THE decision by the UNC government to deny NIPDEC more responsibilities to effectively do its job on the Piarco Airport project was a recipe for disaster.

It meant denying NIPDEC the duties of project managers and giving and trusting Birk Hillman Consultants (BHC) to guard itself on cost control management and other duties.

It was a case of “himself to himself” which the then government as client of the project accepted.

So said Peter Cateau, the Ministry of Works and Transport client representative yesterday when he continued to be questioned by NIPDEC attorney Christopher Hamel-Smith at the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport development project.

Cateau said NIPDEC’s specific duty in its contract with the client was to deliver the contract on time, within budget and specifications as well as to supervise BHC. He said BHC wore a number of hats including that of project managers, construction managers and designers, and therefore had in part to also deliver the project on time, within budget and specifications.

He said NIPDEC told the client in order for it to perform its functions effectively, it needed to have additional responsibilities, some of which BHC held, like that of implementing cost control management measures and being project managers.

However the client refused to give NIPDEC those additional responsibilities.

Cateau said it was argued by NIPDEC that without the additional responsibilities it would not be able to be deliver what was expected of it.

Cateau said he was in full agreement with NIPDEC and realised the situation was a recipe for problems and disasters.

He agreed with Hamel-Smith that Government’s refusal to accede to NIPDEC’s request meant it “liked it just so” and NIPDEC’s function to supervise BHC had to be done on the basis that Government was satisfied and trusted BHC totally to guard itself on cost control management.

He said he was directed by his Permanent Secretary Justin Paul to meet with the Solicitor General and NIPDEC’s lawyer to discuss the matter. However he was told by the Solicitor General that the contract between NIPDEC and government could not be changed.

He agreed with Hamel-Smith that it was Government’s choice not to change the contract; a decision he said which was made by John Humphrey as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. Asked if he was instructed to treat BHC with kid gloves, Cateau said no. Told that direct testimony from him showed that his and NIPDEC’s hands were tied and the dice were loaded in BHC’s favour, in the instance when he was directed by his minister Sadiq Baksh to rescind a decision in favour of NIPDEC to benefit BHC instead, Cateau said in that context it was a case of treating BHC with kid gloves.

However he insisted that there was only one Peter Cateau on the project, although from evidence before the Commission it appeared at times he was firm and strong in his support of NIPDEC and other times he appeared to be doing things to accommodate BHC.
The inquiry will continue on Monday.

“While there may be that talk, more importantly…where is that talk coming from?” questioned Fitzgerald Hinds, as he responded to questions by reporters that he was once again being considered for the post of Junior Minister in the Ministry of National Security, while his Cabinet colleague Keith Rowley was tipped to become Minister of National Security.

Speaking to reporters at a tour of the All In One Child Development Centre, at the Beetham Gardens yesterday, the MP for the Morvant Laventille East area was quite complacent as he said “sometimes the talk emanates from your brilliant minds right here in the media, and it may very well be that.”

“I have had no other sounding of that,” claimed Hinds, adding that “I am a member of Parliament, I serve as a Member of Parliament, and I am quite happy doing that.”

Hinds stated that his presence at the tour of the Centre, as he accompanied a visiting UK delegation was “testimony to the fact, but it is also a part of my work as a Member of  Parliament, and I content myself with that.” Questioned as to whether he would accept such a position, were it offered, Hinds countered with his own question as he asked reporters, “Why would we want to speculate about something that might not even exist?”

He further stated “I have so many things to do in terms of developing the constituency, and dealing with some of the problems that beset us, that I would prefer to direct by energies to what is before me, rather than waste my mental, spiritual and intellectual energy on matters that may never arise.”

Asked what were some of the new developments in the Laventille area, he said contracts had already been awarded for work to begin on the Rum Bond building, which had been approved as the site of the Laventille Institute of Technology and Continuing Education, and for which monies had been allocated.

“This would give the young people who are otherwise disengaged, an opportunity to engage themselves in growth and learning, in traditional skills, as well as high tech skills suitable for the oil and gas industries,” claimed Hinds.

A grocery worker was sentenced to 15 years hard labour yesterday after he was found guilty of raping a 55-year-old mother.

In sentencing Andrew Paul, 36, of Sangre Grande, Justice Pamela Elder recalled that tomorrow would be Mother’s Day, and that mothers should be respected and not ravaged. She insisted that the court must protect society and show its condemnation for people like Paul, who had invaded his victim’s home, persisted in his violence and violated her. 

 
Although, noting that the maximum sentence for rape is life (natural life) imprisonment, she  called on Parliament to revisit the Sexual Offences Act and insert a section which will specifically deal with rape of the elderly. 

According to the evidence  led by State prosecutor Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo, Paul went to the woman’s  home at Valencia about 6 am on July 2, 2001 and attacked her. She lives alone and was sitting in the doorway drinking a cup of milk when Paul accosted her. He asked her to perform oral sex on him and then pulled her inside the house.
There he undressed the woman and began to have sex with her when he was interrupted by someone calling “Good morning, good morning.” 
Paul ran and hid in the toilet while the woman ran outside bawling, “ Oh God, ah get rape, ah get rape.” 

The visitor who came calling was her builder who was working on her unfinished house. The builder held on to Paul until the arrival of the police.

However, Paul admitted having sex with the woman but said she consented. He claimed that he had met her at the Sangre Market and she  had invited him to visit her at home any time.

On the morning of the incident, Paul said  he was on his way to work when the maxi taxi he was travelling in broke down in the area of Wallen Vale. He remembered the woman’s invitation so he boarded a taxi and paid her a visit.

He said she was sitting in the doorway and she told him “ah going inside, you come after.” He said he did not understand what she meant by that, but he followed her to the bedroom. In the bedroom, he said she took off her underwear and he had sex with her. While having sex, Paul said she told him someone was calling and that he should go hide in the toilet.

The jury did not believe his defence and after deliberating for about 135 minutes return a guilty verdict. He was defended by Andrew Cassimir.

Minister of Sport Roger Boynes and his brother Ronald Boynes, both attorneys-at-law, have filed a writ against T&T Mirror for an article published on Friday February 21, 2003, headlined “Boynes Brothers Million Dollar Suit.”

The writ, filed by Glenda Morean and Co, also named Editor Ramjohn Ali and journalist Peter Balroop as defendants. Advocate attorneys for the brothers are Seenath Jairam SC and Ian Benjamin.
They are asking the Court for special aggravated and exemplary damages, and an injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing words defamatory of them.

An accident victim’s plea for leniency yesterday resulted in a police officer being spared a jail term by a Port-of-Spain magistrate.
Magistrate Avason Quinlan instead imposed a fine of $2,200 on Court and Process officer, PC Edwin Small, 31, who appeared before the Traffic Court at Nipdec House on charges of dangerous driving and breach of a traffic light. The incident occurred at the intersection of Wrightson Road and Ana Street, on January 27, 2000. Charges were laid by Ag Insp Frazier.

Small escaped a custodial sentence after the accident victim Andrew Joseph, 50, said that he did not wish Small to lose his job or serve time in jail.

Attorney Shoba Jamunar of the Director of Public Prosecutions Office (DPP), presented evidence which indicated that around 1.30 am, Small was driving his car when he broke the red light. He then collided with a Securicor van driven by Joseph. Small was off-duty at the time. Joseph suffered severe whiplash, a fractured rib and neck and other injuries, while the other occupant of the van received minor injuries.
Last week Thursday, defence attorney Ian Brooks in his submission, told the magistrate the defendant was a single father of two who had no previous convictions.

He added that Small had over ten years of driving experience and had received four commendations in his ten years in the Police Service. He said the victim also requested that the court not impose a custodial sentence (imprisonment).

Magistrate Quinlan responded that “the offence is a serious one and the court feels that it has no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.” However, before she could continue Brooks interjected and asked that an adjournment be granted so that testimonials of Small’s character be brought to the court. Small, was on the verge of tears as he repeated, “Please ma’m, please.”

Magistrate Quinlan consented to a one-week adjournment.
When the matter resumed yesterday, Brooks brought testimonials from Trinity College, St Mary’s College and from the Sr Supt of Small’s Division.

After considering the plea in mitigation and the testimonials presented by the defence, the magistrate then fined Small $200 for breaking the red light or in default two weeks hard labour. For the charge of dangerous driving, she fined him $2,000 or six months hard labour. She also ordered that he be disqualified from holding a driver’s permit for 24 months. With regards to compensation, Magistrate Quinlan indicated that the amount of compensation needed was more than the court could award. 

She added that she would not like to affect the proceedings of Joseph’s insurance claims, since Small admitted liability to the insurance company.

A JURY took just 20 minutes of deliberation to free a Longdenville straightner/ painter of charges of possession of arms, ammunition and cocaine trafficking.

Leonard Samuel, 39, was on trial before Justice Paula Mae Weeks and a nine-member jury in the San Fernando Second Criminal Assizes.
He was represented by attorney Prakash Ramadhar instructed by Brian Dabideen.

The State’s case was presented by prosecutors Jerron Joseph and Chris Seelochan.

The charge against Samuel was that on February 4, 2000, PCs Michael Morris and Kevin Neptune caught him in possession of a white plastic bag containing a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver, 36 rounds of ammunition consisting of eleven .38 shells and 25 nine millimetre cartridges, and several cocaine rocks weighing 22.9 grammes.
PCs Michael Morris and Kevin Neptune testified they were on police exercise at Church Street, Duncan Village, when they saw Samuel walking towards them holding the bag in his hand, but when Samuel saw them he turned and tried to conceal the bag under his jersey.
The police testified they followed Samuel and upon searching him discovered the bag with the illegal items on hi0s person.

However, under cross examination by Ramadhar, it was put to the policemen that another policeman on the exercise, Constable Sambury, had that day asked the accused to use his car to go into Church Street, but he refused. Samuel testified he went to his mother’s house on Church Street and while in his uncle’s yard a few houses away one of the policemen ordered his arrest.

Samuel maintained his innocence of the crime throughout the trial.

Three men charged with firearm and ammunition possession yesterday appeared before Magistrate Melvin Daniel in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court.

Joachim Murray, 24, Clifford Scott, 42, and Jahkim Poon, 20, all of Diego Martin, were charged with possession of a .38 revolver and six rounds of ammunition at Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, on Thursday. They were charged by PC Brisbane of the West End CID.

Scott and Poon both pleaded not guilty while Murray pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Daniel granted Scott and Poon bail with a surety of $140,000. They are to visit the West End Police Station every Monday and Friday. The magistrate remanded Murray into custody. All three men are to reappear in court on Monday.

A visiting delegation of UK MPs yesterday described the work being done at the All In One Child Development Centre at Beetham Gardens, as “very impressive” and affording the youngsters at the centre “a pre-school education which is sure to stand them in good stead in their future lives.”

This was stated by a member of the visiting United Kingdom delegation, MP Roger Godsiff, who represents the Birmingham Small Heath area, as they were treated to a tour of the facility located at Beetham Gardens.
“The work they are doing here is about self help, and obviously the staff that are here are very dedicated and committed to teaching these young people.

I am delighted they also seem to be getting a good degree of support from the business community,” stated Godsiff.

Founder of the Centre, Wayne Patrick, recalled the humble beginnings of the school, as he described the galvanize structure in which they first began teaching children of the area and the numerous hurdles they had to overcome.

“We had nothing at all, no toilets, no lights, no water, but we made things work,” claimed Patrick, adding that they later entered a competition hosted by NP, in which they were successful enough to win some cash, which they used to purchase furniture for the centre.
Patrick also proudly revealed that he was presented with a Gold Medal of Merit by the President, for his work and dedication to ensuring the children of the area received an early education.

The centre currently has five teachers, who were trained at Servol, and students ranging in ages from three years old to teenagers.
Godsiff also revealed that the British High Commission had rendered some help to the centre MP for the area, Fitzgerald Hinds said no acts of vandalism had taken place at the centre. Godsiff said Hinds had communicated to him that the centre was part of a “people’s community and that they run it, as well as look after it.”

He was unable to say if this was the first time such a delegation had visited Trinidad, but said an invitation had been extended to the British Commonwealth Parliamentary Association by the TT government.
Godsiff said they were being shown the enormous potential that TT has, in addition to the huge gas operation which will surely generate a lot of money for the government.

“I hope very much indeed that the people of Trinidad will benefit from this wealth which you are sitting on,” Godsiff concluded, adding that he hoped the dedicated volunteers like the ones he had seen yesterday, would be among the beneficiaries.

Hinds said he was quite proud of the fact that the visiting delegation appeared to be “learning” about the work being done at both the Centre and Servol.

WHAT residents of Roxborough Street, Diego Martin, thought was a bobolee left over from Good Friday turned out to be that of a  man who had been almost decapitated and burnt.

At the same time residents of Sogren Trace, Laventille, found the body of another man that had also been burnt, leading police to believe that a new pattern of violent crime was emerging.

Neither of the bodies has been identified.

It was the third such discovery this week, the first being that of a headless burnt body in Chinatown, Belmont, last Saturday morning.

In Diego Martin, a woman resident told Newsday that her husband saw a fire on Wednesday morning down a hill in the vicinity of an abandoned house. 

She said he threw some water on it from a distance, since they thought it was a Good Friday bobolee as one had been left over in the same area.

However, she said, family members picked up a scent and also saw a hand sticking up.  They then decided to call in the police just before 2 pm yesterday. 

A party of officers from the Western Division headed by Insp Narcis Cadette and including Sgts Anthony Lezama and Scott, Cpl Michael Veronique, and PCs Dexter Fournillier, Brisbane, Sookram, Campbell, Parris and Sheldene Bacchus visited the scene.

The officers found the man’s naked body, which was wrapped in a coloured sheet with the feet bound with duct tape. The upper part of his body was badly burnt and his head almost off.

District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Michael Low Chee Tung visited the scene  and ordered the body’s removal to the Port-of-Spain mortuary. In the Laventille case, police believe that a man’s body was thrown over the 160-foot Fatima cliff because of the angle in which it was found around noon yesterday.

The body was face up with the head slightly bent. Hands and feet were outstretched and the man was wearing three quarter green denim jeans, black jersey and black shoes. It appeared to also have been burnt.

Residents called in the police and a party of officers from the Port-of-Spain Division under Supt Errol Denoon and including ASP Alfred Sealy, Insps Adam Joseph of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS), Manechand Ramnarine and Manswell along with detective PC Christopher Swamber visited the scene.

A resident told police that the body looked like that of a man by the name of Tom Felix who went missing on Easter Monday. However, police are yet to confirm this. Investigations are continuing.

Local artistes and entertainers in Trinidad and Tobago gathered for the third time in three years, to march through the streets of Port of Spain calling for 50 percent  airplay of their work on radio and television. From 3 pm yesterday they  gathered at Woodford Square, then marched around the Square and Red House to the strains of steelband music.
It was the first time that the pan fraternity was represented at the march in such a way.

Rubadiri Victor, Secretary of the Recording Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (RIATT) said: “Today’s march is the second in the series of activities.  We have to bring government to the bargaining table to get these long outstanding demands — 50 percent local content radio and television, but it goes beyond that. There is a 15-part legislative agenda going across the entire cultural industry, as well as five institutional complexes that need to be built for Carnival and steelband along with a national performance arts centre.”

He added that some government and opposition members have expressed support, as well as some independent senators, but said: “The thing is that we have to convert that support into real legislation.”

Making an early appearance at the march was veteran musician Roy Cape who stated: “My presence here signifies support for the struggle that we want 50 percent local music”.

Also among the gathering was Michael Legerton, President of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) who said that he’s been calling for the 50 percent airplay for the longest while. “We need more local airplay. It straight and it simple. More local airplay! End of story!” ended Legerton.