So Donald Trump is the new president and some people are holding their heads and bawling in shock.

Frankly, my only shock is that so many (educated) people, here and abroad, were shocked. Really?! You didn’t see this coming? I do not have two A-Levels and I saw it (to a couple of my good friends: I did tell allyuh so). Are people that much in denial? Didn’t Stalin say all those “Isms” is just schisms?

Since before Brexit, legitimate outrage against elitist economic systems, fear and insecurity played into the hands of race, racism and xenophobic narratives. I’ve been saying over and over that no matter who won that election, democracy lost. 

It’s been lost a long time now actually, and all this campaign and the result did was to show just how bankrupt and corrupt the US political system is—something we could have lectured them on with our own decrepit remodeled Crown Colony system.

And that’s what really irks me about my local media, well, not that angered since I’ve long since dismissed most of the media houses and what passes for independent analysis. I mean come on, we live in the Caribbean; you know, the region that was colonised by Europe and treated like a football/chewtoy by the US? The region that was treated like a pawn during the Cold War and an outlet for Western sexual schizophrenia even before that? 

The discussions on i95.5, Power 102, 91.1 and Boom Champions that I’ve heard on Trump vs Clinton sounded a lot like the propaganda during World Wars I and II when Caribbean people were spurred into fighting for King and Country, to preserve the democracy they themselves had no part in other than at the bottom. Same thing during the Cold War.

Where’s the analyses and conversations to raise awareness among Trinis who are obsessing over who tief out de Treasury and who have stink mouth? What are the possible impacts of the economic “agreements” that have been signed? 

What if Trump really backs away, as he said he would, from agreements concerning climate change? And what if Hillary had got elected and start to run pipeline like she mad all over the US (which is reportedly resuming anyhow)?

They both are products of old hubristic US exceptionalist ideas and racist binary worldview, period. It began with notions of a City on a Hill and snowballed with the rise of the Dulles brothers in the 1950s, influenced by their very stern Presbyterian upbringing. Left Wing/Right Wing, same corbeaux.

The point is that where was the contingency planning on our part? Or was it the usual attitude of we are a tiny speck and can’t influence anything (thank God there wasn’t any Trini advising Ho Chi Minh and the Vietcong back then eh?). 

Other countries are seeing what may possibly lie ahead but unlike many of us who are always so quick to just lie down and take whatever as long as we get to go “Meeahmee” every now and then, they are looking to do something, anything to forestall it. Many of them understand very well US interests have always been about their own interests and to hell with you after that. 

But they’re not simply accepting it; we shouldn’t either. The Caribbean and Trinidad in particular, have, since World War II, been understood as having immense strategic importance, perhaps it’s time we understand that too and find ways to use that importance to our advantage for a change. Because I think we got some interesting times ahead.

Corey Gilkes
La Romaine

I know this may seem trivial, but I am sure it brings some comfort to those concerned about the fast-dwindling wildlife. This has to do with a report of the Minister of Agriculture ordering an investigation into the wonton killing of endangered species, namely the ocelot and anteaters. I trust another species which can be included is the deer.  

But anyway, the Minister appears to have taken seriously the loss of these animals and I must congratulate him for that. In these circumstances, it is not enough to say well, poachers did it and move on. No! Someone must initiate some kind of action to seek out poachers and punish them. 

In just the same way as people are sought for murder and other crimes, poachers, indiscriminate hunters, illegal miners and loggers and companies that spill oil in the rivers and seas are also killers of our ecology that gives us life, sustenance and recreation, and must be sought out. 

The loss of valuable flora and fauna means less tourism, fishing stock, wood and agriculture. I remind the nation that had someone not intervened, San Fernando Hill would have been mined out for gravel and a hotel would have already been smack dab in the middle of lush Chaguaramas greenery.  

We can’t continue to turn a blind eye.  

I hope therefore that something will come out of this, even it means saving the next ocelot, iguana or deer or a tree or a few acres from the bulldozer.

God bless this nation 

Lystra Marajh
Glencoe

The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) yesterday said it was addressing recent issues between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and T&T players. 

The Board said it had noted recent incidents involving local players and wished to assure the public that it had written the West Indies Cricket Board seeking dialogue as a matter of urgency.

The release stated: "The TTCB notes the recent incidents involving our players and the WICB and wishes to assure the public that we are addressing these and other issues  as a matter of urgency. We have written the WICB requesting dialogue between all parties concerned in these matters with a goal of resolving the conflicts and getting the focus back onto the field of play.”

The release further revealed that the T&TCB will be seeking a meeting with Darren Bravo on his return to Trinidad, following his ejection from the West Indies team currently involved in a tri-nations series in Zimbabwe.

Bravo was the latest T&T player to feel the ire of the WICB, having been sent home for what the Board described as “inappropiate and unacceptable behaviour, which is contrary to his contractual obligations to the WICB.”

The decision followed a tweet from Bravo after WICB president Dave Cameron had defended his Board’s decision to offer the Trinidadian a ‘C’ contract, instead of an ‘A’ contract, because of poor performances.

Bravo tagged Cameron via his twitter handle, @davec51 with “You hav been failing 4 d las 4yrs. Y don’t u resign and FYI i’ve neva been given an ‘A’ contact. Big Idiot.” The WICB subsequently gave Bravo a Saturday 4 p.m. deadline to apologise and remove the tweet, which did not happen.

Bravo is expected to arrive home today and there are plans for him to meet with officials of his local team, Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

Members of the Trinidad and Tobago national football team will be aiming to put themselves in a position of comfort when they face Honduras in what is expected to be hostile atmosphere in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula today.

The game is set to kick off at 6.05pm (4.05 Honduras time). A sold out crowd of 37,500 watched Honduras lose their opening match against Panama 1-0 on Friday while T&T also fell to Costa Rica 2-0, in their opener in front of home fans at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

T&T trained twice following their  arrival here on Sunday afternoon after overnighting in Panama City with the second session being at the game venue yesterday from 5pm. 

The conditions here, with the game kicking off in daylight, is not as hot or humid as in T&T with the sun usually setting by 5.30pm. Whether the sun goes down early or not, T&T coach Stephen Hart is insisting that his troops are ready for what is likely to be another brutal challenge.

“We know very well that we need to improve in the attacking third, how we combine our movement off the ball needs to be a lot more dynamic and we will have to close down Honduras effectively. Not just close them down but try to win the ball in crucial areas and try to get on top of them because that is what they are going to try to do to us in the opening minutes,” Hart said yesterday.

The T&T coach described his opponents as very dynamic, who do lots of hard running, hard tackling. “They just put you under pressure all the time and we have to try and counter that by playing quicker, playing deeper and doing the same to them. It’s just a matter of the mindset and the attitude towards doing what needs to be done.”

Former national stalwarts Russell Latapy and Stern John have echoed their support for the T&T team, saying they believe the team can pull off the win. Hart believes this level of inspiration is good for his players.

“I think it’s good because the names you are calling are people who have been through it. And Hutson Charles and Michael Maurice have been talking to them about the same type of thing but you have to believe in every game that you go to play that you play in such a way to get the result and if that means you have to suffer… then you have to suffer,” Hart said.

Both Hutson Charles, the lone goalscorer and Maurice played in the 1-1 draw between both teams in the World Cup qualifier here in Honduras during the 1990 World Cup campaign.

The game will be aired  live in T&T  on Flow Sports.

Things to know
• Kenwyne Jones scored a second half penalty to put T&T 1-0 ahead in the last meeting between the two teams. T&T won that encounter 2-0 at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup

• Jan Michael Williams, Khaleem Hyland, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Joevin Jones, Daneil Cyrus, Carlyle Mitchell, Aubrey David and Andre Boucaud all played in that win for T&T.

• Carlos Pavon scored the opening goal on 20 minutes when both teams met in 2009 at the same venue for today’s game. Radanfah Abu Bakr and Kenwyne Jones were the only two players from today’s squad who played in that defeat.

• The Honduras national team used to play the majority of its matches at the Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa.

BENNETT Jack died on November 10, 2016. Husband of the late Yvonne Bennett. Father of Jacqueline, Wayne (USA), Lauren (USA), Diana and Donna. Grandfather of Racine, Adel, Nicole, Michelle and Adey. Great Grandfather of Yasmin, Toni, Kristen, Corelle, Zidan and Aadam. Brother of Sheila Joseph, Clyde Davis and David Cuffy (Bunny).

Funeral at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 at Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, Diego Martin. Interment at Woodbrook Cemetery, Mucurapo Road. For enquiries, call C&B 625-1170 or visit clarkandbattoo. com

CHARLES: FELIX LEO aka 'Sonnyboy' of Alex Trace, De Gannes, Siparia passed away on November 12th, 2016 at the age of 85. He will lovingly remember as the Son of the late Neza Elbourne-Charles and James Charles. Husband of Sybil Charles. Father of Keith Charles (Alyssa) USA, Carol Charles-Austin (Rudin), Cheryl, Charles-Duval (Noel) USA, Selwyn Charles (USA), Dr. Kenneth Charles (Desiree) Mt. Hope, Christopher Charles (dec), Janet Raymond and Monica Raymond (dec).

Brother of Cecil (USA), Errol (USA), Sheila, Anthony and the late Knolly, Reynold, Wilma, Cassim and Cyril. Brother-in-law of Linda Hunt- Charles (USA), Cynthia Andrews (USA), Vernie Andrews, Lenore Charles (USA) and Anthony Bascombe. Grandfather of Warren Austin, Whitney Austin, Casey Charles (USA), Nickie Charles (USA), Ravahn Duval (USA), Allan-Michael Duval (USA) and Shani Charles. Uncle of Pastor Bernard Andrews, Claudette, Vena, Junior, Derl, Christopher, Dennies, Patrice, Pernell and many others.

Nephew of Melvina De Verteuil Relative of the Charles, Elbourne, Vidal and Dingwell families.

The funeral service of the late FELIX LEO CHARLES aka 'Sonnyboy' will take place on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at J. E. Guide Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd. #120 Coffee Street, San Fernando followed by Cremation at 11:00 a.m. Enquires can be made to J. E. Guide Funeral Home & Crematorium Ltd., #120 Coffee Street, San Fernando (652-4261 or 657-5465).

MAHARAJ SURUJBALLY of 11 Ward Street, Tunapuna died peacefully on Saturday 12th November 2016 Husband of Carmen. Father of Vashist and Vasanti Maraj. Father in Law of Paul Maraj Grandfather of Sushen Brother of the late Oudit, Kissondaye and Anant Uncle of Dr. Krishna Maharaj, Haridath Maharaj, Dr. Tara Persad, Suresh Maharaj, Dr. Sushilla Maharaj, Hema Mahabir, Mona Seebaran, Mala Goobardhan Brother in Law of Dolsin Maharajh, Sona Telucksingh, Renuka Deonarine, Balmicki Ramsaran, Pajum Maharajh, Chanka Seeteeram and Vishnu Deonarine Friend of the Lakhans, Jookhoos and the late Imam Mohammed Salim.

Funeral service takes on Tuesday 15th November 2016 at 9.00am from the House of Mourning 11 Ward Street Tunapuna thence to the Caroni Cremation Site according to Hindu Rites.

PHILLIPS, Sydney H. passed away peacefully on Saturday 12th November, 2016. Son of the late Lester and Beryl. Sonin- law of Rowley Ford (deceased) and Dorothy. Former husband of Rosalie. Father of Cindy-Lee, Gillian, Rachael and Sarah Jane. Grandfather of Charles, Zane and Scott. Brother of Billy, Peter and Joan, Dorothy, Robert and Douglas (deceased).

Funeral service for the late Sydney H. Phillips takes place at The Church of the Assumption, Long Circular Road, Maraval on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 at 9:30am, followed by private interment. Funeral entrusted to C&B. For enquiries, please contact Chancellor Walks Funeral Services, 287-0403/ 04.

GOINDOO; Kevans passed away peacefully on 10th November, 2016. Son of Rita and Evans Goindoo (both deceased). Husband of Nalini Goindoo. Father of Joanne, Cherry-Ann, Glen, Clem, Rachel-Ann, Keesha, Keran & Kevana. Brother of Winston (Pat), Alan, Steve, Lynda, Liana & Venita. Grandfather of 12 .

Funeral at 1.00 p.m. on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 at Church of the Assumption, Maraval followed by interment at Woodbrook Cemetery, Mucurapo Road. For enquiries, call C&B 625- 1170 or visit clarkandbattoo.- com

Bizarre was how the story surrounding the alleged death of baby Mercy seemed yesterday after her mother challenged the story given to the media by police.

“Mercy is alive, she is not dead,” Natalie Richins said after she and her three children were released from police custody.

Richins, 40, her daughter, Nicolette Harry, 18, and two other children—ages 13 and 14—had spent the last five days at the La Brea Police Station in connection with the alleged death of two-month-old Mercy. The children were released into the custody of their father.

However, Richins told the T&T Guardian Mercy was now nine months old, alive and well. She promised to reveal Mercy to the public soon.

Her story contradicts police reports over the last few days that the skeletal remains of a baby were found in her home at Sobo Village, La Brea, last Thursday.

Richins claimed there was a plot against her family and she would be going through the correct means to get justice. 

“There were never any remains in this house. If there were remains in the house, why are we at home right now? If they (Police) had all these things that they said they have, why are we home? Why were we kept all this time and we were never charged?” she asked.

She said it was strange they were released when on Monday a homicide investigator said he had evidence that she caused the death of Mercy. 

She said for the public to make sense of the police claims, they should consider how four people were able to live in a house for months with a decomposing body and why the neighbours did not report any stench. 

Richins admitted to giving birth to Mercy at home on February 8 at 1.16 am but said her other children were also born at home.

Recalling the incident that led to her current situation, Richins said two female officers came to her home last Wednesday saying they were investigating a report that two of her children were not attending school. 

It was during that conversation that the officers began to ask about Mercy. Richins said one of the officers asked whether Mercy was hers and if she ever breast fed the child but she told the officers she never had a child. The officers left but returned on Thursday and a woman sergeant demanded to see Mercy.

“I told them once they have the proper paperwork, they could. But she (woman police) said they are the police and did not need a warrant. 

“She said ‘Let us go in the house’ but I walked into the driveway. She walked into the house and came back and leaned on the door, saying that she needed support, that there was a dead baby on the bed,” Richins said. 

She added: “I was told at my home here that I was under arrest and ushered out quickly with my two younger children. They (police) said there were remains there. ‘Look there are remains there’ and I saw nothing. I thought this woman was crazy.” 

Showing the room and mattress where the alleged remains were found, she said because the exterior wall was damaged, she and Mercy had not slept in there for a while. 

Showing a stain on a mattress, she said it was urine that caused it. She also showed recently washed baby clothes, accessories and stage two diapers in the house.

Richins also claimed said she was kept in a separate room from her children throughout the five days of detention. During an interrogation, she claimed she was dragged off a chair by an investigator who tried to force her to sign documents. 

Showing swollen wrists, she said they even squeezed her face and pulled back her head. She said the police mentioned the name Emelio Lawrence in their questions but she did not know such a person. 

Richins and her children were also taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital and were referred to the San Fernando General Hospital for psychiatric evaluations.

‘We have bones’

When contacted yesterday in relation to the case, Snr Supt of the South Western Division, Inraj Balram, said although the family was released inquiries were continuing. He then said he could not speak anymore as he was at a seminar. One of the investigators told the T&T Guardian that forensic evidence and DNA results were still outstanding. He maintained that the bones of a child were found at Richins’ Sobo Village home last Thursday. Asked whether it was being investigated as a murder, he said they were looking at all angles, whether it be accidental, negligence or homicide. He said an autopsy last week could not determine cause of death because of the state of decomposition. 

Also contacted yesterday, T&T Police Service corporate communication manager, Ellen Lewis, said an autopsy confirmed that the skeletal remains found were that of a human approximately ten months old. Lewis advised Richins to make a complaint to the Police Complaints Authority and the T&T Police Service if she had any issues. As to the claim that there were never any bones at the house, she said it was still under investigation.

The family of little Sephra Sankar was still trying to come to terms with her death yesterday, hours after she drowned in the family’s pool.

Undetected by her mother, Sephra, a year-and-four-month-old toddler, also known as “Scoochie,” ventured into the yard and fell into the pool on Monday evening and drowned. She was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility but was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Police said between 1.45 pm and 2 pm, Sephra went missing from inside her Las Lomas home and when her mother, Freeda Cruickshank, went looking she found her floating in the pool.

Acting Cpl Gopaul, PC Phillips and a party of officers visited the scene and the child’s body was taken to the San Fernando Mortuary for an autopsy.

Yesterday when T&T Guardian visited the family’s home at Solomon Drive, foreigners who spoke Spanish were bathing in the pool.

Relatives and other members of the family had tents set up for the wake and were power washing the yard in preparation for visitors.

In a brief interview, the child’s father, Ricky Sankar, a businessman, said he never let Sephra go outside by herself. Sankar said he received a call that afternoon from the baby’s mother that she had gone missing.

“I went to pick up my other son from school and she called me and told me that she was not seeing the child and the doors were locked. I told her to go outside and check,” he said.

Sankar said he was not at home at the time and when he called Cruickshank back she did not return his calls.

“When I came home I saw the child on the ground and the neighbour telling her how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation),” he said.

He said the pool, which is called El Grande, was used for entertainment purposes in the past and rented out for small parties.

“We never used to take her outside alone. Always when we were there we used to take her outside. We have lifeguards here when we have parties. The court wants it like that,” he said.

He said baby Sephra had only just started walking and saying one or two words.

“She loved her father and she was a very loving baby and always wanted me to lift her up and go with me everywhere I go,” he said.

Sankar said up to late yesterday, he did not have any conversations with his common-law wife concerning the toddler’s death.

“I don’t know how to start that,” he said. He said the funeral would be tomorrow. 

When Cruickshank returned from the autopsy she did not want to comment on Sephra’s death. 

Investigations are ongoing.

Tax increases on alcohol and tobacco products are perfectly legal despite yesterday’s lack of debate in the Senate on an order concerning the taxes, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said.

He clarified the situation after a planned Senate debate on the order was cancelled by Government yesterday.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark expressed concern at the “surprise” procedure, which he said had never been done. He said the Opposition would research the matter and if necessary may challenge it in court.

Mark claimed if the “lack of procedure” yesterday made the taxes on alcohol/tobacco products illegal, Government may have to return duties already paid on those items.

The situation arose in the Senate when debate on orders concerning Customs import duty (Caribbean Common Market) and Excise duty (alcoholic beverages and tobacco products) were to be debated. The orders stemmed from tax increases, including online taxes, in the 2017 budget delivered in September. 

While the orders were on the agenda, Leader of Government’s Senate Business, Franklin Khan, announced they would not be debated. He revealed Government had received an opinion from the Treasury Solicitor which he read out.

The Solicitor stated that “in the interim, I’m of the view the provisional collection of taxes order 2016 continues in operation and will continue in operation until Finance Bill 3 and the relevant orders 2016 completes its full passage of the Parliament and the Act is assented to by the President. 

“Please note this process must be completed within the four-month time frame, beginning October 29 2016 and ending February 19, 2017. During this time, I’m of the view it is permissible for the State to collect and continue to collect online taxes and the rest.”

Khan said that meant “we have some time. I want to give the Senate time to study the provisions in detail before we reconvene the debate.” He proposed the Senate be adjourned to a date to be fixed. 

But Mark objected, saying Government was making an error. He called for the Treasury Solicitor’s opinions to be produced.

“We have extreme difficulty with that position, given that the experience and practice of the Parliament over the years is to deal with these matters according to law,” Mark added.

Independent Senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir also said he was surprised.

“Government is saying there is a legal opinion but there could be a contrary legal opinion also,” he said.

Khan promised to produce the legal opinion.

When the matter was put to a vote, 19 voted in favour of adjourning, including Government and Independent Senators Ian Roach, Sophia Chote, David Small and Paul Richards. 

Mahabir voted with Opposition senators against adjourning. Independents Taurel Shrikissoon, Stephen Creese and Jennifer Raffoul abstained.

Mark later told reporters the orders stipulated they had to be submitted in 21 days and yesterday was the 28th day. He said Imbert couldn’t unilaterally impose the taxes without Parliament sanction, though he noted the Senate didn’t have power to stop the money bill. He questioned why the orders were put on the agenda if the Treasury Solicitor’s opinion said otherwise.

Imbert, subsequently clarifying the situation, said: “Senator Mark is mistaken. These particular orders deal with customs and excise duties on alcohol and tobacco. The law simply requires them to be submitted to Parliament within 21 days of their publication, which was done last week. We now have until February 2017 to debate them in the Senate. 

“These taxes (customs/excise duties) on alcohol and tobacco aren’t contained in the bill before the Senate and are perfectly legal. Rather than being in the bill, the taxes are dealt with via the orders published in the Gazette on November 20, 2016. Once the orders are published and submitted to Parliament within 21 days of publication, the taxes are collectible and legal.”

He said Government had four months from November 20, 2016 to pass the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill which deals with Government savings bonds, the “millionaires’ tax” and other measures.

Get your head together if you want to become a police officer. Mental capability and behavioural tests may be required.

That’s what Government is looking at among preventative measures to stem criminality among T&T Police Service ranks, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said in the Senate yesterday. 

He said Government was eyeing policies, including psychometric testing and psychological examinations, for police recruits.

Psychometric tests are a standard scientific method used to measure individuals’ mental capabilities and behavioural style. The tests are designed to measure candidates’ suitability for a role based on the required personality characteristics and aptitude (or cognitive abilities).

Dillon was replying to questions from UNC Senator Wayne Sturge. Noting the increasing number of officers being arrested, detained and charged with criminal offences, Sturge asked whether urgent and immediate measures were being considered to arrest rising criminality in the service.

The query followed the identification of five police officers allegedly attached to the Port-of-Spain division—and an SRP—for the robbery of Chinese businessman of over $400,000 in cash and valuables in Claxton Bay. 

The officers allegedly robbed the businessman under the guise they were executing a search warrant at his home. They were expected to be questioned yesterday.

Dillon said the Commissioner of Police would hold a media briefing today on TTPS members involved in criminality.

He underscored: “Government condemns any action of criminality being committed by any member of the T&T Police Service or any State agency whose duty is to protect, serve and secure the people of T&T.

“Anyone found culpable will face the full brunt of the law. The TTPS’ Professional Standards Bureau is conducting an investigation... no one is above the law. Justice will be allowed to take its course.”

Dillon said the acting CoP would address preventative measures within the TTPS and introduce areas of professional development through training and individual development.

Also replying to Opposition questions, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said normal operations have returned to the Board of Inland Revenue’s Trinidad House operations following last week’s “rat infestation” complaint by the Public Services Association.

He said Rentokil and the Port-of-Spain Corporation inspected the building and found no rats. The building was sanitised anyway. 

Five men were rushed to the Arima Health Facility yesterday evening after they were shot during an attack at Reid Lane, D’Abadie.
Reports remained sketchy up to last evening but it is understood Leon Sobers and Joel Alexander subsequently died, while Shavaughn Sobers, Leon Sobers’ son, was critical after being shot in the eye. 
According to police Five men were rushed to the Arima Health Facility yesterday evening after they were shot during an attack at Reid Lane, D’Abadie.

Reports remained sketchy up to last evening but it is understood Leon Sobers and Joel Alexander subsequently died, while Shavaughn Sobers, Leon Sobers’ son, was critical after being shot in the eye. 

According to police reports, at around 6.45 pm the men, all of Reid Lane, were liming on the roadside when a man rode up on a bicycle, pulled out a gun and opened fire on them. A neighbour took the five men to hospital following the attack.

This was the second gun attack at Reid Lane this month. 

On November 5, Frank Joseph, his son Kevin Plaza and Ricardo Singh were also killed while two others were injured when gunmen opened fire on them.

Homicide and Northern Division detectives are continuing investigations into the latest attack.reports, at around 6.45 pm the men, all of Reid Lane, were liming on the roadside when a man rode up on a bicycle, pulled out a gun and opened fire on them. A neighbour took the five men to hospital following the attack.
This was the second gun attack at Reid Lane this month. 
On November 5, Frank Joseph, his son Kevin Plaza and Ricardo Singh were also killed while two others were injured when gunmen opened fire on them.
Homicide and Northern Division detectives are continuing investigations into the latest attack.

Nicole Arrendell said she was expecting one day to be told that the man to whom she invested 20 years of her life was murdered but receiving that call yesterday was still a shock to her. 

Arrendell spoke with the media at the St James Medical Facility less than an hour after her husband Dominic “Zebby” Gregoire was pronounced dead on arrival, having been shot while working in his hometown of Waterhole, Cocorite. 

Police reports are that Gregoire, 39, of Pitilal Road, Waterhole, Cocorite, was with David “Nanny” Mathews and another man at Freedom Street, Cocorite, constructing a wall when a masked gunman approached and opened fire. 

Mathews was shot in the leg and he along with Gregoire were taken to the St James Medical Facility where Mathews was treated and transferred to Port-of-Spain General Hospital. 

The shooting took place around noon, police said, adding that Gregoire was known to them as having been arrested for gun, ammunition and narcotics offences. 

Arrendell, the mother of Gregoire’s three children —two boys and one girl between 16 years and ten months—said she could not believe when she was told he was dead.

“I was expecting it but I didn’t know when. Is years now there was a pulling and tugging with people in the area. It always had a war going on in the area,” Arrendell said, adding she had no idea why someone would have wanted her man dead.

She added: “Right now I am feeling depressed and sad because I studying my three children. I just want to say to the killers they do my children the worst. Whatever they had with him my children did not deserve that.”

Former Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar is appealing the decision of a High Court judge who ordered him to pay $255,000 in compensation to his estranged brother and two other COP members for defamation. 

Chief Justice Ivor Archie and appellate judges Gregory Smith and Prakash Moosai yesterday reserved their decision in the appeal after hearing submissions from Ramadhar’s attorneys and those for his brother Kishore, Rudolph Hanamji and Satu-Ann Ramcharan. 

A date for their decision will be announced by the court over the next few weeks. 

In his appeal, Ramadhar is claiming that Justice Vasheist Kokaram misinterpreted his statements when he ruled that he (Ramadhar) had defamed the trio in December last year. 

Ramadhar is also contending that Kokaram did not properly consider the defences to defamation, ie, rely to an attack and fair comment, which were raised by his attorneys during the trial of the case last year. 

The lawsuit arose out of a controversy in October 2013 in which the trio were accused of sending a letter with information about the COP’s membership to the then Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM).

The letter stated that three members who contested the last Local Government elections were not members of the COP, as legally required. 

The PNM subsequently wrote to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) challenging the membership of the candidates.

Kishore, Hanamji and Ramcharan, who were suspended from the party’s national executive and national council, denied any wrongdoing as they claimed their signatures had been forged on the leaked document. 

Ramadhar, former COP chairman, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, and founding member, Iqbal Hydal, were all accused of making defamatory statements on the issue at a COP National Council meeting on November 10, 2013. 

All three were sued by the trio and were each ordered by Kokaram to pay compensation. However, only Ramadhar has appealed the decision. 

Ramadhar was ordered to pay his brother $90,000; the same amount to Hanamji and $75,000 to Ramcharan. 

Seepersad-Bachan was ordered to pay Kishore Ramadhar $75,000; the same amount to Hanamji and $50,000 to Ramcharan while Hydal was ordered to pay $25,000 to Kishore Ramdhar; the same sum to Hanamji and $20,000 to Ramcharan. 

Ramadhar was represented by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, Larry Lalla and Michael Rooplal. The trio was represented by Frederick Gilkes, Mervyn Campbell and Yuri Saunders. 

Determined to stop unscrupulous contractors from benefitting from suspicious land transactions, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat says he is forwarding evidence to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

Speaking at a land-distribution ceremony in Couva yesterday for former Caroni workers, Rambharat said an ongoing land audit of all State lands, including those owned by Caroni, has yielded evidence of suspicious transactions undertaken between 2010 and 2015. 

Saying the cost of developing a lot of land jumped from $151,000 in 2010 to $1.2 million by 2015, Rambharat said a review showed many contractors who developed Caroni lands for the Estate Management Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) failed to honour their agreements.

“The EMBD initiated earlier this year an audit of a particular set of transactions of $400 million spent to build ten roads and out of these ten roads none were completed according to specifications,” Rambharat revealed.

He said some roads were a few kilometres short, the thickness of the asphalt was not according to specifications and the quality of the roads’ sub-base was poor.

“The advice we got is that the EMBD should move to recover a significant amount of money long before the contracts were completed. 

“In relation to development of lands in 2010, the average cost of completion of a lot of land was $151,000. It varied from site to site but by 2015, the average cost was way in excess of $750,000. In some cases the lots were $1.2 million,” Rambharat said.

He noted that once evidence was sent to the AG, recommendations would be made to recover the sums or to take steps to prosecute the offenders.

In order not to delay the distribution of residential lots to former Caroni workers, Rambharat said he had asked the recipients to take advantage of offers on areas which were already developed.

While the EMBD, headed by chairman Ronnie Mohammed had to deal with a $2 billion debt to contractors, he said $5 billion more was needed to complete the residential distribution to 8,858 beneficiaries. 

Rambharat said he planned to begin distributing non-Caroni leases by April 2017, adding about 3,000 leases have already been distributed by the Government for this year.

“As fast as we encounter problems like the illegal sale of State lands or corruption relating to certain files, they are referred to the Attorney General,” Rambharat added. 

He also denied Government planned to take away Caroni lands from the former workers. 

“In this country, farmers have used the cry of access roads as an excuse for not putting the lands for productive use but even though Government is putting the necessary infrastructure, do not expect highways or electricity poles and cable to be coming to the lands as if it is an HDC site,” Rambharat added. 

He noted that the office of the Commissioner of State Lands was being given the resources and staffing to ensure that those who got leases put the lands to productive use.