As his small fragile body lies on the hospital bed 10-year-old Amit Moon battles bravely for his life. He is the victim of an accident which last Sunday left him in a critical condition. With the large sum of money required to take care of their son, his parents are now pleading for help. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, the father Ugesh Moon, 30, and mother Julia Kamla Manasar,40, related their heartaching experience. Yesterday Moon was again told by the doctor that $2,000 would be required to perform a Computerised Axial Tomography (CAT)Scan. The San Fernando General Hospital lacks the equipment to cary out such a scan. Moon’s part time vending job and the monthly $940 public assistance is hardly enough to cover the cost. Both parents have been at their son’s side since he was admitted to hospital.
Thursday was the first time they left his side to go to their Rio Claro home, only to return shortly afterwards. Yesterday the father said his son lifted himself slightly from the bed and then slumped back. He can neither eat nor speak. Though he has suffered no broken bones the young boy is said to have suffered internal swelling. His face is swollen and his head heavily bandaged. He also pleaded for assistance for other accident victims, his brother Dillon Moon, 11, and little two-year-old Khareshma Adhar who are out of hospital but in a lot of pain and in need of doctor’s attention. The parents continue to hope and pray for help for a miracle, that would restore their little Amit to the way he used to be.
FIVE VENEZUELANS caught three years ago smuggling over 1,500 pounds of marijuana through the Mosquito Creek in South Oropouche were jailed for 15 years each yesterday. Hamilton Guiterez, Miguel Alberto Pino, Jesus Inocente Hernandez, Amancio Angel Castillo Garcia, and Ismael Brito Pino, were jailed by San Fernando High Court Justice Malcolm Holdip presiding in the Fourth Criminal Court. Ismael Brito Pino, additionally charged with illegal posession of a Smith and Wesson pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition, was sentenced for six months. He will not spend extra jail time however, since his sentences were instructed to run concurrently. It was the second trial for the accused, since the previous jury in the trial before Justice Paula Mae Weeks last October were hung in reaching a verdict.
Yesterday Justice Holdip explained that the offence was aggravated by two aspects — the quantity of marijuana, and allegations that an arresting police officer had stolen $500 US from one of the accused. Justice Holdip said it was clear the 687.4 kilogrammes or 1,511 pounds of marijuana seized from the Venezuelan boat was intended for commercial transaction. “I am sending a message that there are serious penalties when indulging in this crime,” the judge declared. The case was prosecuted by State attorney Narissa Ramsundar, while the defence was led by attorneys Vernon De Lima, Joseph Pantor, Ian Gray, and Faraaz Mohammed. The five Venezuelans were arrested on May 30, 2000, by a team from Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), led by Sargeant Edward Castillo. The foreigners were held during an OCNU stake-out operation in the creek where policemen took up strategic positions on the river banks, while a Coast Guard vessel waited in the Gulf of Paria near the Godineau Bridge. After an exchange of gunfire in the creek, police intercepted the foreign vessel and arrested the five Venezuelans on board, and seized over the load of marijuana. In mitigation for the accused, Pantor said the Venezuelans were employed as fishermen and were never previously convicted of a crime. He said the foreigners were remorseful for committing the offence, having spent three years in jail while awaiting trial.
ON the occasion of Indian Arrival Day yesterday, Oppo-sition Leader Basdeo Panday declared that there were many East Indians in the past who betrayed their “own” for political office. Among them, he named, were, Lionel Frank Seukeran, father of Junior Industry and Commerce Minister Dianne Seukeran, as well as Ashford Sinanan — uncle of House Speaker Barry Sinanan. History was repeating itself today in the politcs of the country, Panday said, in that Indians were “selling out”. He told the large crowd: “Don’t be surprised there were a few selling out for a little senatorship and ambassador position.” Panday said the time had come now to end such betrayal. People must fight against racism and discrimination in the society, Panday announced as he addressed the Indian Arrival Day heritage festival sponsored by the Maha Sabha. He then declared that people should fight — according to the Mahabharat, a reference to the mythical war epic of ancient India.
“The Mahabharat taught you how to fight,” Panday told thousands of people gathered at Debe Village in Penal. Panday accused the ruling People’s National Movement of practising racism and discrimination in the distribution of State resources never before experienced by the East Indian community. The Opposition Leader said because of the “few” who were “selling out” to the PNM, “you all have been left alone”. But Panday said that people must not be despair, because they have the blood of “Bharat” running in their veins and that they now comprise half the population of Trinidad and Tobago. Panday said: “You are indomitable. You are many and they are few. You are half the population of 1.3 million people.”
Marabella was the scene of chaos on Thursday afternoon as police gave chase to a maxi taxi driver while conducting a traffic exercise. The high speed chase which started near the Tropical Plaza eventually ended at Harmony Hall, near Samlalsingh’s Hardware, where one of the pursuing police vehicles forced the maxi taxi off the road. The driver, Rajesh Nagine, 23, is due to appear in court next week to face ten charges. The 17-year-old conductor of the maxi David Persad Boodlal was released from police custody. The charges include driving without a driver’s permit and driving without a certificate of insurance, as well as driving without operator’s permit, among others. According to reports at around 3:30pm Thursday PC’s Ramjit, Ramoutar, Cpl Hoyte and Ag Cpl Hoyte were conducting a traffic exercise at Pointe-a-Pierre Southern Main Road.
During routine searches the driver whose maxi taxi was overloaded, dropped of all the passengers and took off in a southerly direction. He ignored calls to bring the vehicle to a halt. Along Battoo Avenue pedestrians were forced to run for cover as the driver mounted the pavements during his speedy escape. The driver exited at the other end of Battoo Avenue and proceeded further up the Southern Main Road with the police on his heels. He was eventually forced to halt when one of the two pursuing police vehicles drove in front of the maxi taxi. The man was arrested and taken into police custody. Nagine was also said to be driving the maxi without the consent of owner Anil Seeraj. He is due to appear in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Traffic Court on Monday.
FOUR detectives attach-ed to the Carenage Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were injured yesterday following a high speed chase in the area. The four are PCs James Roberts, Seeper-sad, Maraj and Gaskin. All but Maraj were treated and discharged. Maraj is warded at Port-of-Spain General Hos-pital nursing injuries to his right leg. The other three officers suffered head and other injuries in the smash-up that included four vehicles. Two other persons were also injured. Police were up to late last night combing the Carenage area for four people, among them two women.
It is reported that just before 3 pm, the four officers were heading in a westerly direction along the Western Main Road in a marked vehicle. Police said on reaching the vicinity of the L’Anse Mitan Fish Market at Big Yard, the officers received information that a stolen red hatchback vehicle was seen in the area. The stolen vehicle was heading in a northerly direction. The officers turned around and began to follow the stolen vehicle, which subsequently crashed into another car that was proceeding in a westerly direction. Police said the white car spun and struck the police vehicle and then crashed into a parked vehicle on the southern side of the road. Following the crash, police said four people from the stolen car alighted and fled into Armosvale, Point Cumana. One of the injured officers came out and ran after them, but the foursome escaped. All six persons were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital in police vehicles. Officers from the Carenage CID are continuing enquiries.
President George Max-well Richards would like to see families making more time to share their meals together, instead of eating separately. He said so at the Inauguration Luncheon of the Indian Food Festival at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday. He began by praising the offerings of the cooks brought in from Mumbai (Bombay), India, for the event, saying: “This is a celebration of culture in a medium which is no less effective in projecting the image of a country than are the performing arts. The traditions in presenting and partaking of foods should be preserved in all generations. “It is to be regretted that in this age of instant everything, fellowship in a meal in a home is denied to many.” He said that sharing a meal could play a role in unifying a family.
President Richards hailed the Indian Food Festival, saying: “East Indians brought to this country many unique tastes and flavours, but we in Trinidad and Tobago describe as ‘Indian’ our own interpretation of that which was brought to our shores. It is good for us to be able to distinguish the authentic provisions of India from our own which are no less delicious. The master chefs from Mumbai now give us another opportunity to understand a country (India).” The launch was also addressed by Indian High Commissioner Virendra Gupta, who gave an account of “The History of Indian Arrival Day” and Hilton Trinidad General Manager, Ali Khan, who spoke on “The Lifestyles and Romance of India.”
A 55-year-old man was knocked down and killed on Thursday night while trying to cross the Eastern Main Road, in the vicinity of Mendez Drive, Champs Fleurs. The dead man has been identified as Reynold Samuel, of Quarry Drive, Champs Fleurs. It is reported that around 8.45pm on Thursday, a green Hyundai Accent vehicle driven by Roland David, of Mount D’or Road, Champs Fleurs, was proceeding in a westerly direction. Police said on reaching Mendez Drive, Samuel attempted to cross the road from the southern side to the northern side. He ran straight into the path of David’s vehicle and police said he died on the spot.
District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Ruby Chee Lip visited the scene, viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain mortuary. Sgt Williams of the St Joseph Police Station is continuing investigations. Also yesterday, a homeless man was knocked down on the Eastern Main Road in the same district. But up to late evening, police said the man had not been identified. They also could not say what condition the homeless man is in. PC Bowen of the St Joseph Police Station is continuing investigations.
Government is currently moving to remove VAT (Value Added Tax) on building materials in Tobago. Secretary of Tourism/Enterprise Development/Settlements at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Neil Wilson said the whole question of making housing more affordable for Tobagonians was being considered, and reducing the cost of building materials by the removal of VAT payments was one option being actively pursued. Wilson made the disclosure at Thursday’s weekly post-Executive Council meeting press conference at the THA Administrative Complex at Calder Hall in Scarborough. He stressed that every effort was being made to reduce the cost of housing to prospective homeowners under the new housing initiative being undertaken by the THA. “In this regard I know that …the Government is looking at the possibility of the removal of VAT on building materials for Tobago’s construction industry,” Wilson told reporters. “I don’t think I can tell you very much more about it, but I know it is something that they are considering, and that will help the housing industry considerably.”
Wilson also reported that the THA and the National Housing Authority (NHA) were at present moving to strengthen their ties, with special focus at this time on the question of making unutilised or vacant NHA lots at Milford Court, Bon Accord, and Coral Gardens, in Buccoo, “available for people who really need those lands”. The issue of integration of the NHA staff into the THA Settlements Division is also being explored, he said. Wilson added that the THA was also considering revisiting the Memorandum of Understanding that had been signed between the Assembly and the NHA. A meeting was held between both parties last week. “We are looking at closing the gap, in other words getting closer together and closing the relationship between the Assembly and the NHA.” He further noted that there are many vacant lots. “We feel that those lots should be available.” he added. He reported that the NHA was at present conducting an exercise to ensure that such lands are made available for redistribution. “They will try to see whether they could not effect such redistribution as soon as possible, to make the lands available for people who really need those lands.” As regards the THA/NHA relationship, Wilson explained: “We are just looking to see what needs to be done with respect to the staffing, getting the staff at NHA integrated into the Settlements Division,” he told journalists. He revealed that a number of initiatives that are currently being undertaken by the NHA in Trinidad will pass to the THA when such a relationship is established.
THE CARONI East constituency of the United National Congress (UNC) has condemned threats to their MP Ganga Singh, made by Dr Joe Laquis, former PNM MP. A release from the constituency said the threat by Laquis was a brazen attempt to muzzle a sitting MP to prevent him from discharging his constitutional obligations to his constituents. Laquis said Singh would be banned from the East/West corridor after Singh implicated him in a matter involving WASA. The constituency called on Laquis to retract the threat as well as for Prime Minister Patrick Manning to publicly condemn it.
President George Maxwell Richards received a hero’s welcome at a civic reception hosted by the San Fernando City Corporation at the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday evening. The function was attended by scores of Southern business personalities, politicians and social-ites, including Prime Minister Patrick Manning; Labour Min-ister Larry Achong; House Speaker Barindra Sinanan; and South Chamber president, Wayne Moze. And, while several artistes stood out in a star-studded cultural performance in honour of the President, it was calypsonian Ras Kommandar, with his revamped version of David Rudder’s “Trini to the Bone”, rechristened “Max to de Bone” that had the large audience waving and singing along. Reigning Miss Best Village, Reshma Soodeen, provided an enchanting East Indian dance that caused the President to comment afterwards on the “superior quality of local artistes.” The President, accompanied by First Lady, Dr Jean Ramjohn- Richards, who was also born in San Fernando, was presented with the keys to the City by Mayor Gerard Ferreira.
