About 200 workers protested yesterday outside of the Parliament, International Waterfront Complex, Wrightson Road, Portof- Spain, hoping to get answers from line minister Fitzgerald Hinds.

However, they left the building disappointed as there was no sitting of the House of Representatives after Thursday’s marathon debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review. President of the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) Roland Sutherland, whose union represents MTS workers, said the wage increases were long overdue.

“The workers protested the delay in the timing of the collective agreement in which the union and the company had agreed upon since September 2016,” he told Newsday.

“But, apparently when the MTS management went to get the okay from the principal (believed to be the line minister), we were told that they can’t sign it, and were not getting any okay from the principal.

As it stands now, this is a wage freeze because the last increase was in 2010.” He added: “This negotiation is for the period 2011 to 2014 and then we have another three years from 2015 to 2017 that we eh touch yet.

Justice Aboud has reserved his decision to July 31, the last day of the court’s term. Warner is contending that the Extradition Order issued by the US goes against local extradition laws. According to Warner’s attorneys , there is no common law right of extradition and the mere existence of a treaty between TT and a foreign sovereign state is of itself of no domestic effect until and unless that treaty is incorporated into domestic law They also contend that US Order failed to comply with the strictures contained in the local Extradition Act; was not in conformity of the Act, and specifically offended against the restrictions contained in the Act against the return of persons to a requesting state.

The application says it was unlawful for a person to be tried and punished in the requesting state for extra- territorial offences where such offences, had they occurred outside of TT in similar circumstances, would not have constituted an offence in this country.

“Even the arrest of Mr Warner was wrong in law,” his lead counsel Fyard Hosein SC, further submitted. But the Attorney General’s lawyers have told the judge that he does not have the jurisdiction to decide whether the Extradition Treaty conforms with the Act.

“As a rule of law the court cannot interpret a Treaty… That was not parliament’s intention,” Douglas Mendes SC, who leads the case for the State argued.

Mendes has also submitted that the court cannot invalidate the Order. “You are stuck.

The court has no jurisdiction to look at the treaty and interpret it.

You cannot,” he said, adding that the Treaty was not incorporated into domestic law.

Warner surrendered himself to Fraud Squad officers on May 27, 2015, after learning of the provisional warrant.

He is currently on $2.5 million bail.

Warner was indicted by a US grand jury on 12 charges of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering over an escalating scandal at FIFA, football`s world governing body. US authorities have charged 14 FIFA officials and sports marketing executives of soliciting and receiving more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks over two decades.

On July 23, US authorities asked for Warner, a former head of football`s governing body in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf) to be extradited to face the charges.

The charge read that they robbed Anjanie Mohammed of the bracelet at Gransaul Street. The charge stemmed from an incident in which the woman was walking along the street at about mid-morning when a vehicle drove close to her and stopped.

She was attacked and robbed of the bracelet which she was wearing on her right hand.

Attorney Chantal Paul yesterday pleaded for bail for all three men.

All except Ollieverre, were granted $100,000 bail each with a surety.

They are to reappear in court on June 9.

Eyewitnesses claimed that a gunman unknown to them was seen walking towards Julien and was also seen firing several shots at the victim. The man then fled the scene after Julien slumped to the ground. The victim was rushed to the St James Infirmary where he died around 8.05 pm.

Homicide officers who went to the scene of the shooting death recovered nine spent shells and three projectiles. Investigations are continuing.

“The Atlantic Provider and. the (Trinity Transporter) barge. definitely not working for us. We. tried it for the past three weeks. and it’s not working. The most. we could do is protest for a better. boat, it’s up to government to give. us something because in a matter. of weeks Tobago will be in a dire. state.”. Trucker Sheldon Lezama described. the new cargo transportation. system as a total failure.

“This provider is not providing. for us, Tobago is suffering, we. not getting enough goods across. to efficiently distribute across to. Tobago…It’s a ripple effect; because. of this whole thing we can’t. mind our families.

“What is sad is the Tobago politicians. not doing anything about. it they are just sitting back and. watching everything. It’s taking. three to four days to make one. sailing when you do get there its. taking three to four days to get. back. From a Superfast Galicia. that used to hold 150 trucks now. we have come to a stage where. we can only carry 50 trucks maximum.”. Some of their issues are. there is no passenger area, the. Atlantic Provider is too small. and slow, the Trinity Transporter. barge is unreliable and can cause. permanent damages to vehicles. and construction materials.

Members from the TT Chamber. of Industry and Commerce, Tobago. Division and the head of. the Truckers and Traders Association. Horace Amede were given. a tour of the Atlantic Provider to. see the capabilities of the vessel. which they said was not impressive.

David Wong member of the. Chamber of Industry and Commerce. said, “It’s nonsense, it’s. takes too long to get here. They. (owner of the vessel) blames the. port for keeping the vessel back. from sailing. Let the port say why. the boat gets in the port at 4 am. and is not allowed to dock till. 6.30 am.

“Why does it have to start loading. at 10 am why can’t it (Atlantic. Provider) start loading at 1 pm. and leave 3 pm.They say they. can reach there (Tobago) in five. hours so if they leave there at 3. pm they will be here at 8 pm. If. this happens the truckers can go. back to a normal sane lifestyle. where they get to work at 6 am. in Port-of-Spain; the truckers can. do what work they have to do get. back to the port and get on the. provider at 1 pm and be back in. Tobago by 7 pm.”. Amede said the attempts of the. owner to convince truckers to. accept the vessel is useless, “from. the executive stand point we cannot. tell the drivers to take it because. they are not accustomed to. these problems,” he said.

.

Action was in a Round One Match Day Nine.

Jabloteh registered their seventh win in nine matches, with Jodel Brown opening the scoring in the 28th minute, while Lukman Brooks found the back of the net in the 40th.

Police recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Morvant Caledonia United at the Maracas Recreation Ground in St Joseph.

Zion McLeod broke the deadlock in the 28th while Romario Burke extended the lead two minutes later.

And Kareem Grant put the game beyond the reach of Caledonia when got Police’s third in the 79th.

Second-placed W Connection were held to a 1-1 draw by Club Sando at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground in Moruga.

Kyjuan Sampson struck for Connection after seven minutes but Jardel Sinclair equalised for Club Sando five minutes later.

St Ann’s Rangers rallied from a 2-0 deficit to hold North East Stars to a 2-2 draw at the Ojoe Road Recreation Ground in Sangre Grande.

Jorel Grant (18th minute penalty) and Devon Charles (60th) were on target for North East Stars but Rangers responded with items from Jesse Williams (63rd) and Jerrell Hibbert (84th).

Other Results – Round One Match Day Nine – Under-13 Division – At Maracas Recreation Ground, St Joseph: POLICE (11) – Jayden Moore 23rd, 65th; Jaron Pascall 26th, 28th; Tyreke Harding 34th, 64th; Fabien Ayres 35th; Imani Lewis 39th; Nathaniel Carrim 55th, 59th, 61st vs MORVANT CALEDONIA UNITED (0).

At Ojoe Road Recreation Ground, Sangre Grande: NORTH EAST STARS (4) – Jaheem Homer 3rd; Terron Miller 30th, 55th; Tyrik Trotman 60th vs ST ANN’S RANGERS (1) – Ajani Andrews 23rd. At Trinity East School Ground, Trincity: SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (4) – Nathaniel James 11th, 63rd, 68th; Jaheim Faustin 27th vs DEFENCE FORCE (2) – own goal 36th; Christopher Brooks 60th.

At Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga: W CONNECTION (3) – Shakeem Williams 4th; Jkwon Bailey 15th; Dantaye Gilbert 27th vs CLUB SANDO (1) – Jeremiah Ottway 37th.

Under-15 Division – At Maracas Recreation Ground, St Joseph: POLICE (3) – Matthias Hinkson 3rd; Ajay Ward 20th; Jardel Joslyn 63rd vs MORVANT CALEDONIA UNITED (1) – Jardel Mitchell 41st.

At Ojoe Road Recreation Ground, Sangre Grande: NORTH EAST STARS (3) – Isaiah Coxall 26th; Chad Alonzo 44th; Omari Adams 51st vs ST ANN’S RANGERS (1) – Keston Manswell 37th.

At Trinity East School Ground, Trincity: SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (1) – Terrell Wiley 71st vs DEFENCE FORCE (0).

At Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga: W CONNECTION (2) – Nicholas Dyett 57th; Kern Cedeno 63rd vs CLUB SANDO (1) – Noah Simmons 11th.

He mounted a successful legal challenge which has expanded access to citizens to challenge perceived violations of non-human rights provisions of the Constitution.

“That he had to pursue the case, at his own expense I presume, as far as the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London is unfortunate,” Mahabir-Wyatt said in a media release yesterday. “If we recognised the Caribbean Court of Appeal, he could have done it in Port-of-Spain but that access was denied to him.

“For a citizen, in the public interest, to ask for a legal interpretation of a clause in the Constitution is surely the most fundamental of human rights in a country that respects the rule of law based on the principles of democracy. Justices Peter Jamadar, Nolan Bureaux, and Geoffrey Smith certainly thought so when the matter came before them,” Mahabir-Wyatt said.

She hailed the Privy Council’s ruling on Monday as a historic one with repercussions for the entire Commonwealth to consider as it establishes a citizen’s right to seek an interpretation of the Constitution of the country in which a citizen lives. President of the Law Association Douglas Mendes also hailed the ruling, saying it affirmed “in no uncertain terms” the role of the Supreme Court as guardian of the Constitution and protector of the rule of law.

Dumas had challenged the appointment of Dr James Armstrong and Romar Achat-Saney to the Police Service Commission (PSC) by the President, in 2013.

His challenge can now be decided by the local court. The Law Lords in their ruling said the case raised “an important question about the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear an application by a citizen for the Court to interpret a provision of the Constitution.” The appellate court and the Privy Council had found that there was no established tradition in Trinidad and Tobago which prevented a citizen with a legitimate interest in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. In their ruling, the British Law Lords also held that the question raised by Dumas was one for the court to decide.

The request was made after an attorney for the JLSC requested more time to respond to the intended lawsuit against Chief Justice Ivor Archie in his capacity as chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC), over the composition of the commission with the specific issue of the presence of two retired judges as members.

Attorney Ian Roach, wrote to Ramlogan on Wednesday, informing him that he required more time to respond to the questions raised by the former AG.

Ramlogan, who is acting on behalf of former UNC minister Devant Maharaj, is questioning the constitutionality of the appointments of retired judges Roger Hamel- Smith and Humphrey Stollmeyer to the JLSC based on their age. Ramlogan had given the JLSC until 4 pm yesterday to respond. Roach, however, has asked Ramlogan to hold his hand on approaching the high court for an administrative order until May 19 so that he can take instructions from his client and respond.

In his reply, Ramlogan said his client was willing to agree to the extension but asked that the JLSC not make further appointments until the issue is determined by the court.

Ramlogan also told Roach he was not of the opinion that his client cannot go to court before May 19 to seek a conservatory order to prevent the JLSC from making future appointments.

“It would be improper and wrong for the Commission to use Section 36 as a justification for carrying on business as usual in the face of a legitimate challenge to its composition and jurisdiction,” Ramlogan said.

Members of the JLSC are CJ Archie; chairman of the Public Service Commission Maureen Manchouk and retired judges Roger Hamel- Smith and Humphrey Stollmeyer.

MY CONCEPT of “mother” is seen through the lens of my own matriarchal upbringing, dominated by grandmother, mother and the women I called “auntie” out of respect. My uncle was there, and there were of course other male figures, but the women were “in charge.” They were the primary caregivers and made decisions about finances. But most of all, they were the ones who determined how the children were raised; the rules, discipline and behavioural structures and values that would be imparted.

The notion of mother is complicated.Regional authors have interrogated her influence, often against a post-colonial backdrop, and a search for sense of self — common themes in the 1950s, 60s and even the 1970s.

Merle Hodge’s Crick Crack Monkey examines the struggles of a young girl caught between the different class worlds of Tantie and Aunt Beatrice; contrasted with the safety she feels with her grandmother Ma. Ma Lammy, from Green Days, is a strong female figure, loving, focused on her family, but a person in her own right. Lamming’s In the Castle of my Skin begins and ends with the mother.

Our shared histories have produced variations of mother and, as birthing rituals of Hindu, Orisa, Christian and other communities show, she remains essential to keeping the family together.

However, the elders who shared those rituals lamented that these traditions are no longer the norm for our society. Interestingly, this week I had several experiences surrounding mothers that seem to support this.

One mother brought her little girl to dance class, but the child, who was around four years old, whined and terrorised her mother until the teacher decided to do the class with the child on her hip.

The mother was embarrassed and I thought back to my own childhood, where it never would even have occurred to me to disturb my grandmother or mother.

And even if I tried, a stern look or squeeze on the arm is all that it would have taken to dispel any thoughts of misbehaviour.

I remembered this incident while catching up with a male colleague after. He was clear that women and mothers are the driving force in the home and in matters of business. “Women are in charge,” he said. “They also have the ability to come together, much better than men, to get things done. Men are more destructive, they don’t know how to build. Their instinct is to destroy.” I’m not sure that I fully agree.

We no longer talk about post-colonial in the context of identity, family and social structure, but the truth is we’re still struggling to find ourselves. And as we search, the role of our mothers in advancing and stabilising our society is becoming more critical.

For me, the question is how do we reclaim that space previously occupied by women like my grandmother and the literary Ma who became symbols of what a mother should be? It is a complicated question, but I believe it is one to which we must urgently respond.

Dara Healy is a performance a r t – ist and founder of the N G O , the Ind i g e – n o u s Creative A r t s Network – ICAN

Sylvia Ester Bonas, 22, of Laventille Road appeared before Magistrate Indira Misir- Gosine who read the charge that on Harris Street, without the authority of the Commissioner of Police, did assume the name of a police officer, that is, Woman Police Officer Bonas, which the said Sylvie Ester Bonas would by law not be entitled to do, on her own.

The charge was laid under the Police Service Act 2006 and followed the arrest which took place in proximity of the courthouse by Cpl Kevin Crawford and one of the court prosecutors Sgt Gordon Maharaj. Bonas was taken before Justice of the Peace Sandra Soogrim-Ramsaran Thursday afternoon in the same courthouse and was remanded into custody to reappear yesterday.

The woman spent the night in a cell at the nearby police station and was handcuffed yesterday morning when she was taken before Magistrate Misir-Gosine in the Fourth Court. After the charge was read and Bonas pleaded not guilty, attorney Reno Teekasingh pleaded for bail, telling the court the defendant lives with her family.

Magistrate Misir- Gosine asked Bonas about her occupation and she said she was an accountant, but not qualified. She then said she was doing a course in Accounting in Small Business. The magistrate questioned Bonas further about her qualification and said, “I don’t want you to be accused of impersonating an accountant as well.” Cpl Crawford who laid the charge brought a t-shirt into the courtroom as evidence.

Bail was set at $20,000 and the case adjourned to May 25.