I personally do not care now how much money has been spent in the past. It is already spent. As the old folks would say, “It had some ‘simmy dimmy’ going on there with that huge amount of money being paid daily.” But let us keep out of that sea lane for now. Don’t even go there. Let us deal with what is on the table.

So the barge does not look as pretty and painted white like the Galicia. Sob! Sob! But it has to be used.

Then there are You- Tube photos of people scraping salt off their cars and other vehicles.

The barge’s sides are not high enough. More crying.

The main thing is that this barge is moving between Port-of- Spain and Scarborough.

More slowly yes, but it is moving.

Suddenly the designated ferry boat for taking passengers turns out to be having problems with the steering.

Also, suddenly the barge, too, is having difficulty moving from A to B. Complications with Customs and Excise people. More delaying tactics? So we have both boats being several hours late arriving and/or leaving Tobago.

Is it that everybody and everything concerned, including the ferry and barge engines, need to be doused with holy water? Allegations of deliberate sabotage to make the Government look bad? Allegations are what we do best both in TT .

The crux of the matter is that the Tobago House of Assembly appears to only have teeth in Tobago. A law apparently needs to be passed to allow for more THA people to have a say in the procurement of a suitable new boat for the sea bridge.

After all is said and done, it is really all about the money. Buying anything that expensive has to be allocated from the subventions paid to the THA by the Government in Trinidad.

Autonomy is the political four-letter word that remains spoken but not yet in existence.

Right this minute, flour is thicker than water.

Bad mind, bad mouth and suppositions of opposition interference must take second place to getting goods and services as quickly as humanly possible between Tobago and Trinidad.

LYNETTE JOSEPH Diego Martin

San Fernando CID officers carried out an exercise at a guest house located at Block 2 in Palmiste during the early morning hours and arrested four persons. Two men and a 19-year-old woman , all from Venezuela were taken into custody after they were unable to produce passports.

A 27-year-old contractor from Chaguanas who was asleep in one of the bedrooms was also arrested after police found a loaded Baretta pistol under his pillow. Cpl Simon, PCs Morris, Lange and others were involved in the operation.

It was only two weeks ago, that a wallet containing documents belonging to the wanted man, along with clothes he was last seen wearing and his cell phone were found in the same area. The items were turned over to police. It was not how Heeralal’s still grieving relatives hoped it would have ended for Rampersad, who chopped his common law wife and mother of two to death on September 7.

The couple had a stormy relationship.

Relatives wanted to see Rampersad face trial for what he did to their loved one. During the melee, he also chopped Heeralal’s daughter Sydney, 13. He was never seen after committing the deadly act. It is believed he took his own life shortly after committing murder.

At 5 pm on Monday, a resident was clearing land behind his house for cultivation when he stumbled upon the skeletal remains.

Police were called in.

The remains were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy. Relatives of the wanted man are expected to give DNA samples to assist in identification.

“Behind that neighbour’s house have plenty bush and trees and there is also a river running through. Some of the bones were found close to the river,” said a relative of the murdered woman.

Despite the trauma, Sydney wrote the SE A exam last week and relatives are hoping for a good result so as to lift her out of her depressed state over her mother’s death. Heeralal also had a 15-year-old son.

Rampersad was a father of four.

The Galicia ended its service last month.

Speaking in the Senate, Sinanan indicated that the Port Authority is reviewing other options and will be meeting with the association on Friday. Later in the sitting, Energy Minister Franklin Khan said based on its track record over the last eight months, he was not “particularly happy” with Petrotrin’s performance in terms of the frequency of oil spills in the Gulf of Paria.

He said the company is actively involved in the clean up of beaches in the La Brea area which was affected by an oil spill in January.

Khan also said among other measures to prevent oil spills, Petrotrin is pursuing the development of a more robust asset integrity system.

Mark’s outbursts came were in response to statements by Finance Minister Colm Imbert that the former People’s Partnership (PP) government was interfering in the selection of the procurement regulator before it demitted office in September 2015. Mark countered that the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) was trying to “hijack the procurement process” and he had a document to prove this.

When Kangaloo told Mark not to shout, Mark replied, “I am not shouting.” Kangaloo told him his right to speak was not being curtailed but he did not have to shout as he contributed to the debate.

While Mark said he would “try to take it down,” he repeatedly shouted at government senators as he rejected Imbert’s comments.

The Senate was suspended for 15 minutes around 3.06 pm but it was not until 3.30 pm that Kangaloo returned. Mark complied with her rulings Imbert said the total package of $85,000 (including a monthly salary of $50,000) per month was being offered to the procurement regulator. Noting Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s salary is $59,680 per month and his own salary was $41,030 per month, Imbert said it was “outrageous for the Opposition to be calling for the regulator to receive a monthly salary of $100,000. He disclosed that under the PP, CEOs of subsidiaries of State Enterprises were being paid that kind of salary for doing nothing and that was, “the low end of the scale.” Imbert said it was “pure hypocrisy” for the Opposition to claim the PNM was interfering in the selection of the regulator by assisting the Office of the President in the recruitment of a firm that would undertake this exercise. He disclosed that a committee chaired by former Senate president Timothy Hamel-Smith was overseeing an exercise that would have led to his ministry playing a direct role in the regulator’s selection. Imbert said Government is taking “a hands off approach” unlike the PP.

Independent Senator David Small supported the objective of the motion but was concerned that the country would not get the regulator it needed to unwind, “decades of accepted corruption.” Small was concerned that the compensation package being offered could result in an underpaid “procurement czar.”Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat supported Imbert as he noted the Financial Intelligence Unit director deals with billions of dollars in suspicious transaction reports and does not receive a monthly salary as high as $100,000.

The nine-bout card was part of the Community Boxing Caravan and was in conjunction with the Biomel Boxing Gym in Sangre Grande and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

The team that leaves for Guyana tomorrow includes Cecil Forde (team manager), Merril John (coach), Jason Aqui (coach) and boxers Nyrell Hosein, Tyrique Hosein, Abdul Taylor, Blessing Waldropt, Denzil Massy, Edwin Felix, Nickell Joseph and Juan Rodriguez.

Hosein warmed up for the Championships by defeating his Biomel Boxing Gym teammate Abdul Taylor by a split decision in a 40kg contest, while Joseph of Siparia Boxing Gym got past Tyrell Cadette of YTC Conquerors in an 81kg bout by an unanimous decision.

In other results, Massy lost to Nathan Debesette by split decision in a 64kg fight; Waldropt defeated Tyreke Weeks by a unanimous decision in a 57kg contest; Tyrique’s brother Nyrell outlasted Rodriguez by a unanimous decision in a 47kg bout.

The event was a major success as the main goal was to attract the attention of the youngsters in the community to join the gyms in their community and also open new ones.

Individuals in Toco, Rio Claro and Mayaro are enquiring as to how they could register gyms. The TT BA thanked Acting Commissioner of Prisons Cecil Duke, Deopersad Ramoutar and the Superintendent of YTC Elvin Scanterbury for their continued support in making the programme a success. The next event, which is in conjuction with the Floyd Trumpet Boxing Gym, takes place on May 29 at the Enterprise Recreational Facility in Enterprise.

The landlord of the bar which Dinanath operated expressed surprise on learning that he was living in Curepe saying that the information he had was that Dinanath was from Dam Road in Point Fortin. “I don’t know much about his private life, but I know he was a seer…a Pundit in Point Fortin,” said a friend who spoke at the Asylum Bar yesterday.

“If he really was a seer-man, I don’t know how come he didn’t see this coming,” the man added.

According to reports, relatives were trying to reach Dinanath on his cell phone up to Monday afternoon, but to no avail. Worried, they went to check on him at his apartment and found the place broken into and ransacked.

They found Dinanath dead in a room. An autopsy yesterday revealed Dinanath died as a result of massive haemorrhaging from the slit across his throat. Police believe the motive behind Dinanth’s murder was robbery as he was known to wear alot of thick gold jewelry.

No arrest has been made and investigations.

Sherwin Ghany, 37, reappeared in the Sixth Court before Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay on the charge. It is alleged that on January 26, 2011, police intercepted the vehicle in which he was driving along the Southern Main Road, St Margaret’s, Claxton Bay.

The officers allegedly found the three $100 forged bills and arrested Ghany. PC Poolchan of the Southern Division Task Force charged him for the alleged offence.

At his initial appearance, Ghany pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The matter went to trial in which the prosecution had two witnesses namely Poolchan and Sgt Hosein of the Barrackpore Police Station. Last month the prosecution closed its case and Magistrate Dubay had adjourned the case to yesterday.

After reviewing the evidence presented in the courtroom, the magistrate ruled yesterday that there was sufficient evidence for him to stand trial at the High Court.

The magistrate granted fresh surety bail in the sum of $20,000.

Sgt Gordon Maharaj prosecuted while attorney Ainsley Lucky represented the accused man.

There was a thriller in the Under- 17 category as QRC needed overtime to defeat International School of Port of Spain 54-52.

The scores were locked at 17 after the first half, and 44 apiece at the end of regulation time.

But QRC held their nerves in the overtime period to claim the win.

Nwadike Felix netted 19 and Kobee James 15 for QRC. Remy Brewer had a game-high 29 for the International School.

Also on the day, East Mucurapo were led by 13 from Jodi Antoine as they beat Tranquility 31-20. Kerry McClaren hit 12 for Tranquility, who trailed 31-20 at the half.

The transformation of the already beautiful plaza was a sight to behold.

The Le D?ner en Blanc event has captured the hearts of patrons around the globe and last year it debuted at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. Patrons must wear all-white to gain entry to the event.

It was billed as the tr?s chic picnic of the year, and indeed it was. Carly Coutts of Ultimate Events and the Le D?ner en Blanc team were busy co-ordinating all the movements and keeping guests happy.

After patrons parked in the Edward Street Parkade, they were ushered across the street to sit at the traditional long tables with their picnic baskets Those who opted to order their gourmet meals from well-known caterers Bernard Long, Adrian Cumberbatch and Joe Brown collected them at the venue.

However, GCG events, the official Le D?ner en Blanc package caterer, gave guests who ordered online a choice of Mediterranean and European menus that comprised appetizer, salad, entree of chicken or fish and desert, or the vegetarian dinner that substituted those entrees with a choice of eggplant lasagne or tofu.

Benz and Moet, official local partners of the 2017 event, as per their request, were allowed to invite their clientele and host them at Le D?ner en Blanc.As guests set their tables they were entertained by saxophonist Stein Ramkaran, then came the napkin wave to signal the start of dinner.

During dinner, guests were entertained by vocalist Ariel Cowie who blew them away with her sultry voice and choice of songs. It was when she got into the singing of At Last that the applause of the crowd got loudest.

After dinner, there was another tradition –the lighting of “starlights” to signal the start of the party. And what a party it turned out to be. It seems as though no one wanted to leave in a hurry. Patrons partied well into the night to a good mix of music from the deejay.