He was replying to concerns raised recently by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, and Head of the Criminal Bar Association Pamela Elder, SC, about Government’s legislation to abolish preliminary inquiries.

Gaspard feared of creating a bottleneck at the High Court while Elder said the move is bad law and lacked consultation.

Al-Rawi considered the case of a girl assaulted as a minor where a PI might drag on for ten years. “Should that child be required to re-live that experience every time the matter is called?” he mulled.

“The manoeuvre to abolish the PI is very significant because it is an indignity for the judicial system to have a PI take 14 or 17 years, where people are incarcerated and where victims and witnesses must traipse up and down with many adjournments.” While appreciating Gaspard’s concerns that cutting the PI process will create a logjam at the High Court, the AG vowed to avert such by a raft of measures.

He promised more judges, more courts and more prosecutors, plus a public defender system.

Al-Rawi said this will be a “very coordinated and deliberate development”, even as he respects the rights of all in this democracy.

He expressed his high regard for Elder’s commitment to finding legal solutions, but he begged to differ on the PI issue.

Saying TT’s history is littered with unfulfilled recommendations on improving criminal justice, Al-Rawi said the PI issue has been on the agenda for many years, and he now has a job to do.

Noting Elder’s remark that the PI is a good training ground for young lawyers to cut their teeth, he said, “I’m not minded to support training grounds at the expense of the rights of victims or accused. Respectfully I beg to differ with Mrs Elder. Trinidad and Tobago hired the Government to do a job and find prescriptions for issues like crime.” He lamented that the gap between allegation and conviction is as wide as 20 years. “So the criminal justice system has resulted in runaway crime, as people feel no consequences.” He also lamented the $40 million spent annually on witness protection while all these court cases are bogged down in PI.

He vowed to tackle analysis paralysis over the PI issue.

Al-Rawi espoused the abolition of PI by saying the fears of the legal professions regarding other initiatives had never come to pass.

He cited an initial outcry in the UK over the Police And Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act 1984, but said, “Today everybody celebrates PACE”. Likewise, he said in TT, initial concerns over new Civil Proceedings Rules proved unfounded, and civil cases are today concluded within one or two years. “So we are quite comfortable taking proportionate steps,” he concluded

Ramdial sought answers on proper police procedures while at the funeral of murdered 23-yearold Sharlene Somai at the family’s home yesterday.

Somai’s body was discovered on Thursday about three minutes away from her home at Petersville, Felicity, Chaguanas. She was reported missing on Monday.

Family members criticised police afterwards for not responding immediately to reports of her going missing. National Security Minister Edmund Dillion on Friday said police are supposed to respond immediately to missing persons’ reports, but Ramdial was not convinced that all police operate by this procedure.

“We need clarification whether police are supposed to begin searching for missing persons immediately or whether they wait for 24hrs to elapse before they start a search party. We need clarification as citizens.” Delivering the sermon at the funeral service was Pastor Lloyd Joseph, Somai’s uncle.

He encouraged family and friends to not hold animosity in their hearts towards her killers.

Somai’s cousin Crystal Ramroop described her as a fashionista who loved taking selfies.

Ramroop said Soomai also loved her husband Suraj Toolsie tremendously.

“She could have 10 pillows to sleep on but would not sleep unless she had his shoulder to rest her head on.” Scores of friends and relatives wore white tee-shirts which bore a printed photograph of the murdered woman.

At the end of the funeral service, the funeral procession to the Waterloo Cremation Site was accompanied by the sounds of Tassa drums and songs in Hindi.

“I have learned, via a whistleblower, that come the month of April/May, this monarchy government led by King Rowley is bent on sending home all monthly-paid workers of the CDA. We are talking about upper and middle management, technical and administrative staff.

As the representative union of those monthly- paid employees, we are left wondering what has happened to negotiations, to meeting and treating in good faith?” Duke claimed the affected workers would be “replaced with sycophants from the PNM establishment…They (Government) are doing this by stealth but we are taking upfront because a whistleblower would have indicated to us the sinister plan they hae.

Standing outside the entrance to the CDA head office yesterday morning, Duke also denounced what he said is an on-going plan by the People’s National Movement (PNM) administration, led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, to “destroy the lives of the working class” through the closure of State enterprises such as the Tourism Development Company and Caroni Green Limited.

In addition, Duke sought answers to reports that CDA Chairman, Gupte Lutchmedial, had brought staff from the Emperor Valley Zoo, Port-of-Spain to do work in Chaguaramas.

“I’m hearing (Lutchmedial) is bringing persons linked to the zoo to look at the golf course, to clean up the islands…but they not on the (CDA) payroll.” Last Friday, the CDA board of directors issued a statement expressing its concern about “unapproved” salary increases.

Most notably, management’s inability to provide “supporting approval documents from the line ministry”; Ministry of Planning and Development, “to account for the increase in salaries, in some instances by 150 percent.” The board also noted that the monthly payroll increased from approximately $850,000 in 2010 to $2.8 million in 2015, which is in excess of revenue being collected by the CDA.

Hence the board’s decision to order a manpower audit “as it seeks to rationalise this troubling matter.” Asked if the sharp increase in salaries might be behind the rumoured job cuts, Duke yesterday scoffed at that, telling reporters, “I don’t think so. That’s a flippant reason. Right now the Government is paying $1.2 million a month for an empty place in Tobago – Milshirv Building.” Responding to Duke’s claims, Lutchmedial told Newsday, “I know for sure, based on our income versus our expenditure; that has ballooned so much over the last few years, we may have to cut back on some salaries and retrench some staff that are not necessary but I can’t say when.” “An auditor was selected by the General Manager this past week.

The audit should take two two to four weeks to complete. Then we will know exactly what the situation is a decision will be taken (about staff).” Regarding meetings with the unions representing CDA staff, Lutchmedial made it clear that it is the role of the CDA’s Industrial Relations Consultant (IRC), not its chairman, to “meet with every union” and that the IRC and the HR manager “met with PSA representatives two weeks ago to explain why we have to do a manpower audit.” Regarding the zoo staff allegation, Lutchmedial said workers from his company, not from the zoo, did do some voluntary clean up work “down the islands”.

In addition, “if there is something to do and since the CDA does not have money to hire any contractors, I have asked workers from my company to assess things.”

Weatherhead highlighted the uncertainty faced by persons whose property is part residential, part commercial.

“Because of his (Imbert) ignoring commercial properties, many people who have buildings in which they live upstairs and have businesses; commercial property, downstairs; either their own business or rented out, are no clearer on what they have to pay as Property Tax. They are uncertain and anxious…The Finance Minister and Government must do better and come clean with the taxpayers.” Weatherhead queried the issuance of Notices of Assessment before the issuance of Notices of a Valuation, emphasising that assessments “are supposed to be issued after the valuation to determine the Annual Rental Value and Annual Taxable Value of a Residential or Commercial property are completed and the Property Tax to be paid is determined.” The government also came in for criticism regarding for not yet hiring Field Assessors who must first be trained by the Valuation Division before they can do their jobs.

“(This) should have been done long before issuing the Notice of Assessment of Tax to be paid according to the Law. They have put the cart before the horse. 18 months after announcing the introduction of the Property Tax in the Budget Speech in October 2015, they have not gotten even these simple steps right.” Weatherhead also argued that “trying to tax the people to bring about recovery is impossible and only brings hardship. Doing it without providing even the most basic information is much worse.”

According to reports at around 5.45 am, Daniel Gill was driving north along the Diego Martin Highway when reaching Crystal Stream he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.

The car flipped and crashed into an embankment.

Gill died on the spot.

Fire officers had to use the jaws of life – a special piece of equipment – to remove Gill’s body from the mangled wreck of his vehicle.

Sources revealed that the body remained on the scene for several hours before it was ordered to be removed by a District Medical Officer.

Relatives of Gill, as well as his colleagues, were on the scene of the fatal accident yesterday.

They wept and looked on in grief.

The 31-year-old officer was described as friendly, outgoing and well-loved at Camp Ogden.

The TTDF yesterday extended condolences to relatives of private Gill.

President General of the Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association (ASJA), Yacoob Ali, who led the march, said: “Today we must focus on the importance of unity in all jamaats and that the youths play an integral role in the masjids. It is time to encourage the young ones back into youth groups and other fundamental activities.” Organised by Region A of the ASJA and their members of the Tacarigua Jammat, the peaceful procession began at 7:30 am yesterday at the Tacarigua masjid.

Participants walked along Eastern Main Road in Tacarigua Main Road ending their march for peace at the Eddie Hart Savannah.

At the end of the walk, the men, women and children, many clad in blue, listened to speeches from the leaders of their respective groups, including Ali, former senator Raziah Ahmed, former chairman of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation Nafeesa Mohammed and ASJA’s Youth Arm representative, Imam Javeed Hosein.

The march was aimed at encouraging all faiths to come together and live as one brotherhood and sisterhood, to enjoin what is right and to forbid what is wrong.

According to a police report, police officers stopped a B-15 Nissan car at about 8.30 pm and questioned the driver.

The report said the driver told the police officers that he was from Maraval.

He also gave the policemen two addresses in Montrose and Chaguanas.

The policemen searched the car and they found two crocus bags, containing cocaine and 42 packets of marijuana in the back seat.

Three Baretta pistols were also found.

The police exercise was conducted by Sgt Gosine of the South-Western Driving Under the Influence Task Force and included WPC Toussaint, PCs Ramkissoon and Jaggessar.

According to reports, WPC Toppin went to assist her colleagues whose vehicle had been involved in an accident involving a drunk driver who allegedly broke the traffic light at O’Meara Road, Arima.

The report stated that two male constables of the Northern Division were on mobile patrol along O’Meara Road at around 5.45 pm when on reaching the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, a driver allegedly broke the traffic light and crashed into their police vehicle.

The two male officers suffered slight injuries.

Woman Police Constable (WPC) Toppin of the Arima Police Station, along with a male colleague, responded to report of the accident and went to the scene. It was while she was carrying out traffic duties that she was knocked down.

The injured officer was rushed to the Arima District Health Facility suffering from broken bones. She was treated at the hospital and is expected to be warded in stable condition. Investigations are continuing into the two accidents.

The drivers involved in the two accidents were detained.

Economist Dr Terrence Farrell expressed this sentiment on Friday as he launched his latest book, We Like It So? The Cultural Roots of Economic Underachievement.

at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Westmoorings.

Addressing a small gathering.

Farrell said: “As a Trinbagonian.

who returned from a university abroad to help develop the country in the 1970s, I have been sorely disappointed with our underachievement.

“As a country, we have been given much – oil, natural gas, great location.

land for agriculture, beautiful beaches, exceptional flora and fauna – but we have not done as well with our endowments as we could and should have.” Farrell quoted remarks from businessman Emile Elias, as well as a newspaper editorial, which.

he said, shared similar sentiments.

“My life has been one of high expectation. I expected that by now our country would have been further ahead …Change is vital as is growth. We are great talkers.

but there is something that makes us get stuck between the thought and the actual doing,” Elias had said.

We Like It So? The Cultural Roots of Economic Underachievement is a follow-up to Farrell’s last publication, the Underachieving Society: Development Strategy and Policy in Trinidad and Tobago, 1958-2008.

But unlike that publication.

which delved into TTs economic history, Farrell, in his latest book.

addresses the country’s apparent penchant for mediocrity and showing disdain for things that are presumably fixable.

He cited the steelpan as an example.

“We claim as our own the steelband celebrating it as the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century, yet steelbands are still evicted from pan yards,” Farrell said.

He was speaking during an interview with Newsday on Friday night at a memorial tribute to Walcott held at the National Cultural Centre, Castries, St Lucia.

“I think for the performance tonight Derek was brought alive and what was particularly touching was the selection by the various artistes and the various groups and once again it demonstrated how connected Derek really was to the St Lucian people, to the St Lucian landscape.” Anthony continued: “He understood the soul of this country, the spirit of this country. And a lot of people I think thought that this soul was expressed purely through his poetry but they never understood that he had a very real contact.

He was not a poet that was remote and disconnected. He was a poet that made contact with ordinary lives and he was anxious to tell the story of ordinary people.” “It is a little unfortunate that sometimes he is seen as an elitist poet. But he never was because he emerged from the crucible of the St Lucian experience and that has always been his legacy. And tonight I think the performance was extraordinary and the performance allowed us to review and share the poet that we have always known.” Walcott, an acclaimed poet and playwright, died on March 17 at the age of 87. On Friday night his memorial tribute was attended by Governor-General of St Lucia Dame Pearlette Louisy, Cabinet ministers, members of academia, regional poets and artists as well as representatives of the arts community from St Lucia, the Caribbean and internationally. Those attending from Trinidad and Tobago included Culture Minister Dr Nyah Gadsby-Dolly, Trinidad Theatre Workshop artistic director Albert Laveau – Walcott founded the workshop during his time in Trinidad – and two members of rapso group 3canal Wendell Manwarren and Roger Roberts.

Tributes were paid to Walcott in the form of remarks, traditional dance, drumming, steelpan, singing, including songs in St Lucian creole, recitation of his poetry and theatre performances.

A representative from the St Lucia arts community, Mc Donald Dixon, said that great poets do not happen by accident and described Walcott as a “living legend” who had gone into immortality.

“He loved St Lucia without reproach down to the last grain of dust.” He added that Walcott “lives on within his pages.” Ghanaian poet and critic Kwame Dawes gave a literary performance and of Walcott’s death recited “oh world, oh world, oh world we have lost.” A speech was also read on behalf of Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and in it, she praised Walcott’s ingenuity and drive to pursue greatness.

“He felt like he belonged to all of us,” she added.

St Lucian actor and cultural activist George “Fish” Alphonse performed a satirical piece about the auctioning off St Lucia’s natural assets. One woman in the audience said it was a piece that Walcott would have liked.

Other performance included a recitation of his poem “Oddjob, A Bull Terrier”, St Lucian calypsonian Aloysius “Mighty Pep” Bruet performing his tribute song to Walcott and a dramatic presentation of the poems Oddjob, Sea Grapes and Love After Love by students of his alma mater Saint Mary’s College.

Trinidadian-Bahamian poet Christian Campbell in a literary performance said that Walcott “believed so very deeply for us” and “believed in the Caribbean.” “He more than anyone else shows us the infinite in the infinitesimal,” he said.

Campbell added: “Even in your stillness, you are moving still.