Roman Catholic priest of Moruga, Fr Ian Taylor, has called on Catholics to abandon Carnival due to the rapid decline in morals and behaviour at the national festival.

In a letter issued yesterday Fr Taylor said it would take a man, both blind and deaf to deny the degeneracy which he said was symptomatic of a national moral decline which is greatly intensified and widely multiplied at carnival time. “Already we are experiencing serious acts of violence at Carnival fetes — even stabbings and murder itself. One has only to view the TV performances of calypsonians and artistes, with their entourage of supporting bands and singers, to capture the gross vulgarity, aggression and barbarity as they whip their audiences into a mad frenzy, Fr Taylor wrote. He described such behaviour as nothing less than pagan, and questioned what business does a Catholic have with such an event?  He dismissed the idea that the excuse expressed so often is that it is our culture and we must be part of it. 

He said another excuse that Jesus mixed with sinners, so must we, was wrong because His purpose was to convert them. “They were drawn to Him because of his holiness and his Good News of Salvation,” said Taylor. “He brought sinners out of sin into righteousness, and out of darkness into light.  The myth is still common among Catholics that we must be “lights in the darkness of Carnival. Many a sermon is preached on this.  Yet, how many Catholics ever attempt to do this at Carnival fetes and on Carnival Mondays and Tuesdays?  And even so, who would pay attention, with the seductive music booming, alcohol flowing, and the many bodies jamming and wining?”

He described this as a flawed theology combined with a secret desire to enjoy the forbidden fruit. He said the hard facts are that thousands of Catholics participate in Carnival and dress, dance and (mis)behave the same as all other revellers do. Secondly, many promoters, calypsonians and performers who are guilty of promoting licentious, immoral and lawless behaviour, are Catholics. He asked: “How can a ‘Carnival” Catholic consider himself/ herself a serious Christian, a true disciple of Jesus?  Is this not a mixture of light and darkness prohibited by Jesus and the Holy Scriptures? (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). And to think that Ash Wednesday and Lent will wash all sins away is itself the sin of presumption addressed in Ecclesiasticus 5: 6-9.”

He said the future of our nation hangs precariously in the balance and God’s word remains eternally true: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. For too long have we Catholics participated in and supported the wanton sins of the nation, especially at Carnival time, helping the nation to incur the wrath of God.
“Now is the time to break with sin and abandon Carnival.  This act itself, by the Catholic participants, would be enough to gain the saving intervention of Almighty God and serve as a powerful witness — a light to the nation. He said it was time to give up self-deception.  “Let every priest preach the truth of God’s Word to his congregation until it brings deep conviction and conversion.  And, let every right thinking, God-fearing, Jesus following Catholic decide today to faithfully serve the Lord.  “Catholics, abandon the myth, abandon the lie, abandon Carnival!”

THE trial of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday which was scheduled to start yesterday, has been postponed to April 8, because his wife, Oma Panday, has to have emergency surgery this week in London.

A letter from one of Panday’s attorneys was presented yesterday to Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls advising the court that Panday had to accompany his wife and remain with her during her hospitalisation and recuperation, which is anticipated to take between three to four weeks.

Panday, political leader of the United National Congress (UNC), and former Prime Minister appeared before McNicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court on three charges of failing to declare his account at the National Westminster Bank, London, for 1997, 1998, and 1999. There was no large crowd to see the former Prime Minister who was making his second court appearance. It was a usual Monday morning at the Magistrates’ Court. Security was normal with several prison vans bringing prisoners from the city jail and litigants going about their business.

Panday arrived at the court shortly before 9 am. He was accompanied by Members of Parliament Manohar Ramsaran and Chandresh Sharma, as well as Senator Wade Mark and Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagessar.
British Queen’s Counsel Timothy Cassel and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Carla Brown-Antoine appeared for the State, while Panday was represented by Allan Alexander SC, Desmond Allum SC, and Rajiv Persad. The complainant, Senior Supt Wellington Virgil, head of the Fraud Squad was also present. Chief Magistrate McNicolls arrived in court at 9.08 am and promptly called the case.

Cassel informed the court that the DPP had received a letter last week from the defence asking for an adjournment. He handed a copy of the letter to the Chief Magistrate who admitted that it was the first time he was hearing of the application. The letter, dated February 18 and addressed to DPP Geoffrey Henderson, was written by one of Panday’s instructing attorneys Devesh Maharaj.

In the letter, Maharaj wrote, “I have just been informed by the defendant, however, that his wife was every recently advised to have urgent surgery in the United Kingdom next week and because of her condition it is advisable that the defendant should accompany and remain with her during her hospitalization and recuperation. It is anticipated that will take between three (3) to four (4) weeks.”
Maharaj said that in the circumstances, the defence was seeking an adjournment of the trial. Cassel said the prosecution had thought long and hard about the application, but in the end they had no objection to the adjournment.

The British QC also informed the court that one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Angela Braithwaite, was also due to undergo surgery and could be away recuperating for at least six weeks. Cassel asked for the case to be adjourned to April 8, which will allow him time to come into Trinidad three days before. He also stated that he was involved in a very long and complex fraud case in the United Kingdom and his client is due to take the stand towards the end of April.

Cassel said if the Panday case should start on April 8 and cannot end by the time he is ready to return to England, then the case will have to be put to May 19. After hearing what Cassel had to say and with confirmation from Alexander, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the trial to April 8. The case was all over in seven minutes. Panday was hustled out of the building and into his waiting car.

THE Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services has launched an investigation into the fireworks display incident at Machel Montano’s Alternative Concept fete which left several people with burns to their bodies, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Lennox Alfred said in a telephone interview yesterday. It has also put a hold on grating approvals for use of fireworks, pending the investigation.

The Fire Chief also said that there are reports that some of the fireworks may have been fired off from inside the crowd itself. Alfred also said the fireworks that went in another direction may have been a defective one, or an old type. “If it was a good one it should not have gone in the opposite direction,” Alfred stated. Because of these two possibilities, Alfred said there is a need to carry out an investigation to determine exactly what transpired at the fete held Saturday night at the Amphitheatre, Chaguaramas.

Alfred said there is a possibility that the Fireone Fireworks Limited, the company who he said got the approval to fire off the fireworks, may not be responsible for the mishap. None of the people in authority at the San Juan-based Fireone Fireworks Limited company could be reached for comment up to late evening.  They were said by a female receptionist to be “out on the field”. Marissa Lewis, 24, of Bellerand Street, Point Cumana, Carenage, was one of the victims affected by the mishap.  She was said by the police to have received the worst of the injuries, suffering second degree burns on her face. In a brief interview yesterday, Lewis told Newsday that she has spent thousands of dollars on medical bills, but that she is yet to receive any compensation from those responsible for the fireworks display.

Newsday had spoken to Lewis’ mother-in-law, Myrtle Sinnette, at their home on Sunday, and Sinnette indicated that the Montanos said they were going to compensate Lewis. Yesterday, however, Lewis told Newsday via telephone that she has spent a “good bit” of money thus far on medical bills.  Asked how much, she said: “Thousands”. Lewis, employed at Total Image, St Augustine, said she again visited a skin specialist yesterday.  She added that she may lose her left eye.
The young woman also described her face as “too terrible” to take any photographs and in an emotional voice, said: “I can’t speak about it anymore.”  The Chief Fire Officer also told Newsday that the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services had no fire officers on duty on the night in question because the fireworks display was going to be brief.
The Montanos remained incommunicado up to late yesterday. However, William Munroe, promoter of the upcoming Soca Monarch said he is feeling the pain for Machel, whom he described as a super artiste.

Tragedy struck a family of 14 yesterday when two of its youngest members died in a fire yesterday at their modest home in Duncan Village, San Fernando.

Dead are sisters Tisha Friday, 5, and her baby sister Tricika, 5 months, whose charred remains were found lying on the iron railings of what was left of their beds. Relatives said the children’s mother, Annalisa, was in total shock over the loss of her baby daughters and was taken for treatment at the San Fernando General Hospital. The children’s father, Dexter Friday, was at work at the time of the incident.

Reports said the children’s mother was outside the house at Papourie Road washing clothes, while the children slept. According to the children’s 16-year-old uncle, Jamal Baptiste, who was one of seven members at the house, the fire started at approximately 1 pm. He said both children were fast asleep on two separate beds in the back room, when he heard Annalisa tell one of his sisters to wake up the children and take them out of the house. “Me and my sister, Stacy, was watching TV, Annalisa was washing and Holline and Kathy was babysitting when I hear Annalisa call out and say the back room on fire,” Jamal said.

Recounting the moments leading to the tragedy, he said the fire started in the back bedroom of the one-storey concrete flat and quickly spread throughout the house, the flames consuming the wooden doors and walls within minutes. The still obviously shaken young man recalled that he ran to the room and tried to douse the fire with a bucket of water but he was overpowered by the flames. “I run outside by a neighbour and tell them to call the fire brigade and when I come back, Annalisa tell me the children still inside the house, but the whole house was on fire by then,” he lamented.

The Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive School student said the family had lost all of their possessions in the fire: furniture, school books, uniforms, clothes, and appliances. Olive Baptiste, owner of the house, could not hold back tears as she looked in horror at the ruins of the house. “I don’t know where we will sleep tonight,” she moaned.
Fire tenders from the Mon Repos and San Fernando stations responded to the scene promptly, but their efforts were unable to save the flat wooden and concrete structure. When they arrived, the bedroom in which the children had been asleep was already gutted. The children’s father rushed from work, and upon arrival at the scene, broke out into tears immediately. Neighbours and relatives sought to comfort him but he rejected their consolations. Fire services are yet to determine the cause of the blaze and were up until late yesterday combing through the ruins.

ASP Dyo Mohammed is spearheading investigations.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday defended the decision to hire several PNM members as contractors on the Community Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP).

“We make no apologies for that,” he stated. He stressed however that it was not true to say that the majority of contracts went to PNM members. “That is not so. A lot of contracts have gone to a number of other people,” the Prime Minister stated. Manning was speaking with reporters following the opening ceremony of the 2003 Tribology Conference at the Trinidad Hilton. The Prime Minister said that members and supporters of the PNM “must not and will not” be debarred under this administration from accessing whatever the State had to offer — be it CEPEP or any other programme.

“We make no apologies for that. At least in the PNM programme we are being given a wide range (of contractors) — it is about 110. Had it been the last Government it would have been Ish (Galbaransingh), Brian (Kuei Tung) and Steve (Fergurson),” he said. Saying that it was not a crime to be a PNM, Manning stressed that the contracts had been advertised. He pointed out though that because CEPEP is a private company, the contracts were not subject to the scrutiny of the Central Tenders Board.

Manning said that the CEPEP programme, which is designed to improve the environment, had turned out to one of the most successful programmes introduced in the country. He said under the programme a contractor is selected and he/she employs people, maybe 40, sometimes as many as 60 persons. He said therefore that newspaper reports suggesting that an individual had been given $500,000 were correct since that would have been the wage bill.  “When you look at the figures in that context you will come to a slightly different conclusion,” he said, adding that the selection of contractors was above aboard.The Prime Minister said Government was in the process of expanding the programme to give it “national coverage”. He said it needed to hire 360 contractors, so there was more to come.

However the United National Congress yesterday condemned what it claimed was the abuse of power; the misuse of public resources and the naked corruption in the (CEPEP). In a release issued yesterday the UNC described the programme as an “elaborate sinister plan to payback PNM party activists and supporters for their plan.The UNC accused the PNM of by-passing the Central Tenders Board and the tendering rules, saying that prospective contractors were required to put out $2,500 in order to access a contract worth between $250,000 and $550,000.

For the first time in the history of the Sunshine Snacks National Junior Calypso Competition, there has been a three-way tie for first place.

Tying for first position were 17-year-old Trinity College Student Olatunji Yearwood, Karene Ashe of Morvant/Laventille Secondary and little 9-year-old Sheynnene Hazel who stole the hearts of the crowd at the Queen’s Park Savannah yesterday. Hazel delivered a powerful message in song to a number of calypsonians including Crazy and Impulse.  She knocked them for composing their so-called double entendre songs stating: “the music sweet but the lyrics raw, we can’t sing along anymore…”  The little miss from Melville Memorial received a tremendous reception for her flawless endition.

Then when the results were announced, her school-mates started a mini party in the Savannah, merrily jumping and waving their flags.
Earlier in the day, Yearwood called for “Donkey Power” to build back the country. As he did his rendition, he thrilled the audience with slick moves on the stage. Ashe on the other hand, had her own take on “Vision 20/20”. They both delivered great performances of their songs and tied with Hazel for first. Minister of Education Hazel Manning delivered the feature address before the competition began as a form of giving her stamp of approval for this year’s event. She reminded the students and teachers that: “The goal is not only winning, it is in participation, in meeting and sharing experiences with other young people and their tutors”.

The Minister also said, “As I have said time and again, when it comes to the education of our children…participation is important…failure is not an option! Excuses for failure and indiscipline are not good enough. We, at the Ministry of Education are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every child is provided with the opportunity to learn and to succeed”. Patrice Roberts who up to yesterday reigned number one for the last two consecutive years could only muster sixth position. All the finalists were presented with Sunshine Snacks hampers by Basdeo Singh after the competition itself, then to the surprise of the audience the Calypso King of the World the Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) appeared and made his way onto the stage. With the help of the finalists he sang a couple verses of his “Education” and by their request, “The Slave”. Both were done acapela style.

The full results are as follows:
Place   Junior   Points
1st   Sheynnene Hazel   410
1st   Olatunji Yearwood   410
1st   Karene Ashe   410
4th   Rondell Donawa   394
5th   Ezekiel Yorke   393
6th   Patrice Roberts   380
7th    Roderick Gordon 378
8th   Chanice Mc Kenzie 368
9th   Kerissa Joseph  366
10th   Calvie-Ann Williams 365
11th   Meighan Mendez  363
12th   Candy Ollivierre 358
13th   Jamal George  352
14th   Shernaka Cain 350
15th   Dinessa Nelson 332

MINISTRY of Works and Transport (MOWT) representative on the Piarco Airport Project, Peter Cateau, was an overburdened “watchdog” who received no help from the former United National Congress (UNC) Government to ensure that the project was properly completed. 

Cateau was also doubly stressed by the belief that former Works Minister Jearlean John was out to get him.
This was the testimony of former Transition Manager Jude Alibey as the Commission of Inquiry into the Project continued at the Caribbean Court of Justice yesterday. Questioned by Cateau’s attorney, Keith Scotland, Alibey said that given the “tremendous magnitude” of the project, a team of competent and qualified persons was required to successfully undertake all aspects of it. He identified some of those persons as a qualified accountant with some experience in governmental affairs, architect, quantity surveyor, engineer and even an attorney-at law.  However Alibey said Cateau was not provided with any support personnel, even on a part-time basis, and had to juggle a multitude of responsibilities. Asked if a special unit should have been responsible for paying site contractors, Alibey said this should have been done.  He added that this was “an impossible task for one man to do” and Cateau was “overburdened”.

During earlier testimony, Alibey said he had not received much help from Cateau in getting things done.  Questioned about this, in the context of Cateau’s workload, Alibey conceded that Cateau “assisted when he could”.  Alibey said when his team was created in March 2001, Cateau was still carrying the entire load of the project on his shoulders and seemed under pressure to ensure its completion by May 25, 2001.  He claimed Cateau seemed to be fearful that “someone in authority” was out to get him. Alibey hinted that this perception could have been fuelled by John’s way of getting things done. Alibey denied the former minister ever gave direct instructions to Cateau during meetings she held with project stakeholders. He added that John simply expressed her opinion to Cateau during those meetings. Alibey then revealed that a meeting was held on January 30, 1999 to discuss an accelerated schedule for works at the airport. Among those present at the meeting were former ministers John Humphrey (who chaired it), Sadiq Baksh and Ganga Singh and an expenditure of $30 million to construct a second floor in the connector building of the new terminal building was discussed. Alibey said the minutes of that meeting showed that Cateau said he had not received Cabinet approval for those funds but Humphrey said that decision had been taken at a previous meeting.

 Scotland declared that in light of this evidence, Cateau was a “watchdog” and not a “pompek”. Alibey then referred to Cabinet notes dated January 12, 2000 and January 24, 2000 which outlined a change in the scope of works on the terminal building with an approved expenditure of $50 million ($45 million for construction) and these works providing 50,000 square metres of space respectively. The source of both notes was the MOWT. Alibey also said when John assumed Baksh’s portfolio and switched from change orders to open tender, allowance had to be made for any change orders that were still in train. Alibey said despite the heavy burden placed on his shoulders, Cateau tried to see if personnel vacancies at the Project could be met. He recalled that former Airport finance manager Joshey Mahabir was also acting as Commercial Development Manager, even though Mahabir was not qualified for that post. Alibey conceded that up to today, several of those vacancies have not been addressed. He said he was unaware of Cateau being involved in any type of sabotage at the project but conceded there may have been security lapses. Former Airport security manager Dennis John was present during Alibey’s testimony.

Alibey then referred to a flurry of correspondence from March 15 to 17, 2001 between Cateau, John and AA chairman Tyrone Gopee regarding certain concerns raised by John over the imminent opening of the terminal on May 25, 2001. He said from the March 17 letter, Cateau admitted that while the concerns raised by Gopee did not fall within his purview, he would do what he could to assist. The hearing was briefly disrupted as Commission attorney Theodore Guerra SC and Scotland quibbled over the submission of selected documents by the latter into evidence. Commission chairman, retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, resolved the matter and all counsels were provided with copies of the said documents.
Scotland will continue his cross-examination of Alibey when the Commission resumes today. Prior to the start of yesterday’s hearing, John was informed to return today so the Commission could decide when her cross-examination would begin.

POLICE Constable Darryl Samnarinesingh, 33, was granted $200,000 bail with a surety by a Sangre Grande magistrate before whom he appeared yesterday, charged with the kidnapping and false imprisonment of Rishi Permanand, nephew of retired Appeal Court Judge Jean Permanand.

Samnarinesingh, an officer for the past 13 years who hails from  Dukhan Trace, San Francique, Penal, is the second policeman to appear in court charged with kidnapping Permanand.  Constable Anand Ramcharan is the other officer. Samnarinesingh appeared yesterday morning before Senior Magistrate Cherryl-Anne Blake in the Sangre Grande First Magistrates’ Court charged with kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Permanand on December 17.

Permanand was released a day after being kidnapped and returned to his Broome Street, Diego Martin home barefooted, dishevelled and crying. Samnarinesingh appeared in court hours after returning home from a trip to Baltimore to see his ailing mother. Samnarinesingh flew out of the country on December 23. After clearing Customs at Piarco International Airport on Sunday, Samnarinesingh was met by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) who executed the arrest warrants on him. He was represented in court yesterday by attorney Prakash Ramadhar, and was not called upon to enter a plea after the charges were read out, since they were laid indictably. He was subsequently granted $200,000 bail with a surety  and ordered to reappear in court next Monday.

As the Carnival season moves towards its climax next week, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, (CAREC) Special Programme on Sexually Transmitted Infections (SPSTI) is reminding the public to ‘Stop HIV from making mas’.

This is the theme which CAREC has chosen for its information, education and communication Carnival campaign which was launched yesterday at SPSTI offices at Alexandra Street. It seeks to prevent  the spread of HIV, the virus which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Other sub-themes for the campaign are: ‘Play it Safe,’ ‘Protect Yourself’. To reach as many people as possible, CAREC has enlisted the support of masmen, panmen, fete promoters and non-governmental organsations in the campaign to distribute 60,000 condoms.   Other aspects of the campaign involve the dissemination of the messages via 20,000 bandanas, 100,000 sun visors and electronic billboards at Beetham Highway (near VEMCOTT), City Gate and the Airport Terminal.

CAREC Information Advisor, Jones P Madeira said the Airports Authority will be distributing bandanas and condoms to visitors to TT.
He said CAREC’s message is abstinence, but if people were sexually active they should protect themselves. Madeira said with the drugs, music and joie de Vivre of Carnival, the “opportunity for HIV infection becomes greater”. A 30-second public service announcement developed by the late Jeffery Stanford, in collaboration with Earth TV, Artists Against AIDS and CAREC will be aired on television. Speaking at the launch at SPSTI’s offices, Alexandra Street, Head of the Programme Dr Bilali Camara said culture must be taken into consideration as it is an important part of human behaviour. He said partnerships with other groups in society including the media is critical as HIV/AIDS is a Caribbean and global issue. He also underscored the role of individuals in ensuring that Carnival is safe. Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Kenny De Silva described Carnival as a challenging time for young men and women. He referred to the level of skin exposure in “floss bikini” costumes.

 “HIV is the biggest challenge and the ways we conquer it is critical”.  While, the NCC wanted the public to have a good time, they should also be made safe for Carnival. De Silva called for the media to sensitise the public and ensure CAREC’s thrust is successful so “whatever happens in 2003 will be minimised.”  It is estimated that when official figures are adjusted for under-reporting, approximately 39,000 people in TT are infected with HIV/AIDS. The bulk of infections is in the 25-39 age group with more women being infected than men.