FORMER Housing Minister John Humphrey, who chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Piarco airport development project, yesterday defended the fast-track method used to construct the Piarco airport development project.

Humphrey said there were no risks involved in the method and he was perfectly satisfied that it was the wise and appropriate method to adopt as was recommended by Birk Hillman Consultants (BHC) who professed to be experts in the method. He said he would recommend the fast-track method be used again, even today, because there was nothing in his experience on the project which persuaded him to take a second view of the method. He said the method only had advantages if properly applied. He also said Cabinet, based on his recommendation, approved the construction of the second floor connector without knowing the actual cost of the work. He said he had advised Cabinet that if they didn’t do the additional work now, it would be too costly later on. Users of the airport had requested the additional space.

Humphrey spent another day being questioned at the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco airport development project by NIPDEC’s attorney Christopher Hamel-Smith leading Jonathon Walker. Humphrey’s “stubbornness” also continued and Chairman Clinton Bernard in anticipation of flared tempers, brought his gavel to control the sitting, however, there was no need for it. Instead Bernard quietly warned Humphrey that he had to answer the questions asked by Hamel-Smith because the attorney was entitled to ask questions. Humphrey pointed out that based on Hamel-Smith’s questioning, it was a waste of time to get the truth, which he was there to give. Returning to the evidence though, he said the fast-track method allowed for flexibility, citing as an example the ability to enter into a contract with a contractor and still have the ability to negotiate the price. This occured with the CP9 contract with Northern Construction Limited (NCL). NIPDEC was told by the client, the government, that they should enter into the contract and then negotiate the price downward. NCL’s bid was in excess by millions of dollars compared to the engineers’ estimate for the contract.

Humphrey insisted that entering into such a binding contract did not weaken NIPDEC’s position to negotiate the contract downward. He said NIPDEC were bound to award the contract to NCL because it had opened the tender. He said the fast-track method also allowed for work on certain construction packages to be started without having completed drawings and specifications for other packages. Humphrey also said as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, he never made decisions on his own. He said he had the authority of Cabinet to make all decisions which arose on the project, except on certain occasions, example relating to the budget. He said some decisions were so urgent that it did not require Cabinet’s ratification immediately and Cabinet approval would be sought subsequent to the decisions being taken. Humphrey also said in his opinion there were not enough change orders in the project. He will continue to be questioned this morning. Also at yesterday’s hearing, Towfeek Ali, Managing Director of the Firearms Training Institute withdrew from the inquiry. In a letter to the Commission from his attorney Denyse Gouveia, Ali claimed the Commission was biased and had violated the rules of procedural fairness. He was summoned by the Commission to explain the existence of a contract his firm received from the Airports Authority to service the Authority’s firearms.

Attorney General Glenda Morean announced that as of April 2003 the Jamaat al Muslimeen owes the State $23 million awarded by the High Court for damages done in the 1990 attempted coup.

Morean revealed this to the Senate yesterday during an acrimonious session in response to a question from the Opposition.  She said the figure had grown with interest from an initial award of $15 million. Morean said the court had originally granted a stay of execution on January 15, 2001 but this had since expired. She declared: “No stay of execution is in force now.” Morean said the Jamaat’s appeal against the judgment had been dismissed on May 10, 2002, and on September 9, 2002 the State had registered the judgment for enforcement. She said: “The Chief State Solicitor has been instructed to pursue all legal options available to the State.”

The Opposition asked her when she had so instructed the Chief State Solicitor and pressed her as to why the enforcement was taking so long. She replied that it was ironic to hear that question from Leader of Opposition Business, Wade Mark, who himself had been a member of the previous administration which had made the first payment of $1.5 million to the Jamaat. Answering a supplementary Opposition question as to whether the Government had given the Chief State Solicitor enough resources to pursue enforcement of the award, Morean said: “The Chief State Solicitor is seeing what they could do, to see the judgment is enforced properly.”

Pressed as to when the country would collect the $23 million from the Jamaat, Morean said: “I cannot answer that. I have answered as best as I can.” At that Mark stood and challenged: “Is there a conspiracy between the Jamaat al Muslimeen and the Government to deny the country its just due?” Morean retorted: “There’s no conspiracy. The judgment is from June 15, 2000, and perhaps it (a conspiracy) started then. There is no conspiracy.” Pressed as to whether the Government had failed to give the Chief State Solicitor sufficient resources to pursue the matter, Morean replied: “I would not agree.”

CHIEF JUSTICE Sat Sharma will lead a panel of two Appeal Court judges to begin hearing today of an appeal filed by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday against the $600,000 libel lawsuit judgment former CCN Chairman Ken Gordon won against him.

Justice Peter Jamadar awarded Gordon $600,000 plus interest and legal cost in a judgment delivered in 2000. Gordon sued Panday for libel arising out of a statement Panday made at an Indian Arrival Day celebration. Part of the sum awarded to Gordon, who is now the chairman of First Citizens Bank, has been deposited in the High Court. The value of the judgment with the accrued interest since 2000 amounts to approximately $1 million. Panday is contending that Gordon failed to make out a case for libel against him in that his use of the words “pseudo racist” was not in reference to the former CCN chairman. Panday’s second ground challenges the sum awarded to Gordon. He is claiming the sum is excessive. Dr Fenton Ramsahoye SC and Anand Ramlogan will begin arguing the appeal on Panday’ behalf this morning. Attorneys Douglas Mendes and Vanessa Gopaul are appearing for Gordon. One of the other judges on the panel is Roger Hamel Smith.

A 737 aircraft operated by cash-strapped BWIA was seized at Miami International Airport yesterday afternoon for monies owing to the owners — International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

BWIA’s Corporate Com-munications Director Clint Williams confirmed last night that the aircraft was seized as it was preparing for flight 483 to Trinidad. Williams told Newsday at around 3 pm yesterday agents of International Lease Finance Corporation, owners of the aircraft, boarded the plane at Miami International Airport and took control of it, pending satisfaction of payment.  The airline spokesman said 103 passengers and crew were scheduled to make the 4 pm flight to Piarco International Airport. Williams said following the seizure of the aircraft,  the passengers were taken to a Miami Airport hotel where BWIA was responsible for their accommodation and meals. Williams said the seizure of the aircraft was as a result of outstanding lease payments due to the owners of the plane. He said the Board of Management of the airline was in negotiations with the government late yesterday in an effort to source funds to pay to International Lease Finance Corporation so the aircraft can be released as soon as possible. “We are hoping that the aircraft will be released shortly so that we will be able to resume a full flight schedule. We are in contact with the government and we are hopeful that we will get the necessary funds so that the lease payments could be brought up-to-date We are also hopeful that the aircraft would be released by tomorrow (today),” Williams said.

The BWIA spokesman, however, was unwilling to reveal what monies were owed to the owners aircraft. Williams said it was the first time a BWIA aircraft was seized for debt and he assured the national community that BWIA will be operating its daily flight BW 484 today. The flight leaves Piarco at 9.05 am and is due in Miami at 12.50 pm. This is the first major incident affecting the airline since it laid off 617 employees earlier this year. BWIA has also suffered financially in recent years and following the September 11 terrorists attacks in the United States, travelling has declined. BWIA turned to government for a bailout and it was eventually agreed that the Patrick Manning administration will assist the airline to the tune of $116 million, but not until certain conditions are met, including a review of the salaries of management.

JUNIOR Trade Minister Diane Seukeran upstaging her senior minister Kenneth Valley yesterday launched a stinging commentary on a wide range of issues including an “overloaded” public service, public servants who don’t work, kidnapping, crime, poverty, shortage of money for capital expenditure and the need to pay police more money so that they are not tempted by corruption.

A startled Valley, who was expected to be the main speaker at the Ministry of Trade’s strategic review exercise at Crew’s Inn, Chaguaramas, could not hide his amazement as Seukeran virtually stole the opening ceremony. She spoke for 25 minutes compared to Valley who spent ten minutes speaking on the way forward for Trinidad and Tobago. Seukeran told the gathering of public servants that it takes ten to 16 WASA workers to fix one valve, that thousands of public servants are being paid for doing nothing, that the private sector depends on the Government. She raised eyebrows when she said that the permanent secretary in the ministry (Edwina Leacock) often stayed late at night “doing over” the work of the public servants. “We have problems paying public servants,” she said. “We have a high wage bill, that is why we don’t have the money for capital projects. We need to look at how we conduct business. There is a kind of mistrust and distrust between the private sector and the public sector.”

Seukeran turned her attention to crime in TT. “Where are the crime levels coming from? What about the kidnappings? They are now kidnapping children, a five-year-old. They are not kidnapping by race or for money. “Kidnappers are in the business for kidnapping. It is a business. If they kidnap Bernard’s child today, it could be mine tomorrow. What concerns you, concerns me. When a nine-year-old could be battered and his fingers chopped, it could be anyone of yours. What kind of society is this?” Seukeran said poverty was so enormous in this society, that it was time to correct the imbalance. She said very few in society were getting richer, the masses were getting poorer, while the middle class was going downwards. How do we get out of this, she asked. She said government cannot afford to hire people any more. “Public servants can’t get a raise. If it was up to me, I would give them ten times more. More money will stop the police from being corrupt. We can’t give an increase if a ministry is overloaded. Your salary can’t be raised. Your minister (Valley) is lobbying the Cabinet.”

Seukeran used former Permanent Secretary John Andrews as an example of a public servant being lapped up by the private sector. “If you want more money, the better place is the private sector. Take John Andrews, after his expertise in energy, he was picked up and is the chairman at Atlantic LNG. If we show what we are capable of, then the minister and the PS will find it hard to hold down vacancies in the public sector.” The minister called on her ministry’s staff to get rid of the dependency syndrome. “Min-isters come and ministers go; governments fall and they rise. But the role of the ministry will remain steady for a long time to come.” She continued, “The dependency syndrome arose in this country for various reasons. It permeated all ranks of society including the private sector. The private sector became dependent on the government. They felt it should continue all the time. It was based on what the Colonial Government had done. We could not have the country flooded with imports, there must be regulation.” Seukeran said while the world was changing, businesses in Trinidad and Tobago were moving too slowly. She pointed out that people in this country were hiding their taxes and foreign exchange. The junior minister said it was not the duty of a minister to create jobs for everyone. She pointed out that every Thursday she is confronted by her constituents demanding jobs. “If there are 125 people waiting to see me, about 120 want jobs,” she said. Ken Valley was milder in his approach to the start of the two-day workshop.

POLICE HAVE identified a suspect in connection with the kidnapping of six-year-old Mark Prescott who was abducted outside his school exactly one week ago. However, the person is yet to be detained by police.

Prescott, a Second Year pupil of San Fernando RC Boys, was last seen leaving his classroom last Wednesday. He never made it to the school bus that was waiting for him outside the school. His father, Wayne Prescott, an offshore worker, of Cocoyea Village, was last contacted by his son’s captors on Thursday, when they reiterated their demand for a $150,000 ransom.

A 53-YEAR-OLD proprietor died at his La Brea home three weeks after his thumb was severed during a foiled robbery at his mini mart.

An autopsy on the body of Dhalip Rambarose revealed that death was caused by a blood clot in the lung. However, relatives believe Rambarose died as a result of the injury he had sustained during the robbery. A relative, who did not want to be named, said Rambarose never recovered from his injury. The incident occurred around 9 pm on May 2. Rambarose was closing his business place, located downstairs his home on Sobo Circular Road, when two men brandishing cutlasses entered the building. Rambarose struggled with the men and his left thumb was severed. In spite of his injury, the bleeding man managed to wrestle a cutlass away from one of the men. His assailants then ran off and he contacted the police. Rambarose died at his home last Saturday and was cremated Tuesday.

OPPOSITION leader Basdeo Panday has vowed to continue his struggle against the alleged “racist” policies of the ruling PNM by boycotting all events organised by Government.

He made the announcement at the launch of the UNC’s “Monday evening People’s Forum” at the Freeport Presbyterian School. Sporting a purple UNC shirt, with the “Rising Sun” logo emblazoned in bright yellow letters, Panday urged supporters to use the weapons of non-violence made famous by Mahatma Ghandi and Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. “I personally intend to boycott every government function, or any function at which Manning and the PNM honchos are invited,” he said. Panday stated: “I have no intention of sitting down and applauding the Head of a Government that is the most vicious, racial and politically discriminate that I have ever seen.” Panday said change in Government could be achieved by “affirmative action” on the part of a people no longer “passive”.

Panday also promised to “shock” the PNM in the upcoming local government elections. He dismissed Prime Minster Patrick Manning’s prediction of an overwhelming PNM victory, saying the “soldiers of the UNC” would “demonstrate their mettle”. “Manning and the PNM have a shock coming for them, they will find out what the soldiers of the UNC are made of,” Panday said. He added that the promised “licks like peas” would not materialise. “I pass by the market on the way here, and peas scarce, so if he promise that kind of licks then …” he said, adding that the onus was on the UNC to save the nation from “this corrupt and vindictive Government”. Panday did not elaborate on how the UNC would retain the seven regional corporations currently under its control. However, the Couva North MP said blame for the UNC’s general election defeat of 2002 must rest squarely on the shoulders of the Ramesh Maharaj-led breakaway faction of the UNC. He warned supporters to “be aware of betrayers” who would sell out birthright for a piece of the PNM pie.

TWELVE people were yesterday rendered homeless after a fire completely destroyed a two-storey concrete house at Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia, Morvant.

However, for one of the homeless, it was divine intervention, according to fire and police officers on the scene. The woman, Eucdina Callendar, 65, the only occupant in the house at the time, said when she awoke, she felt lonely and decided to visit a neighbour a short distance away. A short while after, Callendar said, she was told to “look up”, and she saw her house on fire. “I am lucky that I left the house,” she said. Callendar, who lived with her four grandchildren, ages 3, 5, 16 and 21, said she lost everything in the fire. Fire prevention officers are to return to the scene today and are working on the theory that the fire was caused by electrical problems. Preliminary reports on the fire, according to acting Fire Station Officer Stephen Registe, are that around 1.20 pm, resident Ashia Sambrano saw a fire on the northern side of the upstairs house.

Registe said she contacted 990, the Fire Control at the Chaguanas Fire Station, who then relayed a message to the Morvant Fire Station. Tenders from Belmont and Morvant responded and found the building engulfed in flames. One resident, who identified himself as Adwin John, complained that the fire officers came, but soon after ran out of water and had to go for more. He said they had to leave the scene to go to a hydrant on the Eastern Main Road, Laventille, for additional water. However, he said, firefighters did not leave the area until they were absolutely certain there was no danger to lives and other property. The four-apartment house is owned by Greta Anderson, who resides in the United States and was insured with GTM.   The caretaker is Jacqueline Sambrano.  Investigations are continuing.

AT LEAST two UNC-controlled Regional Corporations will swing towards the ruling PNM in the upcoming local government elections, Local Government Minister Jarette Narine predicted yesterday during a tour of URP construction projects in Penal.

He said the Siparia and Sangre Grande Regional Corporations would go to the PNM, and major inroads would be made into two other Corporations. “I feel Sangre Grande will return to the PNM, and that Siparia will also return to the PNM,” he said. “And we have an excellent chance in the Mayaro/Rio Claro area, and even in Debe/Penal, where we have no seats.”