Attorney Kevin Ratiram, acting on Maraj’s behalf, stated in response to Rowans’ claim that he is the sole author and creator of the piece for which Maraj shared $650,000 with co-winner Ravi B, that at the offices of the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) he paid Rowans the sum of money. Maraj admitted in his letter in reply that he did tell Rowans that if he won the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, he would “give your client something”.

However, that statement was made by Maraj in good faith and no sum of money was ever discussed or agreed upon, attorney Ratiram stated on Maraj’s behalf.

Rowans, who holds a BSc degree in music from the United Kingdom, is claiming to be the composer of the song and in a pre-action protocol letter to Maraj, is demanding his share of the royalties and winnings earned. Ratiram stated on Maraj’s behalf that in November 2016, Rowans had sent Maraj a chorus and a verse with melody. However, it contained the phrase “hot cock” and not “village cock” and at the time, Maraj approved of the lyrics and the melody.

He then told Rowans to continue writing more of the song.

In November, Ratiram stated, the composer/ writer gave Maraj the lyrics and chord structure written on white bristol board in which Rowans indicated that it was the finished product.

Maraj, said Ratiram, took about two days to consider the lyrics and decided he did not like “Ramsingh” being portrayed as a drunkard.

He requested Rowans to make changes to that version and to portray “Ramsingh” as less of a drunkard. He said about a week later, Rowans gave Maraj another version and he combined both versions and made changes. Maraj then added lyrics of his own and produced the final version, but minus the portion that was added by Vivekanand “Raymond” Ramnarine and Avenash “Richard” Ramnarine. “It was at this point my client changed ‘Ramsingh Rama’ to ‘Ramsingh Sharma’ and ‘Hot Cock’, to ‘Village Ram’,” Ratiram stated.

The letter accused Rowans of listening to the final product and claiming that it was he who had written the song and presented it to Maraj.

It further started that Maraj and Rowans met at COTT offices on January 17 where the former paid the latter $3,000 which was the agreed sum for his contributing lyrics to the song. “Shortly thereafter, Mr Maraj also told Mr Rowans that if he won the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, he would give your client something. However, that statement was made by him only in good faith, and, no sum was ever discussed or agreed upon. The parties then left the COTT offices,” Ratiram stated in the letter.

Lester Pitman participated in the brutal killing of former BBC newsreader, Lynette Lithgow, 51, her mother Maggie Lee, 83, and brother-inlaw John Cropper, 59, in Cascade in 2001. Neil Hernandez killed Christine Henry and her sixyear- old son, Phillip, on a beach in Cumana, East Trinidad, in 2000.

Lawyers for the two, after several appeals, raised a novel point before the Board of the Judicial Committee last year, that it was cruel and unusual punishment to impose a sentence of death on someone if they were intellectually disabled or suffered from significant mental illness.

Pitman has an IQ of between 52 and 67.

Hernandez has an IQ of 57. The World Health Organisation classifies scores below 70 as constituting an intellectual disability. Pitman’s conviction was also contested on the grounds that it was on the basis of joint enterprise with others – a legal principle that the United Kingdom’s supreme court recently ruled had been wrongly interpreted for more than 30 years.

Pitman has had two appeals before the local appellate court and at the Privy Council with yesterday’s judgment being the final one in his case.

Since both Pitman and Hernandez had been on death row for more than five years, their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment by the local appellate court.

In Pitman’s case, it was ordered that he should not be released before the expiry of 40 years while Hernandez was ordered not to be released before 25 years.

Though they supplied reports to attest to the fact, Pitman’s lawyers no longer contended at his most recent Privy Council hearing that he was unfit to plead, insane or that his conviction ought to have been quashed because of diminished responsibility.

They instead argued that Pitman’s mental impairment was such that the pronouncement of a death sentence was unlawful and also submitted that the felony murder rule applied.

Pitman had been tried on joint responsibility as he was not alone in committing the Croppers’ murders. His co-accused was ordered to undergo a new trial which has yet to take place.In their reasons, the Privy Council judges held that it was not easy to see whatever the level of Pitman’s learning difficulties would have substantially diminished his responsibility for his actions.

But they did note that the death penalty was a cruel and unusual penalty which should be reserved for the worst cases.

They also held that to carry out the death penalty on persons whose mental condition meets the level required for that defence cannot be constitutionally justified.

The Privy Council, comprising Lady Hale, Lord Kerr, Lord Clarke, Lord Hughes, and Lord Toulson, took ten months to deliver the judgment.

Joseph, 22, was murdered two weeks ago and her body dumped in the Gulf of Paria, near Sea Lots. She is to be laid to rest with full military rights after a funeral service this morning at the Daybreak Assembly Church, Poinsettia Drive, Morvant. Kenneth Browne, 38, and his ex-wife Melissa Browne, 28, have been charged with murdering Joseph who lived at Marie Road, Morvant and had joined the police service just four months ago. Her mother, Paula Guy, is taking care of her infant daughter.

On Wednesday, president of the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA) Michael Seales and the association’s central committee representative, went to the Port-of-Spain branch of Unit Trust and established the fund by contributing $80,000 which represents the stipends paid to the association’s executive members.

The account number is 6016383-2. Special Reserve Police officers who will also benefit from the back pay are being asked to contribute only $100 per person. Yesterday Seales said that the setting up of the fund has received the full blessings of Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and members of his executive are also being asked to contribute.

He said he was told by Williams that the fund is an excellent idea since it will mean that a child’s life could be brightened in the future as a result of the assistance.

“I have contacted president of the Fire Services Association Leo Ramkissoon and president of the Prison Services Association Ceron Richards who both committed to contributing to the fund and will rally their membership who are also benefitting from back pay to make a contribution,” Seales said.

Corporate citizens and other concerned members of the public are also being asked to support the fund.

Asked by Newsday why this fund was never set up for children of other police officers who were murdered, Seales said unfortunately he was not the president then. He said similar funds will be set up in similar circumstances.

“I want to do more for the membership and this is a start.” Newsday understands that Joseph’s family will benefit from payment of three months of her salary initially, and the Police Service will make a one year contribution of her salary as well.

The housing settlement at Harmony Hall saw furniture and appliances on the road as people roamed about fixing and packing their belongings.

According to Godfrey Phillip, who was evicted along with his family, the government said it is in the process of receiving help but no one from HDC has offered them any assistance.

“I went to the office of Housing Minister Randal Mitchel and he told us to go to our MP with our problem,” Phillip said, adding that he told Mitchell he voted for change but instead he was getting a raw deal by having to live on the streets. He went on to say that he is currently employed and can pay for his home on a monthly basis but, he cannot wait ten and twelve years to get the keys for a house that he needs immediately.

Phillip slammed Social Development Minister Cherrie Ann Crichlow- Cockburn’s claim that the HDC buildings were declared structurally unsound. “Her reports are false as they are many other tenants occupying the buildings,” Phillip said. Crichlow- Cockburn said those who were squatting illegally will be given assistance.

“The Ministry has been in contact with one of the displaced residents who advised that he represents the 25 evicted families. He requested that counselling be provided to the families this afternoon and indicated that he would get back to the Ministry regarding other forms of assistance.” She said arrangements were made for officers of the National Family Services Division to visit the families on Wednesday afternoon.

In a previous report, Mitchell said those who were evicted were illegally inhabiting the buildings and any illegal occupier is liable to eviction. Mitchell claimed a number of buildings were declared structurally unsound and therefore unfit for occupation. The lawful occupants at the time were relocated between 2012-2014. The site was boarded up, locks were placed on doors and danger signs put on the building as well as signs of no trespassing.

Prince Dolly, who occupied one of the apartments that was deemed unfit, says his family now has nowhere to go and he is appealing to the Government to look into this matter and allow squatters to live in the apartment through the rent-to-pay system.

“My daughter Genesis is three years and I do not have any place to call home so therefore, I have to live on the streets,” he said.

Curtis Tigre, 54 and Burgess Francis, 41, both of Hall Trace, off Kernahan Trace, Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, were sentenced in the Chaguanas Second Magistrates Court on March 14, having pleaded guilty on March 6.

They were each fined $3,000 and given two months to pay or, in default, nine months imprisonment with hard labour.

The men were initially charged after an early morning joint current stealing exercise by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and T&TEC’s Estate Police at Hall Trace.

He made the statement yesterday after announcing that the Group recorded $1.1 billion in profit before tax in 2016 for the fourth consecutive year and that its net assets grew by $605 million, an increase of 8.7 percent. Taxation was $304,177,000, yielding profit after tax of $803,108,000.

Sabga made the announcement as he met with stockbrokers to present the Group’s results for the 2016 year end at the ANSAMcAl flagship TATIL Building on Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain. He said the profit would have been higher if not for a few items which affected Group companies.

One was a fire which knocked out a furnace at Carib Glass Limited, causing a $38 million drop in profit; another was an increase in the rate of corporate tax which affected the Group’s deferred tax position causing another $38 million loss and there was a decline in the Group’s media business because of a drop in corporate spending and advertising. He said there has been a contraction in the marketplace and consumer spending has declined by $2.3 million but stressed that if it were not for these onetime reversals, the company’s profits would have been higher, adding that he does not expect to experience those situations again in the current year. He said the Group’s profit margin remains healthy at 18.5 percent and for the fourth year in a row, the company has decided to increase to $1.50 the dividend it will pay to shareholders, which means the Group will pay a total of $258.7 million in dividends.

Asked by stockbrokers about the Group’s outlook for the current year, Sabga said ANSA McAL continues to invest in 2017 and is spending more than $300 million in information technology systems over the next five years including at the ANSA Merchant Bank, at TATIL and TATIL Life. He said Standard Distributors is upgrading its retail business and within six months will open a 40,000 square foot megastore.

He said the company is looking at two acquisitions, one of which is close to being finalised. He said it is in the manufacturing sector and will give the Group greater reach in the manufacturing sector in the Caribbean and significantly strengthen one of its existing businesses.

He said although the economy has shrunk, ANSA McAL intends to carve out a larger piece of the pie for itself. “It’s not in our DNA to take our foot off the accelerator.” He said the Group has also invested in executive training and is seeing the results of that training.

“We are looking at acquisitions aggressively and we are looking at expanding our existing businesses.” Stockbrokers attending the session were generally pleased with the results.

Don Mullings of Bourse Securities was happy with the dividends being paid by the Group and said the results were “not bad” given that there was economic decline and foreign exchange shortage in the country.

A release from the High Commission said, its commercial supplier, VFS Global Ltd, from April 1, will carry out the visa application processing at a new Visa Application Centre (VAC).

However, submission of applications remains at the British High Commission, 19 St Clair Avenue, St Clair, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Consul at the British High Commission, Lisa Hernandez is quoted as assuring customers that UK Visas and Immigration remains committed to providing an excellent service to customers in TT. Hernandez said, “For the most part, the application process will remain the same: applications will continue to be submitted online at https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/ trinidad-and- tobago/ Applicants will be given an appointment, she said, to submit their documentation and biometric data at the British High Commission .

“The main difference is that appointments will only be available on certain days each month, so people requiring visas to visit, transit, work, study or settle in the United Kingdom will need to plan well in advance.

Customers who require a visa to enter the UK are advised not to purchase a ticket until they have received their visa,” she said.

The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration decided to implement the change well in advance of the busy summer period, to give prospective students __ the majority of applicants from Trinidad and Tobago __ enough time to prepare, she said.

The release said that additional information can be found at https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/ trinidad-and-tobago/.

Yesterday, outside the company’s building at Mulchan Seuchan Road, Chaguanas, 35 workers and union representatives engaged in a peaceful protest with the anticipation that the company will respond to the union to have discussions on a proper separation package for the workers.

Speaking with Newsday, Elder said even though they are not the recognised majority union for the company, it was their hope that the director of the company would meet with the union in keeping with good industrial relations.

“We are not the recognised majority for the Government Human Resource Service Company Limited workers, in fact they have no union. We were approached by a couple of the workers, who are now members of the union and we did in fact write a letter to the Acting CEO, Mr Jeffrey Lewis yesterday which he admitted to us that he received the letter yesterday (Wednesday) morning.” He added, “When there are top men in the company saying that all they are going to pay the workers was one month notice and a prorated gratuity, we have people with contracts that is going to end in February 2019 and in fact the only contract that is coming to an end is in January next year. We are saying that these people should be paid the full terms of their contracts.” Elder said during the protest, the workers were informed that one of the directors wanted to meet with the workers.

“…the workers informed the director that they were not in a frame of mind to attend such a meeting and the workers left.”

Reminding reporters that the country’s annual expenditure was $63 billion under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government, Imbert said that level of expenditure is no longer possible.

As he explained that the Government is the “major injector of funds” into the economy, Imbert said, “There is a point below which you should not go, because if you crunch it down too low, you will collapse the economy.” Indicating that point is $52 billion, Imbert stated, “We’re at that point right now.” The minister said people calling for expenditure to be reduced past that point are, “not being honest.” He questioned what else can be cut when everything has been cut, “almost down to the bone.” Reminding reporters that the net value of the HSF is US$5.47 billion, Imbert said the amendments to the HSF legislation would involve “a separation of deposits.” He explained one portion of monies would go to the heritage component of the fund, while the other portion would go to the fund’s stabilisation component.

Indicating that Government will soon receive the final advice of the technocrats on amending the HSF legislation, Imbert said, “This government and any future government would only be able to withdraw from the stabilisation component.” As he reminded reporters that Government withdrew US$251 million from the Fund, Imbert said money in the heritage component, would “not be touched unless very special criteria are satisfied.” He said the PP ignored advice from technocrats about borrowing money to deposit into the HSF.

Imbert said it made no sense, “borrowing money and putting it into a fund that you cannot touch.” In this regard, Imbert said the new rules governing the Fund, “will have to be based on reality.” On property tax, Imbert said the ministry will hire 248 new persons to do field assessments and supervise the implementation of the property tax legislation. Saying this was the equivalent of two and a half medium size state enterprises, Imbert said, “Within a 12-month period, we will have every property in TT on the books.” He said within the next two weeks, “notices of assessment will be posted or delivered to owners and occupiers of property throughout TT in accordance with the Property Tax Act.” Stating this was the first step in the exercise to initiate the collection of property tax, Imbert said a comprehensive communication plan will be rolled out over the next two months to address all issues concerning the tax.

He reiterated that property tax, “is based on the annual rental value of a property, not the sale price or purchase price or the value of a property per se.”

Noting that citizens express their views daily about the country’s laws, Young said Government remains committed to enforcing all of TT’s laws. “The Government has not fallen short,” he added. Extending the Government’s condolences to the family of murdered schoolboy Jesse Beephan, Young said, “We don’t have as yet before us a report on the facts surrounding the death of the schoolboy.” However, he disclosed that at a National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called upon the heads of the country’s law enforcement agencies to provide more, “accountability on these issues that we are seeing taking place.” Young added that Government expects to receive a report on this issue shortly.

He said the Education and National Security Ministries continue to collaborate to “plug any holes” as it pertains to security in the school system. Young also said the Beetham waste water treatment plant issue is currently in arbitration and a matter involving persons formerly employed at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), “is moving forward.” Recalling that “massive overpricing” was found on the Beetham project under the former People’s Partnership government, Young said the National Gas Company (NGC), “is pursuing and protecting the taxpayers’ rights in that arbitration against SIS (Super Industrial Services).”