A 22-year-old fruit vendor of Endeavour Village, Chaguanas, was found dead at the Caroni cremation site around 7.15 pm on Wednesday.
Police investigators believe Roland Boodhai was abducted, strangled and his body was then dumped at the cremation site. Around 5.30 pm, relatives of Boodhai received a telephone call from a man who claimed he had been kidnapped and demanded $3 million for his safe return. Relatives were instructed to raise the money by 6 pm. A report was made to the Chaguanas Police Station. Around 6.30 pm, the same male caller again telephoned Boodhai’s relatives and told them not to bother raising the money since he was already dead and his body was at the Caroni cremation site. Officers led by Snr Supt Philip Carmona and including ASP Anthony Bernard, Cpl Remy and others went to the Caroni cremation site along with a District Medical Officer.
The victim, who was clad in a jeans, white and blue sneakers and blue and white jersey was found lying in a patch of bushes. The body was viewed by the DMO and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. The victim’s mother, Chandroutie Boodhai, told Newsday that she did not speak with her son on Wednesday since she was late for work. She was told of his kidnapping late Wednesday. She said her son never troubled anyone, lived a peaceful life and she had no idea why he was killed.
SWARSATEE MAHARAJ, main witness against three men accused of killing Clint Huggins, vowed yesterday to seek God’s forgiveness for not warning Clint about the danger to his life. She admitted that she made moral mistakes but insisted she did not do anything criminally wrong regarding the death of Clint. She also agreed that she had told a few lies.
Maharaj said she broke off her common law relationship with accused Leslie Huggins sometime in September 1996 when she found him in a pub “wining up” on a woman called Sasha. She said there was a “cuss-off” and she threw a hammer at him with which missed and shattered the glass in Arnold Huggins’ car. Maharaj also admitted that sometime before they left for Uriah Butler Highway where Clint was murdered, she had another “cuss-off” with Leslie because she found him “wining up” on another woman called Helen on the streets of Sangre Grande on Carnival Monday night in 1996. These were some of Maharaj’s response to questions put to her by defence attorneys Osbourne Charles SC and Keith Scotland. Leslie, Arnold and Junior Phillip are before Justice Alice York Soo-Hon in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court, charged with the February 20, 1996, murder of Clint Huggins. The case is being prosecuted by Wayne Rajbansie and Natasha George.
The court heard that Maharaj gave the police a total of four statements on Clint’s murder, between February 1996 and September 2000. Each contained additional information. Maharaj’s first statement on Ash Wednesday — February 21, 1996, was concocted by Leslie and the other accused. Maharaj said Leslie threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate. However, she said, while in protective custody she felt more comfortable and decided to add further details to her statement. After giving her second statement on November 11, 1999, Maharaj was placed in protective custody. She then gave a third statement on December 22, 1999 and the fourth on November 27, 2000.
The jury also heard that after the preliminary inquiries started on September 20, 2000, Maharaj read that (former Deputy DPP) Anthony Carmona was prosecuting and went to see him. After her conversation with Carmona, she went to Homicide Bureau and gave a full statement with additional details that were not in the other statements. Maharaj repeatedly stated that she had not discussed immunity with anyone, not even Carmona, but was given immunity from criminal prosecution after she gave her full statement to the police on September 27, 2000. The following day, she started her testimony before the Chief Magistrate in the preliminary inquiry. Scotland ended his cross-examination yesterday and Charles started putting his questions to the witness. He will continue today when hearing resumes.
THREE persons accused of kidnapping National Insurance Board Manager Ramgeewan Tirbanie were denied bail when they appeared before Chaguanas Magistrate Nanette-Forde-John yesterday.
Ricky Ramlochan, 23, of Princes Town, Rodney Teelucksingh, 23 of Indian Walk, Moruga, and Kishwanath Kadir, 22, of Longdenville, were charged with robbery and kidnapping on Tuesday by PC McKenzie of the Chaguanas CID. They were also charged with larceny of a motor vehicle. Scores of Felicity residents gathered outside the court to catch a glimpse of the three men charged with the offence. Tirbanie, of Cacandee Road, Felicity, was kidnapped Tuesday night while travelling in a PH car in Chaguanas. He claimed he was taken to a canefield where he was robbed of cash, a cell phone and a brief case. The kidnappers allegedly telephoned his relatives and demanded $80,000 for his safe return. Two of the accused were arrested by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on High Street, San Fernando. The third was held in Princes Town.
WHILE three people were being questioned up to late yesterday in connection with the kidnapping of eight-year-old Adriana Ramsingh, her parents are considering getting psychological help for the country’s latest kidnap victim.
The three people aged 29, 23 and 19, including a woman, were held shortly after Ramsingh was rescued from a shack at Mount D’or. Adriana, a Second Standard student of Curepe Presbyterian School, was blindfolded, bound and gagged. the police rescued her some seven hours after she was kidnapped on Wednesday morning. Her kidnappers had asked for an $8 million ransom for her safe return. Adriana’s father, Ramesh Ramsingh, is the owner of Ramsingh’s Glass Specialists, of Eastern Main Road, Barataria. Yesterday, the girl’s mother, Routie Ramsingh, told Newsday the family is considering getting psychological help for the girl. Routie told Newsday Adriana saw two men walking in the road and ran screaming to her parents, saying she had seen the men who kidnapped her. The mother explained that the men were simply returning from work.
The mother of three added that on the night of her daughter’s return, the child pleaded with her not to go in the bathroom by herself. “She looks fine, and is playing, but I believe she is traumatised,” Routie said. She added that her daughter does not want to talk about the kidnapping incident at all. Police believe the same three suspects may be linked to another child abduction involving nine-year-old Micah Bernard, who was snatched for a $300,000 ransom and later released. No money was paid. The Anti Kidnapping Squad, headed by Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes is continuing investigations along with members of the North Eastern Division.
ATTORNEYS for former NIPDEC Chairman Edward Bayley, yesterday requested several documents from NIPDEC, saying they couldn’t start questioning witnesses who implicated Bayley without those documents. As a result, the Commission ordered that one particular document which NIPDEC’s attorney was reluctant to disclose be made available to the Commission within 48 hours.
Attorney Sonny Maharaj, SC leading Stewart Young together with Bayley appeared yesterday before the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project. At the start of the sitting, Maharaj told the Commission that he was unable to proceed because he needed to see several documents from NIPDEC. These included NIPDEC’s original tender rules, the amended rules and those presented to Parliament for negative resolution. In addition, Maharaj asked for the contract for CP3 and a report from Ernst and Young. That report was mentioned in evidence by former NIPDEC General Manager, Noel Garcia.
NIPDEC’s attorney Jonathon Walker was reluctant to disclose the report. Walker said he was hesitant because he did not know what the document contained and he wondered whether it was relevant to the inquiry. Walker said he also did not want to hand over a document which may contain sensitive information pertaining to NIPDEC’s accounts. Walker said he would prefer that the report be sent to the Commission for it to determine if it was relevant to the inquiry before it was disclosed to Maharaj. But Chairman Clinton Bernard pointed out that it was Maharaj’s right to see the report since his client’s reputation was at stake. Bernard later ordered Walker to make the report available to the Commission within 48 hours, or as soon as possible. Bayley and his attorneys will return on April 2 when they are expected to question NIPDEC’s General Manager, Margaret Thompson, as well as Garcia. The inquiry was adjourned to Monday at 9.30 am.
WAR COULD help to bring the Caribbean closer together, tourism officials said yesterday as the workshop on Sustainable Tourism began at the headquarters of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
The effect of war is not on the agenda but ACS director general Norman Girvan urged participants to discuss the issue before the workshop comes to a close today. Caribbean countries are now beginning to recover from the decline brought about by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Girvan said after the attacks, Caribbean countries dealt with the effects by themselves, as did Latin American countries. This time, he added the ACS as a body should deal with the problems. Earlson McPhee, Bahamas’ senior manager, sustainable tourism, said while the war will hurt tourism in the region, it will also present an opportunity for the Caribbean to work together to find solutions. “Since 9/11, resources have been channelled into short term strategies but this is a strength for the Caribbean as a whole. The terrorist attacks brought us together. In the long run it will be good,” he said.
The Bahamas has already developed a plan to deal with the fallout but McPhee said he could not say how badly Bahamas will be affected. Visitors from the US make up a large portion of that country’s tourism. “A lot will depend on how they view air travel.” Cuban Ambassador to the ACS Felix Rojas said while the war will affect the region as a whole, Cuba is hoping its tourism sector is not hit too badly. The majority of its tourists come from Canada and Europe. “That’s something that will help a lot,” he said, adding that so far, flights to Cuba have not stopped. Jamaican High Commissioner to Trinidad, Lorne McDonnough said the Caribbean is considered a safe destination but the war will still affect people’s willingness to fly. “Obviously people fearing to fly will affect us. The Caribbean might be viewed as a safe haven since in Jamaica and other countries in the Caribbean terrorism is not part of our daily life but you have to get on a plane to come here,” he said. “We just have to hope that the war is not an extended one.”
AN IMAM was warned by the police yesterday after he and a group of about 15 went to a property at Paria Main Road, Blanchisseuse, claiming they were representatives of the bonafide owner of the land.
The Imam gave his name as Muwakil Abdullah, 39, of Circular Drive, Enterprise, Chaguanas. He told police he is in charge of a mosque in Enterprise. Blanchisseuse police were alerted to a situation near Marianne Beach, and officers under Sr Supt Desmond Lambert, who were at the time on roadblock duty on the North Coast Road, Maracas, responded. When the officers, including Supt Waldron Bishop, Insp Lewis, Sgts Louison and Moore, Cpl Sharpe, and PCs Sutherland, Cordner, Browne, Tota-Maharaj, Victory and Ramoutar, went to the scene, they found about 15 Muslim men, led by Abdullah. Abdullah claimed to be a representative of his cousin, Pamela Williams, who is challenging Franklyn Sogren over ownership of the land.
Abdullah told officers that Williams, of Chinapoo, Morvant, has been paying land tax since 1999, while Sogren said he has been paying for the land since 1935 and had been on the property for 50 years. Sogren, 54, of Eastern Main Road, Barataria, also told the police the controversial piece of land has been handed down from “generation to generation”. He accused the Imam and his gang of destroying some $20,000 in building materials. However, officer Lambert told both men land disputes are normally settled in court. “You (Abdullah) can’t be going around pulling down and destroying people’s things. Stop this badjohn nonsense,” Lambert told Abdullah, who simply nodded. The senior officer also told Sogren he should desist from building on the land until the court matter is resolved. Before the Blanchisseuse trip, the officers were on high alert for guns, ammunition and drugs along the North Coast Road. Police sources said the area is a conduit for illegal arms, ammunition and drug trafficking. Nothing illegal was found during the exercise which began close to 11 am.
THE EDITOR: Senator Seepersad-Bachan, from the safety of the Parliament chamber, launched a most vicious, unprovoked and unjustified attack on me. I strongly believe that, if one must engage in battle, one should seek a worthy opponent and hence I would not be drawn into a verbal war with her. So the purpose of this letter is to set forth the facts.
Firstly, I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Divya Enviro Ltd. The other directors are members of the Swaha Divya Ashram, a Hindu Centre, which is located in Presyal, Couva. This Hindu Centre, of which I have the honour of being the Spiritual Leader and whose facilities include a pre-school, a library, a computer lab, classrooms, a multi-purpose hall and religious facilities was established some seven years ago when I met with residents of Preysal and surrounding areas. I indicated to them, then, that Swaha Inc wanted to work with the community to establish a Hindu Centre to serve the needs of the community, which included religious and social services, sport and education programmes and the development of the community including training and job creation, especially for the under privileged and women folk.
We do all of the above and the creation of Divya Enviro Ltd was in pursuance of my social contract with the community. Swaha Divya Ashram submitted an application to the SWMCOL, in response to their advertisement. We were interviewed and chosen. I am not a member of any political party and have never been a member of the political party which presently forms the Government. Senator M Persad is in no way connected with the Company. Furthermore the forty-odd persons employed, who are from communities including Preysal, Balmain, Basta Hall, Indian Trail, Milton and Couva, can attest to the fact that absolutely no attempt was made to influence their political affiliations. The fact that we receive applications on a daily basis is indicative of the high level of unemployment in these areas.
It is also worthwhile to note that over fifty percent of those employed are women who need the wages to pay their medical bills, send their children to school and to provide basic amenities for their families. Clearly the goodly Senator has not experienced or is in touch with the harsh realities of the lives of those who are not as privileged as herself. I extend an invitation to her to visit and be educated. If helping deserving people, who live in a stronghold of the Senator’s party, is unprincipled or unethical then full power to her. If however helping people irrespective of their political affiliation and making no demands on them is principled and ethical then I expect her to do the principled and ethical needful. As a Hindu, of faith and conviction, I am duty bound to contribute to my community and country of birth. This I have done and continue to do through my teaching, research and outreach activities in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caricom region and my active involvement in engineering organisations at the local and international levels. I have dedicated, willingly and conscientiously, my resources to the service of my fellowmen and would not allow myself to be deterred or sidetracked by spurious attempts at characcter assassination.
PANDIT PRAKASH PERSAD
Senior Lecturer
UWI
THE EDITOR: Newsday’s Editorial “Waging Foolish War” March 18, 2003 page 10. This editorial was well written, it contained a wealth of facts and may some day win a prize for journalism.
But a very big “but”, your editorial rests on a false assumption that wars and the fall out from wars are avoidable. I keep a copy of “The Prince” by Nicolo Machiavelli and a copy of the King James Bible on my bedroom table and I refer to them constantly and do you know what? They both agree with each other. The heart of man is wicked and deceitful above all other. In the international arena there is no court house (forget the ICC); no policeman, no rule, except the law of survival — “The strong survive and the weak are crushed to the wall.” There is no honesty, no morality, no religion except the religion of brute force. All is expediency, what is good may not be expedient and what is expedient may not be good. You mention the suffering of the Iraqi people — the bible says “if the leaders are bad the people will suffer.” The death toll is projected to be 260,000. But you forget the $250,000 Kurds killed by Saddam’s poison gas.
Nations do not go to war out of sentimentality, they go to war out of selfish self-interest. Persons have pointed out that Manuel Noreiga of Panama and Saddam Hussein were friends of America but nations do not have eternal friends or eternal enemies. They have only eternal interests. Today’s friend may be tomorrow’s enemy. We are conned into believing that life is precious, but I once read a hand-book which stated quite boldly “in imposing a dictatorship on a country you must remember that a human life has no more value than that of a cockroach.” I do not know why America is attacking Iraq — I have listened to and read the hype and the reasons advanced can be tagged “all of the above” or “none of the above.” Wars are the most stupid, inconvenient, wasteful and destructive means of settling disputes between nations but try telling that to a nation under attack or under “threat of a terrorist attack when smiles are no substitute for bayonets when an aggressor strikes or is backing an aggressor to strike.”
JACK LEARMOND-CRIQUI
Diego Martin
THE EDITOR: With reference to your Editorial March 18 “Waging Foolish War” I beg to differ. For all the wrong reasons, nevertheless, Bush is doing the right thing; Saddam has to go!
Other despotic, tyrannical dictators who think nothing of killing and torture to stay in power will think again. Who would remove Saddam from power if not the USA? The UN? That talk tank? France and Russia are against an attack on Iraq simply because they do business with this murderer and will lose their investments. Tough! Does anyone know of any previous dictator, as cruel and heartless as he may be, who had an official rapist on the wage book specifically to rape the female family members of men Saddam is torturing? He forced the families of his sons-in-law to beat them to death for disloyalty. He cuts up perceived opponents into tiny pieces and puts them in acid baths! The man is a sadist! War is a terrible, terrible thing but if it’s the price we have to pay to remove persons like Saddam from power then it’s the price we have to pay. Let him go into exile with his ill-gotten billions — stolen at the cost of starving Iraqi children, and live in luxurious retirement (like Idi Amin) — and war can yet be averted!
GEOFF HUDSON
Port-of-Spain
