THE EDITOR: Sir I find it an imperative to write in defence of the poor and disadvantaged and, by extension, extend approbation for the pungent policy of the government in respect of poverty eradication.
I feel compelled to rebuff those who, for narrow and confused articulation, attempt to discredit the well intent and practical socio-economic benefits for the CEPEP programme, by lugubrious statements which indubitably are intended to poison the minds of a certain section of the political divide that is Trinidad and Tobago. Lest I or the Organisation I represent (MLIO) be accused of being a recipient or in anyway profiting from CEPEP, I will like to state categorically the MLIO is currently in no such position. It is therefore on the basis of objectivity and the uncontrovertive conclusion anyone, without hidden agenda, can draw when examining the CEPEP programme. It is certainly meeting its objective of generating community employment, imparting valuable entrepreneurial/management skills and reducing criminal activities in high-risk communities such as Laventille and Environs.
But what is the argument of those who criticise the CEPEP Programme? It is said that it is payback for supporters of the PNM. It is said that it is extremely expensive. It is also said that it is devoid of accountability. These arguments are extremely disingenuous to a programme that is indivisibly focused entirely on injecting pride of community, the inculcation of economic independence and the re-introduction of community spirit; values mass sections of the national populist have lost along the road of nationhood.
It is a conspicuous fact that CEPEP exists in all Constituencies (PNM, UNC and the budding). In short, it is being administered across the board (recent development in Central Trinidad has illuminated equitability inherent in the programme). I have no objection, and I am certain all of the poor in this country, as to the so-called high cost of the project. If anyone has such a concern, then they must explain what will be the cost of constructing additional jails, maintenance of prisoners and staff; I have not yet touched the cost of additional courts, magistrates, judges, state lawyers/prosecutors and supportive civilian staff. Need I go on?
On the question of accountability (whether project or financial), I find it rather ludicrous. The national population can see the various contractors hard at work all over the country; their visibility is blind to those who refuse to see! What is probably most laughable of those who question accountability is the fact that while they are claiming “accounting foul play”, they are at the same time spouting figures from evidently “reliable sources”. So if one knows the “Money Figure”, what is the complaint/hullabaloo? The quantum involved, in my view, is a minuscule investment in what Dr Ramesh Deosaran appropriately describes as “Social and Psychological Capital”.
I must however caution all beneficiaries of the CEPEP programme of their role and responsibility in contributing to augmenting the business-class in the society and making a reality of the vision of the Government to make Trinidad and Tobago a Developed State by the Year 2020.
The journey has just begun!
ERROL LESLIE
Vice Chairman
MILO
Morvant-Laventille Improvement Organisation
THE EDITOR: I am all for the moving of the Parliament but consideration should be given to the Princess Building, Lord Harris Square or Victoria Square.
No one really takes advantage of the squares except for ladies and gentlemen of the night. Traffic will be eased a bit from the downtown area and there will be more space for demonstrations. The Lystra Lewis basket and netball court should be included with the Princess Building site. The courts could be located at Lord Harris Square, as this area is no longer residential.
THOMAS METCAFFE
Pt Cumana
THE EDITOR: Please give priority to the Moruga Taxi Drivers Association Association for we are appealing to your daily Newsday to help us find the solution for the suffering taxi drivers and commuters. Without your kind consideration we will be left alone to fight for justice. Thanking you for your kind consideration.
The WASA pipe laying project on the Moruga Road is inconsistent with any work done to other areas in Trinidad. We ask the simplest of questions. Could WASA’s so-called supervisors leave trenches and connection crossings like this in West Mooorings? The answer is no. Let them or the politician give us the answer. We are also appealing to the Minister of Works The Hon Franklin Khan, for his assistance in the matter by taking corrective measures against the supervisors. The material used to fill the trenches is Guaracara stone, this does not bind together, and has a high percentage of mud, when they wet for dust the entire road is mud. This affects our cars, we have to service them every week, “check the costs”.
The top of the trenches should have a binding fine material, it should be compacted or rolled so as to accommodate smooth and safe driving. “Blue mettle”. At present driving is a risk, stone can fly and break your windscreen. Some motorists do not slow down, truck drivers are the biggest offenders, we have to scamper on to the rough to allow these senseless drivers to pass because they have the right of way. The treatment meted out against the members of the above Association to put it mildly is disrespectful and incompetent by the politician or government. There are many things we can speak about but time does not permit.
RAMDEO GADJAHAR
The Moruga Taxi Drivers Association
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was abducted near his home on Saturday evening but up to late yesterday no ransom demands had been made for his safe return.
Police reports are that around 6.30 pm on Saturday, Micha Bernard was riding his bicycle along Don Miguel Road, San Juan. He was in company with a 50-year-old cousin and had just returned from a birthday party on Eleventh Street. A heavily tinted green car pulled alongside and a man armed with a pistol grabbed Bernard, a student of the Barataria Anglican School. Police said Bernard’s cousin made a valiant effort to get him back, but his attempts were futile. On seeing the commotion, the relative attempted to get closer but an another occupant of the green car came out with a shotgun and threatened the man’s life. The men then placed Bernard in the vehicle and drove off.
The boy is the son of Marlon Bernard, a Customs Clerk, and Marcia Bernard, a clerk at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. He is a relative of retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, Chairman of the Piarco Commission of Inquiry. The abduction took place in full view of at least 20 people in front of the residence of a relative of the victim’s mother. A report was made and officers headed by Cpl Francis Vidale of the Barataria/El Socorro CID visited the scene. The Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) was then contacted.
Police sources say they are working on several theories and are even checking on a possible link between the abduction and the shooting death of former Customs Officer Carl DeSouza. But the child’s father, who has a licence from the Customs Brokers Board of Trinidad and Tobago to operate as a Customs Clerk, told Newsday he did not believe his son’s abduction was linked to DeSouza’s murder since DeSouza’s line of work was totally different to his. He also said there is no conflict or custody battle between him and his ex-wife, with whom his son lives at Sixth Street, Barataria. The elder Bernard said is of the firm belief that the abduction is a simple case of mistaken identity. “People always resemble people,” he said.
What makes the situation worse, he added, is that there have been no ransom calls to any of their relatives. He also said if kidnappers are targetting people, they ought to pounce on people with money or drugs. “We are none of the above,” he stated categorically. Bernard said he can neither sleep nor eat and his son’s mother is in an even worse state. The boy’s relatives are appealing to the public to contact them as soon as possible if they know of young Bernard’s whereabouts. The Anti Kidnapping Squad and members of the Barataria/El Socorro CID are continuing investigations.
LAJES, Azores Islands: US President George W Bush and allied leaders agreed on one final attempt to win world backing today for the swift disarmament of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
“Tomorrow is a moment of truth for the world,” Bush said at a Sunday summit with the leaders of Britain, Spain and Portugal in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. “Now we make a final appeal to make a strong, unified message on behalf of the international community,” British Prime Minister Tony Blair said. Bush urged other nations to support “the immediate and unconditional disarmament” of the Iraqi leader.
France, Germany and Russia have opposed an additional United Nations resolution to set an ultimatum for the Iraqi leader to disarm. And efforts to win the votes of uncommitted nations at the 15-country UN Security Council faltered in recent days. Bush, Blair, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Portugal Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso met at an American air base in the Azores, Portuguese territory in the Atlantic Ocean, as more than 250,000 troops gathered in the Persian Gulf area poised to strike. Aznar said the agreement among the leaders marked “a last chance, one last attempt to reach the greatest possible consensus among ourselves”. Bush sounded like he didn’t expect reluctant countries to change their minds.
France and Russia — both permanent Security Council members with veto power — along with Germany, are leading a campaign seeking to stop Bush’s push for military action against Iraq and urging for more time for UN weapons inspectors to do their job. Bush was scornful of France’s role in the diplomatic tug of war that has unfolded in recent months. Noting that he said 10 days ago he wanted the nations of the Security Council to show their cards, he said, “France showed their cards. After I said what I said, they said they were going to veto anything that held Saddam to account.”
French President Jacques Chirac said earlier yesterday he was willing to accept a 30-day deadline for Iraq to disarm, provided the move was endorsed by US weapons inspectors. Speaking hours before the Azores summit got under way, Chirac said the inspectors will be telling the Security Council next week that they believe it is possible to disarm Saddam Hussein peacefully. “One month, two months, I am ready to accept any accord on this point that has the approval of the inspectors,” Chirac said in an interview.
Blair noted that some nations oppose any ultimatum to Saddam. The result, he said, is that the Iraqi leader is playing a game that “he has played over the last 12 years. Disarmament never happens but instead the international community is drawn into some perpetual negotiation,” he said. “Now we have reached the point of decision,” he said. Barroso, the Portuguese premier, called the Azores summit “the last chance of a political solution. It may be a small chance but if there is only one chance in a million it’s worth trying this opportunity.”
The summit also had a more symbolic purpose: to show the three leaders — particularly Blair and Aznar, who need political cover at home for their much-criticised alliance with Bush — as willing to make perhaps a final diplomatic push to win international backing for war.
PREPARATIONS have been completed and the stage, draped in the national colours, is set for this evening’s swearing in of Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth President, Professor Max Richards. He replaces President Arthur NR Robinson who served for six years.
Professor Richards will be sworn in at 5 pm on the south lawn of President’s House by Chief Justice Sat Sharma. He will deliver the only speech at the ceremony and will receive a 21-gun salute. Over the last week, members of the Defence Force and staff at President’s House have been finalising the format for this evening’s lavish affair to which at least 1,000 guests have been invited. The gala event is expected to get underway promptly at 4.30 pm and is not expected to last more than an hour. Traffic around the Queen’s Park Savannah, from St Clair roundabout to St Ann’s roundabout will be restricted from at least an hour before the ceremony. ACP (North) Celestine Richards assured Newsday that there would be adequate security for the occasion with officers from all nine police divisions and army personnel included in a massive security detail.
Invited guests are expected to be seated by 4.15 pm. Among the distinguished gathering will be former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke and Noor Hassanali, members of the diplomatic corps, former Chief Justices, Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, heads of Government services, UWI Vice Chancellor Rex Nettleford and Principal of the St Augustine campus, Bhoe Tewarie. All government MPs are expected to attend. Some Opposition UNC MPs have confirmed their attendance, while others say their presence will depend on their schedule. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday will not attend because he is due to return home from London this evening at about the time of the function.
Outgoing President Robinson will make his entrance just before 4.30 pm to be followed by his successor President Richards. A fanfare will be sounded. The oath will then be administered to Richards by CJ Sharma at 5 pm. Congratulations are to be offered to the new President by his predecessor, Robinson, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and CJ Sharma. The Presidential colours will be displayed and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine will invite President Richards, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to inspect the troops comprising two detachments of the Defence Force. Prayers will be offered by various religious leaders after which Richards will deliver his inaugural address.
The National Anthem is to be played and a 21-gun salute will be given to the new President welcoming him to office. The troops will then march off and President Richards and new First Lady Jean Richards, accompanied by their aide-de-camp Lt Commander Hyram Mohammed, will go into President’s House. A reception will follow.
THE WIDOW of murdered Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corp-oration Chairman Hansraj Su-mairsingh has filed for letters of administration for her husband’s estate. However, Sumairsingh’s two children from a previous marriage have filed caveats, indicating that they have an interest in their father’s estate.
However, the six months effective life span of the caveats have expired and their stepmother’s lawyer has since asked the court to grant her application for letters of administration. Sumairsingh, also called Soomairsingh, died without leaving a will. Following his death, Sandra Sumairsingh, a checker, had her attorney Winston Seenath make the application for probate but Sumairsingh’s two children, Kavita and Visham, filed caveats through the law firm of Ramnarine and Persad of Irvin Street, San Fernando. In her application, Sandra Sumairsingh said her late husband’s address was 100 Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro, and he was killed at Eccles Road, Grand Lagoon, Mayaro.
She said he had $638.54 in the bank and had no stock, shares or cash in hand. However, he had an insurance policy with Guardian Life for $151,165.03, as well as three parcels of land with buildings on them. At Lot 3A, Killdeer Junction, Rio Claro, he owned a house and land valued at $160,000. Also at Killdeer Junction, he owned another piece of land and a house valued at $176,000. The Eccles Road, Mayaro beach house where he was killed was valued at $143,000. Sumairsingh also had his gratuity payment which amounted to $23,893.00. The total value of his estate is $654,696.57. In spite of the expiration of the caveats, there are two queries the widow must satisfy before receiving her letters of administration. She must make a statutory declaration accounting for all the names of the deceased and domicile of the deceased.
The Sumairsinghs were married on January 24, 1999 and he was shot to death at his beach house on December 31 of that same year. Former Government Minister Dhanraj Singh is currently on trial for Sumairsingh’s murder before Justice Melville Baird in the San Fernando Assizes.
SOUTHERN Division police were yesterday searching for three men who they believe were behind two seperate incidents in which a teenager, a man and his female companion were abducted and robbed of almost $3,000.
In the first incident, which occurred around 7.45 pm, on Saturday, 17-year-old Sudesh Ramsamooj, of Cedar Hill, Princes Town, was awaiting transportation at Library Corner, San Fernando, when he stopped a black Honda Civic. The vehicle drove a short distance and the man seated next to him in the back seat pulled out a knife, placed it to the teenager’s head and ordered that he hand over his money. Ramsamooj gave him his wallet which contained $470 and several important documents. He was then dropped off at Hermitage Vil-lage, off San Fernando.
In the other incident, at around 1.20 am yesterday, Bharrat Dass, 32, and Kaylin Mohammed, 29, of Pleasant-ville, were awaiting transportation at Gulf City Shopping Mall when a black Honda Civic stopped. The couple boarded the car and asked to be taken to High Street. On reaching Lady Hailes Avenue, the occupant seated next to them in the back seat pulled out a knife and robbed the man of $2,500. The woman was not robbed. The men dropped them off at PTSC Compound, a short distance away. Cpl Mohammed of the San Fernando CID is continuing investigations.
A 35-year-old wo-man who arranged for a labourer to be ambushed, beaten and robbed by two men while he was escorting her home on Saturday was arrested and charged along with her two accomplices.
The Palo Seco woman and two accomplices, who are 41 and 31 years old, all of Rifle Street, were jointly charged with robbery with violence and are expected to appear before a Siparia magistrate today. Police reports indicated that around 5.30 pm, Ashok Partap, 38, of Beach Road, Palo Seco, was accompanying the 35-year-old woman home when he was confronted by two men. The men warned Par-tap that they were armed with a gun and began kicking and cuffing him while the woman looked on. When they were finished, the assailants and the woman ran off with Partap’s wallet which contained $275. The bruised man made his way to the Santa Flora Police Station where he made a report. Hours later the wo-man and the two men were arrested and charged. Partap was taken to the San Fernando Gen-eral Hospital where he was treated for cuts and bruises and discharged.
TOP UNITED National Congress (UNC) officials were among the prominent local personalities who turned out in large numbers yesterday to witness the marriage of Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal to school teacher Natasha Chadeesingh.
The elaborate Hindu wedding ceremony took place at the Krishna Mandir, Todd Street, San Fernando. Among the guests were UNC Chairman Wade Mark, the groom’s Parliamentary colleagues including Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq and St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran, former Independent Senator Martin Daly; former Caricom Ambassador Kamaluddin Mohammed and NATUC General Secretary Vincent Cabrera. Absent was Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday who is out of the country but is due back this evening. Pundit Rabindranath Maharaj, who officiated at the ceremony, advised the couple that “marriage is a complete union of two hearts, two minds and two bodies”. He advised them to always “respect each other’s viewpoint and function as a unit”. Following the hour-long ceremony, a reception was held at Twin Walls, La Romaine.
