“It’s a scam, it is corrupt and the people involved are the people who are finding favour with this People’s National Movement (PNM) government,” Roget said.

This in response to an expose by Persad-Bissessar at the national congress of her party on Sunday, that one of Petrotrin’s lease operators contracted to supply its Pointea- Pierre refinery with crude oil, has allegedly defrauded the company of almost TT$100 million by inflating its oil production.

Persad-Bissessar read details about the disparity in the quantity of oil it was purchasing from the operator, she named, from what was actually received at the refinery.

“And people signing off on this (receipt of the oil),” Roget said.

“We are calling for a transparent and independent inquiry into the corrupt stealing of oil and the corrupting charging for oil that the lease operators did not produce. We made that call last week and we reinforce our call for an independent authority to investigate.

“Petrotrin cannot investigate itself, neither can the Ministry of Energy or the Ministry of Finance,” he said criticising the newly configured board for its lack of experience even as he called for the replacement of Permanent Secretary, Selwyn Lashley.

Petrotrin confirmed that investigations are in progress to reports of inconsistencies in the volume of crude oil from their Exploration and Production fields and the volumes reported as received at the PAP refinery. Saying that corruption is not new to Petrotrin, Roget submitted, “The OWTU has consistently raised the issue of corruption with the lease operators, the farm out programme and the contracting of and giving away of lucrative wells.

“We raised that issue prior to the United National Congress (UNC) coming into office, when Malcolm Jones (then Petrotrin president) was there. We raised it when the UNC were there and we raised it again under the PNM. “It is just a matter of which party is in power and which corrupt contractor and contract lease arrangement benefits that party. So now it is benefitting the PNM, before it was benefitting the UNC and the PNM before and so on.” He charged that this is the reason why all Ministers of Energy have favoured the farm out and lease out arrangements.

He was first appointed on August 24 but his appointment was subsequently revoked after questions arose as to whether he had Ghanaian citizenship. On August 31, Le Hunte took full responsibility for the “communications glitch” which caused the initial confusion.

He apologised to Rowley and the nation. Le Hunte replaces W Michael Coppin in the Senate.

During the mid-year recess, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar hinted at possible changes to the Opposition’s bench in the Senate. The Opposition’s current senatorial line-up consists of Wade Mark, Daniel Solomon, Khadijah Ameen, Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge and Rodger Samuel. However Opposition officials were unable to confirm whether any of these people would be changed.

The main item of business for the Senate will be the start of debate on the Indictable Offences (Pre-Trial Procedure) Bill 2017 by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

Mark has questions on the Order Paper for Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein to answer.

Seales made the comment in response to the increasing incidence of people verbally and physically attacking the police when attempting to make arrests in certain areas.

Yesterday, he renewed his call for the issuance of non-lethal weapons to aid officers in situations where they may risk being overwhelmed by mobs.

“The government must put that in their budgetary allocations,” Seales said.

“I too must inform the commissioner to please provide the officers with pepper spray and tasers so they can respond adequately to disperse the crowd and go to the main offender.” One such incident occurred on Sunday when irate residents of Beetham Gardens intervened and took away a man who, police alleged, pointed a gun at them.

Reports are that members of the Inter-Agency Task Force were on patrol in the area when they saw three men who ran away when they saw the police. One of the men was confronted a short while later and was shot in his leg when he allegedly pulled out the gun.

The police attempted to take him to the hospital but were prevented from doing so when residents surrounded the wounded man and took him away. Police officers retreated and called for back-up.

The man was subsequently arrested and is in hospital under police guard.

On August 28, Beetham Gardens residents staged a heated protest during which they threatened the police and threw debris onto the Beetham Highway. The residents claimed the police were unfairly targeting people in the area.

The following day, three members of the Princes Town CID beat a hasty retreat out of Indian Walk, Moruga when they were threatened by residents who armed themselves with sticks and stones and threatened their lives when they attempted to arrest a 42-yearold man who they suspected was carrying a gun. Not even a warning shot fired in the air by police was enough to disperse the residents who taunted the policemen who eventually left after the man escaped. The man’s wife, Lisa Woods defended him saying certain men were being targeted in the community.

“They are wrongfully accusing us of attacking the police and they wrongfully accuse my husband of having a gun,” Woods said. Video footage of those three incidents were uploaded on social media.

On Sunday, members of the Cumuto Unit, Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch were on patrol near Trincity when they saw a man walking on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway with a belt in his hand. In a video also uploaded to social media, the man, identified as 41-year-old Terrence Samuel of Heliconia Crescent, La Horquetta, was seen striking a policeman with the belt. He was eventually subdued by the policeman, a colleague and a member of the public. Samuel was charged by Cpl Roger Coombs with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty, resisting arrest and obstruction on a highway. He appeared before Arima Magistrate, Debbie Ann Bassaw yesterday and was denied bail. The matter was adjourned to Thursday.

Seales commended the citizen who helped the police and called on the public to partner with them as they continue to police communities since the responsibility of securing communities must not fall solely on the shoulders of the Police Service. He said citizens have a part to play in the fight against crime.

Newsday spoke yesterday with Assistant Commissioner of Police Irwin Hackshaw who denounced the attacks on the police.

“Dialogue is a key component of good police-community relations,” he said. “We must also have some kind of mediation with residents of the Beetham and proactive community policing really needs to be implemented. Compliance, as well as law and order, must be maintained.”

Dr Ian Ho A Shu is health specialist at the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) which is loaning US$48.4 million to the Ministry of Health’s Health Services Support Programme run by fellow medic Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards.

The duo in a recent interview at the IDB’s St Clair office told Sunday Newsday how they hoped the money would help save the nation from the health and financial costs of the current upsurge in NCDs.

For this loan, NCDs are listed as cancer, cardio- vascular diseases and diabetes, although elsewhere can also be defined to include the likes of mental illness, said Abdool-Richards.

Briefing notes supplied by Dr Ho A Shu suggest that 80 per cent of all deaths in TT are due to NCDs, whose associated risks are poor diet, alcohol abuse, tobacco use and physical inactivity. Half the adult population of TT are overweight, and TT now has four times as many overweight kids as a decade ago. Childhood obesity is a precursor to adult obesity and poses a heightened risk for cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnoea and social problems.

Since 1980 the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 350 per cent, and for each patient on dialysis the health system is paying an extra $136,000 per year. The annual economic burden of all NCDs is $6 billion, or three percent of TT’s GDP.

Ho A Shu said the project will aim to change personal behaviour as early as primary school level. The Healthy Schools TT initiative will encourage more physical activity, plus food preparation guidelines. “We’ll measure BMI from the First Year for a five year period,” he said. Students, parents and teachers will all be involved, effused Ho A Shu.

NCD status is largely related to such as diet, exercise, tobacco and alcohol use, he remarked.

“We need to get this message out and measure if it is having an impact. “Traditionally, these programmes are very good at getting the information out, but a gap exists in collecting the results and data.” Noting the four-fold increase in child obesity, Ho A Shu lamented, “This is the first time in history that the younger generation are unhealthier than the older generation.” He said NCD awareness must constantly be kept in the public eye.

Abdool-Richards said the IDB loan will aim to improve both self-management of NCDs and hospital delivery of care.

It will boost the capacity of health providers such as dieticians plus the use of ICT to monitor patients. The loan will fund the screening of pregnant women for diabetes, she added.

Ho A Shu said the loan can help in the upgrade of existing recreation parks and other facilities by the likes of gym equipment to encourage people to exercise more. This funding will be by capital expenditure, but with the Government otherwise to be responsible for recurrent costs such as salaries of sports coaches, he added. Abdool- Richards was glad that the IDB will also be offering its technical expertise to implement aspects of the programme.

Even as the programme will enact health ideals espoused by both the United Nations and the Government, she hoped it will become a model of best practice for emulation throughout the Caribbean, where it is the first ever project of this magnitude.

IDB documents show the main allocations of the loan, chiefly US$30 million to the NCDs Prevention and Control Plan, US$8.4 million to the Human Resources for Health Plan, US$5 million for the Health Facilities Investment Management and US$2.1 million for Project Administration.

A US$3.5 million counterpart from the Government will fund an e-Health Information Management System.

Angry relatives yesterday told reporters at the Forensic Science Centre (FSC) in St James, they have been waiting since Saturday to verify whether or not the man was in fact their relative. However, they have been getting the “run around” from police.

They were told the man was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“He had no record and he has no pending matters. How could police just kill someone and have no remorse? Plus, we are looking for some kind of closure and the police are toying with us. Please, we cannot bring him back, but can we at least have some sort of closure?” According to reports, police from North Eastern Division executed a search warrant at the house when they met three men.

While trying to escape police, one of the men allegedly shot at them but police returned fire hitting two of them men, one of whom is believed to be Lewis.

Family members were notified on Friday night that he was shot and had died. They say they were called to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex to identify the body. They went on Saturday but police were a no-show.

They returned on Sunday, but after an entire day of waiting, police still did not show up. Yesterday they went to the FSC certain they would finally be able to identify the body but police told funeral home attendants they did not have police available to escort the body to the FSC.

“That is totally unfair,” said a relative yesterday, “They had six Jeeps to raid the house, but they don’t even have one to help bring the body?” In an unrelated incident, the body of a man who was shot dead on Duncan Street, Port of Spain last Friday, was identified as Kevin Morris. Relatives were reluctant to speak to reporters yesterday.

At around 2 pm police from the Port of Spain CID and Port of Spain Divisional Task Force, led by acting Senior Supt Ajith Persad and including Cpls Charles Budree, Huggins, went to the man’s home. During the search they allegedly found a revolver, a pistol, 22 rounds of ammunition and a quantity of marijuana.

The man was taken into custody and was interviewed yesterday at the Port of Spain CID in connection with several shootings and gun-related crimes in the Port of Spain Division.

2017 proved no exception as the ‘Gaylestorm’ finished third on the charts, amassing 376 runs.

The ‘Universe Boss’ smashed four fifties, including a high score of 93. En route he collected 26 fours and 21 sixes – modest by his usual standard. Gayle previously captained Jamaica Tallawahs to two trophies and came over to the Patriots after last year’s title. This year, he proved an agent of change, inspiring the team to the knockouts for the first time in their three-year existence, which consistently saw them propping the table. Sadly, despite his average of 63, his team ended in second-place.

2. Evin Lewis (St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots): The Trinbagonian opener has shown flashes of brilliance in the past for the T&T Red Steel, but this year he came to the fore big time. Lewis was transferred to the Patriots when they formed in 2015 but languished with them at the bottom of the table. This year, spurred on by Gayle, he ended fourth on the charts with 371 runs. Lewis cracked 28 fours and topped the sixes list with 31. The highlight of his season came with a masterful 97 not out off just 32 balls, failing to notch the century after Barbados Tridents skipper, Kieron Pollard, ended the game with a no-ball. What this run to the finals did was also remind the West Indies selectors of his presence, while also proving he could form a formidable partnership with the Jamaican.

3. Brendon McCullum (Trinbago Knight Riders): the Kiwi played just 10 matches before a broken wrist took him out the series. However, prior to that he was on course to correct his tame debut last year as he clattered 335 runs. He struck three fifties including a highest score of 91. Mc- Cullum shone with an average of 56, offering stability, adaptability in the top-order and an explosive start for the Knight Riders.

McCullum also brought a wealth of international experience from his New Zealand career and IPL stints.

4. Chadwick Walton (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Walton was a major coup for the Warriors who were seeking to overturn three runners-up spots in their history.

He played a supporting role in the Tallawahs’ two titles, cracking the top 10 twice, but this year he too exploded and served notice to the West Indian selectors. He accumulated the most runs in a single season with 458 while smashing the most boundaries this year: 37 fours and 24 sixes. His most memorable moment came when he battered countryman Kesrick Williams and mocked his signature send-offs.

5. Dwayne Smith (Barbados Tridents): After returning to the Tridents from Guyana Amazon Warriors, he was one of the few bright spots in a team that flopped. The 2014 champs failed to make the knockouts but Smith finished sixth on the charts with 349 runs. He clobbered 33 fours and 18 sixes and managed to illuminate the tournament with two centuries. He scored 103 not out against St. Lucia Stars and smacked 100 against the Warriors.

His centuries are enough to find room for him in the final XI.

6. Denesh Ramdin (Trinbago Knight Riders, wicketkeeper): Ramdin showed he definitely remains the fastest hands in the West Indies. He claimed the most dismissals with nine catches and two stumpings, shining in particular when it came to Sunil Narine and Shadab Khan’s spin. He also chipped in with 212 runs and helped partner Kevon Cooper in the finals to lead TKR to the trophy.

Ramdin wasn’t the flashiest out in the middle but he proved to be quite reliable with two crucial knocks against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots – a match-winning 59 not out and 26 not out in the final.

7. Dwayne Bravo (Trinbago Knight Riders, captain): following the 2015 title, Dwayne Bravo made it clear he wanted another title. TKR finished third last year but this time around, his captaincy was clearly a cut above the rest.

He struggled with the bat with just 110 runs but he proved his mettle with the ball, claiming 16 wickets. Bravo finished second on the charts after topping last year’s.

Bravo’s crowning moment came against Warriors in the Playoffs when he smartly rotated his bowlers to drive his team to the final.

8. Kevon Cooper (Trinbago Knight Riders): With TKR at 90 for seven in the finals, Patriots thought they had the home team but Cooper (29 not out) and Ramdin (26 not out) saw things home. He claimed 12 wickets in the tournament at an astounding average of just over 15, justifying why Bravo considers him one of the region’s best all-rounders. He may not have excelled with the bat but the medium-pacer saved the best for last. In this decider, he cracked two fours and two sixes and in just 14 balls, he crushed the Patriots’ fairytale dream.

9. Sohail Tanvir (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Tanvir became the most expensive pick-up in the last draft and he paid dividends, topping the charts with 17 wickets.

The Pakistani medium-pacer didn’t deliver as much with the bat but when you can nab five wickets for three runs, there’s no need to.

Last season he played second-fiddle to Bravo with 20 wickets, but this year he was the one edging the leaderboard. Along with Rayad Emrit (15 wickets) and Afghan spinner Rashid Khan (14 wickets), Guyana proved to have one of the strongest bowling attacks the CPL has ever seen.

10. Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders): Narine failed miserably with the bat as an opener, failing to repeat his IPL success with Kolkata. But as usual, he proved as reliable as ever with his mystery spin claiming 12 scalps. At an economy of 5.39, it’s tough to take him out the final XI because of how much he dominates batters, even when he isn’t taking wickets. Narine’s performance (1/8 from four overs) in the final proved record-breaking, setting a new mark for most economical spell ever in a CPL knockout game.

11. Shadab Khan (Trinbago Knight Riders): before the PCB kept toying with his availability, Shadab had fans asking Narine who? He claimed 12 wickets at a miserly 5.79 economy in just eight matches. With a couple four-wicket hauls, he proved to be even more aggressive than Narine with his leg-spin. Had he stayed for the full duration, there’s a great chance he would have topped the bowling charts, as batsmen found him unplayable.

If TKR stick with him and Narine, expect TKR to continue to dominate.

Newsday’s CPL All-Star XI
Chris Gayle
Evin Lewis
Brendon McCullum
Chadwick Walton
Dwayne Smith
Denesh Ramdin
Dwayne Bravo
Kevon Cooper
Sohail Tanvir
Sunil Narine
Shadab Khan

PC Sherwin Leela, who suffered burns covering close to 56 per cent of his body, was unable to give a statement to investigators before he died, as he was in critical condition. He is believed to have doused himself with gasoline.

Leela was at home last Sunday when he reportedly had an argument with a female relative. The relative told police she last saw him drinking alcohol and he became agitated.

At the scene at 6th Avenue, relatives told Newsday Walker came out from prison in May after serving a sentence for gun and ammunition-related charges.

They said he was known for his criminal behaviour.

“That boy never listened. He was a pest. I loved him, and he was a very loving person to me, but he was a pest.” At about 7.15 am, Walker and three men, dressed in CEPEP uniforms, entered the supermarket and announced a holdup.

They snatched cash from the register but, before they could escape, someone with a licensed firearm challenged them and a shootout ensued. Walker was shot and he died at the scene.

The man who shot him was also wounded and taken to hospital where he is said to be in critical condition.

One of Walker’s relatives said she wants to apologise to the owners of the supermarket but she does not know how they would react.

“If they lash out at me it would hurt me even more. I was tired of telling him about this bad-boy life he was living. How could you shoot a man and take what is not yours?” The relative told Newsday Walker had a troubled life since his mother died in his arms when he was six years old.

Since then he had been taken care of by other family members but slowly got into a life of crime

The event which marked the end of a three-day long workshop which sought to improve dialogue and networking between local and regional stakeholders in the agriculture sector in establishing a standardised framework for the trade of produce. Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat during his feature address reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to ensuring safe and affordable food to the nation and the region, adding that food security was everyone’s concern.

“I think that food safety systems cuts across everything that we do and if politicians don’t believe that it is their business, then they are not consuming food. It is something that affects all of us.” Rambharat added that food safety was especially important to the workforce as it has been shown that food borne illnesses have been responsible for a disproportionately high incidence of absenteeism in TT.

He also addressed claims of the Moringa plant as a potential treatment for serious ailments, urging consumers to do the necessary research on products before consuming them.

“I believe that at a minimum and with a big push, Moringa can be considered to be a food supplement.

I am not technically qualified to pronounce on it but I know Moringa does not qualify to be a cure for cancer, a cure for diabetes.” “I don’t think that anyone who is out there in flea markets who are advertising Moringa as a cure for all these things should be dispensing the sort of medical advice that they dispense.” The Minister said that in addition to the health and trade aspect of food security, the necessary precautions ought to be taken to protect consumers from fraudulent claims about produce.

Chilean Ambassador HE Fernando Schmidt also extended his congratulations to TT for taking the first steps towards regional dialogue on establishing the Codex Manual and Strategic Plan which are geared towards food security.

He said that the project was testament of Chile’s continued commitment to promoting regional sustainability adding that TT had enormous potential for growth in the agricultural sector.