According to reports, Adolphus Birche of Abepoujade Street, Carenage was bathing with friends at Alcoa Carenage at about 2.30 pm on Sunday when he got into difficulties.

Officers of the Carenage Police Station were alerted that a man was seen in distress in waters at Alcoa and police constables Benjamin and Williams were able to pull Birch from the water to the shore where they attempted CPR.

However, during the process Birch was unresponsive and did not appear to have a pulse.

He was rushed to the St James infirmary and then transferred to the PoS General Hospital (PoSGH). While at PoSGH doctors were unable to find a pulse and while one doctor was about to declare Birch dead, he decided to do a final check for a pulse and discovered a weak pulse.

The shocked doctor, who had already alerted attendants to remove the body to the mortuary, instead told attendants to take Birch to the Intensive Care Unit where he was placed on a respirator and attempts made to save the teen’s life.

Relatives of Birche yesterday described his will to live as amazing and also believed that it was divine intervention which caused Birche to still be alive today. Yesterday, they continued prayers for his complete recovery.

Relatives thanked the officers who assisted Birche and the doctor who saw it fit to carry out the final check before removing Birche to the mortuary.

Another relative, who identified herself as an aunt, said she had been taking care of Birche for a very long time and described him as an excellent swimmer. She said she had no idea why he would have found himself in difficulty while bathing on Sunday but told Newsday, “we are keeping our fingers crossed, I am unable to tell his grandmother about the incident because I am sure that it will affect her badly and we are trying to keep this information from her, but we are hoping that my nephew pulls through so that he could realise his dream of becoming a welder”.

She said Birche, who is a student, is a good person with a bright future and she is hoping that with all the prayers being recited for his recovery, he will be able to beat the odds.

Armed with a four-year National Craftsman Certificate course – 1992-1996 – at John Donaldson Technical Institute, in bookbinding and printfinishing, I opened a publishing company. It was devoted to writing, designing, printing and publishing beautiful books for children.

A call came from the Ministry of Education. It had gotten a grant from Europe to buy books for children in our local schools. I submitted two copies of my books. I had to argue tooth and nail to get past a wall: established publishers, established importers of foreign books, and the technocrats had established a solid wall, a coterie of interests, and so sidelined the local, the ital, the small-fry, the ones less invested in the system.

2. Caroni carpetbaggers. When I heard that Caroni (1975) Ltd was about to be closed in 2002, I instantly interceded. I visited the human resources manager, the workers. I called a symposium at UWI to discuss the fate of 77,000 acres of land and a wealth of assets: lands, labour, expertise, buildings, projects, stocks, enterprises.

I wrote, with the assistance of two undergraduate students, a paper called the Caroni Position Paper.

It was a developmental manifesto, showing how these powerful assets could be levered to create an altered social and financial economy.

No go. This was dissed, after I presented 12 copies to government.

Little by little many of these stocks were sold cheap, giveaways; via a scheming between officials, public servants, contractors and big business.

Cannibalised.

3. Consultant-ocracy. Around 2003, I visited the most senior minister involved in the Caroni closure.

I took with me two consultants, experts, university lecturers, whose expertise I relied on. The meeting was called to discuss our proposals for the Caroni lands.

When I left the meeting, one of my student researchers asked: “Did you see that?” “What?” I asked.

“One of the lecturers just pushed his calling card towards the minister across the table.” It was done so furtively, I did not see. I was aghast.

Why was he there? To serve the public interest? Or to eat ah food? I have seen some professionals, academic heads, throw science out of the window to eat ah food.

4. Oil and gas technocracy. Disregarding the Caroni Position Paper, the Government went on with its own plan for saving the economy: the Master Gas Plan, written by British and US consultants Gaffney and Cline. Its ambition was to monetise the gas economy. Two smelters. A mega steel mill. Large chemical and plastic plants. Four industrial estates. A mega highway through the Oropouche wetland. A network of gas and pipeline infrastructure.

Gaffney and Cline lamented that the technocrats and bureaucrats in the energy sector were a law unto themselves, reliant on “a handful of industry professionals. This would be a cause for concern in any private sector company and should be of considerable concern to the GORTT … it is recommended the GORTT move to protect this vital artery of the economy by a regulatory and control structure.” Members of boards, ministers, consultants, technocrats: all one.

5. Public servant-ocracy. In its bid to enforce its Master Gas Plan, against resistance in Cedros, Chatham, La Brea, Otaheite, Claxton Bay, Savonetta, the government sent a storm of officials against the people. Lobbyists from foreign corporations; technocrats and bureaucrats from state corporations; the sons and relatives of the techno- bureaucrats; technical experts from the ministries; party hacks, and constituency chiefs. If this confederacy had succeeded, where would we have gotten the gas to support these megalomaniac heavy gas-based projects? 6. Parliamentary hood. The hood refers to a cabal of interests in Parliament which scratch each other’s backs. They drink from the same parliamentary teacup. They have friends in the contract-ocracy, private corporations, among the ministries, permanent public servants, who vie for projects, for lobbyists, funders, friends, regardless of merits. How could an audit of the wasteful, destructive and fragmenting Debe to Mon Desir highway be commissioned, when both sides of the aisle could be implicated? 7. Closing ranks. In order to protect itself from its act of recklessness, lack of probity, and downright criminality, public officials, across governments, misrepresent the major cause of the flooding east of the collapsed highway embankment in Debe, and at Silverstream in Mon Desir. Garbage and old fridge they say. Rivers need cleaning they protest.

Y e s , very true.

But the m a j o r structural cause of the d a m – ming of water in this area is denied.

The “Calypso Spikers” started the match too relaxed and Suriname capitalised to win the first set at 25- 21 – the first set lost by TT at the tournament.

The defending champions TT rebounded soundly in the second set and raced to a 6-1 lead to close off the set at 25- 17 and tie the match at 1-1. From that point onwards there was no stopping them as they blocked better and served more aces.

They eventually won the next couple sets at 25-16, 25-14 with relative ease.

Channon Thompson led the points scoring table and Trinidad and Tobago with 20 points including 16 spikes.

She was assisted by the team’s most experienced player Krystle Esdelle with 18 points (10 spikes and five blocks). The top scorer for the match was Sandrina Hunsel of Suriname with 21 points (18 spikes and two aces).

Jamaica breezed past Guadeloupe 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-19) to earn a spot in the final in their hometown against Trinidad and Tobago.

Tahleia Bishop top scored for the Jamaicans with 13 points while Amandine Mauricette chipped in seven points for Guadeloupe.

TT were hoping to win their sixth consecutive title and their seventh overall, which will be the most by any country, surpassing Barbados` six titles.

The much anticipated final showdown between Jamaica and TT was played yesterday at 7 pm (TT time) while Surname took on Guadeloupe two hours earlier.

This information was outlined in a paid advertisement published in yesterday’s Newsday. The person who will fill this post must have a minimum of ten years experience in matters relating to procurement.

This person must also have a degree from an accredited university, “in a field relating to finance, economics, law or accounting or an equivalent professional qualification in accounting.” The Office of the President said the Office of the Procurement Regulator must act at all times, “in an objective and non-discriminatory manner.” The powers of the regulator’s office include conducting audits and periodic inspections of public bodies to ensure compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill 2016. The regulator’s office is also mandated to establish a database called the “Procurement Depository.” The purpose of this database is to allow suppliers or contractors to submit information, such as their qualifications and experience to the regulator’s office. The Board of the Procurement Regulator’s office must meet at least once a month or as often as required to effect its business.

The Regulator will be appointed for a five year term and is eligible for re-appointment.

However the Regulator cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

Members of the Board are appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.

This exercise is in keeping with the provisions of the bill which was passed in the Senate and in the House of Representatives on February 7 and on March 3, respectively.

The bill was assented to on March 13.

Instead, we will be better able to weather the yoke of economic uncertainty through collaborative effort.” He said that in learning from this country’s history, “we must create for each citizen of this country a system of support and protection without regard for lines of separation based on class/colour/gender/economic status or religion.” Rowley said as the nation must honour the memory of African ancestors by creating a society free from brutality and based on justice, mutual respect and equality, the sacrifices and hard-won freedom of enslaved African ancestors must never be forgotten.

“While it may be argued that the scars of slavery are still evident in the economic underdevelopment of Caribbean territories and the psychological trauma experienced by descendants of former slaves; it also cannot be denied that persons of African descent have achieved success in all areas of human endeavour despite the scourge of slavery,” Rowley said. (See Page 15A

Munro, who contributed valuable runs for the Knight Riders last season, led the Knight Riders to 214 runs for eight wickets.

The left-handed Kiwi struck seven fours and nine sixes in his 46-ball knock.

Darren Bravo also showed some form leading up to the tournament.

Darren, who will be available for the entire 2017 CPL, struck 48 retired, slamming three fours and four sixes in a 21-ball innings. Darren only played four matches last year because of West Indies duty. Ex- West Indies captain and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin pitched in with 19. TKR pace bowler Javon Searles, playing for the TT CB XI snatched two wickets for 21 runs, while Philton Williams took 3/12 in two overs.

In reply, TKR player Hamza Tariq slammed 68 off 36 balls as the Board XI posted 199/5 in 20 overs. The Canadian Tariq, who struck four fours and six sixes, was ably supported by Amir Jangoo who scored 51. Jangoo struck nine fours and one six in his 30-ball knock. TKR captain Dwayne Bravo grabbed 2/47 in four overs.

TKR will play the opening match of the 2017 CPL against the St Lucia Stars at 9 pm on Friday in St Lucia.

SUMMAR I S E D SCOR ES – TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS 214/8 (Colin Munro 100, Darren Bravo 48 retired, Denesh Ramdin 19; Javon Searles 2/21, Philton Williams 3/12) vs TT CB XI 199/5 (Hamza Tariq 68, Amir Jangoo 51; Dwayne Bravo 2/47). TKR won by 15 runs.

Justice Malcolm Holdip pronounced the death sentence on Basdeo Ramlochan and Siewkumar Chankar Persad, the latter being the hired killer who was paid $30,000 to kill Sunita Ramlochan and Rahim Abraham.

Ramlochan, 29, divorced her husband and had gone to live with Abraham, 46, who was a foreign used car dealer. The State led evidence before the judge and a 12-member jury, that five minutes after Abraham and Ramlochan returned to their Avocat Village home on October 15, 2006, they were both shot dead.

Ramlochan’s daughter, 11, who was at home at the time, was unharmed.

State Attorney Stacy Laloo- Chong opened the case in May and presented 27 witnesses, one of whom testified that he lived upstairs the house and heard a loud noise and then heard Ramlochan’s screams.

Hours later, officers led by Sgt Peter Ramdeen, arrested ex-husband Ramlochan at his home.

Persad was arrested days later.

Attorney Anslem Leander instructed Laloo-Chong in prosecuting the two accused for murder.

Prosecutor Laloo Chong cross-examined Persad but Ramlochan opted to remain silent. He was defended by Rekha Ramjit while attorney Bindra Dolsingh represented Persad.

Justice Holdip began summation of the case on Friday and continued yesterday. The jury retired for less than an hour before returning guilty verdicts. As Justice Holdip passed the death sentence on both men, their female relatives who sat in the public gallery began to weep. Sunita’s sister Elsie Beharry waited until proceedings ended before walking over to Laloo-Chong and hugged her.

The men have been in the country for the past four months.

The raid yesterday was conducted by Port of Spain police and officers from the Immigration Department. At 10 am, the officers descended on a partially construced building on Charlotte Street where they found the men on the top floor of the structure.

None of the men spoke English and were made to kneel while police guarded them as they awaited the arrival of an Immigration Centre bus to take the eight to the Immigation Detention Centre in East Trinidad. The exercise was spearheaded by Senior Superintendent Glenn Charles who said police received certain information that foreigners were working in slave-like conditions.

The men worked and lived in rooms with no ventilation and no washroom facilities. Construction buckets were seen containing water in which mosquito larvae wriggled. This was the water the men used to drink and cook food. One countertop ringshaped gas burner was what the immigrants used to cook food.

Scaffolding was used to hang clothes to dry.

Charles said that the exercise formed part of a wider push by the Police Service to tackle crime in the city. He called on businessowners in downtown PoS to partner with the police and refrain from hiring illegal immigrants, all of whom have no documentation.

“We want to send a strong message to store owners to stop employing these illegal immigrants, because they will be prosecuted for aiding and abetting in the commission of an offence. Employ people who have the necessary legal documents and stop employing those who don’t have.

Charles said he was astonished on seeing the conditions the Chinese nationals were living in.

“I was amazed to see the conditions in which these illegal immigrants survived and worked in,” Charles said.

The Superintendent also revealed that in addition to the eight labourers held, an additional 12 illegal Chinese nationals were held during similar raids earlier that morning from various businessplaces along Charlotte street.

A Cuban, a Venezuelan and four Guyanese nationals were also held in the exercise yesterday.

Snr Supt Charles said investigations will continue to locate the owner of the building in which the eight immigrants were found, as that person could be liable and face charges.

Appearing before Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Anne Antoine were Mahadeo, 23; her common-law husband Nicholas Hosein, 26; Jason Balkaran, 26, and his common-law wife Veronica Mohammed, 20, all of Picton Settlement.

The charge read to the couples alleged that they broke and entered the Divine Life Society Shiv Mandir in Diamond Village and stole three speaker boxes, two sound barrier speakers, two fans and a box containing 3,500 in cash – altogether amounting to $24,550.

The four were arrested over the weekend and charged by PC Adam Andre under Section 26 of the Larceny Act. The break in occurred between June 15 and June 21. The charge carries a maximum sentence, on conviction, of ten years’ in prison.

Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told Magistrate Antoine that the charge was laid indictably and as a result, none of the accused were called on to enter a plea as the case has to be determined before a judge and jury, if so ordered, at the end of a preliminary inquiry.

The magistrate granted Hosein and Balkaran bail in the sum of $50,000 with a surety or the alternative of 15,000 cash deposit. Mahadeo and Mohammed were granted $25,000 bail with a surety with a cash alternative of $10,000.

The matter was postponed to August 28.

According to reports, at about 4.45 pm, the Coast Guard vessel TTS Speyside was on routine patrol when crew sighted two vessels, the Don Miguel and Don Meke, approximately seven nautical miles off the coast of Castara Bay.

Newsday understands that when the Speyside intercepted the vessels, their crew began hauling in lines and securing fishing equipment. Both vessels were subsequently boarded and searched. Members of the Coast Guard recovered a quantity of fish and it was later revealed that the vessels were operating in Tobago waters for the past two days.

The vessels have since been lodged at the Coast Guard’s Operations Base in Scarborough pending further investigations.

A release issued by the Tobago House of Assembly yesterday said that the division intends to work closely with the Coast Guard and related agencies in establishing marine dominance and securing TT’s maritime boundaries.