Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 THE GUARDIAN OF DEMOCRACY $2

Celebrating First Peoples

Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez, chief of the First Peoples, second from left and members of the Suriname First Peoples delegation perform a ritual during
the Carib Santa Rosa First Peoples Community Remembering the Ancestors water ceremony at the Lopinot River yesterday.
PICTURE EDISON BOODOOSINGH

$1.2B LIFELINE
Petrotrin needs
urgent Govt
It will implode
if not shut
Industrial
Court blocks A3
help to pay bills down—Imbert terminations
Galleons CoP blanks
Passage brings A5 Debe crime A6
seabridge hope symposium
A2 Tuesday, October 9, 2018
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Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
Petrotrin has seven days to get $1.2b Govt guarantee
Lifeline needed to stay afloat
RHONDOR DOWLAT
Bankers now see Petrotrin as very
risky and have made an attempt
to get a “Government guarantee”
of $1.2 billion within seven days to
cover debt the company owes, Fi-
nance Minister Colm Imbert said
last evening.
Imbert said he had no choice but
to sign the guarantee, which will
increase public debt by the same
amount immediately, but noted
this will put Government under
pressure if Petrotrin does not con-
tinue its restructuring.
Imbert was speaking at an im-
promptu media conference in the
Parliament hours after the Indus-
trial Court granted an injunction to
the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union
(OWTU) preventing Petrotirn from
terminating workers.
In explaining a Government
guarantee, Imbert said it is when
bankers don’t think a company can
pay its debt.
OWTU gets injunction blocking terminations
DEREK ACHONG
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union
(OWTU) has obtained an injunction
stopping Petrotrin from terminat-
ing workers.
In delivering a 16-page judgement
at the Industrial Court’s in Port-of-
Spain yesterday afternoon, Pres-
ident Deborah Thomas-Felix and
four of her colleagues granted the
injunction, which stops the com-
pany from terminating or offering
voluntary separation to workers.
Although the company immedi-
ately indicated its intention to ap-
peal the ruling, Thomas-Felix and
her colleagues refused to grant it
a stay of the decision pending the
filing of the appeal this afternoon.
In the event the company is un-
able to overturn the injunction on
appeal, it will stand pending the
determination of its complaint on
an industrial relations offence alleg-
edly committed by the company in
its ongoing move to close its oper-
ations.
Termination letters issued to
groups of workers between Friday
and yesterday afternoon will not
be binding until the injunction is
lifted.
In the complaint, the OWTU is
alleging Petrotrin committed the
offence by failing to consult it be-
fore taking the decision to close
the company and send home al-
most 5,000-plus workers. It claims
the company breached a memo-
randum of agreement signed be-
tween the parties in April, as the
company only informed the union
of the decision after making it in
PLAY WHE: 10.30 am: 28 (Red Fish) 1 pm: 11 (Corbeau) 4 pm: 15 (SIck Woman) 7 pm: 13 (Crapaud) PICK 2: 10.30 am: 31, 28 1 pm: 6, 4 4 pm: 22, 20 7 pm: 20, 13 PICK 4: 10.30 am: 3,4, 5, 7 1 pm: 8,8, 7, 0 4 pm: 9, 8, 4, 2 7 pm: 0, 5, 7, 8 CASH POT: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 M: 2
“That is so in default they can
come to the Government to get the
money. If we do not sign it they will
ask Petrotrin to pay in cash imme-
diately,” he said.
Imbert said in a letter issued by
three bankers and received by his
ministry’s Permanent Secretary,
they were informed that Petrotrin
had three financing facilities which
need to be refinanced or rolled
over on or before October 15 in
the sums of US$100 million, US$50
million and US$22.2 million—which
was equivalent to TT$1.2 billion.
“At this point in time, bankers
don’t see Petrotrin making its pay-
ments unless something is done
to reduce loss-making areas in the
company. Until that is done they
will continue to come to the Gov-
ernment for guarantees,” Imbert
said.
He said if he did not sign the Gov-
ernment guarantee this time the
company would implode or col-
lapse, as it will not be able to pay
Soca artiste Zion Andrews sings his song “I Am” for OWTU president general Ancel Roget, PSA president Watson
Duke and OWTU members outside the Industrial Court, after the court granted OWTU an injunction against
Petrotrin yesterday.
conjunction with Cabinet in July.
The offence carries a $4,000 fine
but the union may ask the court to
order that the parties restart dis-
cussions on the issue.
While Thomas-Felix said the
court did not analyse all the evi-
dence in the complaint for the in-
junction application, she said the
injunction was required to protect
against the potential risk of injus-
Finance Minister Colm Imbert
during yesterday’s press conference.
PICTURE MICHAEL RAMSINGH
its bills and “essentially not be able
to continue.”
Imbert also said recently there
was a cargo of crude oil that had to
be discharged to run the refinery
and that cargo required US$56 mil-
PICTURE SHIRLEY BAHADUR
tice in the case.
“It is our view that there would
be a greater injustice if the issues
affecting the loss of employment
of 5,500 workers are not properly
ventilated before the closure of the
company,” Thomas-Felix said.
She said collective bargaining
and consultation should take place
at the formative stage of the deci-
sion-making process. However,
lion (TT$400m). He added that the
last shipment of crude oil was on
October 5 and the company could
not continue to purchase crude oil.
“It is simple…they do not have
the ability to do that anymore.”
He read the last line of the letter,
which he described as “instruc-
tive.”
“Please be advised that Petrotrin
is currently facing severe liquidity
constraints. As lenders continue
to demand guarantees and trad-
ers demand letters of credit before
cargoes can be discharged, as we
navigate these challenges and forge
forward, unforeseen events still
serve as impediments to preserv-
ing cash. In this regard, Petrotrin
may seek assistance from the min-
istry for additional guarantees but
these requests can only be commu-
nicated as events unfold.”
Imbert said should they get an-
other letter requesting a Govern-
ment guarantee it will be a matter
for the Cabinet to discuss and de-
she admitted the court could not
reverse the company’s decision to
close its operations.
“The company is not required to
adopt all or any of the views of the
union, but the company has a duty
and an obligation to meet and to
consult with the union in good faith
in accordance with good industrial
relations principles and practice, as
it has been repeatedly stated and
news A3
cide on the way forward and they
may also seek to consult with the
population.
“The company cannot survive
without Government guarantees
and they will no longer be import-
ing oil for the refinery so that it will
inevitably stop producing gasoline
and diesel because there will be no
raw material to feed the refinery to
produce these refined products,”
Imbert said.
In seeking to address the Indus-
trial Court’s granting of the injunc-
tion to the OWTU, Imbert said he
hopeds the court “will deal with
this quickly because we need clar-
ity on the way forward.”
“If the company is not allowed to
proceed with its restructuring and
shed its loss-making entity, then
this is what is going to happen…
we will be forced to give more
and more Government guarantees
which will destroy our credit rat-
ing. It will affect the entire country
as a whole,” he said. (See Page A5)
defined by this country over the
decades of its existence,” she said.
In his brief submissions, Senior
Counsel Reginald Armour, who is
leading the company’s legal team,
raised several issues with the deci-
sion. Armour maintained the court
did not have the jurisdiction to
grant injunctions for industrial re-
lations offences and that the com-
pany was not required to consult
before closure.
Both he and Seenath Jairam SC,
who is representing the AG’s Office,
said the injunction may lead to the
company’s credit rating being
downgraded by international rat-
ing agencies such as Moody’s and
Standard and Poor’s.
Saying such a circumstance may
lead to insolvency, Jairam said: “In
a case of insolvency, the generous
offers that are on the table would
not be there.”
The application was strongly op-
posed by OWTU lawyer Anthony
Bullock, who suggested such an ap-
plication be made before the Court
of Appeal. Bullock also rejected the
company’s claim over the jurisdic-
tion of the court, as he pointed out
the injunctions have been issued in
other cases in the past.
Thomas-Felix and her colleagues
agreed.
As part of its decision, Thom-
as-Felix and her colleagues also set
dates for both parties to file evi-
dence in the substantive complaint,
which is scheduled to be heard on
October 30. Thomas-Felix said that
the court would be able to give a
decision on the issue within two to
three days of the hearing.
A4 Tuesday, October 9, 2018
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Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt news A5

No turning back on Roget: Ruling

is pure justcie
Petrotrin now—Espinet
ROSEMARIE SANT
DEREK ACHONG

Pure justice.
These were the words repeatedly used by Oilfields
letters to workers who are repre- secured to us as credit loans that the progress of our programme, Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) president general
sented by the OWTU, but turning in the present environment has so the country as a whole will be Ancel Roget to describe their legal victory over Petro-
Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Es- back is not an option because the dried up.” damaged because you will get trin yesterday.
pinet says there will be no turning plan to shut down operations “has “Petrotrin is unable to pay its downgraded by Moody’s.” Speaking after the Industrial Court granted an in-
back on the decision to shut down been effected, it effectively means bills. We are seeking to get the Meanwhile, Petrotrin has in- junction barring Petrotrin from terminating or offering
the company and terminate work- we have stopped bringing in ma- Government to give us financial vited heads of the industry to voluntary separation to workers until the determi-
ers despite yesterday’s injunction terials.” support for that amount that was attend a session at the Hilton Trin- nation of an industrial relations offence filed by the
granted by the Industrial Court “If the injunction, as I under- given to us on credit,” adding a idad today, where Espinet and union, Roget thanked God and the court for the out-
in favour of the Oilfields Workers stand it, is to stop us from carry- Government guarantee will sup- Lisa Ali, head of the Transition come.
Trade Union. In fact, he says the ing out the termination of workers port the company for the time and Implementation Office, will “We came under the defence of the court for pro-
company is prepared to go all the then I don’t know how it will work, being until it concludes the re- present plans for the transition of tection, simply because of the heavy hand of power
way to the Privy council if it has to. because the company you will ap- structuring process. the company. The discussion will and abuse of authority by the board, supported by the
Speaking to the T&T Guardian preciate will not be working. It “If we are left as we are, we will focus on new business opportuni- Cabinet and Government, who are simply breaking the
hours after the court’s decision, will close down and you will have have no money to pay workers ties as Petrotrin strives to develop law,” Roget said.
Espinet said Petrotrin’s attorneys workers. I don’t know how that and we will have difficulty on get- an entirely new sustainably prof- Roget was flanked by dozens of members and sev-
will file an appeal today, adding works,” he said. ting anybody to help us,” he said, itable Exploration and Production eral labour leaders, including Public Service Asso-
they hope to get a hearing imme- Espinet admitted the company adding it will be near impossible business. ciation (PSA) president Watson Duke, All Trinidad
diately. has no money. Some of it, he said, for Petrotrin to refinance its debt. Efforts to contact Energy Min- General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) head Nirvan
He said the injunction only was secured by “government “That is going to impact the ister Franklin Khan on the court Maharaj and environmental activist Dr Wayne Kub-
stops the company from issuing guarantees and some was just un- national debt and it will impede ruling were unsuccessful. lalsingh.
Roget again accused the company’s board and Gov-
ernment of contempt of court, as he pointed out that
workers began receiving termination letters while the
decision was pending.
“The company is moving like a rogue elephant with
absolutely no regard for justice, fair-play or the law...
If the judgement is reserved, the Minister of Labour
should be the first one to come out and say ‘listen the
company ought to hold its hands’, whether state or
otherwise,” Roget said.
He also suggested that the company should have
maintained its operations while the matter is being de-
termined by the court. The matter is expected to go on
trial on October 30, with the court already indicating
it will take two to three days to deliver a judgement.
“They might as very well have utilised the workers
to keep the operations going where the company and
country would benefit. It makes no sense,” Roget said.
He maintained the union had put forward propos-
als which showed the company could be returned to
financial profitability without closing.
“We have always been confident that the company
can be saved. We have a proposal that would take care
of the US$850 million bullet payment and the US$250
million outstanding payment and all outstanding
debts.
“In addition, the proposal addresses the issue of
asset integrity, upgrade of plant and machinery and
Kareem and Sabrina Duncan with their daughters Kimaya and Eliana on the Galleons Passage from the Scarborough Port to the Port of also to treat with the restructuring of the entire com-
Port-of-Spain last evening. PICTURE JOEL JULIEN pany operations to make it more efficient,” Roget said.

Galleons Passage to get own ramp

CASANDRA THOMPSONFORBES
Minister of Works and Transport
Rohan Sinanan says ramp issues
for the Galleons Passage will be a
thing of the past.
He made the comment after
arriving in Scarborough follow-
ing the vessel’s maiden commer-
cial trip to Scarborough in just
over four hours from Trinidad.
Sinanan said in a few weeks
the Galleons Passage will be
given its own berthing space in
Tobago, removing the need for
the daily installation and dis-
mantling of the current ramp at
the Scarborough Port to accom-
modate the Cabo Star, as they
both utilise the same docking
space.
“At this temporary stage the
Cabo Star berths at the same
point with the Galleons Passage,
so it will be removed, but within
the next two to three weeks
the Galleons Passage will have
its own berthing space where
the ramp will be set up perma-
nently,” Sinanan said.
“Most of the vessels that we
operate here in Tobago, includ-
ing the T&T Spirit and the T&T
Express, they berth on a ramp.
This ramp that was built for
this is not as extensive as those
ramps. The vessel would be
berthing at a further location
down eventually...Boats that
were not built for our infrastruc-
ture, in most instances we have
to do some on-land adjustments
and this one is no different.”
He also dismissed media re-
ports about the ramp, which
comprises of four pieces to be
bolted together, costing taxpay-
ers approximately $8 million.
“I don’t have the exact cost
of the ramp, but I know there
are some figures being bandied
about seven and eight million,
that is not true, that is fake news.
The seven and eight million that
was approved by Cabinet was
for infrastructural work in Port-
of-Spain and in Scarbrough,
which included getting the jetty
that was built in 2014 operation-
alised, it was removing piles and
so on in Port-of-Spain,” he said.
“The ramp that was built here
was significantly less than that.
That $8 million had nothing to
do with building ramps, that
was for the infrastructural work
in Port-of-Spain that has to be
done in order to accommodate
all the vessels and to have the
vessels berthing at the $15 mil-
lion ramp that was built in 2014
that was never put to use. Look
at the ramp, it doesn’t even look
like it cost half a million dollars
or a million dollars. I haven’t had
the final cost but I’m sure it has
nothing to do with that $8 mil-
lion.”
Sinanan also a second fast
ferry is currently being sought
and when it arrives it will bring
to 2,500 the number of seats
added to the inter-island sea-
bridge on a daily basis. He said
measures such as CCTV cameras
have been put in place to prevent
sabotage, while dredging works
have begun to accommodate the
Cabo Star at the Cargo jetty in
Port-of-Spain so as to minimise
disruption in sailing during the
upcoming cruise ship season.
 A6 news
Gary blanks Debe crime symposium:
I will not be pimped out
RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Police Commissioner Gary Grif-
fith says he deliberately blanked
attending a crime symposium in
Debe yesterday because he did not
want to be pimped out.
Griffith, who got a severe tongue
lashing from members of the
Penal/Debe Chamber of Industry
and Commerce for his absence,
said he was concerned when he
heard attendees were being asked
to pay $150 to hear him speak at
the breakfast seminar.
“I felt people should not pay
$150 to hear me speak about
crime. When I heard people were
being asked to pay I had serious
reservations about going because
I do not want to be pimped out,”
Griffith said.
With pressing national security
matters to attend to, Griffith said
his office contacted Sieuraj last
week Thursday and informed him
that he will not be in attendance.
“Since 5 am I have been moni-
toring patrols regarding the failed
plan to disrupt the country,” Grif-
fith said, adding, “I wish traffic
could flow every day as smoothly
as it did this morning.”
During his address at the sympo-
sium hosted at Fun Splash Water
Park in Debe, chamber president
Rampersad Sieuraj said Griffith
blanked them twice after initially
confirming his attendance.
Jamaat condemns killing of prison supt
RHONDOR DOWLAT
 
Six days after the killing of acting
prisons superintendent Wayne
Jackson and the subsequent special
police unit search of prison cells of
high-profile inmates at the Maxi-
mum Security Prison (MSP) four Ja-
maat organisations in east Trinidad
have condemned the murder.
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Drop in resumes with a recent
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  the prisons.
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2&72%(567
ACP Jayson Forde addresses questions during the Crime Symposium at Fun Splash in Debe, yesterday. At right, is
President of the Penal-Debe Chamber of Commerce Rampersad Sieuraj.
Saying Griffith’s nonchalance Sending a direct message to Grif-
was indicative of how people in the fith, Sieuraj said, “If you want to
region are usually treated by the build trust and confidence in the
Government, Sieuraj said, “This people of T&T then give people
is symptomatic of how govern- your word and keep it and you will
ments past and present. At the last build trust.” He also took the com-
moment when it is convenient for missioner to task over a poor crime
them they call and say sorry I can- detection rate and corruption in
not attend. Griffith called two min- the granting of firearm users li-
utes to nine to give me a mouthful censes.
about why we did not postpone “We need a fair and transpar-
and why we invited the press.” ent system that allows legitimate
They have been identified as: “in determining leads for the case
Masjid Alaa Al-Jabal of Calvary and ultimately, bringing justice to
Hill, Arima; Masjid Al-Muwahi- the family of Mr Jackson.”
deen of Plantation, Valencia; Mas- “The Jamaats believes this
jid Al Falah of Arima and Masjid Al crime was the act of the mis-
Islamia Jammat of Carapo, Arima. guided and someone who is obliv-
Spokesman for all four Mus- ious that this action will only seek
lim masjids, head of the Islamic to sully the reputation of the four
Front, Umar Abdullah, confirmed Jamaats and its respective com-
that all four Jamaats are now munities,” Abdullah said.
working together He added that the Imam of Al
to ensure that the Islamia Jamma Masjid in Carapo,
perpetrator/s of Hassan Ali, knew Jackson “on a
this heinous act is personal level” and he described
found by making him as an individual who was
the commitment “helpful to Muslim inmates.
to working along Abdullah added that there is
with investigators, a collective opinion that this is
2&72%(5
   
    rently on vacation.
   
   

was granted. It has happened be-
fore,” he said adding that visits
   
 
Jackson was ambushed and
PICTURE RISHI RAGOONATH
businesspeople to get firearm
users licenses. We need to follow
due process. When an application
is made, at least we should get a
response. Why should people be
waiting five and ten years for a re-
sponse only to be told their file is
missing?” Sieuraj said.
He said he preferred to die with
his guns blazing rather than to be
dead like a sitting duck.
Sieuraj also challenged the po-
Islamic Front leader
Umar Abdullah.
also an attempt “by the mischie-
vous few” to undermine the good
work of acting Commissioner of
Prisons Gerard Wilson who is cur-
Wilson, as his latest reforma-
tive and enhancement measures,
recently implemented Futsal at all
Meanwhile, all visits at the
nation’s prisons have been sus-
pended today to facilitate Jack-
son’s funeral which will be held at
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
lice to arrest high profile white
collared criminals saying “little
black boys cannot import tonnes
of cocaine.”
“When will the white collar crim-
inals be caught. Mr Commissioner,
you want people to trust and coop-
erate? Then put handcuffs on the
high profile criminals amongst us.
White-collared criminals are ram-
pant so refer the crimes to the DPP.
What is the status of emailgate?
What about these kids with high
powered rifles? With 410 murders
the country is bleeding,” Sieuraj
said.
He added, “If DNA and forensic
lab inefficiencies are hampering
investigative competencies then
let the public know. If half-baked
legislation does not assist in evi-
dence-based gathering then tell the
population. If the Viagra-starved
judicial system is against justice
which impacts negatively on the
TTPS then shout out aloud.”
In Griffith’s absence, acting As-
sistant Commissioner of Police Jay-
son Forde said he was not going to
apologise for Griffith’s absence as
the commissioner was dealing with
urgent national security matters
that needed his personal attention.
Forde also said it was important
for the public to pass tips to the
police. It was the keen observation
of an ordinary citizen which led
to the rescue of Natalie Pollonais
who was kidnapped for ransom
last September.
Acting Superintendent of Prisons
Wayne Jackson
the Bethel Pentecostal Church in
Arima at 2 pm.
A senior prisons source told the
T&T Guardian that the request
was made by prisons officers.
“The request has been made
which is nothing new and yes it
will resume on Wednesday.
shot as he arrived at his Malabar
home last week Tuesday.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
Son of retired DCP shot dead
Cops: Victim was not intended target
RHONDOR  DOWLAT
 
Relatives of murdered Mark
“Toppy” Allard, 26, said they have
reached the point of frustration
over senseless killings in T&T and
wonders “when will it all end.”
Mark was the son of retired dep-
uty police commissioner Oswyn
Allard.
Speaking with the T&T Guard-
ian yesterday at the Forensic Sci-
ence Centre in St James, a relative
of Allard, who wished not to be
identified, said the family is in
shock over the killing.
“Mark above all people did not
deserve to go in this way. He was
the most respectable and lov-
ing person you would have ever
met. One who never got himself
involved in any criminal activity
or gang nonsense. He was an ex-
Mark Allard
emplary among the youths in the
area and well loved by all,” the
relative said.
The relative added that he was
very much family oriented and
had just attended a birthday gath-
ering the night before (Saturday)
for one of his cousins.
The relative said this is the sec-
ond “shocker” for the family as on
September 22 they lost a cousin,
Akeisha Allard, 22, in a vehicu-
lar accident that occurred along
Golden Grove Road in Piarco.
Akeisha lived at Edinburgh 500
in Chaguanas. She was driving her
silver Wingroad when it skidded
off the road and crashed into a
ditch.
“This is so hard for all of us
right now. We are at a loss for
words. Mark is now in Heaven
with his mother, who died several
years ago. His father is very very
sad, we feel so sorry for him right
now. It is not easy,” Allard’s rela-
tive said.
Investigators said he was at the
home of a friend Sunday night
news A7
when the incident occurred. gunman opened fire with one bul-
According to a police report, let hitting him in the back.
at about 8.30 pm Allard, who The gunman and the other man
also referred to himself as “Trou- got into the car and drove off
blesome Yute” was at a friend’s heading into the Enterprise area.
house at Pierre Trace extension, Allard was taken to the Chagua-
Lendore Village, when a white AD nas District Health Facility but
wagon pulled up at the house. died while undergoing medical
Police said someone came treatment.
out of the vehicle and asked for Preliminary investigations re-
someone, whom Allard knew vealed that Allard was not the in-
also. When he (Allard) came out tended target.
to query who the
men were, po-
lice said that was
when another
man came out of
the vehicle and
pointed a gun at
him.
Police said Al-
lard attempted to
run away but the

Brother, sister shot by same

bullet during home invasion
KEVON FELMINE
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
A La Romaine family was left
shaken yesterday after a gun-
man broke into their home,
shooting siblings Anicia and
Amiel Brooks in a failed bur-
glary.
Reports stated that Anicia,
28, a fashion designer and
Amiel, 27, were recovering at
their La Romaine home after
being treated for gunshot
wounds on their shoulders
at the San Fernando General
Hospital.
Police said the family was
asleep around 3.15 am when
the gunman broke into their
house. Investigators believed
that when Amiel walked into
the hallway, the burglar was
startled and fired a shot. Ani-
cia, who walked out behind
her brother, was also shot.
Investigators said the bul-
let pierced through Amiel’s
shoulder and struck Anicia.
A team of Southern Division
Task Force and La Romaine
police officers responded and
took the siblings to the hospi-
tal. A search was carried out
in the area but no one was
held up to late yesterday.
Their father, Selwyn, told
the T&T Guardian that the
family was left traumatised
as they never thought crime
would have reached to their
home in the quiet side of La
Romaine.
However, the community
is bordered by Pond Street,
which police have identified
as a hotspot with several drug
blocks.
Selwyn, an ex-soldier, said
Selwyn Brooks demonstrates how a burglar broke his door to enter
his home in La Romaine yesterday, to shoot his children Anicia and
Amiel.
that should criminals return
to his house, he will be pre-
pared.
He was thankful that the in-
juries suffered by his children
were not life-threatening and
that no one else was injured,
especially as his other daugh-
ter Anika had returned home
with her six-month-old baby.
Thankfully it was the baby
that had Anika awake while
the burglar was knocking a
hole in a door and was able
to alert her parents.
“She heard a noise. Bang!
Bang! Like someone was try-
ing to come into the house
PICTURE KRISTIAN DE SILVA
and so she told my wife. My
wife woke me up and told
me that someone was trying
to break into the house. I
jumped up and came down-
stairs and saw that he broke
out part of the door. That par-
ticular door has the deadbolt
to turn on the inside.
“When I watched, he had
the gun and he was peeping
through the door to see if an-
ybody was coming. I ran up-
stairs and alerted everybody.
‘Lock all the doors and call
the police’,” Selwyn said.
However, Anicia and
Amiel, who were staying in
the same room, did not hear
his instructions and as the
burglar walked upstairs and
approached Selwyn’s room,
they walked into the hallway.
The burglar turned around
and fire a shot.
Selwyn said he had already
contacted the police and was
thinking everything was OK,
especially as he did not hear
the gunshot. It was when his
wife called Anika by phone to
find out if they were OK, that
they learned of the shooting.
Selwyn said he ran through
the door but the burglar had
already run out, without tak-
ing anything.
Amiel had run into the
bathroom and locked the
door. It was believed that
the burglar got into a vehicle
and drove off towards Pond
Street.
Selwyn said he believes that
the burglar came for one of
the vehicles that was parked
in the yard. He said it was just
last Saturday that the family
was discussing the instalment
of CCTV cameras around the
house. He said it was possible
that the burglar could have
been monitoring his family
before making his move last
night.
“The crime situation is just
getting worse. Those fellas
are getting braver and they
don’t care because they have
a power, which is the gun. He
had to be really brave because
I alerted everyone and he
still came into my house. He
didn’t see me and he didn’t
know if I had something too.”
Investigations are continu-
ing.
 A8 news
Sando/Point taxi drivers
continue protest today
KEVON FELMINE
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
Anyone who is considering the com-
mute between San Fernando and
Point Fortin today is being warned
of difficulty as the Point Fortin/San
Fernando Taxi Drivers’ Association is
continuing their cease-work until the
Southern Main Road is repaired.
Association president John David
said the road between South Oro-
pouche and Point Fortin was in such a
deplorable state that motorists could
not drive for more than five minutes
before encountering large potholes
that could damage their vehicles.
Yesterday, many of the drivers
parked their vehicles at the taxi hub
at Mainfield Road, Point Fortin and
refused to take up passengers. This
Curepe/Chag
resulted in scores of people returning
home while other rushed for maxi-
taxis and PTSC buses.
David said their action was not
meant to inconvenience the travel-
drivers in standoff
ling public and he hoped that they
understood that the road needed to
be fixed.
“We had a stand down today with
no drivers working. We tried to
Call for road blockage not heeded over fare hike
demonstrate for the road and for the
RHONDOR DOWLAT
 
While the call for yesterday’s “shut-
down” went viral via social media
over the weekend, motorists and
other members of the public heeded
to the stern warnings sent out by the
Government and the police to refrain
from doing so as it was breaking the
laws of the land.
Several major intersections and
major roadways in Central were clear
of all traffic as confirmed by a police
officer assigned to the Freeport Police
Station.
A taxi driver, identified as Tony,
said he was very worried and even
doubted if to go out to work today.
“I work taxi from San Fernando to
Chaguanas and I was very skeptical
and when I come out I get a little traf-
fic and was more worried when I see
police because I thought I would have
price of fuel. The price of the fuel
went up but the road from Oropouche
to Point Fortin is very well in a deplor-
able condition. Beside the bad condi-
tion it is in, we have from Point Fortin
to Cap-de-Ville, as well. That road is
very bad also and in deplorable con-
dition. We are hoping that somebody
could hear our plight to do something
about the road.” David said.
He said that Prime Minister Dr Keith
Rowley and other government minis-
ters were in Point Fortin recently and
the taxi drivers had hoped that the
need to do road repairs would have
been apparent.
However, nothing has been done
and despite their efforts to communi-
cate with the authorities, they contin-
ued to suffer, he said.
“Tomorrow, we are not working
either. We are hoping that somebody
will step-up to the plate and hear our
plight because we have been trying
to communicate for the longest while
but nobody is hearing.”
There were few taxis at the lower
High Street, San Fernando taxi hub
that were taking commuters to and
from Point Fortin during the day but
by 4 pm, there was a large gathering
awaiting taxis.
gotten a ticket but everything went
good. With all the warning Trinidadi-
ans not stupid.”
The police officer, who wished not
to be named, said officers were out in
full force to ensure that law and order
was maintained.
Commissioner of Police Gary Grif-
fith said that anyone found blocking
the nation’s roadways and highways
would be found breaking the law and
would face a $600 fine.
Communication Minister Stuart
Young, also on Sunday, issued a re-
lease giving a stern warning to refrain
from such action and described the
call as “irresponsible, unpatriotic
and designed to negatively affect
law-abiding citizens.”
The anonymously-sourced message
read: “Are you fed-up of Taxes? Are
you fed-up of increase fuel prices?
Are you fed-up of the poor govern-
ance? Are you fed-up of
the secret deals? Well
this is your opportunity
to take a Stand.”
It called on “all con-
cerned citizens” to park
their respective vehicles
at strategic locations and
“shutdown.”
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
Former President of the Chaguanas/Curepe Taxi Drivers Association, Curt Smart speaks to members of the
media at the taxi stand in Curepe yesterday PICTURE SHIRLEY BAHADUR
PETER CHRISTOPHER
There was a midday standoff at
the Curepe to Chaguanas taxi
stand as drivers who are against
the fare increase challenged the
president of the taxi associa-
tion, and his vice president, to
prove that they consulted driv-
ers before announcing the raise.
The fare was officially raised
from $10 to $12, the second in-
crease in two years.
Former president of the
Chaguanas/Curepe Taxi Drivers
Association Curt Smart said the
majority of drivers did not agree
with the $2 increase.
”They did not consult our
body, they had no meeting
where that is concerned,” he
said
Smart and other drivers said
since the announcement of the
increase in fares last week, they A taxi driver looks for passangers on the stand.
had seen a reduction in busi-
ness. said Ghany, who along with as- Joseph.
“We have felt the drop in the sociation’s vice president An- Joseph responded that his as-
percentage of passengers from thony Joseph, was repeatedly sociation was registered and he
then to this morning. Especially confronted by drivers about the did not need to answer Smart,
this morning,” said Smart. meeting while speaking to the who he accused of attempting to
However, president of the media. overthrow the association.
Association Farouk Ghany Ghany said the majority of This prompted further furore.
said three meetings were held, drivers who were opposed to Last week, drivers told Guard-
the first immediately after the the fare increase were those ian Media Ltd that they were
budget announcement at KFC who cut in the line on the stand not going to increase their fare
Valsayn, to discuss the fare. and were not official members as last year’s fare increase of $2
He said following the third of the association. also took into consideration that
meeting last week Thursday, But Smart continued to ask the gas price might be raised
the fare increase was agreed how many drivers attended the again.
upon. meeting where the increase was Several drivers on the stand
“Everything I saying here, agreed. said they would continue to use
look at it, I putting money in “When you are having a meet- the old fare along the route, and
(their) pocket. Gas gone up, I ing, there is a registry with advised the travelling public to
putting back money in your names. How many people were ask drivers in advance which
pocket to pay your instalments,” at that meeting?” Smart asked of fares they would use.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
TSTT denies job cuts,
contradicts own boss
RENUKA SINGH
There are two very different opin-
ions coming out of the Telecommu-
nications Services of Trinidad and
Tobago (TSTT) meeting with its sen-
ior managers at the Hyatt Regency,
Port-of-Spain, last Friday. While the
company is denying discussing re-
branding with the senior managers,
two senior managers who attended
the meeting are saying the opposite.
A company release yesterday
even contradicted information
given by its own senior manager,
public relations & external affairs
Graeme Suite on Sunday. When
asked about the meeting then, Suite
said “the meeting did not offer any
details on the amount of positions
to be filled, just a high-level view of
different business areas.”
But in yesterday’s media state-
ment, the company denied discuss-
ing dividing TSTT into those same
business parts.
TSTT issued a staunch denial of
a T&T Guardian article which said
managers were told of the compa-
ny’s decision to rebrand TSTT into
the TSTT Group of Companies and
that some 2,000 jobs were going to
be affected because of this move.
In the statement, TSTT said it con-
demned the erroneous information
contained in the article on Monday.
The company said it held its cus-
tomary “health of the business”
meeting for senior managers but
said at no time, during that forum
was management advised that they
would either lose their jobs or need
to reapply for any jobs that currently
exist within the organisation.
The company also said TSTT had
some 2091 workers—1,933 perma-
nent and 158 temporary—and they
were never told that the company
would be renamed or that 2,000
employees or any specific number
of employees would lose their jobs
as part of a restructuring exercise.
TSTT also denied the Communi-
cation Workers’ Union’s assertion
that it intended to plan a new com-
pany and fire all the workers.
However, the company confirmed
that it was doing an assessment of
the workers to ensure that “employ-
ees have the right tools and training
to move into the new direction.”
But another senior manager who
attended Friday’s meeting called
the media release “a lie”. Speaking
under condition of anonymity for
fear of victimisation, the manager
Frank Seepersad PICTURE EDISON
BOODOOSINGH
news A9
Celebrating the First People
insisted that all non-unionised staff
at the meeting were told of the for-
mation of the holding company and
the four subsidiary companies.
“Amplia, a company for mobile
business, enterprise business and
residential services is going to start
rolling out by November 9,” the sen-
ior manager said.
The manager said they named
two people on the assessment team
and said all managers were being
sent for psychometric testing before
being re-employed.
“Over 2,000 employees are to be
affected,” the senior manager said.
“Amplia wasn’t doing much and
TSTT now restructuring to make
use of Amplia. Amplia will now take
over all of TSTT fibre, which is the
bulk of TSTT’s assets and opera-
tions as it is the future in communi-
cation.”
On Sunday just after 2.30 pm, the
T&T Guardian messaged Suite ask-
ing for further information on the
four sub-divisions of the new TSTT
holding company.
“I don’t have the authorisation
to give any comment at this time A member of the Suriname First People swings on a tyre at the Lopinot River
but the info the union shared is not after the Santa Rosa First People Community Remembering the Ancestors
accurate,” Suite said in a response ceremony at the Lopinot River yesterday. The ceremony marked the first day
after 8 pm on Sunday. of the Amerindian Day heritage Festival. PICTURE EDISON BOODOOSINGH
A10 Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
 A12 business Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt

Daily Report on Trading, Monday, October 8, 2018 $4m in

ALL T&T INDEX: 1694.44 INDEX:1220.73 NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE OF SHARES
GraceKennedy
CHANGE: 0.2 CHANGE: 0.04 BOUGHT/SOLD: 1,606,125 BOUGHT/SOLD: 8,587,897.03
shares traded
OPEN DAY’S DAY’S O/S BID O/S BID O/S O/S LAST SALE LAST SALE VOLUME CLOSE CHANGE
SECURITY PRICE HIGH LOW ($) VOL. OFFER OFFER PRICE($) DATE TRADED PRICE ($)
Overall market activity resulted
($) ($) ($) ($) VOL. ($)
from trading in 15 securities of
AGOSTINI’S LTD 22.95 22.97 202,741 22.97 26/09/18 22.95
15.75 15.75 15.75 15.73 50 15.75 2,928 15.75 08/10/18 120 15.75
which five advanced, three de-
ANGOSTURA HOLDINGS
ANSA MCAL 57.00 55.16 5 57.00 16,831 57.00 05/10/18 57.00
clined and seven traded firm.
ANSA MERCHANT BANK 38.00 38.02 38.02 38.25 1,000 38.02 08/10/18 100 38.02 0.02 Trading activity on the First
BERGER PAINTS TDAD 4.25 4.25 02/03/18 4.25 Tier Market registered a volume
FIRST CITIZENS 32.65 32.65 32.65 32.61 41,508 32.65 2,611 32.65 08/10/18 601 32.65 of 1,606,125 shares crossing the
FIRSTCARIBBEAN INT 8.40 8.40 1,350 8.49 300 8.40 03/10/18 8.40 floor of the Exchange valued at
GRACE, KENNEDY & CO 2.70 2.70 2.70 2.50 12,254 2.99 3,000 2.70 08/10/18 1,500,000 2.70 $8,587,897.03.
GUARDIAN HOLDINGS 16.89 16.60 205,167 16.89 260 16.89 05/10/18 16.89 G r a c e Ke n n e d y Limited
GUARDIAN MEDIA LTD 15.70 15.69 218 15.70 01/10/18 15.70 was the volume leader with
JMMB GROUP LTD 1.70 1.70 13,732 1.72 7,500 1.70 05/10/18 1.70 1 , 5 0 0,0 0 0 sh a re s c h a n g-
LJ WILLIAMS A 0.20 0.20 4,400 0.20 17/08/18 0.20 ing hands for a value of
LJ WILLIAMS B 0.75 0.70 35,000 0.74 100 0.75 24/08/18 0.75 $4,050,000, followed by Massy
MASSY 47.04 47.00 47.00 47.00 56,054 47.05 33,403 47.00 08/10/18 36,376 47.00 -0.04 Holdings Limited with a volume
NATIONAL ENTERPRISES LTD 8.96 8.96 216,331 9.00 150 8.96 04/10/18 8.96 of 36,376 shares being traded
NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 6,078 1.65 600 1.60 08/10/18 27,404 1.60 for $1,709,672.
NCBFG 5.74 5.75 7,448 6.10 5,130 5.75 04/10/18 5.74
National Flour Mills Limited
ONE CARIBBEAN MEDIA 12.11 12.10 107 12.11 37,719 12.11 05/10/18 12.11
contributed 27,404 shares with
POINT LISAS DEV 3.62 3.60 100 3.70 7,757 3.62 28/09/18 3.62
a value of $43,846.40, while The
PRESTIGE HOLDINGS 7.53 7.54 7.54 7.54 14,210 7.54 08/10/18 1,800 7.54 0.01
11.00 11.00 4,329 11.00 19/07/18 11.00
West Indian Tobacco Company
READYMIX WI
RFHL 103.70 105.00 103.70 103.76 1,035 110.00 3,499 103.75 08/10/18 3,715 103.74 0.04
Limited added 23,251 shares
SAGICOR FINANCIAL 7.72 7.70 7.70 7.71 575 7.75 45,038 7.70 08/10/18 1,900 7.70 -0.02 valued at $2,056,427.31.
SCOTIABANK 64.94 64.94 64.94 64.26 100 64.94 107,979 64.94 08/10/18 15 64.94 The West Indian Tobacco
THE WEST INDIAN TOBACCO 88.00 88.45 88.44 88.45 7,506 88.72 2,728 88.44 08/10/18 23,251 88.44 0.44 Company Limited registered the
TTNGL 29.18 29.49 29.19 29.20 5,892 29.49 2,187 29.20 08/10/18 9,743 29.26 0.08 day’s largest gain, increasing
T’DAD CEMENT LTD 2.86 2.76 2.75 2.70 4,599 2.75 10,251 2.75 08/10/18 1,100 2.75 -0.11 $0.44 to end the day at $88.44.
UNILEVER CARIB LTD 26.11 25.00 20,000 26.11 9,730 26.25 05/10/18 26.11 Conversely, Trinidad Cement
Limited registered the day’s
PREFERENCE SHARES largest decline, falling $0.11 to
GUARDIAN MEDIA LTD 65.07 65.11 100 65.06 26/06/18 65.07 close at $2.75.
WILLIAMS LJP 3.30 3.30 09/11/17 3.30 On the Mutual Fund Market
9,426 shares changed hands for
SECOND TIER MKT. a value of $176,498.76.
MORA VEN HOLDINGS 14.49 12.48 1,488 14.49 11/03/16 14.49 Clico Investment Fund was
the most active security, with a
MUTUAL FUND MARKET
volume of 7,426 shares valued
CALYPSO MACRO INDEX FUND 15.82 15.82 15.82 15.82 8,364 15.83 740 15.82 08/10/18 2,000 15.82
at $144,858.76. It remained at
CLICO INVESTMENT FUND 19.51 19.51 19.50 18.00 100 19.50 12,790 19.50 08/10/18 7,426 19.51
0.67 0.67
$19.51.
FORTRESS CARI DEV FUND
FORTRESS CARI VALUE FUND 1.70 1.70
In Monday’s trading session
PRAETORIAN PROP 3.05 3.05 17/08/17 3.05 the following reflect the move-
ment of the TTSE Indices:
* The Composite Index ad-
vanced by 0.04 points to close
at 1,220.73.
* The All T&T Index advanced
by 0.20 points (0.01 per cent) to
close at 1,694.44.
* The Cross Listed Index de-
clined by 0.02 points (0.02 per
cent) to close at 100.41.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
guardian.co.tt
Some Haitians
sleeping outside
after quake
PORT-DE-PAIX, Haiti — Thousands
of people along Haiti’s north coast
dragged mattresses and chairs out-
side yesterday, fearing new after-
shocks after a 5.9 earthquake killed
at least 12 and injured 188 over the
weekend.
Many wondered how they were
going to rebuild from Saturday night’s
quake and a strong 5.2 magnitude af-
tershock on Sunday that had residents
in the coastal city of Port-de-Paix and
elsewhere worried about returning to
their cracked cinderblock homes for
fear they would collapse.
Among them was Marc-Sena Doc-
teur, a 24-year-old carpenter whose
girlfriend died in the earthquake.
“Now I’m left with a 9-month-old
baby with no aid at all,” he said. “I’m
still crying. I don’t know what I’m
going to do without her.”
The walls of the room that the
couple had been renting for a year
collapsed, and he and the baby have
been sleeping outdoors since the
quake.
Sunday’s aftershock caused panic
on streets where emergency teams
were providing relief to victims after
cinderblock homes and rickety build-
ings toppled in several cities. The US
Geological Survey said the epicenter
of the aftershock was located 9.8
miles (15.8 kilometres) north-north-
west of Port-de-Paix.
Haiti’s civil protection agency said
at least eight people died in Port-de-
Paix and three people died in the
nearby community of Gros-Morne in
Artibonite province. Another person
died in Saint-Louis du Nord, Commu-
nication Minister Eddy Jackson Alexis
tweeted. Among the dead were a
5-year-old boy crushed by his collaps-
ing house.
Impoverished Haiti, where many
live in tenuous circumstances, is
vulnerable to earthquakes and hur-
ricanes. A vastly larger magnitude
7.1 quake damaged much of the cap-
ital in 2010 and killed an estimated
300,000 people. (AP)
Climate change advocates win Nobel prize
STOCKHOLM — The Nobel prize in
economics was awarded yesterday
to one American who has studied
the economics of climate change —
and to another whose research on
technological innovation has raised
hopes that human beings are creative
enough to do something about it.
The Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences awarded the US$1 million
prize to William Nordhaus of Yale
University and Paul Romer of New
York University.
Nordhaus, who has been called
“the father of climate-change eco-
nomics,” developed models that
suggest how governments can com-
bat global warming. One key step he
has endorsed is a universal tax on
world
A rescue worker moves away as a heavy machine removes a car during a search for earthquake victims in Balaroa
neighbourhood in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, yesterday.
Indonesia’s death
toll climbs to 2,000
PALU, Indonesia — The death toll
from the devastating earthquake
and tsunami on Indonesia’s Sulaw-
esi island neared 2,000 yesterday,
but thousands more are believed
unaccounted for and officials said
search teams plan to stop looking
for victims later this week.
The official toll hit 1,948, mostly
in the hard-hit city of Palu, said Ja-
maluddin, an official from the dis-
aster task force who uses one name.
He corrected the number during a
news conference in Jakarta after in-
itially saying it was 1,944. He said a
navy ship had docked in the area
William Nordhaus PICTURE AP
carbon, which would require pol-
luters to pay for the costs that their
emissions impose on society.
By using a tax rather than govern-
and opened a field hospital.
Willem Rampangilei, head of the
National Board for Disaster Manage-
ment, said there could be as many
as 5,000 victims still buried in deep
mud in Balaroa and Petobo, two of
Palu’s hardest-hit neighbourhoods.
But he added that number must
be verified by his teams because it
is an unofficial figure which came
from village heads in the area. The
September 28 quake caused loose,
wet soil to liquefy there. It is too
soft to use heavy equipment for re-
covery, and decomposition of bod-
ies is already advanced.
Paul Romer PICTURE AP
ment edicts to slash emissions, the
policy encourages companies to find
innovative ways to reduce pollution
— and their tax burden. Versions of
PICTURE AP
“It is impossible to rebuild in
areas with high liquefaction risk
such as Petobo and Balaroa,” he
said, adding villages there will be
relocated.
Talks were underway with re-
ligious authorities and surviving
family members to decide whether
some areas could be turned into
mass graves for victims entombed
there with monuments built to re-
member them.
Officials reiterated that the search
is expected to end on Thursday.
However, the deadline could be ex-
tended if needed. (AP)
a carbon tax have been used in Eu-
rope but have yet to be adopted in
the United States.
Romer, who has studied why some
economies grow faster than others,
has produced research that shows
how governments can advance inno-
vation. At a news conference yester-
day, Romer said his research has left
him optimistic that society can solve
even a threat as deeply challenging
as the warming of the planet.
As economists, Nordhaus
and Romer have worked inde-
pendently of each other. But to
some longtime followers of the
Nobel committee, the decision to
collectively honour their research
seemed a logical one. (AP)
A13
Hurricane
Michael
approaches
Florida
MIAMI — A tropical weather system
rapidly strengthened into Hurricane
Michael off Mexico’s Yucatan Pen-
insula, and forecasters said it was
moving yesterday into the Gulf of
Mexico where warm waters would
continue to fuel its development.
Michael could strengthen into a
major hurricane with winds topping
111 mph (178 kph) by tonight before
an expected strike on Florida’s Pan-
handle or Big Bend, according to the
National Hurricane Center.
By 11 a.m. yesterday, Michael’s
top sustained winds were around 75
mph (120 kph).
The storm was centered about 50
miles (80 kilometres) off the west-
ern tip of Cuba, and about 140 miles
(220 kilometres) east-northeast of
Cozumel, Mexico. It was moving
north around 7 mph (11 kph).
Since the storm will spend two
to three days over the Gulf, which
has very warm water temperatures
and favourable atmospheric condi-
tions, “there is a real possibility that
Michael will strengthen to a major
hurricane before landfall,” Robbie
Berg, a hurricane specialist at the
Miami-based storm forecasting hub,
wrote in an advisory.
Florida Governor Rick Scott issued
an order for a state of emergency for
26 counties to rush preparations in
the Panhandle and the Big Bend
area, freeing up resources and acti-
vating 500 members of the Florida
National Guard. (AP)
Reporter raped,
murdered
in Bulgaria
BUCHAREST, Romania — Bulgarian po-
lice are investigating the rape, beating
and slaying of a female television re-
porter whose body was dumped near
the Danube River after she reported
on the possible misuse of European
Union funds in Bulgaria.
Authorities discovered the body of
30-year-old Viktoria Marinova on Sat-
urday in the northern town of Ruse
near the Romanian border. Police said
she had been strangled and her body
was found in a park near the river.
Marinova was a director of TVN,
a small TV station in Ruse, and a TV
presenter for two investigative pro-
grammes.
Journalists’ groups and foreign of-
ficials, including Harlem Desir, the
media freedom representative of the
Organization for Security and Coop-
eration in Europe, demanded a “full
and thorough investigation” into Ma-
rinova’s death.
Bulgarian police said they are con-
sidering all possible scenarios and
examining possible links to both her
personal and professional life. (AP)