. Even media photographers were not allowed too near to the court house while the inmates were being taken out of the transport vans. The court house was cordoned off with officers guarding all points of entry and exit. Instead of the usual 9 am start to proceedings, officers started taking out the inmates from the transport vehicles at 9.35 am. They were placed into the same holding cells in the basement of the court house, where the riot broke out on Monday. Security in the court-rooms was also high with police officers and MTS guards keeping a close watch on the prisoners as their cases were called before Magistrates and JPs. Officers also lined the corridors and entry and exit points to the prisoners’ holding bay in the court rooms. Magistrate Sonia Aleong, who presided over the Second Court yesterday, explained that she came off private leave to hear matters. Sources said heightened security at the court-house would be maintained “indefinitely”.

TRINIDADIAN law lecturer Dr Rose-Marie Antoine said yesterday there is urgent need for legislation in the Caribbean to protect HIV/AIDS victims. Antoine pointed out that if employers were to get rid of every AIDS-infected employee, there may not be enough for the work place. Based on this, she believes the time has come for legislation to be enacted.

Antoine, wife of St Lucian Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, was the feature speaker at Ernst and Young’s seminar on “Labour Law – A Caribbean Perspective” at the La Boucan, Hilton. Dr Antoine, a senior lecturer at the Cave Hill Campus, said there was a problem in the Caribbean getting AIDS-infected employees to stay on the job. “What will happen to the work place if everybody leaves the job?” she asked. Antoine said no Caribbean country has yet enacted legislation to deal with this problem. “One should not just dismiss someone if that person has AIDS.” When asked by a member of the audience if legislation was needed, Antoine answered: “Of course, there is need for legislation. “We must get rid of the stereotype and the real issue of discrimination. In many instances, people have been dismissed because they had AIDS. But should they have been dismissed? The answer is no. They should be employed, unless they are endangering the lives of others. But as you know, there is a lot of ignorance as it relates to this issue.”

Despite the levels of dismissals throughout the Caribbean,  Antoine said there is no known legal case in the region. The UWI lecturer said AIDS was not a valid reason for someone to be unfairly dismissed. She said the Caribbean was still behind when it comes to anti-discrimination legislation. While some countries are grappling with the idea, Dr Antoine said until this becomes part of the law of the individual countries, workers in the region would continue to be affected. She pointed out that many people may think of invoking the constitution to deal with their problems. But she pointed out that the constitution has very little to do with labour law. “The constitution regulates the relationship between the State and the citizen. It has nothing to do with labour law. We have no constitutional rights when we talk about labour law.” Antoine said she had noticed a huge increase in industrial action throughout the region. “We need to find out why this is so. It is happening in areas of essential services. In Dominica, it is the public servants, in Trinidad, the doctors, nurses, everybody,” she added to laughter from the audience.

Senate President Linda Baboolal had cause to ask Attorney General Glenda Morean to withdraw a remark in the Senate yesterday after UNC Senator Carol Seepersad-Bachan objected. But the President also had to deal with a cheeky remark from UNC Senator Armin Smith, when he failed in a similar attempt.

Smith who sought to get the Senate President to have the AG withdraw another statement, was clearly upset when Baboolal ruled in the AG’s favour. “I hope when yuh make yuh ruling, yuh tell everybody that,” Smith said petulantly. “Senator Smith, did you say something,” Baboolal asked sternly. “I am on my chair,” Smith countered. The Senate was debating Senator Ken Ramchand’s motion on constitution reform. Morean in her contribution stated that one expected that a constitution would have to be reassessed over time to meet the changing political landscape. But, she stressed, a wholesale reconstruction, such as the one being called for by the Opposition, could not be done in a short space of time. This process calls for national consultation and dialogue involving the people of the country, she said, noting that this process could take years. She said when she heard the Opposition hinging its support for the Police Reform Bills on an  undertaking from Government for total constitution reform, she felt sad at this “dishonesty”. She said she also felt sad that the Opposition was prepared to go back on its commitment to support the bill.

The Attorney General said new topics such as the issue of power-sharing and repatriation of our justice system — delinking of Privy Council and establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice, would be put on the agenda for constitution reform. She said there was no general consensus that the Republican Constitution was outdated, though recent developments suggested that there was a need for some adaptation of its provisions. She added that it was not clear that this exercise should be undertaken by the politicians. “The issues must be de-politicised. It must not be put in the hands of the politicians initially,” she said, adding that this was why she disagreed with the position that the matter should be referred to a Joint Select Committee. The AG however got into some hot water when she said that her position was strengthened when she heard UNC Senator Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan say that she was proud of the airport.

Noting that millions of dollars were improperly transferred all over the world. “And she is proud of that,” Morean said. However after repeated objections from Seepersad-Bachan, the Senate President asked the Attorney General to withdraw the remark. Morean said she stood like Alice in Wonderland as she heard Opposition Members talking about the constitution as though they suddenly discovered that there were problems with it, that the Prime Minister had too much power. Morean presented an amendment to the original motion. The amendment asked the Parliament to support Government in its quest for contitution reform and noted that Government had already begun the process through legislation such as the Police Reform Bill.

The Senate yesterday passed a motion, amended from the original presented some seven months ago by Independent Senator Prof Ken Ramchand, urging the Government to state its plans for constitutional reform.

After voting on three different versions of the motion, the Senate agreed by majority-vote: “Be it resolved this Senate will support the call for constitutional reform, Government do articulate its position on how it intends to commence the process and involve the population, and what steps it will take to ensure the exercise is completed in the shortest space of time”.  This final version offered by Attorney General Glenda Morean, beat other proposed versions including one from the Opposition calling for the issue to be referred to a parliamentary joint select committee. The Opposition expressed concern that Morean’s motion left matters in the discretion of the Government, instead of giving Parliament the power to oversee the debate. Ramchand himself was somewhat disenchanted with the disjointed way the whole debate over his motion had been conducted, on periodic private members days over a protracted seven month period. He suggested: “Let us revise the standing orders to let debates take place over a short period so that in the debates there will be continuity in our efforts and each debate will be a serious attempt at dialogue.”

Saying his motion had invited all to a free discussion on a policy to be stated by Government, Ramchand lambasted the Government for saying it had no definitive ideas but was just there to listen. Hitiing Leader of Government Busines Dr Lenny Saith for not removing the PNM party whip on its Senators over the motion, Ramchand scoffed: “This is the Kremlin! They are not hearing us buyt sitting down like Budhas while we talk our ears off” . Ramchand called for a new Constitution that reflected local values.  

THE hearts of United National Congress (UNC) supporters almost stopped beating on Monday night when party leader Basdeo Panday threatened to quit politics and champion the rights of workers in the CEPEP programme, which has been a regular target for Opposition bashing.

Addressing party faithfuls at the Don Miguel Road Hindu Primary School, Panday wondered why CEPEP chose to expose themselves to unprecedented levels of  “exploitation and humiliation”, only “collecting crumbs” while their employers collected “hundreds of thousands of dollars” every month. The UNC leader rattled off a list of names of persons who headed CEPEP companies and claimed many were top People’s National Movement (PNM) activists. However party supporters were stunned when Panday declared: “Where are the unions? Man, all you make me feel to give up this Leader of the Opposition work and go back to my old trade union days. Go back to my union days and organise those CEPEP workers to get decent working conditions. My blood boils when I see the poor being exploited in this way. My old union blood begins to boil in me again.” The UNC leader wondered why OWTU President-General Errol McLeod and PSA President Jennifer Baptiste-Primus had nothing to say on this issue.

HEALTH MINISTER Colm Imbert yesterday promised a government subvention to the Trinidad and Tobago Heart Foundation (TTHF) to assist with their programmes.

Speaking at the launch of Heart Month 2003 at the Kapok Hotel, Imbert noted that heart disease remains the highest ranking cause of death in our country and as such public education is very important. Imbert also used the occasion to declare war on tobacco.  He said at the recent World Health Assembly in Geneva, member states of the World Health Organisation unanimously adopted a no tobacco policy.  This will lead to legislative action in Trinidad and Tobago to control advertising of tobacco products and the activities of tobacco companies. According to the Minister, tobacco is one of the leading contributory factors in heart disease and cancer. Imbert also announced that effective June 1, free medication and access to the coronary disease programme will  be available to every person over the age of 60.

TTHF President Dr Allan McKenzie, who also spoke at the launch, said it was the organisation’s main objective to inform the nation about heart disease, the risk of stroke and how to identify, prevent or live with heart disease and still enjoy life to the fullest. “In Trinidad and Tobago heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, with rates more or less unchanged over the past ten years. That is why we have to educate the public about the role which the following factors play in the growth of Cardiovascular Diseases — smoking, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, unhealthy dietary habits, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and psycho-social stress. Also addressing the gathering was Paul Regis, Secretary of the Caribbean Cardiac Society (CCS), the first person in Trinidad and Tobago to have open heart surgery. He assured the TTHF that the CCS will continue as their partner in efforts to limit the ravages of cardiac disease in the community.