Yesterday, angry workers from the Beetham landfill protested in front of the dump calling on Public Utility Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to make a statement by the end of the day otherwise the protest will be extended to other dumps namely Guanapo and Forres Park.

“They have created the most hazardous environment for our workers. In Trinidad, you don’t have landfill you have dumps and there are all types of poisonous waste there…you name it. Workers have to operate in that environment and there is no priority being placed on funding Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL) to rehabilitate those dumps,” Benacia said.

He said the union wrote Hinds in November seeking a meeting to discuss issues including hazardous work conditions and retroactive payments owed to workers. “Mr Hinds has not responded to our letter. We have asked him to meet with the union and visit the site to understand what the former Public Utilities Minister meant when he said conditions are inhumane.”

“Workers consider this as total disrespect. In addition to that we had a meeting with the Minister of Finance last week Wednesday, when he indicated to us that he was just being made aware that SWMCOL workers were not getting paid like everybody else and Government has to look into Public Utilities to see if they have any left over money, from their budget, to pay us and if they don’t, they will have to make a request for additional funding. That is considered total disrespect.”

He warned the nation’s dumps are a “ticking time bomb” with some explosions already taking place in terms of environmental pollution. “Run-off from dumps have poisoned our mangroves, the marine environment, rivers and the dust that blows off these dumps especially the one at the Beetham, it dissipates over Portof- Spain and as far as Woodbrook and Westmoorings and even further is being covered with this very highly polluted dust.”

“We are the lowest paid workers who do the most hazardous jobs in the country. I don’t know if the Government does not consider us as public servants because they never placed any priority on sanitation workers in this country. It is as if we are not important and don’t mean anything. And the only time we seem to get a response is when we protest…and that is shameful.”

He claimed that the same disrespect sanitation workers got from the People’s Partnership, they are also getting from the incumbent PNM government.

She was granted bail on four of the seven charges laid against her.

Rose Maria Smith, also known as Rose Howai, appeared before Port-of-Spain 11th Court before Magistrate Cheron Raphael charged with stealing $453,840 and US$3,391 from seven people between 2010 and 2016. It is alleged that between July 2, 2015, and June 27, 2016, at Piarco she stole $33,415 from Marlon St Louis; between June 2016 and September 2016 at Maloney, she stole $24,595 from Kenwyn Lewis and between January 16, 2014, and April 22, 2014, at Arouca, she stole $74,400 from Vera Ramoutar.

Smith was not granted bail for these matters, which were transferred to the Arima Magistrates Court, to be heard on April 19. It is also alleged that from July 1, 2015, and February 4, 2016, in Port-of-Spain, she stole $25,000 from Trent Haynes; between June 6, 2014, and September 21, 2015, at San Juan, she stole $178,660 and US$3,391 from Lee Negorie; between March 13, 2014, and May 1, 2015, at San Juan, she stole $93,000 from Stephanie Lewis Dyer and between September 30, 2010, and March 12, 2013, at Port-of-Spain, she stole $24,770 from Majorie Victor.

Smith was granted $450,000 bail to cover the incidents which allegedly took place in Port-of-Spain and San Juan.

Her bail is to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace III and she has been ordered to report to the Arouca Police Station on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6 am and 6 pm.

She returns to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on May 5.

Smith was arrested in the precincts of the Port-of-Spain High Court, court prosecutor Sgt Joseph Logan objected to bail being granted for fear that Smith might abscond.

The court also heard that Smith has a pending matter in the Arima Magistrates’ Court.

Smith’s attorney Herbert Charles told Magistrate Raphael his client’s husband is an IT manager at the NCRHA, her sister is a police officer and her brother a soldier.

He insisted that despite the contention of the police, Smith and her husband are not divorced and she is a teacher who taught police officers. PCs Murray, Lazarus, Kissoonsingh and Plante laid the charges.

Kerwyn George appeared before Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert who read to him the charges which alleged that he had sexual intercourse with a girl who was 12-years-old.

The first charge alleged that on August 15, he had sex with the girl and the second charge claimed he assaulted the child last week Wednesday.

The court heard that the accused has no previous convictions or pending cases. Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit prosecuted. George was granted $150,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace.

As a condition to the bail being granted, Magistrate Alert ordered George to not come within 100 feet of the victim at any time.

The case was adjourned to May 8.

Aleem Ali, director of Ansad Services has taken the Comptroller of Customs to court following the seizure of his car on December 3.

He claims to have received permission to remove the luxury car from the Customs and Excise Division lot and keep it at his premises.

Ali, who is represented by Jagdeo Singh, Kiel Tacklalsingh, Vivek Lakhan-Joseph and Ananda Rampersad, further claims the seizure of the car was illegal and procedurally improper.

He is seeking to have the High Court compel the Comptroller of Customs to release and return the car to him.

According to Ali, he imported the car on May 20, and was at the time negotiating with the Ministry of Finance to secure certain exemptions as the car was in transit when a new tax regime came into effect.

Ali said he wrote to the Assistant Comptroller of Customs seeking to have the car released to him and stored at his premises at Fanny Village, Point Fortin.

The lawsuit claims Ali’s request was based on safety concerns and the Comptroller of Customs granted the request.

Ali said he paid significant sums of money to compensate customs officers for the overtime required to inspect the vehicle at his Point Fortin premises.

He said when the customs officers entered his premises, they did so without his permission, and read to him a document which they claimed gave them the permission to enter the compound and take the vehicle.

According to the notice of seizure, Ali was charged with harbouring uncustomed goods.

Ali said he was never given a right to be heard either prior to or after the car was seized. Justice Devindra Rampersad has been assigned the case which is listed in the Port-of-Spain High Court

Her mother, Abigaile Mota, a mother of seven, was numb with grief as she spoke with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday.

“Tyran was a loving, fun, bright child.” said Mota, “She was so many things. Now every time I think about her, I want to cry.” She told Newsday that the loss of her home, which housed all seven of her children, could not compare to the loss that she felt when she heard of her daughter’s death.

She also told Newsday she was in Toco when she learned of the fire.

According to reports, Terrence Wilson, 48, left his six step-children, and his daughter, at their home on Herman Gerard Avenue, Arima, while he went to work. He left them in care of the eldest of the children, a 14-year-old girl.

At about 2 pm Sunday, neighbours reported seeing smoke coming from one of the windows of the house.

The teenaged girl gathered all the children in the house and ran outside to safety, however, she did not notice Tyran as she ran back into the house.

By the time she heard the toddler calling out for help it was too late.

Fire services were alerted and the fire was doused, 30 minutes after the report was made. The charred remains of the threeyear- old girl were found in the debris when the fire was extinguished.

The survey, launched on April 7, is designed to collect and critically analyse data in the areas of tourism businesses, employment, incomes earned and revenue generated.

A DOTCT release quoted Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart- Phillips as saying at the launch, that the survey represented a more strategic and calculated approach which is key to the success of Tobago’s tourism industry.

Stewart-Phillips said Tobago’s tourism industry is at the dawn of a new and progressive era, and “We cannot continue with business as usual.” As Tobago competes with destinations in the region and beyond, she said, “We understand that our efforts in the area of product marketing require a more technical and measurable approach.” The survey will gather and analyse data on international visitor expenditure and primary tourism business, that will allow policy- makers to make informed decisions.

The release said that the division’s goal remains to nurture, maintain and leverage Tobago’s resources in a manner that will attract a wider range of travelers while maintaining the authentic experience that repeat visitors love.

As the THA charts the way forward for tourism in Tobago, Stewart- Phillips said, “We need to understand how these actions impact our tourism practitioners, their businesses, their revenue, and the action they need to take.” With the relevant information, she said, those in the industry can seek to progress in a sustainable manner that remains true to Tobago’s heritage, while identifying opportunities for growth and positive change that not only meet, but exceed visitor expectations.

However, she said, the survey is not a panacea for the issues that have plagued the tourism sector in the past.

“We each need to take responsibility for our role within the industry, whether we are policy makers, technocrats, practitioners or residents who may not be directly involved, but who are nevertheless indirectly impacted by it on a daily basis,” she said.

Reiterating that the Galicia will continue its operations on the domestic sea bridge over the Easter weekend, Sinanan explained that the TT Spirit, TT Express and a roll on-roll off barge are the vessels which will take over from the Galicia when it ceases operations. He said the TT Spirit and TT Express would transport vehicular cargo.

Sinanan added, the barge will be used to transport construction materials.

He also disclosed that Inter-Continental has sourced a possible replacement vessel for the Galicia.

Sinanan said all of these options (including the use of two Coast Guard vessels) will be carefully evaluated by the new board of the Port Authority which is expected to be sworn in today. Sinanan added that once tenders close for the acquisition of another vessel for the sea bridge on April 24, this matter will be examined by the Cabinet.

Prime US International Limited (Prime), a local Property Development and Management Company, on Monday announced that it will be signing an MOA with Canadian based Project Managers, Wylde Orchid Design & Management Company at Cascadia Hotel, St Anns tomorrow morning.

Prime is also a Holding Company for Caribbean Mining Limited, Prime US Shipping House (P.U.S.H.) Limited and Prime US Network Limited.

According to Prime, the MOA will “officially begin a major housing project starting in February 2018, which will result in approximately 120,000 homes built throughout Trinidad and Tobago over a 12 to 15 year period.” “It is anticipated that this project will engage over 12,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, bringing a much-needed boost to the construction and related sectors.” Prime said it not only intends to make homes available to qualified buyers through financial institutions but also to special groups such as senior citizens, single mothers and young adults. Additionally, the company also proposes to construct low-income housing and “will seek to discuss these initiatives with local partners.” Executives from Prime US International, Caribbean Mining Limited, Wylde Orchid Design & Management (Canada) and a Consultant for Canadian Government Green Energy Initiatives will provide further information on the housing project during a press conference following the MOA signing

The purpose of this bill is to enable a prosecutor and an accused person, which includes a person suspected of committing a criminal offence and a defendant in proceedings before the court for criminal proceedings, (whether on his own or represented by an attorney- at-law) to engage in plea discussions aimed at arriving at a plea agreement.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi began debate on the bill on March 22. The debate continued in the House on April 5. A total of 13 MPs have contributed in the debate thus far.

As tomorrow’s sitting of the House is the second for the month, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will answer questions during the Prime Minister’s Question Period.

Rowley returned to the country on Saturday after a one week vacation in the United States.

Rowley and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young held a series of meetings with major energy multinational companies in Houston from March 29 to 31, prior to taking his vacation.

Newsday understands that some of the questions which the Opposition will be posing to Rowley will be based on his trip to Houston, BP’s decision not to undertake the Angelin platform construction in La Brea and the withdrawal of the Super Fast Galicia from the domestic seabridge. Before the House sits, the Public Accounts Committee meets at Tower D at 10.30 am on Wednesday to hold a public hearing to examine the Auditor General’s Report on the Eastern Regional Health Authority for the period 2008 to 2016.

Meetings of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee and the Land and Physical Infrastructure Committee which were supposed to take place in Tobago tomorrow, were cancelled because of the sitting of the House on the same day.

This was the view expressed yesterday by Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis.

In a statement issued by her ministry, Robinson- Regis said the decision to establish the IIC Office in TT was taken at the recently concluded 58th annual meeting of the board of governors of the IDB held in Paraguay.

Noting that this office will be a regional one and its establishment is a first for TT, Robinson-Regis explained that the work of the IIC is closely linked to her ministry’s mandate, in facilitating socio-economic development through the promotion of entrepreneurship.

She said despite the challenges facing the energy sector, the IIC recognised the strength of the entrepreneurial and enterprising spirit in TT.

The IIC focuses mainly on small and medium-size enterprises in one of the IDB’s 26 member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It provides financing and technical assistance so that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can grow and drive development in the region and expand themselves geographically in key sectors.

The IIC being established here will provide direct benefits to businesses in TT while contributing to the development landscape by providing opportunities for joint-venture projects and public private partnerships (PPP).

She also said it also opens up the opportunity for the private sector to play an even greater role in national development through the provision of financing and technical support to help their businesses grow.

The IIC supports operations in a wide variety of sectors such as agriculture and agribusiness, aquaculture and fisheries, chemicals and plastics, food and beverages, energy, education, healthcare, infrastructure, livestock and poultry, wood, pulp and paper, manufacturing, industrial processing zones, and textiles, as well as financing through supply chains.

The IIC does not finance projects related to arms manufacturing and trade, gambling, and real estate speculation.

IIC financing may be used for both local and foreign currency investments in fixed assets, permanent working capital and pre-operating costs.