This democratic and participatory movement only serves to bring the people of Venezuela closer.” Describing this position as continued solidarity for the Venezuelan people and Venezuela’s “democratically elected President Nicolás Maduro,” JTUM condemned the United States for continuing, “to align itself with the violent and extremist sectors of Venezuela who continually use violence against the very people they claim to want to serve.” Saying it will not be moved by what appears to be a threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty, JTUM declared.

“We will not lose heart as we battle on to protect international sovereignty and self-determinat ion for any country in the Americas.” Earlier this week, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Moncada condemned a statement by US President Donald Trump that, “if the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic sanctions.”

The embankment was part of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the highway. But following the 2015 General Election and the subsequent departure of the Brazilian contractor, the embankment has remained an eyesore and has been identified by farmers as the chief reason for continual flooding in the region.

Floods associated with Tropical Storm Bret have not subsided almost five weeks after the storm’s passage and has transformed once lush agricultural lands into a virtual swamp. Addressing a media conference on the banks of the Oropouche river yesterday, Highway Reroute Movement (HRM) leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh said the aggregate, which had been quarried from the Northern Range and at Valencia should be “mined” and used in the construction of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway.

“The farmers have to cross the highway or embankment to get to the land and the water is making it very difficult to cross this embankment and therefore the water coming from Siparia, Barrackpore, Valley line, its backing up here and causing tremendous problems and therefore if you leave this embankment here on a permanent basis, the agriculture here would never be returned to how it was before,” Kublalsingh said.

“So I intend to approach the Minister of Works, we have had very good meeting so far, remove this embankment, treat this like a dump, treat it like a quarry, treat it as a lay down yard and mine back all of this embankment here, take it to the San Fernando/ Point Fortin highway and use it there and build a simple bypass connector road here at the level of the street so people can cross and fix back the natural water watercourses,” he said.

Asked whether he would mobilise HRM members to remove the embankment should government fail to heed his advice, he said, “you know how much aggregate is there, over 100 thousand tonnes of aggregate from the Northern range, so what will I do, poor Kublalsingh, take a pick axe and go and clear up this embankment.” Farmer Bikery Sigobin, who farms over seven acres of land, said he had lost several hundred thousand dollars in crops as hundreds of citrus trees and mounds of ochroes, bodi and peas were drowned in the flood waters. He said while they were accustomed to floods during the raining season which would subside within a few hours, the floods associated with Bret had refused to subside as the embankment had trapped the water.

Another farmer, Devanand Soogrim, seemed to be on the verge of tears as he related how his livelihood had been severely affected as there were mounting bills to pay and he had been deprived of an income.

The shareholders’ position was given at a status hearing before appellate court judges, Justices Peter Rajkumar, Charmaine Pemberton and Andre des Vignes who have been asked to deem an appeal filed by the State urgent.

At yesterday’s hearing, Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, who represents the State, which is seeking to have provisional liquidators appointed ahead of Government’s petition to have CLF wound up, said the hearing of the appeal against Justice Kevin Ramcharan’s ruling on Wednesday was urgent as the shareholders’ meeting was carded for Tuesday.

After hearing submissions from Peake and Senior Counsel John Jeremie, who, along with attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj,SC, lead a team of attorneys for two shareholders’ groups, Justice Rajkumar said the State’s application for a urgent hearing as well as its appeal of Justice Ramcharan’s decision to dismiss the application for the appointment of the provisional liquidators, will be heard on Tuesday.

Also listed for hearing before Ramcharan is the Government’s winding up petition.

Ramcharan, on Wednesday, ruled that the move by the State to appoint the provisional liquidators was premature as there was no evidence that shareholders, if they gain control of the CLF Board, would dispose of the company’s assets. “In fact the evidence suggests that they (the shareholders) are intent in repaying their creditors,” Ramcharan said.

The Government’s decision to file the application and the winding up petition was based on the move by the shareholders to regain control of the company and to recoup a $15 billion debt still owed by the conglomerate to the State.

In 2009, the then Patrick Manning administration agreed to a bail out of CLF’s cash-strapped subsidiary CLICO and saw the insurance giant and many of CLF’s subsidiaries going under the control of the Central Bank.

As a condition of the bail-out, CLF’s shareholder’s agreement with the Government, the Government had the power to select four members including the chairman to CLF’s seven-member board.

The agreement was renewed 17 times by the shareholders until they refused to agree to a further extension in February, this year.

The shareholders then made the move to change the composition based on the Government’s refusal to consider a proposal for them to retake control of the company and renegotiate their debt repayment plan made in December last year.

If the shareholders are successful in having their directors appointed to the CLF board, they would control majority interest with five members while the Government would remain with its original four board members.

They have also indicated a willingness to pay back taxpayers.

Shape shifter, time traveller, story teller

Coming from West Africa

Spinning his web through time, through space

From far away and long ago, to here and now

He spins his web everywhere, in the diaspora

Eintou Pearl Springer

THE COLONISERS and the enslavers before them did their job too well.

We sat in the lecture room listening to a Ghanaian describe the impact of Anansi stories on his life. He told of watching the stories on television as a child, becoming engrossed in the life of this Spider Man.

He then spoke about the debate in Ghana over what they should call their film industry, and how it could demonstrate the influence of Anansi on telling visual stories of the people of Ghana.

We were at a conference on African arts, so there were people from all over the world — professors, students, artists, storytellers and practitioners of Carnival arts. The room was approving of his stance that Bollywood, Nollywood (term for the Nigerian film industry) and others were simply variations of a North American ideology of film storytelling.

We thought that he was going to link his thesis to the power and symbolism of Anansi in determining what the Ghanaian film industry should be called.

Instead, he says that Anansi should not be referred to as Kwaku Anansi, Kwaku meaning “born on a Wednesday,” because there is no evidence to prove this. Then, he concludes his presentation by saying if Anansi is to be accessible to people all over the world, then he should be called something universal like “John.” The room went into an uproar.

Amina Blackwood-Meeks, revered Anansi storyteller from Jamaica, encapsulated the absurdity of his statement as she proclaimed in her twang, “But ah Jaan ees ah tilet.” Needless to say, for the rest of the conference, he was called as John, which he shamefacedly accepted, hopefully recognising how flawed his position was.

I was so disappointed to hear this man speak. But it confirmed what I have been hearing about the African continent and how distant it has become from itself.

Prof Hilary Beckles, vice chancellor of UWI, put it into context.

He pointed out that the continent is now facing, among others, the threat of evangelical Christianisation.

Thus, the indoctrination that began with enslavement and continued through colonialism has now taken hold. It is to the point where the very people who were told that their spiritual beliefs and cultural traditions were barbaric are now repeating this same message across the continent and in the diaspora.

Worse, they are not just repeating it, they believe it.

The enslavers and colonisers separated Anansi from his wise and god-like qualities, turning him into a lazy, cunning creature, symbolic of the flawed nature of the African.

The stories, spirituality, names, rituals, music — everything that gave the African strength — was demonised, ridiculed and systematically eroded. Fortunately, Anansi is from the Akan peoples of Ghana, the most warlike throughout enslavement.

The Coromantee were especially noted for their fierce, warlike nature and constant resistance.

1760 in Jamaica led by Tacky, 1763 in Guyana led by Kofi and 1770 in Tobago led by Sandy are just a few of the rebellions that shook the Caribbean.

So, John and others like him will no doubt continue to spread their sinister message to anyone who will listen. But they would do well to remember that Anansi know how to play fool to ketch wise. Him get the whole world to call him trickster, and mek them forget that all he people dem across the diaspora is warrior.

Crick crack! Dara Healy is a performance artist and founder of the NGO, the Indigenous Creative Arts Network – ICAN

He should propose to the Elections and Boundaries Commission that this constituency be divided into Port of Spain East and Port of Spain West.

The by-election will be a good test of the popularity of the People’s National Movement, the United National Congress and any other party that enters the race.

This could be a good indication for the way forward to Vision 2030.

LANCELOT MC DONALD St James, PoS

Trincity Nationals, who are currently unbeaten and sitting on top the Super League Division standings with a perfect 15 points from five matches, will be looking to continue their winning ways against a determined Real Dimension outfit, who sitting in second place with 12 points.

In another match, third placed St Ann’s Rangers will face off against St Augustine FC, from 5 pm at the Frederick Settlement Ground, Caroni.

At 6 pm, at the Leo Thompson Ground in Gasparillo, Club Sando will play Tobago Chicas while, at 6.30 pm, at Guaracara Park, Petrotrin will play the National Under- 17 squad.

In First Division action tomorrow, third placed Defense Force will be playing second placed Sweaters Women from 4 pm at Reserves Ground, Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas.

Simultaneously Step by Step will be playing St Ann’s Rangers at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular.

After over 100 years of not having a home, the TTFA is much closer to realising the dream of having its own Training and Technical Centre in the not too distant future. Together with being compliant with the requirements of FIFA, the FA will now pursue in earnest the development of its Technical Centre in the shortest possible time.

The TTFA have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Keith Rowley and his Cabinet, and, by extension, the Government for the support they have given to the TTFA over the past 12 months.

The first phase of the Home of Football will include the construction of player accommodations, two additional training pitches to be flood-lit together with ancillary facilities and a beach soccer pitch.

The second phase will include four additional pitches comprising of both artificial and natural grass surfaces and a futsal court.

Additionally, the TTFA has received approval from FIFA to restart the Income Generation Project which was stalled under the previous administration.

This project will now be of a different nature as proposed by the new TTFA administration and approved by FIFA and will take the form of an Entertainment and Sports Bar and Restaurant project at the Home of Football. This income generation project will capture not only the patrons who attend local and international events at the state of the art Cycling Velodrome and Aquatic Centre and the nearby National Cricket Centre but also other guests who may chose to experience all attractions at the Home of Football.

In an interview with Newsday yesterday, Daly says there were several legal authorities on the “open court principle” which dictates that the law belonged to the people and access to the legal system was a basic right and a public good.

“The open court principle is a key component to the rule of law,” Daly emphasised.

The open court principle, in practice, means that court proceedings, including evidence and documents disclosed, should be open to public scrutiny and was important for informing and educating the public while enhancing accountability and deterring misconduct.

Daly noted the court action filed by Ayers-Caesar on Wednesday last was a public law matter and “closed justice” should only be allowed in extreme circumstances.

According to Daly, what was disturbing was if there was to a be a monetary settlement between the parties, who would pay? “You can’t keep it secret and settle with public funds. It is not a private libel case,” he said. Newsday understands that attorneys for Ayers-Caesar have requested of the Registrar of the Supreme Court the procedure for the sealing of a case filed and on whose instructions was this done in the application filed by the former Chief Magistrate.

Ayers-Caesar has filed a judicial review application seeking to have the courts review the decision of the JLSC and the President to revoke her appointment as a High Court judge two weeks after she was appointed on April 13.

However, all the documents in the case – which has been assigned to Justice David Harris and has been given a case number CV 2017-02628 – have been sealed although it is not clear who ordered this.

It was also revealed that if discussions on a possible settlement – which is ongoing between the parties – fail, moves will be made to have the hearing of the application be done in private.

No date has been set for a first hearing.

Sources have said Ayers-Caesar’s lawsuit had three affidavits attached – one from Ayers-Caesar, her husband and friend Magistrate Cheron Raphael. Ayers-Caesar’s husband and Raphael were present at her swearing-in ceremony at the Office of the President in April.

A pre-action protocol letter dated June 16, 2017, points to certain pieces of evidence on which the former Chief Magistrate’s case will be hinged – among them private email exchanges between the Chief Justice and the Chief Magistrate.

Ayers-Caesar is asking for a review of the JLSC’s decision to seek her resignation by means of “unlawful pressure.” She said she was pressured to resign by Archie and had she failed to do so, she was told he would recommend that her appointment be revoked.

Ayers-Caesar is represented by Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

This is the first time in our history that we have seen an established political party have an internal election (leadership race) with only women stepping up to the platform.

Nicole Dyer, Carolyn Seepersad- Bachan and Sharon Gopaul are good COP leadership candidates, therefore we must pay attention to the obvious.

Could you imagine if this was intentional and a new party was created for only women? The polling on this phenomenon would be of great interest to political analysts and commentators the world over.

The leadership candidates at the last internal election in 2011 were Prakash Ramadhar, Anil Roberts and Vernon De Lima. It would be interesting to know what would have caused an all-men race to now turn to an all-women race.

We have to wait a while to see the results as the COP internal election has been postponed, due to questions surrounding the membership credibility of one of the candidates.

The COP has an uphill task of creating a resurgence, to regain the groundswell it once achieved when Winston Dookeran was leader and before it entered the United National Congress (UNC) partnership.

It can be argued that its credibility faded into disappointment by the population when, after losing one election in 2007, the party formed a partnership with the UNC to win the 2010 election. During the partnership, then leader Ramadhar allowed the COP to be subsumed into the UNC, which eventually gained the COP an unofficial title of “Congress of the Person.” Many former UNC members who went across to the COP then went back home to the UNC between 2010 to 2015. Will the COP re-enter a partnership with the UNC before the next general election? After following the interviews leading up to the publicised internal election, only one candidate gave a straight answer, saying “No.” The population looks on as this COP leadership race is determined sometime in the near future.

May the best candidate win.

RONALD HUGGINS St Joseph

Though two years have passed and many reforms have been implemented, the people behind the jailbreak have never been held accountable.

Disciplinary proceedings against three prisons officers are delayed. The failure of the Public Service system to facilitate a swift resolution to these matters is an embarrassment and a threat to the security of the public at large.

On July 24, 2015, four remanded inmates escaped from the Port of Spain Prison. With the use of illicit firearms, they shot their way out of the premises.

The jailbreak resulted in the deaths of three people – including a promising police officer – and two of the escaped inmates. Two prison officers were wounded.

As noted by a Parliament committee in a recent report, the jailbreak raised questions about the general safety of the public, National Security safety standards, security systems in the Prison Service, and the Prison Service’s ability to effectively manage and rehabilitate inmates.

Mere months after the July 2015 events, the public was again confronted with another scare when it was reported that the Port of Spain Prison was on high alert in response to rumours of a planned violent breakout involving a man charged with murder in a high-profile case.

The Commissioner of Prisons stated that security had been stepped up and the Prison Service was liaising with its national security counterparts to compare intelligence.

Mercifully, the threatened violence did not ensue.

Several commendable things were done to improve standards in the system after 2015. The number of armed personnel was increased at gates, special visits regularised, search procedures bolstered, a strict dress code introduced for visitors, random searches introduced, full-body scanners introduced, and CCTV cameras installed. These followed upon previous reforms such as mobile phone jammers and blockers.

However, according to evidence taken by the Joint Select Committee on National Security, there remain gaps in the coverage of surveillance at prisons.

And since 2015, even more alarming problems have emerged relating to the disciplinary processes for prisons officers. There have been problems constituting a panel to probe charges and then long delays in getting the work of this panel up and running.

According to the committee, “In relation to the investigations into the events of July 24, 2015, the committee finds that the almost lifeless disciplinary investigation process of the Public Service Commission is woefully defective and tortuous.

It needs immediate rectification.” The suspended prisons officers – who may not have done anything wrong – are being severely punished by the delays. Worse, according to the committee, “wrongdoers can manipulate the process already wrongly balanced in their favour using cleverly devised avoidance tactics.” The message being sent is that the State is soft when it comes to traitors within the ranks of the law enforcement agencies. That is not just woefully defective, it is obscene.

Aside from all of this, it is also unclear whether we have learned lessons in relation to deeper, more long-term issues facing the system.

The problem of prison overcrowding remains a serious threat to the overall integrity of the system, resulting in poor conditions for inmates and hampering rehabilitation efforts by turning jails into a special form of punishment.

The need to relocate the Port of Spain Prison has also not been addressed.

As this sad anniversary approaches, we urge the State to ensure another year does not pass without good progress on these issues.