N Touch

Double bronze in Oslo for TT

ANDREW GIOANNETTI

NATIONAL sprint queen Michelle-Lee Ahye produced a season best performance to finish third in the women’s 100m as the IAAF Diamond League rolled into Oslo, Norway, yesterday.

Also among the medals for TT was another Commonwealth Games champion Jereem Richards who clinched a second bronze for TT in the men’s 200m.

Ahye was slow off the blocks but gained precious ground in the second half of the stretch to clock 11.06 seconds in her first official event since April’s Commonwealth Games. She bettered her time from the Australia event which she won in 11.14 seconds.

While Ahye put on a strong display, she was up against an in-form Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast who went on to win the event in 10.91 seconds.

Also putting a dent on Ahye’s hope for a top-two finish was Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who ran the race of her life. Asher-Smith finished behind Ahoure in a photo finish, breaking her national record with a time of 10.92 seconds.

Following the race, Ahye Tweeted: “11.06 SB, I’ll take that for my actual official race after Commonwealth Games.. I’m healthy and happy.”

Nigeria’s reigning African 200m record holder Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who has seen better form, finished fourth in 11.12 seconds.

TT’s Khalifa St Fort who won gold at the Pan American U-20 Championships last year and was a 2018 Commonwealth Games finalist, gained valuable experience despite finishing last. The 20-year-old clocked 11.28 seconds.

In the men’s 200m race, Richards was the third and final TT athlete in action yesterday. He clocked 20.19 seconds, behind race winner Ramil Guliyev of Turkey, who ran 19.90 seconds and runner-up Aaron Brown of Canada, who also dipped under 20 seconds (19.98).

The next leg of the Diamond League will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, where Ahye and St Fort will again line up in the women’s 200m.

The TT duo, along with Richards and other top national athletes are expected to be home later this month to contest the NGC Sagicor NAAA National Open Championships, which runs from June 22-24 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

TTEC lights up Arima Velodrome

Arima’s premier sport and special events facility, the Arima Velodrome, is the latest venue in the country to benefit from TTEC’s ongoing public lighting programme of parks and recreational spaces throughout the country.

The 96- bulb lighting system mounted on four 100-foot poles, was officially commissioned by Public Utilities Minister Senator Robert Le Hunte, who granted approval for the upgrade project in mid-March this year, in time for the Easter Cycling Classic.

An in-house team of engineers and crews from TTEC’s Public Lighting Department took charge of the replacement of the previous obsolete lighting fixtures.

In commissioning the newly upgraded lighting system, the Public Utilities Minister urged all users of the facility to be prudent and conserve electricity by keeping the lights off when they are not in use, always mindful of the fact that there is a cost to energy consumption.

Minister Le Hunte expressed the hope that the Arima Velodrome will become the mecca for sporting and recreational activity that it once was.

The 460m illuminated cycle track and infield has long been a popular choice for hosting local and international sporting events as well as entertainment activities.

Also speaking at the lights commissioning ceremony, Arima Mayor and Councillor Lisa Morris-Julian was high in praise for the TTEC team which executed the project in record time.

She noted that Arima was given a tremendous boost with the installation of the new lighting system.

Also speaking at the commissioning ceremony was TTEC’s Deputy Chairman, Glenford Cyrille.

The project was completed at a cost of $800,000.

Joseph cracks his second CSL century

SHERDON PIERRE

Mbeke Joseph cracked his second century of the Executive Upholstery Central Super League to lead his team Experts All Stars to the largest total of the season when action continued at the Pierre Road Recreational Ground, Charlieville.

Joseph’s breezy innings of 103 runs came off just 40 balls and included 15 fours and five sixes. His hitting partner Saiba Batoosingh played a similar innings, blazing 101 from 41 balls with a half of dozen fours and sixes. The Experts posted the highest ever total in the tournament’s history with a mammoth 290/8 in their 20 overs. Despite the carnage shared by the batsmen, LLB Combine All Stars 1 bowler Reza Mohammed still manage impressive figures of three wickets for 22 runs.

In order to be victorious, Combine had to do something extra special, but they weren’t up for the challenge, managing only 159/5 before the overs expired. TT Red Force wicket-keeper batsman, Amir Jangoo, top scored with 57 runs, comprising of four boundaries and four maximums. Experts’ bowlers Mark Deyal and Christopher Vincent captured a wicket each. The 17-year-old Joseph was awarded the man of the match for his team’s comfortable 131-run victory.

Lining up for All Apaches, Evin Lewis made his mark in his first match of the tournament, with a blistering 69 runs of 26 balls (4 fours, 8 sixes) against Barrackpore United. Ihiley Smith top scored with a brisk 70 runs, containing four boundaries and seven sixes, to give his team a winning total of 237/7 from their allotted overs. Barrackpore United best bowlers were Adrian Cooper (2/30) and Brent Harriot (2/33).

Barrackpore had a commendable effort in their run chase, reaching 188 before being bowled out in the 19th over to give Apaches a 49-run victory. Akiel Cooper top scored with 47 runs (4 fours, 3 sixes) and Harriot contributed 44 runs (3 fours, 1 six). Expert All Stars lead Group A with six points, followed by Mystery XI and Channa Super Kings who are also on the same amount of points but an inferior run rate. Bamboo All Stars are the leaders in Group B with eight points, followed by Barrackpore United and Royal Strikers XI who are both tied on four points.

Mbeki Joseph is the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 258 runs, followed by Nicholas Pooran (207 runs) and Kieron Pollard with 204 runs.

Terrance Hinds is the leading wicket-taker with eight scalps, followed by Joshua Stewart and Mark Deyal who are tied with seven wickets.

Dowrich’s century puts Sri Lanka under pressure

HE may be small in stature and still inexperienced at the Test level but Shane Dowrich delivered. A mature century from the diminutive wicketkeeper placed the West Indies in a strong position at the close of day two in the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, yesterday.

Resuming the day’s play on 246 for six in the first innings, an unbeaten 125 from Dowrich and 40 from Devendra Bishoo got West Indies to 414 for eight declared. In response, Sri Lanka were struggling at 31/3 at the close of play.

It was Dowrich’s second Test century, a knock that came off 325 deliveries and included 12 fours.

Describing Dowrich’s knock after the day’s play, Bishoo said, “It was a very, very good innings. Me and him put on about 102 runs in the partnership. We took it step by step, what we were planning is to take it 20 (runs) by 20. I think he batted really well.”

It was a nervous time for Dowrich in the nineties. On 94, Dowrich survived a confident appeal for caught behind off fast bowler Suranga Lakmal. Sri Lanka asked for the decision to be reviewed but replays showed the ball brushed Dowrich’s leg on the way to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Dowrich was also a bit tentative against spinner Herath as he played and missed.

It was a small crowd at the Oval, but they tried to give Dowrich some encouragement. A handful of Secondary school students got up from their seats and hung over the balcony in the Carib Beer Stand to cheer on Dowrich as he inched closer to his century.

Dowrich escaped again as an aerial straight drive by the right hander fell just in front of Herath.

The Bajan continued to look a bit nervy with a sweep shot that found the top edge as the pair got two runs to take Dowrich to 99. Dowrich finally got his century with a single on the leg side off Herath, punching the air in delight. The first innings total by the West Indies never looked possible as West Indies were reduced to 147/5 on day one. Resistance from Windies captain Jason Holder and Dowrich late on day one seemed to inspire another fighting performance by Devendra Bishoo yesterday.

Bishoo, who joined Dowrich late on day one, batted with his usual determination yesterday to help take the match away from Sri Lanka. Left-handed Bishoo, another man small in stature, played beyond his height and role on the team. After a short morning session because of rain, West Indies resumed on 268/6 after lunch. Dowrich and Bishoo then patiently went about frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers as they put on 102 for the seventh wicket.

Bishoo played smartly, taking singles to give Dowrich the strike as the partnership grew to 50 off 148 balls with Bishoo contributing 11. It was patient batting by the pair with occasional boundaries. Bishoo started to play more aggressively, including a straight four that just evaded the mid-off fielder as West Indies approached 300.

To add to the worries of the Sri Lankans, Dowrich struck the silly mid-on fielder just below the knee after sweeping Herath, forcing the Sri Lankan medical staff to run onto the field.

West Indies continued to show resistance, progressing to 319/6 at drinks with Dowrich 85 and Bishoo 29. As Bishoo continued to increase the scoring rate, Dowrich was content to score in singles as he approached the nineties.

Bishoo’s resistance finally ended, as he was caught by Roshen Silva at gully for 40, playing the ball away from his body to give Lakmal the wicket. Dowrich got his century on the stroke of tea, as West Indies progressed to 350/7 at tea with Dowrich on 100 and Kemar Roach on four.

After tea, Roach and Dowrich played more aggressively. Roach was given out leg-before to Dilruwan Perera, but Roach asked for a referral and the decision was changed. Roach brought up the 400 for West Indies with a straight four, which was followed by a six over mid-wicket as Roach got into the thirties. Shortly after, Roach was well caught for 39 at mid-off by Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal as West Indies declared on 414/8 with Dowrich 125 not out.

It was a disastrous start for Sri Lanka as Roach got the first breakthrough when Kusal Perera was caught by Roston Chase at point for duck, before Shannon Gabriel got the wicket off Kusal Mendis for four caught at third slip by Holder. It could have been two wickets in two balls for Gabriel but Holder dropped Angelo Mathews.

Holder made amends as Chase caught Mathews off Holder’s bowling for 11 in the slips. Sri Lanka closed on 31/3 still trailing Windies by 383 runs. The match resumes at 10 am today.

King ousts top seed in women’s semi

THIRD SEED Anya King advanced to the women’s singles final in the Bmobile National Open Tennis Championship after stunning top seed Carlista Mohammed 6-1, 6-4 at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua, yesterday.

King continued her top form from the previous day when she defeated Emma Rose Trestrail for the first time. The former national Under-18 champion will play into tomorrow’s final against the other semi-final winner, Shennelle Mohammed.

Shennelle was even more ruthless on the court, as she breezed past Bridgette Garcia 6-0, 6-2. It was anticlimactic for Garcia, who raised expectations with a stunning come-from-behind win over third seeded Yin Lee Assang on Wednesday.

In the men’s singles semi-finals, Nabeel Mohammed made light work of Jerome Ward, winning 6-1, 6-2, while former tennis player of the year, Vaughn Wilson got past Akiel Duke 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a gruelling duel.

Later on, Carlista paired with Assang against Trevine Sellier and Keneel Teesdale in the women’s doubles semi-finals, which finished after press time.

The other semi-final featured Shennelle and Emma-Rose Trestrail versus King and Victoria Koylass.

The men’s doubles semi-finals were also played last night.

Nabeel and Wilson were up against Keshan Moonasar and Adam Ramkissoon, with Richard Chung and Ward due to face Duke and Javier Lewis.

In the veterans singles final, Richard McLetchie retired with a twisted ankle while his match with Kendall Cuffy was locked at 1-1.

Children’s Authority interviews young victims

THE Children’s Authority has spent hours interviewing two teenage girls in South Trinidad after their older sister made an appeal for intervention to save them from a life of sexual abuse at the hands of a male relative.

In a release on Wednesday, the authority confirmed it had made contact with the family but said the matter will be treated with confidentiality and sensitivity because of the nature of the allegations.

But Newsday was told that the authority’s counsellors spent hours with the girls on Tuesday night, leaving their home around midnight.

Earlier that evening, the girls and their older sister had met with senior police in the Southern Division and gave statements on the abuse they have endured so far.

The older sister, who is 29, told Newsday on Monday that the relative had raped her since she was eight.

She said the man has now trained his sights on her younger siblings and she awoke last Thursday to find him asleep next to her younger sister, dressed only in his underwear.

The man does not live with the girls and is said to have gained access to their home by climbing in through a bedroom window.

The window has since been boarded over.

The older sister said the process of ensuring her sisters are left alone by this predator is daunting, as they have had to spend hours giving statements. But she is not giving up, as she says she cannot endure a future where he is left to do as he pleases to her sisters.

UTT campuses to close

JOB cuts and the closure of several campuses of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) are moving full pace ahead. Education Minister Anthony Garcia speaking in the Senate said as far as he was aware no such decision was taken and that any such claims were “merely speculation”.

However, a member of the academic staff at the UTT, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the university’s President Sarin Al Zubaidy met individually with the academic staff to apprise them of what was taking place.

The source said lecturers were told that on completion of “staff rationalisation” (terminating members of both academic and administrative staff), the facilities rationalisation will commence and this will involve closure and disposal of some facilities.

The source said Al Zubaidy expressed hope that the facilities rationalisation would be the final phase of the restructuring and it will bring revenue in alignment with expenditure. The UTT source said the president is hoping to wrap up the negotiations with the union (OWTU) representing administrative staff, in a matter of weeks, so the university’s management can focus on the campuses.

As to which campuses are likely to remain open, the UTT source told Newsday the plan is to keep the Tamana facility as the flagship campus along with the Energy campus in Point Lisas and, “one or two others.” The source said a buyer is waiting to purchase the building which houses the John Donaldson campus off Wrightson Road in Port of Spain.

With more dismissals looming at the UTT, the battle to save jobs has now widened to include the Unified Tertiary Tutors Academic Staff Association, UTASA. Two other unions, Sanctuary Workers Union (SWU) headed by former government minister Devant Maharaj and the OWTU are also representing the interests of staff.

UTASA secretary Deo Seeram said the association represents over 100 members of the academic staff.

On May 11 , UTT began issuing dismissal letters and to date, 59 lecturers have been sent home. Eleven dismissed members of academic staff are being represented by the SWU.

64-year-old cocaine user jailed

AFTER 64-year-old Mikey Ramlogan made his third court appearance for this year for narcotic-related offences yesterday, a San Fernando magistrate sentenced him to three months in jail for having cocaine.

“It is as if you are coming here every month. You were here February, March and you are back again,” said magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine said before she passed the sentence.

Ramlogan, the father of three, appeared in the First Court, where he pleaded guilty to having one gramme of cocaine.

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan told the court that at about 8.45 pm on Wednesday, police searched Ramlogan at Cipero Street in San Fernando. They found the cocaine clenched in his left fist.

PC Samlalsingh of the Southern Division Task Force laid the charge.

Reading from his criminal record, the magistrate said he had ten previous convictions. In February, he was fined for possession of a device used to smoke cocaine.

The following month, he reappeared in court charged with having cocaine.

Ramlogan, who was unrepresented, said he formerly worked as a truck driver and wanted help with his drug problem.

In passing the sentence, Antoine said she would send a note to prison officials to let them know about his interest in rehabilitation.

Deportee fined for device to smoke cocaine

SAN Fernando magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine today fined a fruit vendor $800 for having a device used to smoke cocaine.

Dexter Percy, a 55-year-old deportee from the US, pleaded guilty.

PC Ramsubhag and other members of the Southern Division Task Force saw him acting suspiciously on Wednesday at Leotaud Street in San Fernando. They searched him and found the device.

Speaking with a US accent, Percy told the magistrate he had seven children.

On hearing his accent, the magistrate enquired if he had been deported.

“Apparently so, yes ma’am,” Percy responded.

Asked how long he had been abusing cocaine, Percy replied: “I had issues for a while.”

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan said that at about 7.30 pm, police searched Percy and found the device in his left front pants pocket.

He has two previous convictions, one for having cocaine and the other a traffic offence.

Teachers ignore safety risk to oversee exams

OUT of love and compassion for their students, teachers at the La Romaine Secondary School yesterday ignored instructions from their association to supervise Form Three students writing the National Certification of Secondary Schools (NCSE) exam.

Several teachers who walked out over health and safety violations on May 29, put aside their concerns and turned up at the Church Street school to ensure children had the requisite supervision to sit the exam. Members of the parent-teachers association (PTA) also contradicted claims from the Ministry of Education the day before that the exam was postponed on Tuesday owing to the absence of teachers. Sources at the school said the mathematics exam was held on Tuesday as scheduled and a teacher, Isahak Mohammed, and an on the job trainee teacher supervised it.

Yesterday, students sat the visual and performing arts exam and teachers, including the dance and Spanish teachers, as well as lab technicians, showed up to supervise them, a source said.

“We did it out of love for our students. They are the ones suffering,” a member of staff told Newsday. Teachers walked out on the instructions of the TT Unified Teachers Association on May 29 after a report from the electrical inspectorate to the principal identified numerous violations on the premises. In addition to the electrical violations, the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) unit also found the school had a termite infestation.

OSH authorities said they are awaiting reports from the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) and the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) before they submit their final report.

An official from the Ministry of Education said the EFCL was told to visit the school to “scope the project” but up until yesterday afternoon the EFCL had not shown up. Meanwhile parents gathered yesterday for an update, but neither the principal, Rajesh Sirjue, nor the vice principal was seen at the school.

Hunt for man who raped woman, 51, in south

SOUTHERN Division police launched a manhunt for two armed robbers, one of whom raped a 51-year-old woman in south Trinidad during a robbery on Wednesday night at the family’s home. Up to yesterday, police were still searching for the men.

Police said that at about 8.30 pm on Wednesday, two gunmen climbed the fence. At the time, a 56-year-old male relative was standing in the yard. They beat him with the butts of their guns and one went off, alerting neighbours.

One of the gunmen went into the bedroom where the woman was and raped her. He and the other then robbed the family of cash and jewellery. Neighbours called San Fernando CID who searched the area with Southern Division Task Force police but did not find the robbers. The victims were treated at the San Fernando General Hospital and discharged.

Cpl Crawford is leading investigations.

Pundit urges citizens to protect themselves

FOUR days after a man died from a beating by vigilante residents of Oropune Gardens in Piarco, a pundit yesterday called on citizens to unite to protect themselves and their families from criminal elements.

“If the law of the land cannot protect you, then you need to protect yourselves and pray and ask God to give you the strength and courage,” said Pundit Ramnarine Maharaj. He did not elaborate on how citizens should do so.

Maharaj was officiating at the funeral for murdered mother of four Radica Baldeo,53, who was shot and killed with her common-law husband Dipchand Heeralal,52, at their American Flats, Kumar Village, Williamsville home last Wednesday.

On May 30, Ashdale Mc Hutchinson, 49, was beaten into a state of unconsciousness after he was accused of trying to lure a six-year-old girl away. He died on Sunday afternoon.

Maharaj said crime had reached the doorsteps of citizens.

“We must do something about it. God helps those who help themselves.”

Baldeo’s funeral was held at the home of relatives at Garth Road, Williamsville.

“You are trying to put all the pieces together to get all the answers to unanswered questions. You will ask questions like; when, how and why this had to happen.”

He said such questions would never be answered.

“This mother’s dreams were shattered.

“People must put themselves in this family’s position as if it was their child or loved one. But who really cares when homes are left broken?” He asked friends and neighbours to continue to offer support to Baldeo’s relatives.

She was also cremated at the Shore of Peace at Mosquito Creek where Heeralal was also cremated on Wednesday.

No arrests have yet been made. Police said no motive for the killings has been established.

$75,000 bail for man charged with assaulting cops

ONE day after San Fernando magistrate Alicia Chankar jailed a man for a series of offences including assaulting two police, another man appeared in court yesterday for allegedly assaulting the police during the same incident.

Painter Timothy Alexander, 31, of Golconda in San Fernando, appeared before Chankar and pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that on Saturday last he assaulted PC Jevon Jointe and PC Cherryann Rampersad, both Ste Madeleine police. Chankar granted him $75,000 surety bail to cover the charges. He is to reappear in court on July 5.

Sgt Veano Raghoo prosecuted and PC Selwyn Griffith laid the charges.

Under the supervision of Cpl Ramesh Dhunkarie, police arrested Alexander during an anti-crime exercise on Wednesday in the Ste Madeleine district.

The injured police had responded to a report of threats being made by a man against another person, at Church Street in Golconda.

It is alleged that while attempting to arrest the suspect, Alexander and another man assaulted police.

The injured police received medical care at the Princes Town Health Facility and were discharged.

On Wednesday, Chankar sentenced labourer Jamal Loney, 22, also of Golconda, to a total of 510 days in prison.

He had pleaded guilty to malicious damage of government property, larceny of handcuffs, resisting arrest, escaping lawful custody, using obscene language and two counts of assaulting police.

Aripero man in custody for gun, ammo

LENNOX ANDREWS, a 61-year-old cobbler, has been remanded into custody after appearing before a Siparia magistrate charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In a release yesterday, the police said Andrews, of Silver Stream Road, Aripero, South Oropouche, appeared before magistrate Margaret Alert, in the Siparia First Magistrates’ Court on June 6. The police said the matter has been postponed to June 11. Andrews was arrested by Oropouche police on June 2, in connection with another matter, and led then to an area behind a church along Silver Stream Road, where the .38 special revolver, loaded with eight rounds of .38 ammunition, was found.

Andrews was charged by PC David Williams from the Oropouche Criminal Investigations Department on June.

Body with ‘healthy teeth’ may be foreigner

FIFTEEN days after a woman’s body was found on Morne Coco Road, Maraval, police are seeking the public’s help in identifying her.

Police yesterday told Newsday it is possible the deceased woman was a foreigner. The body has nine tattoos.

In a press release, the police said the body was found on May 24, by Cepep workers working along the road around 9.30 am. The police said the woman was “of mixed descent, light brown complexion, medium built, approximately five feet eight inches, in early thirties, with naturally long dark hair and healthy teeth.”

She had nine tattoos which included musical symbols to the left side of the neck, a cross on the stomach the name “Anderson” with three stars on the inside of the right wrist, roses on the left forearm, the name “Gwen” on the left wrist, “Kedon” and “Yudi” on the centre of the back, the phrase “La Sangre De Cristo Tiene Poder” with a rosary to the upper right side of the back, and a colourful butterfly on the upper left side of her back.

Former PSC chairman standsby Dulalchan decision

FORMER chairman of the Police Service Commission Dr Marie-Therese Gomes yesterday stood by her decision to send the name of acting DCP Deodat Dulalchan to former President Anthony Carmona for appointment as the next Police Commissioner.

Gomes, whose tenure ended on January 28, also dismissed claims by the Prime Minister and other government members that the PSC manipulated the process in selecting Dulalchan.

On Wednesday night, the government rejected the PSC’s nomination in the absence of the Opposition, who had earlier walked out of Parliament.

Rowley then revealed, “We are sending it back to the PSC to follow the law, follow the order and not follow unseen hands in trying to give us a CoP.”

He also promised that government will return to the Parliament to ensure a proper selection process for a CoP.

Yesterday Gomes said she was at the University of the West Indies when the debate was taking place on Wednesday night and did not understand what the Prime Minister meant by saying the matter would be sent back to the PSC.

“You either accept the PSC’s nomination or reject. There is a nominee that was recommended, then sent to the President who signed it and sent it to the Parliament.

“I do not know what the new chairman will do, I have not spoken to anybody and I wish them well.”

She maintained that the PSC under her stewardship did not manipulate the process, which she said had been rigorous and started from February 2016.

Asked by Newsday if she stood by her decision to send Dulalchan’s name to the then President, Gomes said, “I have to stand by my decision, because that is what came out of the process.”

She also said Dulalchan had the highest scores in all categories and that was why he was selected. She said two candidates were rejected when it was discovered they were over 60.

In Parliament on Friday, Rowley said two names mysteriously disappeared from the list of candidates. Gomes said the PSC acted in accordance with the Police Service Act in not accepting the two over 60.

Newsday asked if it was true that former Minister of National Security Gary Griffith was the PSC’s choice because of his high marks, but Gomes said the information was incorrect, and if Griffith had the highest marks he would have been the PSC’s choice.

On Wednesday, Griffith told his lawyers to send a pre-action protocol letter to the PSC for reportedly breaching several legal notices. He accused the commission of using a biased merit system and asserted that it had no right to do its own assessments in grading the list of candidates, as that was not in the legal notice.

Erphaan accepts apology

A VIDEO posted on soca singer Erphaan Alves’ Instagram page three days ago seemed to garner heightened interest yesterday. In the video, Alves is seen sitting with his manager at the poolside of the Royal St Kitts Hotel, saying: “So, plot twist. Royal St Kitts Hotel: I am not pleased right now because a staff (sic) approached us asking what’s our room number and if we are staying here and decided not to ask anybody else who may be a little lighter in complexion. We don’t like that.”

He posted further: “I’m not allowing racial profiling to contaminate my beautiful Caribbean region! I’m not taking this lightly! No disrespect to the promoters who brought us here, they’ve been quite fine! But something just occurred and its rather unsettling!”

The hotel manager subsequently offered an apology, which Alves also posted. The manager said: “First I would like to apologise if you feel the approach from the restaurant manager was inappropriate. We welcome everyone to Splash and we do not discriminate. I can see how you may have taken the request to confirm your room number insulting. I assure you this was in no way due to your complexion. The manger said Splash (a hotel event) was “a business entity and as such we need to ensure that people using the pool are registered guests of the hotel or patrons of Splash. The manager meant no disrespect and I’m sure once she confirmed your room number and name she did not bother you again.” The manager again offered “my sincerest apologies if you felt disrespected in any way,” adding, “With the power of social media your message came through loud and clear.” Contacted yesterday, Alves said: “That was a little situation. I love St Kitts and the people. I dealt with it how best I felt I needed to. It was made public, they apologised, and that is the end of it. That is water off my back. I did what I had to do and management did what they had to do.” Alves said the incident happened last Saturday while he was there to perform at an event called Soca Revenge.

Rambharat: Squatters have nothing to fear from this Govt

AGRICULTURE Minister Clarence Rambharat says there has been rampant squatting on environmentally sensitive areas but the State would not remove established communities.

He was contributing to debate yesterday on an act to amend the Land Adjudication Act 2000.

Rambharat said Opposition Senator Taharqa Obika, in his previous contribution, had suggested Government go into squatting areas in Point Fortin for example and consult the people about issues related to the legislation. Rambharat said, however, that there was no need for further consultation.

“Squatters have no need to fear under this Government.”

He said squatting was rampant in forest reserves, environmentally sensitive areas and land identified for public purposes. He added the bill made it clear there were no rights for people who would squat on these areas. “What happens to the people already there? In several parts of this country squatting or illegal occupation is so endemic and so entrenched that the State must continue the process of regularisation in order to deal with those people who occupy the land.”

He said that while everyone would like these areas cleared of illegal occupants and illegal structures it was unrealistic. He added that the State has not been doing a good job of protecting these areas from illegal occupation.

He said in 2,674 acres of forest reserve bounded by the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation there was intense residential squatting and some people had been there for 40 and 50 years, while others were more recent.

Inquest ordered

AN INQUEST has been ordered into the death of Chase Village father of one Parasram Gobin, who was crushed to death last week Wednesday by a male relative who was driving a dump truck. The male relative was charged with driving under the influence but no other charges were laid against him. He is currently on $20,000 bail.

Central Division Police assigned to probe the death said based on all eyewitnesses’ accounts, a decision was taken to recommend an inquest. On Tuesday, Gobin was cremated at Waterloo Cremation site after a funeral at his Joyce Road home.

The male relative who ran over him was at the funeral, but Gobin’s widow Selena Hosein was not allowed to take part in the service or to carry out any of the final rites. She told Newsday she went to Guide’s funeral home to see her husband’s body for the last time but was prevented from doing so by a male relative.

She then sought the assistance of the police, went to the Waterloo Cremation Site with two officers and was able to see her husband’s body on the pyre before he was cremated. Hosein said based on the actions of her husband’s relatives, she has now sought the protection of the police.

Last Wednesday Hosein and Gobin were liming with a male relative and others when the relative, who was driving a dump truck, threatened to plough into them. She said Gobin tried to stop the driver and held on to a mirror on the driver’s side of the truck. The driver allegedly began driving off and Gobin fell in front of one of the wheels and was crushed.

GUNS IN MOSQUE

WORKMEN repairing a ceiling at the Masjid-ul-Muttaqeen mosque in Munroe Road, Cunupia yesterday found a cache of arms and ammunition inside a black garbage bag hidden in the ceiling. The find comprised two pistols, two shotguns, an assault rifle, an assortment of ammunition and a ski mask.

The workmen alerted mosque officials who called the police. Central Division Task Force officers cordoned off the mosque and seized the weapons. They also searched the mosque for other illegal items but nothing was found. No arrest was made.

Maulana Saeed Ali, in a statement, said the find was made in the ceiling of a prayer room on the top floor.

He added that on the masjid’s invitation, police were asked to search of the entire compound to ensure no other illegal items were hidden.

“The Masjid wishes to categorically state that the illegal arms and ammunition do not belong to the organisation and we do not condone any illegal activity on our compound. In fact, we condemn the actions of whoever planted the weapons unknowing to us, in the masjid’s compound,” Ali said.

He assured in the statement that if the masjid’s authorities find the identity of the people who hid the weapons in the ceiling, same would be passed on to the police. He said the is in an open compound which is frequented by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He said masjid officials have no control over who came to carry out religious or other activities.

“We are very saddened that anyone would choose a holy place of Allah to hide illegal guns and ammunition, especially in this month of Ramadhan. We condemn the action as un-Islamic,” Ali said.

An official of the mosque said its members are deeply disturbed over the find especially during the holy month of Ramadan. The official said that members are not aligned to any radical groups and do not condone violence.

Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr has officiated at funerals at this mosque and is close to its imam and other worshippers. The official said the police exercise yesterday did not prevent the Adhan (call to prayer) and recital of prayers.

The find came a day after Port of Spain police said they had intel that the Chaguanas-based Unruly ISIS gang was in the capital plotting revenge attacks on the Rasta City gang for the recent murders of ISIS affiliates. Police said that the mosque will be kept under surveillance and people entering or leaving may be subject to search.

Police said the weapons were sent to the Forensic Science Centre for ballistic tests and also fingerprint tests to see if the identity of the owners could be found. Yesterday, there was a heavy police presence outside the mosque.