She has also complained that this also affected her entrance into last night’s Calypso Monarch Political Commentary Final. Sinnette-Khan said her two songs “No White Collar Criminals” and “Skeletons” were correctly registered for the competition in the Political Commentary and Social Commentary categories, respectively.

However, her attorney Kirk Hogan, in a letter to TUCO president Lutalo Masimba said after Lady Watchman failed to make it into the semi-finals, it was discovered that her song “No White Collar Criminals” was wrongly classified as Social Commentary and not Political Commentary. Hogan said Sinnette immediately contacted TUCO public relations officer Devon Seale, who is the reigning Calypso Monarch, for verification of Lady Watchman’s registration which confirmed the correct registration of the song as Political Commentary.

Hogan said the mis-classification of her song was a grave injustice to her as it appears that the judges having placed her in the wrong category failed to apply the appropriate criteria to assess her suitability for advancement to the semi-final round. The lawyer also said Lady Watchman also suffered financial loss and damage to her public image as a result.

“Clearly, the song having been judged as a Social Commentary, would have lacked the necessary elements to be identified as such,” he said, adding as a result of the error, his client was left without a song in the Political Commentary Class. Sinnette-Khan is also seeking any appearance fees she would have been entitled to had she qualified for the semifinals of the national competition.

O’Connor said yesterday if TUCO does not respond he will have no choice but to file an injunction against it. The calypsonian said TUCO was initially asked to respond by 3 pm yesterday, but its attorney requested additional time.

O’Connor, who did not qualify for Sunday’s final of the Calypso Monarch competition, complained of bias in the judging process.

Saying he placed 21st in the semis, with a score of 379 pts, O’Connor questioned the scores given by two particular judges.

One of the judges, he claims, gave him a score of 66 out of a possible total of 100. “She said my diction was clear and crisp but only gave me 66 points. The other judge said I had ‘a harmonious blend of music and lyrics’, but gave me 64 points,” O’Connor said. He said the scores do not reflect the praises he got from the the judges. “As such, I am requesting an explanation on account of the scores.” O’Connor said his grouse is not placing in the finals but what he sees as a lack of fairness in the judging system.

The victim was in Arima awaiting transport home when at 6.30 pm, she saw the woman in a car gesticulating at her.

The victim later told police because she knew the woman previously, she thought nothing suspicious about being invited to take a drop.

The woman entered the car and was immediately overpowered by the other woman.

The male driver took them to the car park of Price Plaza in Chaguanas and raised all of the car’s tinted windows up and locked the doors.

The engine remained running and the aircondition was on.

Both the man and woman sexually assaulted the woman in the car, following which, she was robbed of $94 and a Blu cellular phone worth $500. She was then ordered out of the car which sped off.

The victim alerted a security guard on patrol nearby and a report was made to Chaguanas police.

Detective WPC Carter and other officers from Chaguanas CID visited the scene and took the victim to the Couva Health Facility where she was medically examined by the District Medical Officer. The victim was subsequently interviewed and her relatives contacted.

Yesterday, senior police officers from Northern Division advised women travelling late in the evening or during the early morning hours to be careful who they accept lifts from especially in wake of reports that women are being used by men, to lure victims into vehicles, so sexual assault could be carried out followed by robbery.

Officers added that during the Carnival period many women will be attending fetes and may consume alcohol. Officers added that those who intend to lime and free up should ensure prior arrangements are in place with trusted persons so they can get home safely.

The victim said she knows the female suspect by the nickname “Blacks” who sports a corn row hairstyle and has a tattoo on her arm. A sketch of the female suspect has been circulated at all police stations as police continue their investigations.

No arrest

He said while it is difficult for police to seek out persons who deface walls and relieve themselves on same, he is strongly advising that defecating and urinating in public is an offence and those found committing it, will be arrested and charged.

According to ALP Hackshaw, many Carnival bands are equipped with portable toilet facilities on trucks which masqueraders could make full use of.

Residents, mainly in the Woodbrook area have complained year after year about the walls of their properties being defaced and used as a toilet by Carnival revellers which apart from creating a smelly health hazard causes unnecessary expenses to clean up after the two days of Carnival revelry.

Residents have been meeting with police every Carnival begging for some kind of intervention against this form of law-breaking. ACP Hackshaw said while there will be a heavy focus on ensuring the safety of revellers and members of the public during Carnival, police will be on the lookout for law-breakers. He also called on members of the public entering Port-of-Spain, Chaguanas, San Fernando and other areas to leave knives, ice picks and other weapons at home.

Police will be on duty at City Gate, the main transit hub into Port-of-Spain to ensure no armed persons come into the city on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. He warned that those found with weapons will be arrested and spend Carnival in jail to face a magistrate on Ash Wednesday

“I made an inquiry as to whether there was an intention. We have not received a response anyway,” Persad-Bissessar told the House of Representatives yesterday during the debate on the Joint Select Committee report dealing with the Bill. “Perhaps, the Prime Minister (Dr Keith Rowley) will be good enough to tell if he raised this pressing issue” with Trump when they spoke on Sunday.

Persad-Bissessar, who moved a motion to amend one of the clauses to include a notification notice for the account holder to be notified before information on a bank account is referred to the US Internal Revenue Service and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Fin- CEN). FinCEN cross checks the information and this may involve, she said, the account holder ending up in a tangled web.

Contrary to Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s assertion that only US citizen will be affected by the law, she said, the IGA (reporting model) says that US citizens, US residents, those in partnerships or in trust arrangements will be affected. Persons holding dual citizenship will also be caught in the arrangement.

Other than that, she said, the bank has to determine how a person was connected to the US.

“This comes back to breach of confidentiality and leakage of information, especially if the person is in public life where your business ends up – like it happened with a minister – by breach of confidentiality, onto the front pages of a newspaper,” she said. In addition, she noted that the IGA refers to the identification of the holder through “unambiguous indication of place of birth, current US mailing address of residence including a US post office box.” Persons with standing instructions to transfer accounts maintained in the US will also be affected, she said, particularly people who transfer monies to their children studying in the US.

“That is why we insisted on the notice requirement,” she said. It not only allows for due process but it allows a person to go to the bank and query why the information was being identified to send to the IRS.

“If you are not notified, you could be caught in a tangled web, and you know Uncle Sam,” she said, noting that the US authorities could not charge American gangster Al Capone on gun crimes, but they got him on tax evasion.

Imbert made this declaration as he began debate on a motion in the House of Representatives to approve a joint select committee (JSC) report to approve the legislation.

He also revealed that the Republican- led Congress in the US, already rejected moves to repeal FATCA in 2015. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar wrote US President Donald Trump in January to ask whether FATCA would be repealed by his administration.

Imbert said that since debate on the bill began last September, “the Government was presented with actual draft amendments in writing by the Opposition for the first time.” Imbert said Government “satisfactorily addressed” the four proposed amendments in a professional and systematic manner. Government MPs thumped their desks as Imbert declared, “As far I am concerned, although it has been a moving target…

We have met every single request from the Opposition!” He recalled receiving requests for amendments in “the dead of night” and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi would “rise to the occasion” and respond swiftly to each of those requests.

Recalling his 25 years as a parliamentarian, in which he served on and chaired many JSCs, Imbert said this was the first time that any government responded so comprehensively to requests for amendments from any opposition.

Commenting on a New York Times article which alleged that Rowley and Trump spoke about foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) from TT joining the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS/ISIL)Young said, “ Both the White House as well as the OPM have been very, very clear in their respective independent reports as to the conversation between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States.” Following Trump and Rowley’s conversation on Sunday, the OPM indicated both leaders agreed they, “would continue working together on matters including security and trade.” A statement issued by the White House on the same day, said Rowley and Trump, “agreed to continue close coordination in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime.” No particulars were outlined in either statement.

Young stressed, “The US and TT continue to work very, very closely…

almost hand in hand…with respect to the threats of ISIL and with respect to persons migrating from TT who may be making their way to fight as FTFs.” He added, “This is something that is being reviewed constantly by law enforcement.. both international and our local law enforcement.”

However, despite the delay and some logistical issues, Garcia’s fans were treated to some scintillating performances including a performance of “It’s Carnival” with soca king, Machel Montano.

The festival was originally scheduled to begin at 9 pm but gates did not open until about 10 pm. Patrons danced to the DJ’s music until David Rudder came on stage at approximately 12.30 am.

For some of the general patrons, the line-up to purchase chits was a bit much with many having to wait to purchase chits and then having a long wait at the bar to get their drinks.

The warmed up crowd danced and chanted as Rudder sang “High Mas”. He then began to sing “Bacchanal Woman” at which point, he was joined on stage by Garcia.

The crowd was not that of a Machel Monday or a Kes Tuesday on the Rocks but it was a crowd truly engaged in Garcia and her friends. General patrons had a limited view of the stage as there were no extra screens and many fought to catch a glimpse of Garcia from on top at O2 Park, Chaguaramas.

Although some attendees expressed some dissatisfaction at the fact, it did not stop then from “making a bacchanal” as Garcia performed. Many were seen dancing and prancing-as the local saying goes, to Garcia’s music.

Garcia and Rudder sang “Laventille”, singing and asking where had the love in Laventille gone? She then began singing “Call my Name” which also put the small but intimate crowd into a dancing frenzy.

Garcia ran through the vast compendium of her songs, giving the audience her beloved hits such as “I dare you”, “Whey yuh Want”, “Ooh La La Lay”, “Lucy”, “Destra vs Lucy” and “Waistline Killer” among others.

At one point, Garcia even expressed shock as the audience sang along with her to Destra Vs Lucy.

She said to the audience, “A A allyuh singing it with meh.” Garcia’s star-studded cast of friends also gave riveting performances.

Ravi B’s “Budget” had memebers of the audience loudly singing, “No, No, no.” The event saw Shal Marshall, GBM Nutron, M1 delivering their hits. Devon Matthews also gave a strong performance of “D Journey”.

Orlando Octave while singing Single, told men in TT to protect the country’s women — a message he has been spreading at his performances.

There were also performances by Rupee, Alison Hinds, Denise Belfon, Kerry John, Swappi, Third Bass, Jamel, Makamillion among others. MX Prime also had the crowd rocking with “Full extreme”.

Although the show was scheduled to end at 3am, it went beyond its scheduled end time and as a result some patrons left.

The show ended at approximately 3.40 am with Destra Garcia and Machel Montano.

Attorneys for the HDC contended that the Corporation took the necessary precautions against one of its tenants to ensure compliance with rules governing the keeping of dangerous dogs. Justice Frank Seepersad is hearing the matter and yesterday the woman’s husband, Lionel Rackal, testified that four pitbulls, owned by another HDC occupant, roamed the housing development area where they lived.

As a result, on May 9 while Denise Rackal, 47, a security guard, was walking out of Flamboyant Street, Edinburgh South Gardens on her way to work, she was attacked by four pitbulls named “Obama”, “Champion”, “Zola” and “Fella” which belonged to a fellow HDC resident, Darryl La Pierre.

La Pierre was a police officer and owned the dogs, but Rackal (Lionel) is contending in his lawsuit against La Pierre and the HDC, that the dogs were kept against the occupation of the HDC’s building and residential codes, and that they were aware of the dangerous dogs but took no action against La Pierre.

Rackal has sued La Pierre, but has named the HDC as a defendant as well and yesterday his attorney Prem Persad Maharaj called former HDC’s project manager Christopher Broker to testify. He said that he had given an interview to a newspaper after Denise was killed, in which he had said that he too was attacked by the dogs.

He said that he had compiled a report about the incident which he submitted to the area manager for HDC, Alan Cunningham.

Attorney Shankar Bidaisee, who is defending the lawsuit for the HDC, called attorney Sherman Holder who is one of the Corporation’s in-house attorneys and he said that as far as he was aware, there were no reports by anyone about the pitbulls roaming the area or of any attacks. He said the first time the HDC knew about the pitbulls’ attack or the escape through La Pierre’s gates or fence, was when it received Persad-Maharaj’s pre-action protocol letter on Rackal’s behalf. “There was no complaint that found itself on the files of the HDC,” Holder said under cross-examination by Persad- Maharaj.

Lionel testified that there were two holes in La Pierre’s fence surrounding his home from which the dogs would often escape. He said that prior to the attack on his wife, the dogs escaped on several occasions and they caused fear and panic among residents along Flamboyant Avenue.He also testified that the dogs were let out from the front gates. However, in cross-examination by Bidaisee, the husband admitted that he never reported the matter to the HDC. Persad- Maharaj called another HDC resident of the area, Susan Rivas, who was cross-examined by Bidaisee about what she knew about the dogs roaming the area. She testified that as an HDC tenant, she would report matters that were pertinent to the surroundings where she lived, particularly as it pertained to her home. In one such incident, she had reported to the HDC a problem she had with a leaking roof and it was repaired. Rivas also reported a picket fence that was constructed by a tenant which was against the building rules of the HDC. Rivas then testified that her son was bitten by one of the pitbulls prior to the attack on Denise. When asked by Bidasie if she reported that incident to the HDC, the woman replied that she did not. Asked why, Rivas said, “Because the owner of the dogs is a policeman and I just didn’t . I just didn’t….I just didn’t.” Rackal is contending that the HDC is liable for breach of statutory duty and/ or occupiers liability and/ or negligence, to take steps to prevent Denise’s death.

Lionel is seeking damages for bereavement, aggravated damages, damages under the Compensation Act, costs and interests.

Seepersad will deliver judgment on March 29.

According to police,the men, who are not related, were out at sea when their pirouge overturned in rough waters.

Reports are that boat captain Arnold and Ricky boarded the vessel one week ago. Relatives of the missing men said they left their homes to retrieve their drift nets in the waters off Icacos. Members of the Air Guard and the TT Coast Guard also conducted intense aerial and sea searches in the areas but were unsuccessful in locating the men. Up to late yesterday, relatives of Arnold and Stephen said some family members had reached Venezuela and they were waiting to hear from them on whether the bodies were those of the missing men. Investigations are continuing