More that one hundred people gathered outside Port-of-Spain City Hall today to demonstrate against statements made by Mayor Raymond Tim Kee following the murder of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya. 

Citizens sharing how the mayor's comments affected them. @CNC3TVpic.twitter.com/9WLNbsUYqC

— Akash Ravi Samaroo (@AkashSamaroo) February 12, 2016

Womantra, the organising body behind the protest, is calling for the country to end victim blaming and sexism when a woman is attacked.

Protesters line Woodford Square opposite City Hall to show their dissaproval of Tim Kee's statements. Photo courtesy Renelle White.

Tim Kee held an emergency press conference at City Hall after the discovery of Nagakiya’s body on Ash Wednesday. He told the media: “I spoke about of some of the things that I see women do, assisted by men, of course, but the woman has the responsibility that they ensure that they are not abused. You can enjoy Carnival without going through the routine.”

The group dropped off a letter for Tim Kee calling for his dismissal. Womantra is saying they are not accepting Tim Kee’s apology and they see no other alternative but for him to leave.

Photo courtesy Renelle White.

Spokesperson for the group Attillah Springer told CNC3’s Morning Brew this morning that the protest is not just over Tim Kee’s statements, but about taking a stand about public officials being more responsible for their statements.

“It is a clear call for the women in the region to make ourselves and our men accountable for how they treat us. From the language that they use to refer to us, to the violence that is done not just to our bodies but to our minds. Stop that abuse,” she said. 

Springer said she felt abused by the comments Tim Kee made following Nagakiya’s death.

“I felt violated by it, and we need to address that. It is not just about that physical violence, but that verbal violence,” she said. 

Springer said Tim Kee’s view is a common sentiment in this country and if not now, then when will women take a stand for change? She said following today’s march, they will be advocating for gender sensitivity training for public officials so that they understand gender relations and understanding in T&T. 

Photo courtesy Renelle White.

Angelique Nixon, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies, spoke at the protest saying: “To tell women they have to be responsible for their bodies when in fact it is the state’s responsibility, and all of our responsibilities of course, to treat each other with respect and ensure our safety.” 

Liselle Prevatt and Angelique Nixon speak to the media at the protest. Photo courtesy Renelle White.

She said violence against women is not about how women dress. “The issues is not about how women carry themselves. The language that he used was completely and utterly disgusting. We need to stand up and stand in action against that and I think by seeing all of our faces here, they know that we came to do that,” Nixon said. 

People like former Justice Minister Christlyn Moore, and fashion designers Anya Ayoung-Chee and Meiling were at the protest. 

Moore said she was disgusted by the mayor’s comments and this brings forward the call for there to be gender sensitivity, not necessarily a gender ministry, but gender sensitivity throughout the Cabinet of T&T, throughout the police force, and the regional corporations.

She said what the mayor said was very embarrassing to the country, and what Womantra is saying is that it perpetuates a victim blaming and rape culture that is akin to the type of misogyny seen in the Middle East where there is a belief that what a woman wears is an invitation for violence.

Lawrence Arjoon wears his Mas Rebellion costume of a Lagahoo using his costume as a metaphor for how men are taught to prey upon women. Photo courtesy Renelle White.

Also present were Japanese media who flew in last night to cover the story of Nagakiya's death
 

Japan journalists covering #cityprotest#PoS#TrinidadandTobagopic.twitter.com/lR3V4EvQKL

— Richard Lord (@Lordrich6) February 12, 2016

One of the employees of the office of the Mayor went downstairs to defend Tim Kee. She said she was in plain clothes and not on duty, but confirmed that she was employed by the city.

​

She was defending the mayor’s statement and she accused the media of blowing the whole situation out of proportion.

Yesterday Womantra created a petition calling for Tim Kee to be fired. Thus far it has more than 8,000 signatures. 

Yesterday Tim Kee sent out a public apology and said that his statements were taken out of context. 

Many of the protestors also held signs in honour or memory of Nagakiya.

Photo of Asami Nagakiya in her Legacy cosutme on the road on Carnival Tuesday. Photo  courtesy Aaron Kratos.

The serenity residents of Lothian Road, Princes Town once felt was shattered on Thursday when the nude body of caretaker Lochan Ramlochan was found at his home. 

Police said Ramlocahn, 58, was strangled with an electrical cord and relatives believes that it might be robbery related.

Ramlochan was last seen outside a palour near his home on Wednesday night and when neighbors went to check on him around 8.20 pm Thursday, they saw him through a ventilation block, lying nude in his bedroom.

Princes Town's PC Jacob and PC Mohammed responded to the residents' call and broke into Ramlochan's apartment where they found him lying face down and nude with his hands bound and an electrical cord around his neck.

While no motive was given for his murder, police said the apartment was ransacked.

Despite the murder of Japanese pannist and masquerader Asami Nagakiya and reports of several beatings including that of a policeman beating a patron on the head with a gun butt, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) is insisting that this year's Carnival was safe and successful.

At Thursday’s press briefing held at Police Administration building in Port-of-Spain, acting DCP - Administration, Harold Phillip, Gold Commander for Carnival 2016, said there "were no reported serious disruptions at any Carnival-related events."

He said the TTPS also expressed condolences to Nagakiya's family as well as the local and international Japanese community.

During Carnival Monday and Tuesday some 6,000 police officers were out on the road.

Asked why there was no police presence at the time of Nagakiya's death, Phillip said: "Our police officers were deployed around the Savannah (Port-of-Spain). We were not aware of that incident until the body was discovered."

Nagakiya was found dead at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, on Ash Wednesday.

In thanking stakeholders for providing "critical infrastructure" during the two-day celebrations, Phillip added: "And special praise to the public of Trinidad and Tobago for their responsible behaviour for ensuring their safety during the Carnival season."

He said the Carnival operations plan including that of security and traffic management were executed extremely well during the pre-Carnival and the present post-Carnival phase.

Also, during Carnival, PNM councillor Jason Alexander was beaten by Yuma's security.

Phillip said that matter was still under investigation.

The body of a man was found along Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, on Carnival Monday.

Regarding the alleged beating by the lawman, Phillip said the service would "do all" within its power to ensure the matter is investigated in a speedy manner.

Reduction in crime

Compared to last year's Carnival, Phillip said, this year’s event showed a reduction in serious offences by some 46 per cent.

During the Carnival period a total of 140 persons were arrested across the country for a range of offences. Seven firearms and ammunition were also seized.

Asked how many people were made to take the breathalyser test, acting DCP Deodat Dulalchan, who also spoke, said "several hundred motorists." 

He added that 13 were arrested and charged for failing the test and 449 vehicles were wrecked in and around the Port-of-Spain area.

The Health Ministry is pumping $5 million into its fight against the Zika virus.

The funds would be used to purchase additional chemicals for spraying, said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh during a press conference at the ministry’s office in Park Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

On whether there were cuts from other areas within the ministry to fund this purchase, Deyalsingh said that was irrelevant.

“The money will be made available to protect T&T,” Deyalsingh said.

Two weeks ago, Deyalsingh declared the virus a national public health emergency. Due to this declaration, the minister said the country was now in talks with its international partners for assistance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had also declared the virus a global health emergency. Asked to provide some details of the aid, Deyalsingh said he could not as discussions were ongoing.

“T&T is now going to be a recipient of international funding to fight the virus,” Deyalsingh said.

And the fight would also entail a legislative level as there are proposals to increase the current $500 fine for unkept lots.

The minister said this had become necessary to ensure that negligent property owners kept their premises clean, including abandoned lots which continued to pose a major health hazard.

The increased penalty was still to be determined as the ministry was currently reviewing the yellow fever regulations, Deyalsingh said.

“But there is still one major disturbing factor which is there are properties which we do not have access to...either they are closed or people have gone to work so we cannot do any spraying,” Deyalsingh said.

He said the total number of houses inspected to date was 73,066.

Regarding major clusters showing where the Aedes aegypti mosquito was endemic, the minister, with the use of a map, said there was a concentration between Diego Martin and Trincity.

“There are also clusters around central Trinidad like Chaguanas, Couva, San Fernando, La Brea.

“There are also some clusters along the eastern seaboard like Coalmine, Sangre Grande and a little cluster in Mayaro,” Deyalsingh said.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the same vector which spreads dengue and chikungunya.

He said while spraying was necessary it could not be done indiscriminately but rather must be done in a strategic and targeted manner.

Regarding aerial spraying he said there was no need for this as the entire country was not affected. Further, Deyalsingh said, the bee population would be put at risk.

“The last time aerial spraying was done it killed out the bee population and a whole industry with it,” the minister added.

To date there have been no recorded cases of Zika in the country.

On newspaper reports of the shortage of the drug M­odecate used to treat mental health patients, the minister said a letter from the manufacturer showed there was a global shortage. He said there was an alternative available drug which was in use.

Wahid Ogeer, the farmer who created the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion will be teaching interested farmers and gardeners free of charge how to grow his fiery, taste buds-searing pepper at The Caroni Central Farmers’ Market at Preysal Secondary School on February 27. He said he can also show farmers how they can maximise their crop production using limited land space.

The Caroni Central Farmers’ Market, MP for Caroni Central Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie said, was really set up to encourage the people of his constituency to not only be good farmers and produce good quality crops, but to be able to make a living out of it. 

Tewarie said at the first farmers’ market (a smaller but similar concept to the San Antonio Green Market, Santa Cruz) in January, there were a few farmers and a lot more people involved in the making of preserves and specialty items such as pickled smoke herring and pickled buljol, as well as a very diverse offerings from jewellers, artists and artisans.

The UNC MP said he also wanted to encourage other enterprising people in the community to use their entrepreneurial initiative and take advantage of the commercial opportunity every month in the constituency. 

The plan, developed by Tewarie and Miranda Roopchan, field officer for his constituency, is to have the market on a monthly basis as it grows from strength to strength. Tewarie is also encouraging and supporting the initiatives of people like Ogeer who wants to help others succeed.

Ogeer, who is the president of the Practical Agricultural Training Institute of T&T and president of the Confederation of Farmers’ Association of T&T, and who operates a 25-acre farm at Chickland Caparo Road in Freeport, said he was willing to share his knowledge to help others earn and to grow the country’s food stock, especially in this period of recession and the need to diversify from oil and gas.

Ogeer, 68, a self-taught farmer for decades, said he uses his high-yield production method to grow other crops such as corn, eddoes, yams, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and ginger.

He said his vision was for his farm to be a teaching institute, but it required an access road, water and electricity. 

“I could produce a minimum of 40,000 pounds of food from one acre of land in one year,” Ogeer said.

“And that is if the farmer has an irrigation system and if the fertility of the soil is 50 per cent and above, any kind of plant, anywhere, anyhow...I will be able to do it and also with a minimum of chemicals.

“I will be able to teach farmers through an agricultural institute which will be easier, home gardening, root crop farming. Planting more trees and vegetables all contribute to combat global warming.”

Ogeer suggested a system where farmers could be contracted by Government or private investors to produce 40,000 pounds of food crops so that they will have money guaranteed at the end of the year.

He said farmers can be given $1.50 a pound on their produce and a back pay of 50 cents, they will have $80,000 from one acre of land, and expenses will be approximately $20,000. 

Ogeer said they were aiming for the export market since the country produced the highest quality of food in the world. He said downstream industries making preserves will benefit as well as children in the school feeding programme. Ogeer said VAT should be removed on food for people to afford nutritious food.

Lashley: An opportunity to sell surplus produce and cut out middleman

Barbara Lashley and her husband, Ruthven, have approximately 1,000 fruit trees on 15 acres of their land at Pipecon Road, Carlsen Field. 

Besides the regular produce most people are accustomed to in the market, there are several rare and exotic species of fruit and trees to be found. 

Some are mamisipote, date palm, kola nut, wax apple, long and short pois doux, penny piece, Jamaican plum trees, Chinese tamarind tree, mahogany and cedar trees, yellow and white poui trees, and even an apple tree. 

Lashley said they managed to educate their four children and send each one to university via agriculture.

For the 26 years she has been on her farm, every corner on her parcel of land has fruit trees, and the ground space in between short crops have been planted for maximum yield.

Lashley, who took part in the first Caroni Central Farmers Market in January 30, is encouraging farmers, entrepreneurs and small backyard gardeners who have a surplus of produce to take part in the next market so they can gain experience and share knowledge with one another. 

She said the farmers’ market was a very good idea since it cut out the middleman and many people came looking for more products.

Lashley said farmers needed modest incentives from the Government such as proper irrigation, ponds, riding mowers, lights and paved roads.

She said nothing was wasted, “turned cassava” was sold to the Sugar Cane Feeds Centre in Longdenville to feed livestock. 

Lashley said she didn’t sell in the market, she gave someone to sell for her and sold her produce house to house.

She said if she didn’t get the price she was calling for, she would reduce it and come home with her trunk empty.

Lashley said she also donated her produce to Living Waters and does community work with the underprivileged who needed clothes or shoes.

Patrick: Make agriculture 

more attractive to youths

Keith Patrick, Lashley’s son-in-law, whose banana crops have been affected by the black Sigatoka disease, said while there had been foreign help and expertise in St Lucia and other Caribbean countries to reestablish their banana plantations, there was no such help in T&T that he knew of to aid farmers to combat the disease. 

He said labour was also a challenge; there was a desperate need to get young people to view agriculture as something viable.

Patrick said unfortunately agriculture was not marketed as being attractive compared to the medical and legal professions. 

He said it must be inculcated from school level with programmes such as 4-H. 

Patrick said in terms of machinery, there should be a sliding scale so that all farmers can benefit from machinery such as tractors, equipment and vehicles and not just larger scale farmers.

Patrick also suggested that to make a portion of land available to students who want to study agriculture at university. 

Rampersad: Govt should 

act as farmers’ middleman

Madan and Polly Rampersad get up at 3 am on weekends at their Mc Nair Estate, Cunupia farm to reach the San Juan Market in time to set up their stall before 5 am. If they don’t, they will lose sales as customers come out at that time.

Rampersad said when the market was under renovation, they were given permission to vend on the road and when completed they could return to sell in the facility. Rampersad said newcomers were accommodated in the renovated market before them and they were now selling from two empty lots of land near the market. 

If rain hampered sales, Rampersad will give away any excess produce or shared it instead of throwing it away. 

He said vendors should be allowed to sell on the road up to 2 pm if they caused no inconvenience and traffic.

He said authorities can also facilitate vendors selling on the market compound and Government should act like the middleman and buy farmers’ produce.

Rampersad said the most important thing was to have a market for farmers’ produce and more people would want to go into farming.

Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee is expected to tender his resignation tomorrow.

His decision comes one day after scores of concerned citizens and human rights activists staged a protest at Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain, calling for him to resign over comments he made on the discovery of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya’s body at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Wednesday.

In a statement issued yesterday on the Port-of-Spain City Corporation letterhead, Tim Kee stated that he noted the continued outrage and hurt over statements attributed to him. 

He said he deeply regretted the consequences of the statements and apologised unreservedly to those who had been affected. 

On Wednesday during a news conference at City Hall, the mayor was questioned about the discovery of an unidentified female masquerader. Later that night she was identified by police as Nagakiya. 

Tim Kee’s response to reporters at the news conference was that women did not need to behave in a vulgar and lewd manner to enjoy themselves during Carnival.

He said, “I spoke of some of the things that I see women do, assisted by men, of course, but the woman has the responsibility that they ensure that they are not abused. You can enjoy Carnival without going through that routine.”

Tim Kee added that women needed to maintain a level of dignity during Carnival festivities.

Following his statements which created outrage on social media and among different civil society groups, Tim Kee issued a statement on Thursday apologising, saying his statements were taken out of context.

But it’s not the first time the mayor has made such remarks about women’s behaviour during Carnival.

In 2014, speaking to reporters at the Downtown Carnival judging point in South Quay, the mayor said, “I see some women do some things with some men—nothing for the imagination, you can’t do that.”

He said he felt that some of the costumes he had seen then were “unacceptable—almost like a beach party on the street. I hate to say this, some women just don’t care.” 

Calls on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for Tim Kee to resign fell on deaf ears as the PM said the controversial remarks did not warrant a dismissal.

Rowley said Tim Kee may have “misspoken” and his People’s National Movement Government (PNM) did not support victim blaming.

WomanTra TT started a petition on Wednesday calling for Tim Kee’s resignation and up to last night the petition had reached over 10,000 signatures.

Tim Kee is also the treasurer of the PNM.

In November 2013 he was elected unopposed as mayor. He was also the president of the T&T Football Association, but was voted out last November.

When Sunday Guardian contacted Tim Kee yesterday he said his resignation statement had been issued to all media houses and that he would be engaged in a meeting that would last an hour.

He asked that the newspaper call him back but several calls thereafter went unanswered.

Tim Kee: I respect women

In the 12-line release, Tim Kee said, “I consider the reaction has been sufficient to cause damage to the Office of the Mayor of Port of Spain, which any holder of this office should be concerned to protect at all costs. It is in these circumstances, why I intend to call an emergency meeting of Council, and tender my resignation as Mayor, and as an Alderman.”

He added that it was important for him to point out as a citizen of T&T, a man and a father, he reiterated his unreserved respect for women, and in fact for all people, regardless of their race, gender or religion.

“It is hoped that with this decision, the Office of the Mayor is now protected, my unreserved apology accepted by my fellow citizens, and that the focus can now be placed fully on solving the murder of a visitor to our shores,” Tim Kee wrote.

It does not rise to the level 

of resignation—Cuffie

Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie, when contacted last night, referred all questions to Rural Development and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan, who is also chairman of the PNM. 

However, calls to Khan’s cellphone went unanswered.

Earlier in the day, Cuffie told reporters during a walkabout in La Horquetta that Government had no intention of removing Tim Kee from office. Cuffie referred to Rowley’s earlier comments on the issue, saying that while Tim Kee’s statements were unfortunate, they did not warrant his removal from office.

“It (Tim Kee’s comments) does not rise to the level of resignation and I wouldn’t want to go further than that,” Cuffie said of the government’s position.

Rowley did not respond to a message sent by the Sunday Guardian last night.

AG: Tim Kee is a compassionate man

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi publicly commended Tim Kee for acting as quickly as he did in offering his resignation.

Asked by reporters at the scene of a business fire at High Street, San Fernando, last night to comment on the situation, Al-Rawi said, “I think that Mayor Tim Kee is a man who knows very well what public sentiment looks like. It is a very unfortunate incident. I mean the death of the Japanese national...a woman who loved T&T is certainly a great tragedy for this nation.”

Al-Rawi said he knew Tim Kee personally and that he was a very compassionate man. 

“There is no excuse or holding water in your mouth in relation to the statements that were put in the media.

“I am not saying what he ought to do or ought not to do, but what I can tell you is that public sentiment is real and I give Mayor Tim Kee a serious public commendation for acting as quickly as he had in this manner.”

Persad-Bissessar: Victory of the people

In response to Tim Kee’s intention to resign, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday hailed civil society groups and associated individuals who, after days of activism, compelled the mayor to offer, albeit belatedly, an unequivocal apology for his reckless and offensive comments.

“This is a true victory of the people and I heartily commend the principled men and women who took up this struggle and spoke out against Mr Tim Kee’s vile sentiments, for their courage, perseverance and commitment,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She added that it served as a lesson to Rowley and his Government that they cannot callously dismiss the voice of the people, “since true power lies in the collective will of the citizens of this great nation.”

Lee Sing: PNM placing burden of responsibility on PoS council

In a Facebook post at 6.27 pm, former mayor Louis Lee Sing said, “The Mayor’s resignation letter I have read closely and on the surface I hold the view the PNM is once again placing its ‘burden of responsibility,’ on the laps of its Port-of-Spain Council.

“Let's think this out!

“The Mayor convenes his meeting and members (all PNM) are given the offer of resignation, but prior to the meeting Council Members are instructed NOT to accept the resignation. The Mayor stays and the responsibility for the mayor remaining in office becomes the hot potato of members of Council!

“In such a scenario the PM and Mayor are relieved of their burden of responsibility and Democracy suffers a mighty blow!

“I am hopeful on this occasion the PNM will remember the importance of the will of the people!”

Police have released the man whom they had in custody since Thursday for questioning in connection with the murder of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya.

Police said the man was released pending further investigation and stressed that he was not a suspect, but merely someone from whom they wanted to get information pertaining to her murder. 

The man, police said, had to be released since he was not officially under arrest and they had no information to suggest that he was a suspect. Police also stated that keeping him any further would have been a breach of his rights, which could have resulted in litigation.

A friend of the man who was released, and who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sunday Guardian police wasted time interrogating him as he was with a group of people, three of whom gave statements to the police attesting to this, during the period police suspected Nagakiya to have been murdered.

“We are putting our ears to the ground to find out who is the killer to help the police, because this area is a safe area and it feel like it have a killer among us. She was found with all her valuables so police believe it is a crime of passion, and they must investigate him because he and she was close, but they could have put their manpower elsewhere instead of investigating him,” the friend said.

He said that from Carnival Thursday, Nagakiya stayed at Picton Court, but he was unsure of where she stayed prior to that. He added that while the 30-year-old pan lover was well known in the pan community, she kept to herself mostly and would rarely be seen with her fellow countrymen, if ever, or in the company of others.

Police said the man was picked up on Thursday after information revealed he and Nagakiya, 30, were close. The two reportedly had a falling out over which Carnival band to play in on Monday but that was resolved by Tuesday, police said.

According to police sources close to the investigation, National Operations Centre (NOC) cameras could not capture any footage at all in the area where her body was found under a tree at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, around 9.30 am on Wednesday by a homeless man. Police had been viewing CCTV footage from the area in the hope of retracing Nagakiya’s last steps.

Police said they are yet to review footage from nearby businesses of Nagakiya after she left the Silver Stars panyard Tuesday evening. Officers also confirmed that Nagakiya made it back to the panyard and informed others that she was heading to St Ann’s to visit other Japanese nationals who were staying there. Nagakiya was a trained musician by profession and arrived in Trinidad on January 8 to participate in Carnival-related events. See Page A7.

If it weren’t for his coffin on the stage, musical legend Joey “Pal” Lewis’ funeral could have been mistaken for a concert with couples dancing on the stage and grandstand to big band music from the Joey Lewis Orchestra.

Lewis’ funeral at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, yesterday can best be described as a celebration of his life and music.

Errol Ince gave a moving rendition of Oh My Papa and In My World on the trumpet and Lewis’ band played My Way.

Upon former prime minister Patrick Manning’s request, Ride With Me began playing, at which point the funeral turned into a Carnival atmosphere with merriment as couples turned the venue into a dance floor and moko jumbies joined in the festivities.

Lewis’ son-in-law Tyrone Diaz said the collection at the funeral would be put towards the establishment of a Pal Joey Lewis Music Scholarship fund. 

Diaz said, “We also know that chemotherapy does not work for aged people. 

“Unfortunately that is one of the recommended procedures for persons who have cancer. 

“But we know that when you are at a certain age, your body really cannot fight the chemotherapy because it damages some good cells as well as bad cells. 

“So mom also wants to contribute to some organisation that will find an alternative to chemotherapy.”

He said they would try to help others to not go through the trauma Lewis went through.

Diaz said it would not be a one-off affair, as the intention was to set up an account for contributions to be made throughout the year so Lewis’ legacy would continue to live on. 

Lewis’ daughter Debra said finding an alternative to chemotherapy would mean T&T making alliances with countries such as Cuba and Mexico.

She said the family would also help set up a fund to help patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease which her father also had. 

Family says they got no 

financial help from State

Lewis’ niece Carol said the family received no financial assistance from the State for his funeral.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian yesterday, Carol said Lewis’ wife, Judy, went to the social welfare department for some financial assistance with the funeral.

She said the representative who interviewed Judy asked how many children Lewis had and she replied seven.

Carol said the social welfare representative said Lewis’ children could bury him.

“I find that is in poor taste for an icon like Joey Lewis where his music sells the country and something needs to be done,” Carol said. 

“This is not just for Joey Lewis but for other icons as well.” 

Lewis said she would raise the issue with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. 

Also present at the funeral were Rawlston Charles, David Rudder, Winston “Gypsy” Peters, Michael Osuna aka Sugar Aloes, Bill Trotman, president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) Lutalo Masimba, Singing Francine, De Fosto, Calypso Monarch 2012 Duane O’ Connor, chairman of the Toco/Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Terry Rondon, former senator and government minister Joan Yuille-Williams and Hazel Manning. 

Lewis was buried at the Western cemetery, St James.

Over 100 employees and 35 businesses were affected after fire broke out at Imperial Plaza in San Fernando yesterday evening, resulting in millions of dollars in loses.

Despite a problem with the water supply, fire fighters were able to prevent the fire from destroying neighbouring properties along Lower High Street. A few stores located upstairs American Plaza which adjoins Imperial Plaza were also affected.

Fire fighters have not yet determined the cause of the blaze which began shortly before 5 pm.

Business owners and employees stood in disbelief, some shedding tears, as black smoke billowed from the building.

Business owner Judy Sookbir said they closed about 30 minutes before the fire began.

Commenting on the water issue, San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein said he was disappointed over the water situation. “When I got here at 5.50 pm there was no water and that is unacceptable.” 

Hosein said he immediately contacted WASA and with assistance from San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi they were able to get a water supply. He said it was a great loss, especially with the country being in a recession.

Al-Rawi, who also visited the scene, said this was of urgent priority since a number of people were left without jobs and several business owners would have suffered major losses. Visiting the scene were fire fighters from Mon Repos and police officers from the San Fernando Police Station. 

Chief executive officer of the Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBD) Gary Parmassar was sent on administrative leave, pending a financial audit into the awarding of $400 million worth of contracts at the State-owned company.

Yesterday, in an exchange of text messages with the Sunday Guardian, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat confirmed that on Friday “Parmassar proceeded on leave by agreement with the company’s board of directors.”

Rambharat revealed that auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers “has been engaged to conduct a comprehensive audit on certain multi-million dollar construction contracts awarded by the EMBD in 2015. The auditors have taken possession of all electronic and paper records relating to the contracts.” 

Rambharat revealed that the contracts were valued at “just over $400 million.”

The Sunday Guardian learnt that on Friday, Parmassar received a letter from EMBD’s chairman Ronnie Mohammed informing that he was to be sent on leave with full pay.

The move comes two months after managing director of the Housing Development Corporation Jearlean John and seven other managers were sent on three months leave in order to carry out an audit.

John has since challenged the matter in court. 

From October 2014 to July 2015, Parmassar acted as EMBD’s CEO.

When Parmassar was appointed CEO seven months ago, he signed a three-year contract.

Yesterday, a source at the EMBD said that Parmassar was asked to hand over the laptop he used and the company’s cellphone.

Information stored on both electronic devices was copied by the auditors. The cellphone was returned to Parmassar late Friday.

Parmassar was also escorted out of the EMBD’s office in Valsayn by security guards and told not to return to work until the auditors concluded their investigation.

Former minister of housing and urban development Dr Roodal Moonilal, under whose purview EMBD fell, said moves by the People’s National Movement to send contracted employees on leave were becoming habitual and consistent. 

Moonilal said the party was clueless as to how to go forward or how to beat the challenges of the economic times.

In the coming days, Moonilal said, he would raise the matter in Parliament, in particular the selection of auditing companies by the PNM and “the role one minister in particular has been playing in the selection of the auditing companies.” 

Moonilal said once employees are sent on leave this tarnishes their reputation and undermines their future employment prospects.

Valdeen Shears-Neptune

Gabriella Celene Biswah’s huge, beautiful eyes are what caught my attention the first time I met her. She got onto the hospital bed, took out her mobile phone, looked around the ward, shrugged her petite shoulders and resigned herself to her to the stay at the institution. It would be one of 20-plus stays since she was 13 and diagnosed with vitiligo. 

Vitiligo is a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches across the body, often with no clear cause. While the last seven years have been more downhill than up for this 20-year-old woman, her condition has now come to represent her fate in life.

“I am angry now, but for different reasons. I am mad when I see people taking their organs for granted. 

“It irks me to see young people smoking and drinking, when there are sick people out there who would literally die for a clean lung or alcohol-free liver,” she said shaking her head.

But wait, how does one go from having vitiligo, which is not chronic or life-threatening, to being hospitalised on so many occasions? Biswah’s health struggles began when as a student of Asja Girls’ College she saw the first spot on her body. In a panic, Biswah said her parents, Nigel and Hanisha, took her to a private doctor. 

“I researched the hell out of the condition and became even more scared finding out how progressive it could become. 

“Then we sought a second opinion,” she recalled.

It was this second opinion and the doctor’s prescription which the family believes led to Biswah’s condition worsening. Biswah was prescribed a heavy dose of steroids by the well-known doctor, whom her family trusted “100 per cent.” She claimed the pharmacist questioned that it was too much for her small body structure and age, but the drug was administered anyway. She took the drugs, her health worsened.

Counselling was recommended and Biswah was later introduced to a young woman whose whole body was a whitish colour. The meeting, she said, was meant to inspire her to accept the condition, but it did quite the opposite. Added to this were the bouts of illnesses and days which she missed from school.

“I begun feeling sick, weak, having headaches, vomiting and losing weight even though I was always hungry. 

“I had numerous trips to the bathroom. Eventually it was my grandmom, Radhika, a diabetic, who saw it for what it is,” she recalled.

A blood sugar test was done and she was taken to a private doctor, then rushed to San Fernando General Hospital. Biswah was eventually diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, Type 1 diabetes and hyperthyroidism. She now had to take four shots of insulin daily. 

Despite this, the support of teachers and classmates at school saw her attain a full certificate at CXC, with several grade ones and distinctions among the seven subjects passed. Eventually, Biswah’s organs became affected and she also developed heart disease and polycystic ovaries. By 17, she would have her first surgery for a ruptured appendix and cyst. 

Last year, she survived a second procedure for an infected abscess on her body. Biswah admitted that battling the many diseases which afflicted her emotionally and physically caused her to have suicidal thoughts. She wrestled  daily with thoughts of never becoming better or finding someone to love and accept her.

Then she met Ishaan Poonwassie. “It’s been three years since I really found love and it’s like he makes me feel like he does not see the spots. He sees me for who I am. I can be myself around him, and he just accepts my moments and moves on,” she said. She also found inspiration from the story of Chantelle Brown-Young, a model on Cycle 21 of America’s Next Top Model, who was discovered by producer Tyra Banks on Instagram. 

Brown-Young, who was just four when diagnosed with vitiligo, was bullied at school because of her condition. While she didn’t win the coveted title on Tyra’s show, she was subsequently signed to front the top Barcelona-brand, Desigual, following her stint on ANTM. With new-found love and a positive outlook on life, it is still no smooth sailing for Biswah who continues to struggle with the effects of diabetes which have taken a toll on her body. 

The support, love and care of her friends, family and numerous medical staff, she said, helps to cushion the blows. 

“Now an advocate for living well and taking care of your body, Biswah tells everyone who would listen:

“Take care of yourself, don’t take your body for granted. 

“Don’t ill-treat it because you feel you are as strong as an ox, fit as a fiddle or can over indulge in drinking, smoking today and feel fine the next day. 

“Stop taking for granted what others can only pray and hope for.”

Biswah said “there will always be a question mark on my life, but I have finally become comfortable with me and intend to live life to the fullest, once God allows me to.”

Karla Ramoo: I look in the mirror and see a beautiful woman 
The media’s own, Karla Ramoo, former Guardian senior photographer, has been living with vitiligo for the last ten years. She admitted that initially she felt fear which led her take a lot of drastic actions like not washing her clothes in the washing machine using certain detergents and changing her dress code.

A wife and mother of three, Ramoo said she wore clothes to cover up as much of her skin as possible and drank every concoction suggested.

“I tried to gauge people’s reaction to seeing the spots. I would joke a lot and tell family and friends I would soon be a white woman. I thought at first it would mess with my beauty, but I don’t feel the need to offer an explanation anymore when I see someone I haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.

Life, she said, continues as normal, with the only major change being the way the sun affects her.

“It burns differently, my eyes get red and my lips feel swollen and tender if I am out too long. 
“But time has made me courageous. Now I look in the mirror and I see a beautiful woman with some white added in,” she joked.

For the first time in its 12-year history, the highly acclaimed 3canal Show will run in south Trinidad at the Southern Academy for the Peforming Arts (SAPA). 

“We’ve always wanted to bring the show to the southland but due to the challenges and demands of the Carnival season with the production of the music, the show, as well as the J’Ouvert band, it’s been too much of a challenge for our production resources. This year we were approached by fellow thespian and producer Abeo Jackson to join forces and we seized the moment,” says producer Roger Roberts. 

The South Edition, Outta D Box in South—The Carnival is Over!, is an update to Carnival Production “OUT+BAD” and will feature the 2016 songs performed in a whole new way together with some special selections. Backed by musical wizardry of the cut+clear crew and featuring the visceral energy of the BLK BOX Performance Crew, 3canal promises to serve up a unique sensory treat. 

The show runs for two nights only—February 20 at 8.30 pm and February 21 at 6.30 pm. 

Tickets are available at: The Big Black Box, Murray Street, Port-of-Spain; Michael and Jody’s, Gulf City Mall, San Fernando; Atherley’s, Sutton Street, San Fernando. Tickets also available at the Sapa Box office from tomorrow.

• For more info, patrons can call 687-9071; 333-1297 or 622-1001.

Dr Rajendra S Rampaul

Breast implants are becoming very popular in the cosmetic world and have been around for over 20 years. It is well known that a lot of women in Latin America and North America seek to have cosmetic implants. 

It is also well known to the general public that implants are an instrumental part of breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery, and it allows a women to retain her breast form after operations like mastectomy (removal of the entire breast). 

Cosmetic implants and reconstructive implants are usually the same and are made of a silicone shell with liquid silicone inside. (The use of saline is on the decline). 

Many readers will be aware of the recent scandal coming out of PIP (France) implants where industrial grade silicone was used within the implant exposing the patient to the potential risk of having a leak industrial grade silicone within their body. 

This is pretty much the stuff that is used in cars, motor oils, and sealing glass windows. That’s scary stuff, no doubt. However, it should be appreciated that high quality medical silicone is very different from this. 

It is difficult to understand why the manufacturers in France chose to break all the regulatory guidelines and seek to use a much cheaper grade. However, there has been a worldwide recall of these types of implants.

Not surprisingly, many Latin American countries such as Venezuela have found themselves in a difficult position where almost all plastic surgeons who have exclusively used PIP implants due to their low cost now have to face the embarrassing situation of telling patients they have to return for further replacement surgery with a better grade of implant. 

There are very robust and safe implants and these usually carry the CE mark (Europe) or the FDA (US) approvals. These are safe within the body and have been shown to be without side effects even if there is a leak. However, it does bring us to the very question that we are trying to explore in this article which is what happens if there is a leak or ruptured implant. 

In general, two things tend to happen—one is that the leak is contained by a capsule that forms around the body and there is no general seepage of the liquid silicone into the body. Sometimes that liquid silicone can seep into the body but often will cause no harm. 

It may affect your lymph nodes, which are glands under the arm, and cause them to become enlarged. This is often detected when you see your doctor. They are often palpable like little lumps or they show up on ultrasound with a ‘snow-storm’ appearance. 

Free flowing silicone in the body does not cause cancer however, it is uncomfortable and can incite reactions that can disfigure the breast, hence it is usually recommended to replace these implants. 

High quality implants carry a very low rate of leak. I recommend to all my patients on whom I perform cosmetic or reconstructive implant based surgery to have it checked annually, or I may often scan them within the first three years. Thereafter, it is safe to not do any active surveillance. 

Most modern implants do not require a shelf life and therefore do not require routine exchange after ten to 15 years and can last a lifetime. I would advise that you routinely check with your plastic or breast surgeon when you have had these devices inserted.

An important point to note is that implants do not raise your risk of developing breast cancer nor does it hide breast cancer if it develops. You are also able to do a thorough breast examination, mammography and ultrasound without any hindrance from these devices. 

Dr Rajendra S Rampaul

Breast and 
Reconstructive 
Surgeon, 
Surgical 
Oncologist
Pink Hibiscus, 
Adam Smith Square, 
Woodbrook • 627-1010
www.pinkhibiscustt.com

The recent announcement from St Kitts/Nevis last month that the Government is considering the issue of accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is duly noted in the public domain.

The CCJ continues to assert that countries joining it will “complete the cycle of their independence” upon severing their link with Her Majesty’s Privy Council.

I have challenged the CCJ on this point in previous articles on the ground that a convention has arisen that the Chief Justice of the CCJ becomes a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. The basis of my argument is based on the fact that both Michael de la Bastide and Sir Dennis Byron became members of the Privy Council in 2004 just prior to the CCJ coming into existence.

For me, where the conundrum arises is in the conflict between asserting the severing of the links of countries from their recognition of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final court of appeal, while the Chief Justices of the CCJ have retained personal links as members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council.

How do you lobby for termination of the link to the Privy Council, while retaining your personal membership of the very same body having regard to the nature of the oath that is taken by anyone who becomes a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council?

Everyone who becomes a member of the Privy Council recites the following oath:

“You do swear by Almighty God to be a true and faithful Servant unto the Queen’s Majesty as one of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. You will not know or understand of any manner or thing to be attempted, done or spoken against Her Majesty’s Person, Honour, Crown or Dignity Royal, but you will let and withstand the same to the uttermost of your power, and either cause it to be revealed to Her Majesty Herself, or to such of Her Privy Council as shall advertise Her Majesty of the same. You will in all things to be moved, treated and debated in Council, faithfully and truly declare your Mind and Opinion, according to your Heart and Conscience; and you will keep secret all Matters committed and revealed unto you, or that shall be treated of secretly in Council. And if any of the said Treaties or Councils shall touch any of the Counsellors, you will not reveal it unto him, but will keep the same until such time as, by the Consent of Her Majesty, or of the Council, Publication shall be made thereof. You will to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Queen’s Majesty; and will assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences and Authorities granted to Her Majesty and annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States or Potentates. And generally in all things you will do as a Faithful and true Servant ought to do to Her Majesty. So help you God.”

(See: David Rogers-By Royal Appointment, Biteback Publishing Co, London, 2015, pp. 2-3).

The revelation of the oath of a Privy Counsellor by Rogers in his book has unearthed the dimension and scope of the duty of personal loyalty to Her Majesty that must be undertaken by anyone who takes that oath.

Without the oath, you cannot become a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. It has been publicly advertised that both Michael de la Bastide and Sir Dennis Byron are members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. At the same time, the former was and the latter is the Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The position of the CCJ is that the independent countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean should complete the cycle of their independence by severing links with the Privy Council and adopting the CCJ as their final court of appeal.

How does one interpret that part of the oath that says: “You will to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Queen’s Majesty; and will assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences and Authorities granted to Her Majesty and annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States or Potentates. And generally in all things you will do as a Faithful and true Servant ought to do to Her Majesty.”

This will require further research and investigation now that it has been revealed. It will be difficult for anyone who has taken that oath to speak out publicly about any interpretation of the oath itself because of the personal burden of secrecy imposed upon such a person.

However, as a region coming to terms with the narrative of the court to complete the cycle of independence by severing our links to the Privy Council, it is something about which we must pause and consider.

Is it possible that a privy counsellor can resign their membership of the Privy Council?

According to Rogers: “Being able to resign was a new development and it is still questionable whether this is constitutionally correct.” (p. 10).

Carnival 2016, a reflection of the state of the society; good at the base but set upon by a crawling, clinging, lingering blight attempting to strangle our best dispositions and impulses for the realisation of a true self. And how else could it have been, given the state of the society!

As Minshall reflects on our condition and that of the world, there are those who would have him say nothing but blend colours; ironically though, while bad mouthing him, they attempt to steal his designs, but without a context in which to place them.

They are creatures of the times; they measure quality of costuming in terms of dollars spent not on the creativity and authenticity of the portrayal. The spoilers then seek to blame Minshall for their failure to have attracted an audience to the Grandstand. It must, however, be said that outside of the bikini and beads, there were a few mas’ designers catching at a possibility.

All of the major pre-Carnival shows are in decline fundamentally because the blight has been strangling the creativity of the society; the streets, the pavements, squares and walls stinking with the stench of urine and more; men leaning against a wall; women stooping without shame; children led by their parents to adopt their (parents) most primitive of habits.

Joey Lewis, who created music for 60 years, established, grew and nourished a band over the period, left us on J’Ouvert morning. Your God be with you, Joey, on your journey home, you have done more than your part. Incidentally, Pal Joey provided a leadership model that has not been studied by the local management experts. They and their corporate elites prefer to fly in a foreign management guru every Monday morning to tell us about people management and human development, but ignore what the man from Gonzales with a smattering of primary school education, but with a lifetime of success in managing musicians, a notoriously difficult specimen, to create music for the soul. That is part of our civilisational defect: we value little that is native and revolutionary about us but hang tenaciously on to so much that is imported and at times irrelevant.

But there is always the seed of possibility to be found amidst the ruins. The regeneration of the band from the “Hill”, Desperadoes, is one of those possibilities thrown up by Carnival 2016. Needed now is the insight of many on the Hill and elsewhere to spread the success of the steelband amongst the misguided youth of Laventille. The young men and women need to see themselves as being potentially part of the success of Desperadoes.

Alfred Galy, the Syrian businessman (someone who, by common definition, should be termed “exploiter”) branded as uncaring of a national treasure (Greyfriars) rose to the call for practising space for Desperadoes. In granting the band free use of the space for practice, Galy understood there is a time for cultural contribution over the pursuit of dollars.

Equally full of potential is the emergence of Supernovas led by a Samaroo from the other side of the track; it is an indication of what is possible when we fling aside tribal hate. 

Calypso, since being sold down-the-river by a few well-connected bards, had moments of hope in Devon Seale and Helon Francis. Here are two young calypsonians who showed a willingness to experiment with form and substance and bypass the dirge-like, tasteless, artless formulae that have hung over the art form in the last decade. 

Humour in calypso and stories of our lives away from political contestations have dried up. Is it that our lives are dominated by negative preoccupation with politics and political figures?

We may never again have a Spoiler or a Shadow; but we should be able to produce an artist a little lower down the scale of genius capacity: the question is, which one has to first emerge, the artist or the social transformation?

The young Voice of the soca genre at least provided a difference; the form has to be revitalized; however, the Carnival celebrants of the era are comfortable with it; it gives them an easy wine back.

Now here is a societal/political division that is being increasingly reflected in the Carnival. More than two decades ago, Valentino observed that notwithstanding the fact that “Carnival is a gift from the Almighty…how all dem races does jump as one family, but when Carnival come and pass de people does go back to dey race and class so de only thing to bring them together is mas.”

It seems that today not even Carnival is bringing together the race and class as the Carnival of the middle class and the lighter shade is gathering in the West and with a force that reminds of Captain Baker and his men hired to beat off intruders.

In the East there is the Canboulay and traditional mas, resurrected by John Cupid and sustained by Eintou and Fullerton, with the talents of trumpeter Etienne Charles intervening to search for possibilities in the ancestral cultural forms.

So there is much in Carnival which is negative and reflective of the state of the nation and culture; but there are a few early blooms peeping out. As always for me, one heartening picture is that of the lame and halting, the castoffs and marginalized of the society, clinging on to and pushing a steelband rack of their community band.

Kevin Baldeosingh

Righteousness is the enemy of compassion.

If you have not done so, find the video of Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee and look at it. Print reports do not sufficiently convey the moral certitude with which he linked the murder of Japanese pan player Asami Nagakiya with women’s Carnival vulgarity. You have to see his posturing, hear his hands rap the desk as he spoke dismissively about women being able to enjoy Carnival without wining. To see his self-righteous attitude is to understand how he could make such dotish and insensitive remarks: for when a person believes they are absolutely right, they become incapable of seeing other people as having rights. And such moral certitude is always rooted in religion or ideology.

What has passed unremarked, of course, is that Tim Kee was echoing word for word the same Carnival criticisms continually made by religious leaders. These religious spokesmen also link sexual freedom, from wining to sex outside marriage, with rape and murder and even a declining economy. The only difference is that Tim Kee didn’t make a general statement, but linked these same moral criticisms to a specific individual who had been murdered.

Science writer Matt Ridley in his book The Origins of Virtue notes: “Religious teaching...has almost always emphasised the difference between the in-group and the out-group: us versus them; Israelite and Philistine; Jew and Gentile; saved and damned; believer and heathen...Religion teaches its adherents that they are a chosen race and their nearest rivals are benighted fools or even sub-humans.” This applies equally to political ideologies such as socialism and gender (not equity) feminism, which co-opt religious psychology.

This, I suspect, is why Prime Minister Keith Rowley immediately dismissed any suggestion of dismissing Tim Kee: after all, Dr Rowley hues to the same moral perspective as the PoS mayor, having suggested on the campaign trail that unmarried pregnant teachers should not be allowed into classrooms. Both men’s trivialising of the murder is shown by their concern over the “embarrassment” caused by Nagakiya’s murder to the capital city and the country.

Nearly all of our public figures pay at least lip service to religious beliefs. In the present Parliament, there is not one MP who affirmed their oath rather than swearing on a holy book. But religion’s fundamental failing is the very reason for its success: by providing absolute rules of belief and behaviour, religion relieves the individual of the need to reason morally. This is why believers can commit rape and murder and other atrocities while feeling entirely justified: the Bible and Q’uran and Bhagavadgita make it clear that morality applies only to the believer. Hence the reason Jehovah approved genocide and Islamists can argue that raping non-Muslim women is sanctioned by Allah.

Consider this quote from one of history’s best known leaders: “Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air...we need believing people.” This was Adolf Hitler arranging a concordat with the Vatican in 1933.

Such absolute certainty underlies much of the world’s evils. In her book Being Wrong, journalist Kathryn Schulz notes that “Many moral wrongs and supported and legitimised by factual errors...Often our beliefs about what is factually right and our beliefs about what is morally right are entirely inextricable...In daily life, we use ‘wrong’ to refer to both error and iniquity: it is wrong to think that the Earth is flat, and it is also wrong to push your little brother down the stairs...moral and intellectual wrongness are connected not by mere linguistic coincidence but by a long history of associating error with evil—and, conversely, rightness with righteousness.”

This, and not stupidity, is why religious believers continue to insist that the Earth is six thousand years old and not four billion years, and that human beings were created instead of evolving from apes. It is also why socialists ignore the irrefutable historical and economic fact that socialism is an unworkable political system, and why gender feminists insist that patriarchy is a real conspiracy by men to oppress all women.

“Certainty is lethal to two of our most redeeming and humane qualities, imagination and empathy,” writes Schulz. In science and ethics, facts and morality rest on evidence and logic. The opposite is the case with religious beliefs and morality. This is one reason why, in all societies, more religiosity correlates with more violence and economic stagnation, while secularism is matched by lower crime, corruption and greater prosperity.

Psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson in their book Mistakes were Made (but Not by Me) write: “The scientific method consists of the use of procedures designed to show not that our predictions and hypotheses are right, but that they might be wrong. Scientific reasoning is useful to anyone in any job because it makes us face the possibility, even the dire reality, that we were mistaken...At its core, therefore, science is a form of arrogance control.”

Ours is a society in dire need of science.

Kevin Baldeosingh is a professional writer, author of three novels, and co-author of a history textbook.

“One Big Party” ran the Jamaica Observer’s front page splash last Wednesday. It showed jolly ladies in the green T-shirts of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party mobbing a grinning motorcyclist, orange-clad in support of Portia Simpson Miller’s People’s National Party.

No nomination day violence on Tuesday, then? All set for a good-tempered February 25 election?

Inside, the paper told a different story. One man was killed and three people injured when a JLP motorcade met heavy and sustained gunfire at Flanker, a few hundred metres from the airport and the Sandals resort in Jamaica’s north coast tourist capital, Montego Bay.

Said the local police chief: “It would have been a lot worse if we did not have a team in the area…We asked specifically that no motorcade should come through Flanker. I am really sad that our instructions were not followed, and I would really like to know who authorised this motorcade.”

Dr Horace Chang, JLP general secretary and the local MP, says his supporters reported a PNP motorcade in the area, and wanted one from their own side.

The police had good reason to expect trouble. Just after ten last Sunday night, opposition leader Andrew Holness was outlining his Ten-Point Plan to a huge JLP crowd at Sam Sharpe Square, in the heart of Montego Bay.

A sudden burst of gunfire left three dead, and brought Holness to a halt. Two of those killed were from Flanker. They were Javin “Javincini” Campbell, leader of the Uptown Sparta gang, and Nicholas “Chow” Irving from Goat Pen, a home base for the rival Rebel mob.

"I know one of the young men who was killed personally," said Dr Chang. “He is from Flanker.”

Jamaica’s police commissioner Carl Williams says the Sam Sharpe shooting was not political.

But let’s get back to Andrew Holness and his Ten-Point Plan.

He wants a Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation to deliver 250,000 new jobs. At their last count, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica found 188,100 unemployed, just over one-in-eight of the labour force. Those extra jobs would create sub-zero unemployment. 

Portia’s PNP is promising 100,000 new jobs over five years.

Holness wants to double the minimum wage in the public sector, currently equivalent to around TT$300 weekly.

He wants to abolish income tax for those earning less than the equivalent of TT$80,000. Current finance minister and PNP campaign director Peter Phillips say that given Jamaica’s low salary levels, this would be almost three-quarters of the current tax roll.

And all of this while presumably adhering to the IMF’s stringent austerity programme.

In response to efforts to “change the very foundation, the definition and fabric of Jamaica,” he wants a “grand referendum” where voters could show support for his country’s dearly-beloved buggery laws. This would also decide on possible accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice; so far, his party has been firmly in the Privy Council camp.

Predictably, Portia hit back on the economic front. “It’s a Ten-Point con,” she told a mass rally a week ago in the eastern parish of St Thomas: “That can’t work, not with our economic situation.”

In response, Holness called the prime minister a “con artist.” In a televised interview on Tuesday, he said she had failed to deliver on 2011 campaign promises to remove General Consumption Tax (Jamaica’s version of VAT) from electricity, and make Jamaicans prosperous enough to afford oxtail and curry goat, instead of chicken back and fish back.

Unless I’ve missed something, that sounds like par for the course in political campaign talk.

Not to Portia. Her lawyers on Wednesday threatened legal action for defamation. They said the opposition leader’s words “tended to injure, degrade and discredit the character of our client, exposing her to hatred, contempt and ridicule.”

They said: “ordinary, intelligent and unbiased persons…would be likely to understand those words as conveying that our client was involved in acts calculated to deceive or swindle the public.”

They asked for an apology within three days; so that’s up to yesterday. Don’t hold your breath.

Somewhat patronizingly, Portia once called her political opponent her “son.” She now says: “If he was my child, he would have been behaving differently... I still love him, but he is not my son.”

The Jamaica Debates Commission has scheduled three public sessions next week. Portia now says she’ll pull out, unless she gets her apology—and unless the Commission radically restructures the format. 

“Is Portia Simpson Miller a coward?” asked the opinion editor of the Jamaica Gleaner on Friday.

This month marks 27 years since the PNP’s former leader Michael Manley swept back to power after more than eight years in opposition. His party has held power since then, with one four-year break.

Jamaica’s economy remains stagnant. The murder rate is still a world leader. And half the electorate say they will not bother to vote. 

Pollsters and pundits predict another victory for Portia. They may be right; but if so, it looks like a win by default. 

I wish to congratulate our Minister of Education, the Hon Anthony Garcia, and by extension the Government, for the Consultation on Education and for the timely convening of all stakeholders concerned about the status of education in our country at present. I regret that I cannot attend any of the venues due to health issues, but I would like to add my two-cents nevertheless.

As someone involved in education for almost all my life, being mentor/teacher of siblings, pupils, offspring, students, colleagues, you name it, I am deeply concerned about the high level of indiscipline that obtains in our schools today, particularly at the primary level. That is not to say that what happens at the secondary schools does not bother me. It does tremendously as well.

Many are the factors attributed to its escalation in the classroom itself, but is it possible that because there is inadequate supervision, opportunities arise for pupils/students to misbehave? All teachers know that once a teacher steps out of the classroom for a few minutes, someone in the class is sure to take advantage of his/her absence to get into mischief. Which brings me to the following point.

It is my understanding that several vacancies exist in schools across the country, but my contention targets specifically the situation that exists in Roman Catholic schools. Prospective appointees have been interviewed and recommended by relevant personnel at the Catholic Board to the Ministry of Education, and they now have to be referred by the Human Resource Department of the Ministry of Education to be interviewed by the Teaching Service Commission before being appointed. How often the Commission meets is anyone's guess. I suppose this situation might occur with other school boards as well. So while "Nero fiddles, Rome continues to burn," so to speak. In many cases, teachers are required to control another class besides the one to which they are assigned, yet they must cover all the work they are supposed to cover with their own class.

May I humbly suggest that once teacher applicants are recommended by their respective boards, they should take up their appointments immediately (as was done when I began my vocation). The Human Resource Management Department could then schedule their own interviews at appointed times thereafter. I am certain that the various denominational board members are more than adequately qualified and experienced to select suitable applicants to teach holistically in their schools.

As one calypsonian put it, too many little children are left alone, unsupervised, untaught, left to their own devices, with no one to point them in the right direction. It is my fervent hope that the Minister of Education would graciously use his kind office to move expeditiously to rectify this very serious anomaly in our education system. 

Eva David-Swain

Sangre Grande

My recent visit to a popular supermarket chain made me realise they should revert to their former name, since they are charging HIGH prices when they should be LOW. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the cost on some of the items I usually purchase remained the same; so I didn’t bother to observe the cash register at check out. You can thus imagine my chagrin on getting home and checking my bill, instead of revising the prices of goods to reflect the new and supposedly reduced VAT inclusive cost, they are charging 12.5 per cent on former VAT inclusive prices. We paying 27.5 per cent VAT??

As expected, we the consumers are paying more for items that should have seen a reduction in cost. Didn’t we say this Mr Finance Minister? No one cares how the people survive, “it’s food” they say “they will pay whatever price” and indeed we are paying the price! 

Needless to say I made use of the email given by consumer affairs and I was given assurance that "officers from the Consumer Affairs Division are currently out in their numbers and will be monitoring and regulating the market to correct such inconsistencies."

Despite this assurance, I have absolutely no faith that changes will be made at this or any other supermarket. These businessmen continue to behave unscrupulously and our accounting agencies continue to let them.

Have you noticed how quiet our country has become? Where are all the union leaders who were so vociferous in fighting for the people's rights? Where is the MSJ who spoke vehemently against corruption? Fixin T&T no longer wants things fixed? They probably all peeling cassava. 

I suggest that all wholesalers/suppliers take the time to advertise their revised prices given the VAT reduction, so we the citizens can be aware of the prices we should be paying. Bmobile, Kiss Baking and Angostura have done it and I say kudos to you.

So when you’re grocery shopping, walk with your calculators and your voice and demand fairness.

I Alex 

Via email

I am in awe at the insanity in response to the POS mayor's statement. 

I agree he was insensitive and compounded the error by repeating his message as more facts became known, but I don’t understand the outrage. I don’t know where all these feminists came from but their actions are questionable at best, and laughable at worst. They seem to be angry at the mayor for telling it as it is, while no one seems to be putting pressure on the police to solve this murder (with all the fuss you might even forget that there was a murder!) 

One of them even “bared” her behind in protest, blissfully unaware that by doing so she is doing exactly the kind of crass behaviour the mayor was complaining about! 

I don’t understand what women are complaining about in T&T—we are a “western” society and the fact of the matter is women are pretty much equal and even surpass men in many aspects. Women can vote, do better in schools/education, HR departments are primarily women, the justice system is slanted towards women in many aspects (child custody/divorce etc). The real question is: when are men’s issues going to get an equal position in terms of visibility and resources? It is primarily men who are murdered but you don’t see anyone raising this kind of public outrage for the victims, regardless of how they were clothed. 

There are limited resources for men who are the victims of rape (regardless by a man or woman) and in fact male rape in prison is primarily treated as a joke by society. Not to mention that there is no real defence for a man against fake rape claims made by a woman (who remains unpunished even when claims are proven false). The people currently talking about “sexism” and “gender-based violence” are referring to the wrong gender. For those that feel disadvantaged you need to understand that EQUALITY and EQUITY are two different concepts that should not be confused.

R Samaroo

Via email