When the PNM administration came to power on two major planks — crime and corruption — the people said, “Ah ha, now we go see action.” They are yet to see any meaningful action on both fronts, only promises, assurances and rhetoric that’s not inspiring hope.

The UNC heavy hitters cannot laugh “kiff kiff ” as their track record on crime and corruption is also far from impressive.

The police are fighting a monster, and it seems when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley hears the word crime, he gets vex. He is saying that is police business.

That is his business, too. He is the boss. The buck stops with him.

When he was begging on TV for the job, he talked tough about the Government introducing hundreds of municipal cops to make the place safer. It is almost a year and a half and the cops cannot be seen. Are they invisible? Are they among the missing people? Pray tell.

KEITH ANDERSON via email

Wednesday’s Newsday report on the situation at the Port-of- Spain Prison and at Golden Grove in Arouca is likely just the tip of the iceberg. With an aging criminal justice infrastructure (some of which dates back to colonial time), it is little surprise that the State has had to tender over time for special measures to deal with these unwelcomed guests. But in recent times, it seems, the situation has become more fraught .

Truly surreal scenes were described in Wednesday’s report .

People contacted Newsday, from behind bars, to complain that rats are everywhere including in eating areas, in cells, in bathrooms, in kitchens, in prison officers’ quarters .

Videos showed rodents going about their business, oblivious to the attention they were attracting .

Is there any more striking symbol of how poor prison conditions are? Earlier this month came reports of a water shortage at the Carrera Island prison. The situation was so bad the prison authorities had to allow prisoners to bathe in the sea under their supervision .

Newsday understands that years ago, a contract was given to a local pest eradication company to exterminate the rodents and that company undertook a major fumigation of prisons. However, the contract has since expired and with the latest rat infestation, executives of the prison authorities sent tenders for companies to bid for a new contract .

While that process is underway, the rats are multiplying at a rapid rate, putting both prisoners and prison officers at risk .

This raises a number of questions .

What is the reason for the sudden upsurge of this hazard and could it have been foreseen? Why has retendering for what should be a rudimentary maintenance issue taken so long? Is the situation affected by the physical conditions? Is there some vulnerability in prison design that has allowed rats to proliferate? If large rats are sneaking in and out, what is sneaking in and out with them? This is not only a matter that should be brought to the attention of the Ministry of National Security .

It potentially involves local government and the Ministry of Health .

The later, in particular, has an interest in ensuring all public health concerns are contained. And make no mistake. While seemingly limited to behind prison bars, this is a matter that has the potential to affect well beyond .

There is a fear that both prisoners and prison officers could fall ill from rat-borne diseases including leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever. There is also the risk that people coming into the prisons, such as visiting family members, could suffer as well .

President of the Prison Officers Association, Ceron Richards, has accused the Government of placing the issue on the back burner .

“Calls for help on this issue, just like our pleas for stab-proof vests and CCTV cameras to be installed, are being ignored and in some cases bogged down by bureaucracy,” claimed Richards. “The Government knows they are dealing with prisoners who cannot leave the prisons and prison officers who are too devoted to walk off the job. So we have to take what we get. The only thing consistent with the State is their excuses and the fact that they are not dealing with this and other problems.” It is easy to castigate “the Government” at large when administrative officials fail in their jobs. Missing from Richards’ account is an indication of when and to whom complaints have been addressed .

However, it is clear enough in our view that more needs to be done by the State to modernise and sanitise the penal system. The system should be about rehabilitation, not a case of men and mice .

The incident occurred at midday.

A clerk who did not wish to be named, recalled the ordeal to Newsday, saying she felt that her safety was at risk when the scruffy-looking man entered the store.

The clerk said she was at the back of the store when she noticed a tall man standing in the doorway. She called out to a co-worker, but that person did not answer. As she went to the front of the store, the clerk said she saw her colleague cowering in a corner. “I grabbed a chair and let him have it,” the clerk said.

“I hit him about two or three times with a metal folding chair but then he grabbed it and we started to scramble. Just then, I saw a police officer standing outside the store. My co-worker and I ran to the back of the store and jammed it with a table so he couldn’t open it,” the clerk said.

She added that while peeping through a crack in the door, she saw the man outside the store on the pavement. He quickly ran back into the store and slammed the door. The clerk said the man then stepped outside and confronted the police officer.

He was seen gesturing to the police officer and then he tried to snatch his gun. A scuffle ensued and the man was shot three times.

He ran a short distance before falling in the drain outside City Hall.

He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where up to press time reports that he had died could not be confirmed. Investigations are ongoing.

Brooks told PAEC members that the main challenge is accessing gas in the short term and the NGC is working assiduously on that front. Reiterating that a target has been set to complete a gas sales agreement for Venezuela’s Dragon Field by July, Brooks said teams from the NGC, Shell and Venezuelan energy company Petr?leos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) are working hard to achieve this goal. He added, “Quite recently we were able to sign off on the BP Angelin contract.” Brooks explained, “These activities will not solve our problems but certainly they will help us to fend with the times.” Brooks said the period beyond 2019 to 2023 period is critical for this country, “to see how we tee up” the required supplies of natural gas.

G, I thought, could not still be trapped in the prison system. G smiled faintly as he walked towards me .

After those mundane pleasantries that we all exchange initially in a conversation, I asked, “Do you have a court day yet?” It was a fair and unfair question: fair because he should have had a court date by now, and unfair because G has been in the prison’s remand system for over ten years now .

“I went to court the other day,” he said, “and I have a date to go back the end of June.” June, I thought, is a long way off for someone who has waited for a court date for ten years .

I first met G in YTC. I had asked for him to be put in my English class after I heard a speech that he had made on Emancipation Day. “Why haven’t I ever seen this young man?” I asked .

G had nearly made himself invisible in YTC. When I first met G, he was tall and lanky; quiet and shy. He would wait silently on the sidelines at YTC events when family had been invited. Moving nervously from one foot to the next, his gaze remained glued to the entrance where family would have to pass in order to get to the football field. Completely oblivious to the happy reunions between lads and their parents, he’d bite his lip and hope silently, nervously to see his family .

“If no one comes,” I would always say, “I will be your family.” G would nod and smile without shifting his gaze .

For a time, it seemed G had been lost in the system. Once, I had someone check to see where G’s file had landed. The DPP’s office, I was told. “He’ll have a court date in a year.” I received that information about three years ago .

In the meantime, I tried to get G to settle down into English classes. He had a difficult time focusing, but he tried his best .

Once, he wrote about how he ended up in YTC. At 14, he had gone to live in a house with other boys because he didn’t get along with his stepfather. A man in his 20s controlled the boys — usual story. By 16, G was in big trouble, and he had been charged with a capital offence. G’s story is a complicated one, as most stories are. It is a sad one too — as most stories of young men in prison .

Over the years, I could never help but feel that society had failed G .

Watching him at that religious gathering about two months ago, I thought how this teenager had grown up in the prison system .

He still seems like a teenager. He’s a young man who appears to be battered by society .

I wonder what will happen to G now. How will he find the world that he will return to? How will he fit in? Where will he go? These are questions I couldn’t bring myself to ask. A lot has changed in ten years, I think. I don’t know how well equipped G will be to face those changes. He has a few computer classes; some YTEP classes. Is that enough? I hope G will find his way in a society that failed him miserably .

I hope this with all my heart because I for one love him, and I long to see what he will make of his

This according to the NGC which issued a statement on recent discussions over construction of the Methanol and Dimethyl Ether plant at Union Industrial Estate. The plant will cost $1 billion to construct and completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018.

On April 11, NGC Group Chairman Gerry Brooks accompanied by NGC President Mark Loquan and VP Finance, Narinejit Pariag, met with senior representatives of Mitsubishi Gas Holdings, Massy Holdings Limited and JBIC to discuss the complex. Also in attendance at the meeting in Port-of-Spain were CEO of Massy Holdings Limited Gervase Warner and Executive Chairman of Massy’s Energy and Industrial Gases Business Unit, Eugene Tiah.

The NGC release said discussions centred around several matters including the progress of the plant with Mitsubishi officials and Brooks assuring representatives of the JBIC, that CGCL had made excellent progress to date.

“Mitsubishi engineers also intend using the dry season to advance construction to ensure critical deadlines are met. CGCL’s role in Trinidad is integral given that it currently employs approximately 500 persons, many of whom are drawn from the community of La Brea.

Additional employees will be recruited over the next phase of the project,” NGC stated.

Brooks also updated JBIC on a number of initiatives to improve the short to medium term gas supply, including Trinidad Region Onshore Compression project (TROC) in the third quarter of 2017 and Juniper, scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.

Citing the recent successful negotiations for gas supply with bpTT and the Angelin Project, NGC said Brooks “underscored the future potential of other game-changing initiatives such as gas from the Dragon field, currently progressing apace with PDVSA and Shell; exploration of over 150 small and marginal fields; future possibilities of supply from the Rio Caribe and Soldado fields and unconventional sources that would provide resolution in the medium to long term.” According to Nakaba Aoyagi, Director, Project Executive Advisor, CGCL, the JBIC contingent, “had a positive impression on NGC’s future gas supply plan” and were reassured that NGC and GORTT were committed to resolving the supply/ demand balance by greater coordination and collaboration with the players in the value chain.

Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited (CGCL) is a joint venture consortium comprising NGC, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Incorporated, Mitsubishi Corporation and local conglomerate Massy Holdings Limited. JBIC is the main lender for the billion-dollar CGCL project.

Instead, the Siparia resident, a form four student, told police yesterday that she spent the two days hiding alone in some bushes behind her home.

Sanchez’s mother Anjela Ramlakha confirmed that her daughter emerged from the bushes yesterday and subsequently went to the Siparia Police Station.

She said Sanchez went into hiding after she discovered a text message on Sanchez’s phone. Ramlakha said Sanchez was fearful of the repercussion in the event a male relative had learnt about the contents of the text message.

“We are just glad she (is) fine,” Ramlakha said.

Newsday asked if Sanchez had any visible marks of insect bites. Ramlakha responded: “Her skin seemed fine.” On Tuesday at about 1.30 pm, Sanchez left her Syne Village to purchase an item from the bakery. When she failed to return home, relatives searched for her but she was nowhere to be found. All calls to her phone went unanswered.

Siparia police are continuing investigations.

Meanwhile, police are calling on members of the public to assist them in locating 15-year-old Akiede Thomas who is a ward of the St. Jude’s Home for Girls. Her mother Leann Alexander of Embacadere, San Fernando, said relatives last saw her at the house at about 8.30 am on Wednesday. At about 1 pm, Alexander reported her missing to San Fernando police.

Thomas was last seen wearing a pair of black three-quarter pants and a pink top. She is of African descent, five feet tall, stockily built with short black hair and of dark brown complexion, police said Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact the nearest police station or 800-TIPS, at 555, 999 or 911.

He has been identified as Samuel John of Henry Street, Orange Valley. Police said that at about 7 pm John and another man went out to sea near the fishing port in a pirogue and then transferred to a trawler. Police said the men had gone to do repair work on the trawler and while doing so, a rope which was fastened from the boat to the trawler became loose. The police were told that John jumped into the sea to stop the pirogue from drifting away. It was there he got into difficulties and disappeared.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday John’s cousin Jerome Mendoza, 30, said he believes the waters may have been rough.

“My cousin has been a fisherman for the past ten years, so I know something went wrong in the waters,” he said. Mendoza said he was informed that the man who accompanied John could not swim and was unable to enter the sea. “He told us he heard Sammy cry out for help, but he could do nothing to save him and by the time he was able to get help it was too late.

When help came and everyone used their flashlights to search for Sammy he was gone.” Mendoza said relatives believe John drowned but are hoping to recover his body to get closure.

“Everyone is still in disbelief that he is gone. It is really sad to know what happened.”

Prior to the attack, Constable Judson Mohammed told the prisoner that it is the State which must provide him with his meals.

Yesterday, a High Court judge awarded PC Mohammed $30,000 in damages after he was successful in a lawsuit filed against the State for its continuing lack in providing metal detectors, batons and sufficient police officers to control the approximately 100 prisoners who arrive daily to the courthouse.

Mohammed is the second officer in almost a year, to be awarded damages after suing the State for injuries sustained in such attacks at the hands of prisoners.

Last May, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh in awarding Constable Bunny Kameel Ali damages, called for an “urgent assessment” of court facilities which he, said must comply with the appropriate standards of safety and security. Ali was struck in the eye by a prisoner in the cell block of the same courthouse and sued on the ground that the ratio of police officers to prisoners, was too small.

Yesterday, Justice Margaret Mohammed found that the State was negligent and ordered it to pay PC Mohammed $30,000 for the injury inflicted by the prisoner. In his lawsuit, PC Mohammed contended that because he refused to buy doubles for the prisoner, he was attacked. Justice Mohammed, in a 39-page written judgement, recollected the evidence given by PC Mohammed, whom she said, testified that on the morning of January 14, 2011, a prisoner who was in the cell, called out to him.

The prisoner, the judgement stated, was reputed to be the leader of a gang known as ‘the blood gang’. The prisoner asked PC Mohammed to buy him some doubles. The judge stated that PC Mohammed refused the prisoner’s request, telling him; “The State will provide you with breakfast.” This refusal did not go down to well with the prisoner, whom Justice Mohammed stated, threatened PC Mohammed.

When PC Mohammed opened the cell gate, to take prisoners into the courtroom, the prisoner attacked him with a sharp metal object. PC Mohammed sustained a cut above the left eye. Justice Mohammed stated that other prisoners joined in and cuffed and kicked the bleeding officer. PC Mohammed later sought treatment at San Fernando General Hospital.

The grounds of the lawsuit, filed by attorney Saira Lakhan, were that the State ought to have provided a sufficient number of police officers to man the volume of prisoners.

Also, there was a lack of sufficient handcuffs, batons, locks for the cells, metal detectors, a handbook on safety and updated training on how to manage dangerous prisoners or those who are ill with contagious diseases. In fact, the judge added, the lawsuit stated that cops are not trained to deal with prisoners who may riot or revolt in the cell block. In reference to Mohammed’s evidence, the judge stated that on the day of the attack, there were only five batons in the cell block, one of which was broken and held together with masking tape. There were 15 handcuffs to be used on 100 prisoners.

The State challenged the lawsuit and submitted to Justice Mohammed that there were seven to ten police officers on the morning of the incident and that was sufficient to deal with the volume of prisoners.

The duty of police officers assigned to the cell block, is to offload prisoners from the prison van, place them into a cell and then escort them upstairs into the dock of various courtrooms.

In giving her ruling, Justice Mohammed said the State failed in its duty to provide adequate staff and supervision on the morning of the incident. If there was a sufficient number of officers as well as adequate supervision, the risk of injury to PC Mohammed would have been minimised. She ordered the State to pay him $30,000 in general damages plus interest at 2.5%. The State must also pay his legal cost of $9,250.25.

The judge made no comment on the continued lack of manpower in the Holding Bay cells of the San Fernando Magistrates’ court, unlike Justice Boodoosingh who in the lawsuit filed by officer Ali, said, “The State must do its part to ensure that no one is injured in the future as a result of a failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety and security of those who use our judicial buildings.”

Wakeel said this yesterday morning to the media during a “peace initiative” organised by the Masjid of Peace (formerly known as Unruly ISIS) and the Islamic Front led by Umar Abdullah where the group distributed water, juices, and flowers to people making their way through Enterprise.

Several social media commentors criticised Dillon and Dick for the manner in which they spoke with Wakeel while he spoke about the underlying causes of crime in his community.

Since then, Wakeel said Central police have been “fighting him down” and trying to turn the community against him. On Wednesday evening, Wakeel said the police raided a man’s home and said, “‘You know the reason why we do this?’ and the guy said ‘What? I don’t sell drugs so there is no reason for you to be here.’ And he (the police) was like ‘blame Krysis.’” “The only place I does be right now is Crown Trace and they are trying to turn my own Crown Trace people against me because they telling them I is the reason why, you understand.” Wakeel said this treatment made it hard for him to appear in public, but he was willing to do it to be an example for the young people in his community for whom he is a religious leader. Attempts, however, to reach Central Division Senior Supt Kenny McIntyre for comment were unsuccessful.

Yesterday’s peace initiative was not attended by representatives of the opposing Rasta City gang. Asked whether their work was being supported by the Rasta City gang, Wakeel said “Things does take time, you know. We do not expect America and Syria to sign a peace treaty and expect gunfire to stop bussing. No, that is not going to happen.

It have to have a perfect understanding and that not going to happen overnight.” But they were willing, he said. “If they was not willing then it would have still have all this bacchanal going on in Enterprise.

Ever since we had this lil talk in Enterprise, nothing has happened in Enterprise since.”