Rowley gave this confirmation in response to a question from Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister explained that Government has done a general evaluation of the State Enterprise sector.

He explained that on a “case by case basis”, companies within the sector will be examined.

Rowley said if these companies have outlived their usefulness or strayed from their mandate, a determination will be made if dissolution is the best option.

The Prime Minister also said the “vast majority” of State Enterprise companies have complied with a directive to submit their financial reports by March 31 and this will better inform the Government about the true state of their respective affairs.

Recently, Government took decisions to dissolve the Tourism Development Company (TDC), Caroni Green and the Government Human Resource Service Company Ltd (GHRSL).

“It is easy to say change the minister. The last government showed that changing the minister did not change anything.

There were four or five national security (ministers) in the last government,” he said.

While the ministry was the policy making body, Rowley said, agencies like the police service and army are the executing bodies.

Reiterating that TT is a violent and lawless society, he said, “What I am trying to do is suppress some of that violence, if not, all of it and have a system where people are held accountable for their behaviour. We need some serious attitudinal changes in this country.” The job of the 8,000 police officers, he said, is to respond to the criminals.

However, he added, there are corrupt elements in the police service. “Rooting out corruption in the police service is something that is fundamental to the creation of a service that the population can trust, and officers themselves can trust their colleagues,” he said.

He gave the example of a machine gun being found in a community.

For the weapon to be retrieved, the find had to be reported to another police station outside of that community. Another source of frustration, he said, was the country not having a substantive Commissioner of Police (CoP).

“The last analysis from my advisers is that between the DPA (Department of Public Administration) and the Police Service Commission, somewhere in there, is stuck this country’s inability to appoint a commissioner,” he said.

Cudjoe explained that while the new board of the Port Authority are considering other recommendations for the domestic seabridge when the Galicia ends its service on April 21, the TT Spirit and TT Express will be used to transport critical supplies and perishable goods to Tobago.

Earlier in the sitting, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the authorised signatory for the charter party agreement for the Galicia was signed by permanent secretary in the transport ministry, Verna Johnson.

The Galicia was acquired under the former People’s Partnership government.

Asked what Government was doing about the forex shortage, Rowley said preference is given to certain categories including manufacturers and pharmaceuticals. They are given preference because they are producing something, he said.

“They are creating employment, and in fact, they should be exporting and earning foreign exchange, but there is no guarantee that, that would work. If the manufacturer earns foreign exchange and does not put it back in the system after given preference, that will not fix anything.” The numbers show that the amount of forex Central Bank is putting into the system, if it is properly distributed, “we should be better off than we are right now,” he said. Asked if the problem was in the banking system, Rowley said, “The problem is all around.

You see a sign offering $8 for a US dollar. You know that is illegal, but every policeman in Trinidad and Tobago would pass that there and not ask anybody a question. That is what is happening.” Admitting there is not enough forex to meet all demand, Rowley said, “We as a government is saying to the banks, there are priorities…manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, public debt.” Nevertheless, as a nation of distributors and with some captains of industry having made their reputation by being distributors, he said, “if they do not get enough foreign exchange to buy and distribute they believe the country is falling apart.”

Addressing an installation ceremony for three new appointees as Puisne Judges to the Supreme Court at President’s House in St Ann’s, CJ Archie responded to concerns raised by attorney and UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen and others in the legal profession, about the process by which judges are appointed.

Archie said the criteria has been made public, through legal notice, since April 2000. “This is no secret, your Excellency (President Anthony Carmona), all of these criteria have been laid bare since April 2000 in legal notice. So, this is information in the public domain and, if anybody wishes, they can check it out and to remind themselves,” he said during the simple function.

Those elevated to the position of High Court judge are Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, Registrar Kevin Ramcharan and Acting Senior Magistrate Avason Quinlan-Williams, wife of Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. It was the first time in the history of the TT legal profession that two sitting magistrates were promoted to High Court judge, on the same day.

Archie said the newly-appointed judges each have previous experience as judicial officers and as such, are well-positioned to assume their new roles. “Everyone of these candidates has previous experience as a judicial officer,” Archie said, adding that candidates for positions on the High Court bench are subjected through, “one of the most rigorous selection processes I think you can find anywhere in the region or the Commonwealth.” Saying he is well aware of criticisms levelled against him for, “my irritation at what I considered to be unfair and uninformed criticism of appointments in the past”, the CJ said he felt it necessary to lay bare the process, “because we really do take a lot of trouble to find the best people.” Archie said the Judiciary is the only branch of Government which has published and publicly articulated the criteria for appointment “That is not to say that the other two arms of the State do not have very worthy and competent people.

But we declare publicly what we consider,” he said. “We consider professional competence, legal knowledge and training, intellectual and analytical ability, communication skills organisational skills, interest in developing the law.

“We consider the integrity of applicants , honesty, fairness, ethical standard, independence, commitment to public service.

We look at their temperament, courtesy, humility, emotional balance, authority, social awareness , receptiveness to ideas, ability to listen and reliability and experience.” The CJ said applicants also were required to take a written examination.

“Every candidate would have been subjected to a rigorous interview,” he said.

“I am surprised that some of them have not changed their minds. But the fact that they have survived and come through that process successfully I think is testament to the calibre of persons we have appointed to the bench today.”

“I have to warn you, it is going to be a lonely job because many times as it has happened to the Chief Justice, as it has happened to myself personally, we have had to go to functions and see certain persons there and you could turn right back and leave because justice itself, is based to a large extent on perception,” Carmona said.

“And, if you are seen talking to the wrong person, people perceive it in a particular way. But you are only human and you have to speak to any and everyone not knowing who they are sometimes.” Carmona spoke after formally installing Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, Registrar Kevin Ramcharan and Acting Senior Magistrate Avason Quinlan-Williams as new Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court at President’s House, St Ann’s.

Saying he has followed closely, the careers of Ayers-Caesar, Quinlan-Williams and Ramcharan, in relation to clarity of vision, jurisprudential depth and objective adjudicative process, Carmona said the new appointees are well-suited to their new portfolios.

“So that what is happening here today, is something that should have happened a long time…looking for judges in the trenches of the Judiciary because in the trenches you have excellence,” he said. “I can tell you, I have seen that excellence at the Court of Appeal, defending your judgements over the years.” Carmona told the new judges that they had the ability to bring “real justice” in all forms and fashions through their volunteer work particularly with young people. “Because not only will you all be engaged in the actual adjudication of cases, but you all are people of heart,” he said.

“I know that you all have gone beyond the bench to engage change among our young people.

Many times persons are prepared voluntarily without payment, to go beyond that boundary to change lives.

At about 11.40 pm, Fernando who worked in the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, was sitting outside his La Mango Road home, when two gunmen shot him multiple times. They ran to the back of Fernando’s house and escaped. Residents who heard the gunshots, alerted police.

Relatives yesterday described the victim as a quiet person who kept to himself. They added that they had no confidence in the police solving the murder and charging anyone. “I spoke to him last night, because he is always by us.

We live further up the hill.

I don’t know what could have caused this,” said a relative. An autopsy is expected to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre in St James today. The murder toll yesterday stood at 148.

AROUCA SLAYING In an unrelated incident, Akile Mitchell, a welder who lived in Arouca was shot dead on Tuesday night but relatives believe his murder will not be properly investigated as they alleged Mitchell was being “targeted” by police.

“I don’t think police will make any effort because they too wanted him dead,” said a relative. “Up until last Tuesday he was in trouble with police. Monday he was complaining his feet were swollen because he had been held for four days by police. About 4 am on Tuesday they came back and said they had a warrant to search.

“They searched and then took him back to jail with 11 other men. They said he get hold for two guns, but they released him after. Police officers told him he had to die,” the relative claimed.

However, the family believe Mitchell was murdered by gangsters after he refused to join the group. According to reports, police found 22-year-old Mitchell’s body at about 10.30 pm, after they responded to a report of gunshots being heard at Windy Hill, Bon Air North in Arouca.

Yesterday relatives said Mitchell enrolled in the Milat programme, along with other institutions and earned certificates in welding and plumbing. Relatives said he made several reports to the Police Complaints Authority after being harassed by police.

Reports are that at about 10 am, a farmer was tending to crops in his garden located near Sankar Avenue when he stumbled upon the body.

The farmer reported the matter to the Princes Town Police Station.

A team of police officers from Homicide Region Three visited the scene. A District Medical Officer (DMO) viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre.

A media release from the police service stated that the teen of Enid Village in Rio Claro was last seen in San Fernando on April 10.

Patrick was spotted walking along High Street at about 5.15 pm. She never returned home.

Patrick is of African descent, 5 feet tall, medium build and dark brown in complexion.

She was last wearing a black and white dress with a black hat and sandals.

A Missing Person’s report was lodged at the Rio Claro Police Station by her mother Jennifer Byneal.

Anyone with information can contact 800-TIPS, 911 or the nearest police station.

Officers have planned extensive anti-crime operations in all nine divisions across the nation.

These exercises will include road blocks, stop and search, DUI and speed exercises. Yesterday, Tobago Divisional head Snr Supt Joanne Archie advised people visiting the sister isle to obey the law and avoid spending the weekend in a cell.

“We will be out in our numbers to ensure all who use the roads – be it pedestrian or motorist – do so in a safe environment.

We are asking visitors and residents not to throw caution to the wind. We will be there not to give people a hard time, but to ensure they are safe during the holiday period on the island,” Archie said.

ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw added that police will be making checks on camps across the nation and there will be patrols on the beach. Hackshaw said there will be a heightened police presence in all communities.

He advised the public to apply all precautions, ensure their valuables are secured and when possible, to travel in groups.