Guardian reveals plot to throw T&T in state of panic ahead of assassination

The Trinidad Guardian reported on Thursday that investigators probing the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three cabinet have said the plotters had planned to create a major distraction in the country and immediately after carry out the assassinations.

The paper said the information came from a senior legal source working with law enforcement entities on condition of strict anonymity.

It said the distraction would have diverted the attention of the police and military “And while that was happening—perhaps it would have been looting—the taking over of television stations or something of that extreme and large nature to distract the armed forces, then the assassination would take place,” the paper quoted the source as saying.

“That was what we have been informed of by intelligence officers. The officers, however, could not provide sufficient information to determine if the two plans were linked,” the source added. 

The paper said the source explained that knowledge guided the writing of the detention orders with some detainees named as being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate, while others were identified as the people behind a plot to destabilise Trinidad and Tobago and cause major panic.

The Guardian said its source stated that up to the time the detention orders were being drafted, there was no concrete evidence to definitely link the two plots as all part of “one major plot”.

He explained further that no one has been charged yet because all the detainees have been held “merely on suspicion.”

Read the full story in the TRINIDAD GUARDIAN

List of detainees in assassination plot reaches 16; ex US soldier among them

National Security Minister John Sandy signed four more detention orders on Wednesday.

A total of 16 people have now been detained in connection with the plot to assassinate the prime minister and three senior cabinet ministers.

A local media report Thursday stated that a man described by police as an ex-US soldier is one of four other persons who is being held under a detention order signed Wednesday by National Sandy.

The four latest detainees are Ashmeed Mohammed of La Romain; Zaid Abdul Hamid of Longdenville; Dominic Pitilal also called “Jamal”of Cocorite; and Jason Brown also called “Abdool Kareem” of San Juan.

All of the detention orders state the men will be held at the Eastern Detention Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre up until the end of the state of emergency on December 5.

However, the 16 detainees were taken to the Golden Grove Prison for security reasons. The men are expected to be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The detainees are:

1. Selwyn Robocop Alexis 
2. Ashmeed Choate, 
3. Shane “Asadullah” Crawfowd 
4. Chionesu Luqman 
5. Sgt Earl Elie 
6. David “Buffy” Millard 
7. Milton Algernon, aka Fareed Mustapha 
8. William “Billy” Taylor 
9. Andy “Sudan” Brown 
10. Yohann “Wally” Cruickshank 
11. Bryan “Soldier Barry” Barrington, 
12. Khalil Kharamath 
13. Ashmeed Mohammed 
14. Zaid Abdul Hamid 
15. Dominic “Jamal” Pitilal 
16. Jason Brown aka “Abdool Kareem”

PM Kamla hands out HDC homes, pledges to end cycle of hardship for citizens

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar handed out keys for home to 150 families and urged them to let their homes become "units of law and order, exemplary parenting and creative achievement." 

She said, "I encourage you to take your new responsibilities seriously. Maintain your environment and work towards the building of safe, peaceful and thriving communities...With your new-found stability, I entrust the on-going development of our Nation."

In a brief address, Persad-Bissessar noted that it was a year ago that she handed out keys to 84 who faced an "agonising wait" to realise their dream of home ownership through Government’s social housing programme. 

She said those 84 people represente a cumulative wait of 1948 years.

"For a country which recognises the two most important texts which speak to the Right to Adequate Housing – the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - such a scenario must be regarded as totally unacceptable," she said.

Persad-Bissessar said that is why in August 2010 the housing minister began an aggressive move to deal with housing applications of those persons whose documents had been lodged with the authorities for more than 10 years.

She said, "Our key hand-over ceremony last year and today’s presentation is evidence of the strength of my Government’s conviction that every individual in Trinidad and Tobago has the right to adequate housing without discrimination.

"And by adequate housing, ladies and gentlemen, I want to emphasize that this Government is not merely speaking to simply having a roof over one’s head; but rather to housing with access to potable water, child care facilities, healthcare facilities, education and recreation.

"We are seeking to create stable, secure, vibrant communities in Trinidad and Tobago." 

The Prime Minister noted that UN estimates suggest that by 2050, three billion persons worldwide will be will be living in unhealthy and unworthy slum conditions.

"Such alarming factors are not what this Government envisages for the people of Trinidad and Tobago," she said.

Persad-Bissessasr said her Government does not regard the right to adequate housing as a political option. 

"We believe that it is the duty of Government, through its policies and programmes to provide access to housing to its population, including the poorest, the disabled and other vulnerable groups such as women, children and elderly," she said.

"While the ability of Governments to offer adequate housing may be hampered by a variety of economic, cultural, and social factors; it should not preclude them for setting adequate housing as a national social or political goal.

"As a Government it is our aim, as far as possible, to offer adequate, affordable and quality housing to those persons unable to access housing on the open market.

"We firmly believe that the success of our Nation rests on the well-being of our communities, our families and on each individual in Trinidad and Tobago.

"We remain committed to providing a life of dignity to each citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and we acknowledge that housing is an integral component of this goal.

"Without decent and affordable housing, families may encounter difficulties in managing their daily lives which often negatively impacts their children’s safety, health and development.

"I want to assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that this Government will continue to work tirelessly to prevent this cycle of hardship among our citizens."

Happy home owners. One of the people who got keys to his home Wednesday waited 45 years.  Victor Dell was 33 when he made the application for his home in 1966. He finally got the keys in his retirement. Read his story in the TRINIDAD EXPRESS

PURE not closed; PM says month-to-month contracts continuing

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Wednesday she has asked the Ministry of Finance to audit the Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency (PURE) unit of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

She was responding to questions from reporters attending a function at the Hyatt hotel where the Prime Minister handed out keys to HDC houses.

The questions related to concerns that PURE will be disbanded and people will lose their jobs just before christmas. However Persad-Bissessar said that is not so.

“I don’t understand why they say hundreds of jobs are on the line. As far as I recall, what the Cabinet did was rescind the decision to grant three-year contracts to persons. 

"As far as I’m aware those persons are on a month-to-month basis so they can collect their salaries at the end of the month as they’ve been doing for every month thus far.

“What is happening with the PURE is that there have been a lot of allegations of irregularities. Indeed, I have instructed the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Finance has carried out these instructions, for a central audit of the operations of the PURE unit. So I await the findings of that audit, before I take the matter further.”

She made it clear that PURE is operational. 

"There’s been nothing that says the unit has been shut down. What has happened is that the contracts have not been renewed for a three-year period and therefore the persons remain on a month-to-month basis."

PM gets US$5M from CAL as she launches Children's Life Fund

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar launched the Children’s Life Fund at the Hilton Wednesday, noting that she hopes the fund would reach $100 million.

And she got an immediate boost for the fund - US$5 million.

The chairman of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) George Nicholas III presented the cheque, which he said represents US$5 deducated from each ticket that the airline sells.

Speaking about the necessity for the fund which she established soon after taking office, Persad-Bissessar said for too long there was unnecessary suffering of children because their parents could not afford the life-saving medical procedures.

She made it her number one priority and her first note to cabinet after taking office was to establish the fund. She puts 10 per cent of her salary into the fund and ministers contribute five per cent. Private individuals, groups and organisations as well as some public officials have also been contributing to the fund.

She said since the start of the fund 38 children between the ages of six and 14 have benefited from close to $10 million. 

The Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) which has a fully constituted board of directors has the responsibility to operate, manage and administer the fund.

The CLFA’s chief executive officer is Jeffrey Lewis. 

The fund is meant to help pay for medical services abroad for children when the services are not available locally.

There are several conditions that must be met to qualify. The child/person must be under 18, unmarried and must be a Trinidad & Tobago citizen.

In addition the a medical specialist in the field of treatment must certify that the patients has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and requires treatment that is not available locally. 

The cost of the medical expenses must exceed 25 per cent of the family’s annual income.

Photo story: PM visits Project Salvatori

Guardian photo

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar dropped in on vendors at the site of the demolished Salvatori Building in Port of Spain Wednesday, accompanied by the Minsiter of Housing Roodal Moonilal and Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing.

Project Salvatori 2011/2012, which was launched Wednesday provides a space for vendors during the Christmas season. The Guardian reported that Persad-Bissessar dropped in on the few stalls already set-up with a quick word for each vendor before making a quick exit.

Cadiz denies political relationship with Robocop, calls for apology from Rowley

Stephen Cadiz's office issued a media statement on Tuesday challenging Opposition Leader Keith Rowley to produce documentary evidence to prove that Selwyn 'Robocop' Alexis helped him win his seat.

It said if Rowley fails to do that he should apologise to the Chaguanas East MP, who is also the Trade Minister in the People's Partnership government.

The released called allegations of Cadiz's association with Alexis "extremely inflammatory and without basis."

"With the name of Selwyn ”Robocop” Alexis being splashed across the news for the past fifteen years, most notably in the recent plot to assassinate the Honourable PM of Trinidad and Tobago...the Honourable Stephen Cadiz has appealed to his detractors to provide evidence of an alleged link between the notorious underworld figure and the Minister of Trade and Industry," the release stated.

The release also questioned the credibility of Alexis who it said "has been repeatedly arrested and linked to crime, most notably kidnapping, racketeering and murder."

It added, "The Minister of Trade and Industry has always been an advocate against crime, even prior to his public office, which has extensively been documented during his time spearheading the Keith Noel 136 committee.

"Any allusion to the brokerage of a relationship with a prominent criminal figure perceived or otherwise, in order to secure votes, should be quickly dismissed by anyone with common sense as false."

It's not the first time that Cadiz has had to clear the air on this matter. When Alexis was arrested earlier in the year Cadiz issued a statement distancing himself from Alexis, whose lawyer had claimed that Alexis campaigned for Cadiz.

At that time Cadiz was emphatic that he had no political dealings with Alexis. "I never had any meeting with him, never had an discussions with him" Cadiz told a weekly newspaper.

Cadiz acknowledged that Alexis, who lives in Enterprise and runs a business in the Chaguanas East constituency, had a huge UNC banner outside his home during the 2010 election campaign. However he said that had nothing to with him.

He said he got no election funding from Alexis and as far as he knows no candidate for the People's Partnership secured any services from Alexis.

4 new HIV/Aids infections a day in TT

Rodger Samuel said on Wednesday the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a health as well as an economic issue that poses a serious threat to national development efforts. 

The Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister made the point in a message to mark World Aids Day, which is being observed on December 1.

Using figures from 2009 to illustrate his point, Samuel said at the national level the economic impact of HIV/AIDS was estimated at $41.25 million. He noted further that the cost to treat one person with HIV for one year at that time was about TT$14,000.00.

"And it is estimated that at the end of 2009 there were approximately 21,636 persons infected with the HIV virus with approximately four new infections per day," he said.

Samuel added that in 2008 the Health Economics Unit of the University of the West Indies projected that in a few years Trinidad and Tobago would lose about four per cent of its annual national income (about TT$2.4b) if the spread of HIV/AIDS continued unabated.

"These are startling facts and figures and they are testimonies to the fact that we need to comprehensively and cohesively deal with the whole issue of HIV/AIDS as a nation and as a people," samuel said. 

"Our national psyche MUST be awakened. We need to “pull together” as a nation and in so doing reduce the rate of new infections. This is the responsibility of every citizen."
Samuel's message also focused on the theme for 2011: "Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS-Related Deaths", noting thatit is part of the “Getting to Zero” campaign of the UN which runs until the year 2015.

"December 01st each year provides us with a unique opportunity to come together – all of us worldwide – to fight against HIV and to lend our support to people living with HIV. It is also a solemn time in which we remember all those who have died – family members, friends, colleagues, and co-workers," Samuel said.

He added that World AIDS Day also provides an opportunity to learn the facts about HIV and to put this knowledge into action. 

"It is only when we know and understand how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and the reality of living with HIV today, we can then take care of our own health and the health of others, and ensure that we treat everyone living with HIV fairly, and with respect and understanding," the minister stated.

The global estimate is that about 33.3m people are now living with HIV. More than 25 million have died from the virus in the years between 1981 and 2007, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
Samuel said, "At a time where financial resources are limited and where Trinidad and Tobago no longer receives international subventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it is critical that we exercise collective responsibility.

"In Trinidad and Tobago we have launched our own “T&T Countdown to Zero” campaign with issues relating to HIV Prevention, HIV Stigma and Discrimination, and Treatment, Care and Support being addressed.

"Two of the major intended outcomes of this local campaign are for persons to take responsibility for their sexual behaviours and to adopt positive, caring, and non-judgmental attitudes towards those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

"HIV/AIDS poses serious challenges for all of us and every citizen must do his/her part in effectively combating this epidemic so as to achieve the goal of Getting to Zero.

"Additionally, if we are to achieve the goals as outlined in the theme for World AIDS Day 2011 it is incumbent for all of us – individuals, the government, the private sector, and civil society to engage in meaningful and effective collaboration.

"We must join hands in this fight so that all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago can make a significant and lasting contribution to authentic human development.

"As we commemorate World AIDS Day 2011 everyone is encouraged to participate in the “TT Countdown to Zero” Campaign and to adopt a personal mantra for this campaign and that is: I Count, I Matter, I Make a Difference!" 

Guyana election results slow, candidate for governing party takes lead

Dr Steve Surujbally, head of Guyana Election Commission

The presidential candidate for the governing People's Progressive Party coalition in Guyana is in the lead after lagging behind the main opposition candidate as results trickled in for Monday's national election.

Early results suggested the opposition coalition - A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) - was ahead. However as more results came in it became clear that the PPP candidate was ahead and is now likely to be declared the winner.

With just over 30 per cent of the votes counted so far, the PPP/C has amassed 68,424 votes to the APNU’s 63,924.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has 15,824 and The United Force (TUF) had 484.

The Organisation of American States (OAS), which sent an observe team to monitor the election, has urged political parties to be patient and not to release unofficial results.

“Credible and timely results are the cornerstone of any electoral process and the only official results are those released by the duly constituted electoral authority,” said Professor Gordon Shirley, Chief of Mission for the OAS Electoral Observation Mission.

“Releasing unconfirmed and unverified election results may lead to confusion among electors and party supporters and are not constructive.”

Commission Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has appealed for calm.

“I call on the leaders of the contesting parties with whom I’ve been in dialogue not to engage in anything which could generate tension, unease or even fear in our normally peaceful society,” he said.

“I appeal to all Guyanese individually and collectively not to speak or act in any inciting manner that would cause others to react with hostility nor should anyone react to any speech or action which might carry the intent of provoking hostile reactions.”

Caricom’s 19-member Observer Mission said in its preliminary report that Monday’s poll was fair and peaceful.

“The Mission’s assessment of Election Day is that the people of Guyana were given the opportunity under good conditions to elect a government,” Caricom said in a statement.

“The officials remained calm and focused and the observation is that the process was transparent and in those circumstances electors were able to give free expressions of their feelings when casting their ballots.”

Guyana has a parliamentary system, under which the majority party's candidate assumes the presidency. The PPP is backed mainly by the Indo-Guyanese community.

The main challenger is A Partnership for National Unity, which groups the People's National Congress with several smaller parties and is supported largely by Afro-Guyanese voters.

Bharrat Jagdeo, who served two terms as leader of the country, was not eligible to seek re-election.

Airlines condemn UK gov't for 10% rise in Air Passenger Duty

British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic on Wednesday condemned a decision by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD) by 10 per cent from April 2012.

The duty means the cost of air travel from the UK to the Caribbean could rise further next year. 

The British government wants to generate about £2.6 billion (TT26 billion) from the APD in 2011/12, up from £2.2 billion during the previous financial year. The figure will increase to £2.8 billion (TT$28 billion) in 2012/13.

In a joint statement, the airlines said, “By increasing this tax by double the rate of inflation, he (Chancellor George Osborne) is further deterring inbound tourism and foreign investment, and choking off yet more job opportunities for young people.”

The Treasury said in its Autumn Statement that the tax would increase on April 1, 2012 as was previously announced. Owners of private aircraft will have to start paying the APD one year later in April 2013.

The Caribbean has lobbied the British government for a break on the tax. Reports suggest that the region could still get a reprieve when the Treasury department addresses possible changes to APD’s contentious banding system next Tuesday, under which the rate is calculated.

Regional governments and industry partners have argued that the system favours other destinations like the United States.

Caribbean Tourism Organisation and other groups have asked been lobbying the British government to adjust or scrap the travel tax, stating that it discriminates against the Caribbean and its Diaspora in the UK.

Hans Hanoomansingh named to committee on Heritage Tourism

Media icon and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Radio 104FM, Hans Hanoomansingh, has been named as a member of a special Advisory Commission on heritage tourism for Trinidad & Tobago.

The 16-member committee will advise the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Development Company Limited on the development and implementation of a comprehensive Heritage Tourism Program.

The chairman of the committee is Dr. Kumar Mahabir of the University of the West Indies. Other committee members are:

• Hans Hanoomansingh - Chief Executive Officer Heritage Radio 104FM
• Rawle Mitchell - Head Restoration Unit, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure
• Shamshu Deen - Council of the National Trust
• Louis B. Homer - Historian
• Pearl Eintou Spinger - Emancipation Support Committee
• Abraham Ali - President San Juan Business Association
• Carlyle Dick - Technical Advisor to the Minister of Tobago Development
• Sherma Mac Dougall Williams - Product Development & Destination Manager, Tobago House of Assembly
• Dr. Leslie Ann Jordan-Miller - University of the West Indies
• Primnath Gooptar - Sugar Heritage Village and Museum Project
• Ricardo Bharath Hernandez - Santa Rosa First People Carib Community
• Clyde Albert Allum - Chinese Association of Trinidad and Tobago
• Pundit Jeevan Changoor Maharaj - Inter Religious Organisation
• Andy Whitwell - Trinidad and Tobago In-Coming Tour Operators’ Association
• Dr. Krishendaye Rampersad - Trinidad and Tobago National Commission for UNESCO

AG Ramlogan says authorities working 'around the clock' on charges for detainees

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said on Tuesday the government of Trinidad & Tobago is working "around the clock" to establish a case before Monday to charge people being held on detention orders.

The State of Emergency ends on Monday and those held under emergency orders would have to be released if the authorities cannot charge them.

Ramlogan told reporters there is much work to be done before the emergency ends and declined speculation on what might happen if charges are not laid against detainees by then.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it," Ramlogan said. “The police have to do their work (and) the challenge now is for us to gather the various parts of the jigsaw puzzle and see whether or not you can put together a case that will satisfy the legal requirements for the DPP to proffer charges.”

Ramlogan said that was a matter “entirely for the security agencies and they are working ‘round-the-clock and trying their very best.”

He said he is doing “all that is necessary and required to ensure the interest of justice will be served.”

Ramlogan also dismissed suggestions from opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds that government's moves are creating religious friction between Hindus and Muslims.

Hinds told the Senate Muslims are “concerned about the bad impression and the tarnished image the Prime Minister has put on the Muslim community.” Hinds said, based on the arguments on several radio talk shows, “people are beginning to divide themselves along Muslim/Hindu lines in T&T.”

Ramlogan said any move “to inject passions of race and religion in the affairs of national security will be reckless and dangerous.”

He said the law enforcement agencies were operating on the basis of intelligence presented to them and are not driven by anything to do with race or religion.

Ramlogan said T&T has had a rich and proud history of managing “diversity and any extremist and fundamentalist sects within our country.”

More Detention Orders served in connection with assassination plot

The State has now served Detention Orders for 12 people who have been identified in being involved in a plot to kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three senior Cabinet ministers.

Seven of them have been identified as assassins and the five others are named as being involved in a plot to destabilise Trinidad and Tobago and cause major panic. It is expected that the 13th person being held will also be served a Detention Order by Wednesday.

Media reports say law enforcement authorities are questioning another person who was held in east Port-of-Spain.

The 12 person who have been served Detention Orders are being held at the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca. 

The Trinidad Guardian reported Wednesday that senior investigators have expressed doubt whether criminal charges could in fact be laid against those detained.

The paper said investigators are hoping they could obtain "tangible evidence" to lay charges before the state of emergency expires on Monday. 

The Guardian quoted a senior investigator as saying, "We believe we have the people we need at this point...there may be other people who can help us and we will be looking for them.” 

The list of detainees:

1. Selwyn Alexis, also known as “Robocop”
2. Yohann Cruickshank, also called “Wally”
3. David Millard, also known as “Buffy”
4. Andy Brown, also called “Sudan”
5. Police Sergeant Earl Elie. He was last assigned to the St Clair Police Station
6. William Taylor, also known as “Billy”
7. Bryan Barrington, also called “Soldier Barry”. Barrington is a former member of the Defence Force and was dishonourably discharged from the service 
8. Khalil Karamath, the son of late contractor Hafeez Karamath 
9. Shane Crawford, also called “Asadullah”
10. Milton Algernon, also called Fareed Mustapha 
11. Chionesu Luqman, also called Asim Cuffie, and also called Salim Luqman
12. Ashmeed Choate, an Islamic scholar, of Craignish Road, Princes Town

Calls for Manning explain his reference to "abrupt end" to government's siege of T&T

National Security Minister John Sandy wants Patrick Manning to clarify his statement that there will be an "abrupt end" to the siege imposed by this Government.

The minister told reporters Tuesday, "I would be much more comfortable if he clarifies it."

Sandy referred to the word "abrupt" and said "I thought that he (Manning) might want to elaborate on what he meant by that. So perhaps when you see him you can ask him", he said.

Reporters asked the minister if he felt the statement was threatening to which sandy replied: "It depends on how you look at it. I try to look at things impartially. So I say 'okay, he could probably mean the end of the State of Emergency, or it could probably mean that he has information'. If he has information, I invite him to share it with the police."

Attorney General saw he believes statements by the former Prime Minister have more to do with the "fierce internal political battle" between himself and Opposition Leader Keith Rowley.

He said both men are trying to "outpunch" each other with each of them have "tit-for-tat press conferences".

Ramlogan said Manning has still not explained who is "Mr Big" and he has not yet explained whether he had prior knowledge of the 1990 attempted coup.

Manning is on record as saying he knows the criminal kingpin whom he called "Mr Big" and he is also on record as saying after the storming of the Parliament in 1990 that what was going on was "a family squabble". During his two terms as Prime Minister he refused to set up an inquiry into the coup attempt.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar set up the coup inquiry shortly after taking office.

And she too appears to be concerned about Manning's statement and has also asked the San Fernando East MP to explain what he meant by declaring that the Government “will be brought to an abrupt end”.

Speaking at a party event on Monday night at the Rienzi Comple, she asked: “What is his plot? What is he planning?”

Persad-Bissessar posed the question in reference to a media release inviting reporters to a news conference at on Saturday to respond to the assassination plot against the Prime Minister and three Cabinet ministers.

The invitation's headline was: “In defence of a nation under siege.”

It stated: “The information provided at this press conference will shed new light on what is taking place in Trinidad and Tobago. The siege which has been epitomised by the present government will be brought to an abrupt and long overdue end.”

Islamic leader wants dialogue with government, says arrest of Muslims unwarranted

http://waajiahtulislaamiyyah.blogspot.com/

The leader of a group known as the Islamic Front said yesterday he will do "whatever it takes" to deal with what he called the "unwarranted arrests" of four Muslims in connection with assassination plot against the Prime Minister and some top cabinet members.

Umar Abdullah also said in a statement that he is ready for dialogue with the government.

Abdullah was questioned by police in 2009 after he made threats against the Patrick Manning-led government for hosting of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain.

The statement condemned the arrests of Ashmeed Choate, Selwyn "Robocop" Alexis, Chionesu Luqman (also called "Asim Cuffie" and "Salim Luqman"), Shane "Asadullah" Crawford, and nine others.

Police took the men into custody as official news came out about the assassination threat. Official sources said an "extremist religious group", along with a number of retired national security personnel, behind the alleged assassination plot.

Abdullah said the government does not have sufficient grounds to have arrested the men or to keep them in custody.

"Waajihatul Islaamiyyah, (The Islamic Front), strongly condemns the decisions and actions of the PP (People's Partnership) Government within recent times, in relation to our freedoms and is sending a clear message to this Kamla Administration that they took an uncalculated risk in detaining the 14 men whom they accused of being part of an elaborate plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and some of her Ministers," Abdullah stated.

"We are now calling on the immediate release of all 14 brothers, including those against whom detention orders were made. If our demands are not addressed it's only obvious that the PP Government would make matters more complicated for themselves."

Abdullah said Alexis had been arrested before and was later freed because of false evidence being given by the State's main witness. Alexis also said he was coerced by the police, Abdullah said, adding that it is now only "natural" that the police would try to frame Alexis.

Choate is the principal of the Darul Qur'an Wal Hadith Islamic School in Freeport. Abdullah said last week he was "puzzled" that a scholar like Choate was a suspect.

And he issued what appeared to be a warning: "Please be advised, we are prepared to do whatever it takes to properly deal with these matters."

"These are the issues that will stand on the threshold between this PP government and Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front). These are the issues that will determine our relationship in the coming months. These are the issues that will either make or break the PP Government."

Abdullah also heaped scorn on national security Minister John Sandy."Our question to you minister Sandy, are you a puppet?"

He also suggested that the Prime Minister's leadership is deficient because of her gender. "She has also displayed qualities showing where women don't have the calibre to lead but rather to make bacchanal and in this twin island state she has represented herself as an embarrassment to our women."

PM Kamla launches Children's Life Fund Wednesday

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is scheduled to formally launch the Children's Life Fund on Wednesday afternoon at the Trinidad Hilton.

The fund is one of Persad-Bissessar's landmark projects to which she contributes ten per cent of her salary each month. Members of cabinet donate five per cent of their ministerial incomes.

Since the launch of the fund several organisations have made collections and handed over cheques for the fund. The latest donation of $20,000 came last week from the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (APS) of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Children's Life Fund was created to provide funding and critical support specifically for children needing life saving, tertiary-level health care services.

The Prime Minister launched the fund in August 2010 and made a point of highlighting the fund during her address to the UN General Assembly 2010.

"It is our belief that children must not die in the dawn of life in my country - or in any other country - because they cannot afford health care," she told delegates.

"There must be new arrangements and relationships between countries that have advanced medical technology and those without so that children and vulnerable groups of the poorest nations can grow as healthy human beings and achieve their full potential.

"It is only when this is done that the world will progress. We have a duty to the future. It will be measured by how we fulfill our responsibilities today...

"Our goal is to raise $100 million in the Life Fund geared towards helping families with children in need of life-saving surgeries. That fund is to be administered by an independent board.

"Private sector incentives will also be established to encourage contributions to the LIFE Fund and partnership arrangements involving foreign specialist hospitals, aimed at increasing knowledge and technology in the local health sector, are to be established."

Earlier in the day, Persad-Bissessar will distribute HDC houses at a function at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain.

New traffic plans take effect Monday to ease congestion

File photo

Jack Warner unveiled a new traffic plan to ease congestion in some of Trinidad and Tobago's busiest areas. The plan takes effect Monday.

The Minister of Works and Infrastructure people have expressed deep frustration with traffic problems caused by an ever-increasing motoring public.
"Over the last few weeks and months the traffic situation in the country has become chaotic it has become chaotic for a multiplicity of reasons one of which is the lack of enforcement," the minister said.

Warner also said there is a lack of creativity and innovation in dealing with the problem.

He said the new traffic plans are based on several studies and analysis conducted over the past few months.

"Arima, Port of Spain, Chaguanas, San Fernando, St. Joseph, Curepe, Princes Town, Siparia and Penal and what we have come up with are plans that we believe will alleviate traffic congestion in those areas," he declared.

He added that a team from his Ministry will hold consultations about the new traffic plans with the various Borough and Regional Corporations. 

He also made it clear that the plans are not cast in stone and will be reviewed after a three-month experimental period.

URP gets involved in food production with launch of Agriculture Now program

The Ministry of Food Production on Tuesday launched a new project to engage workers from the Unemployment Relief Program (URP) in the agricultural sector to boost production.

The Agriculture Now program will touch farms across T&T. 

In launching it at the La Pastora Propagation Plant, Santa Cruz, Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath said it serves the dual purpose of increasing the human resources for the agricultural sector while employing thousands of workers. 

Bharath said the Agriculture Now is a constructive program that would provide value for the investment.

The programme has four components; training, provision of skilled labour for large farms, maintenance work at La Pastora and Queen’s Park Oval and maintenance of ministry’s infrastructure. 

“We want you to be in a position that if you decide to be self-sufficient subsequent to the programme, you will be able to do so,” Bharath told Bharath said the first group of 32 trainees, who were selected from Laventille West, Mt Hope, St Ann’s East, San Juan and Barataria.

The workers will receive $69 a day during three-month training programme for seven hours of work. They would get $150 a day when the training is completed.

The minister said said the project will contribute to food security and allow people to develop life skills through working on the large farms. He urged the trainees to look to a future when they can become entrepreneurs with their own farms.

UNC condemns opposition, stands firmly behind PM and government

The United National Congress (UNC) said on Tuesday it views with deep concern the continuing attempts "to prevent the democratically elected People's Partnership government from fulfilling its mandate for the good governance of the country."

In a statement posted on the party's website and signed by its acting CEO Dr Andy Ali, the party said the plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and some members of her cabinet must be condemned and denounced in the most forceful manner. 

And it congratulated and commended the Protective Services for the speed with which they have worked to apprehend certain persons who are considered to be associated with this plot.

It added, "We now urge that the full force of the law will be applied and that justice will be served, especially given the risk to national security and the stability of the nation as a result of this threat."

The party said it was disappointed by the approach of the Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley and the PNM in their treatment of the matter. Both men have dismissed it as an act of political expediency to give the government an excuse to extend the State of Emergency, which is due to end on Monday.

The UNC noted that Persad-Bissessar acted "in the highest traditions associated with good governance and respect for the Opposition" by openly and publicly inviting the Leader of the Opposition to be briefed by the Police on this matter. 

"This kind of openness in the face of threats to national security has not been a feature of governance under the PNM. The Prime Minister has set new standards for the Nation by her directive to have the opposition fully briefed by the Police," the statement said.

"The attempts to trivialize what is a most delicate national matter by the Opposition shows that they are more concerned with the acquisition of power and would have no regrets if the stability of the nation is compromised," it added. 

The UNC strongly condemned the attitude of the PNM saying it erodes the very nature of democracy and the traditions associated with it. 

"We note that the very opposition which had been asking to be informed now chooses to reject the authoritative briefing of the Police.

"We note that these threats and the negative attitude of the Opposition come at a time when the Prime Minister and the PP government have begun to make a serious dent in the crime statistics and in the recovery of guns and ammunition and in the seizure of massive quantities of drugs and the destruction of millions of dollars of marijuana," the party said.

The UNC said it remains firmly behind the government and pledged to work with the Protective Services and with the law enforcement agencies to bring to justice "those who cowardly threaten the Prime Minister and the Government".

It urged the law enforcement bodies to take note "of those who are threatening the destabilization of the government and to act so as to ensure that law and order is maintained...

"...We wish to urge all citizens to cast aside narrow partisan allegiances and support the security forces against what is clearly an attack on our democracy and our Prime Minister and Government."

$275M Ganja bust in south Trinidad

File photo of ganja plantation

Police have made a big drug bust in south Trinidad. 

Officers of the South Western Division, Point Fortin CID, the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearm Bureau and the South Western Division Task Force found three marijuana fields during an eradication exercise in the Central Los Bajos forest.

The Trinidad & Tobago Police service (TTPS) said Tuesday the plantations covered three hectares and an estimated 275,000 fully grown trees. They also found 50 kilograms of dried marijuana.

The officers destroyed the drugs, which they say had an estimated street value of $275 million.

Tobago honours Robinson with island's highest award

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has honoured former president Arthur N.R. Robinson with its highest award - the first ever Tobago Medal of Honour.

The presiding officer of the THA Ann Mitchell-Gift presented the award to Robinson Tuesday.

Robinson's political career began in his native Tobago, first as an MP for the People's National Movement (PNM). When he broke with the party he formed his own political movement and in 1976 he and his colleague, Dr Winston Murray, defeated the two PNM candidates from the island.

Robinson went on to lead the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) in a historic landslide victory over the PNM in 1986. During that term the Jamat al Muslimeen tried to overthrow the government, holding Robinson and some cabinet ministers and other MPs hostage at the Red House.

In 1995 he returned to government as the minority partner in the Panday-led UNC-NAR coalition. During that administration Robinson was elected President.

In presenting the awards, Mitchell-Gift said the Tobago Medal of Honour is reserved for individuals whose contribution to the development of Tobago has been exceptional.

The award was established earlier this year in a motion that received unanimous support from the THA.

In accepting the award Robinson said he felt honoured to have been recognised by his fellow Tobagonians for his hard in the development of Tobago and Trinidad and Tobago.

Earlier this the government of Trinidad & Tobago honoured Robinson by renaming the Crown Point airport the ANR Robinson International Airport.

Jackson's doctor sentenced to 4 years for involuntary manslaughter, will serve 2

A judge on Tuesday ordered Conrad Murray be jailed for four years for involuntary manslaughter in the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson.

However sheriff's officials said Jackson's former personal physician will serve a little less than two years. He will be housed in a one-man cell and kept at a distance from other prisoners.

Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, said the doctor's sentence is automatically being cut in half due to state laws.

A jury found Murray guilty earlier this month after a six-week trial.

Judge Michael Pastor said the evidence in the case showed a "continuous pattern of lies and deceit" by the disgraced physician, who grew up in Trinidad, where he got his early education.

The legal teams will be back in court in January 2012 to discuss the prosecution's request for Murray to pay restitution to Jackson's family.

Jackson died on 25 June 2009 from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol. At the time he was rehearsing for a series of comeback performances at the O2 arena in London.

The defence argued that Jackson was a drug addict who caused his own death by giving himself an extra dose of propofol while the cardiologist was out of the room at the star's rented mansion in Los Angeles.

While there is no law against administering propofol, the prosecution's case rested on the argument that Murray was grossly negligent by administering the drug outside a hospital setting and without the proper monitoring equipment.

The prosecution said Murray had abused the trust placed in him by his patient and asked for a four-year sentence.

Detention order names 'Robocop' as plotting to kill PM Kamla

Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis has been named as a person involved in a conspiracy to Kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal and Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma.

National Security Minister John Sandy told reporters on Monday that he obtained legal advice before issuing Detention orders.

However he did not give specific details other than to say four orders have been orders were issued and more will be coming for the other detainees. So far 13 people have been arrested in connection with the plot.

The four people named in separate Detention orders are Alexis, Ashmeed Choate, Shane Crawfowd and Chionesu Luqman. (Read about the 4 in the Express newspaper)

Sandy signed the detention orders for the four men Monday in accordance with the Emergency Powers Regulations 2011.

The detention orders 238, 239, 240, and 241 were gazetted Monday.

Local media said the order for Alexis states that he was arrested and detained to prevent him from “acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety or public order or the defence of Trinidad and Tobago”.

Order 239 for Alexis, states further that he “has been named as a person involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the following government officials, which assassinations were to occur on November 24, 2011.” The order lists the officials are Persad-Bissessar, Ramlogan, Moonilal and Sharma.

The attorney for Alexis will be in court Tuesday to try to win the release of his client.

In addition, attorneys Ravi Rajcoomar and Faris al Rawi, representing Choate, have obtained a writ of habeas corpus compelling the Commissioner of Police to show cause why their client should not be immediately released from custody.

That matter will be heard Tuesday as well.

Lawyers for businessman Khalil Karamath, who was also detained last week, are also expected to go to court Tuesday to seek his freedom. He detention is for seven days and end Wednesday unless the national security minister issues a Detention order for him to remain in custody.

Dana Seetahal is one of the lawyers representing the State in Karamath’s habeas corpus hearing.

St Lucia changes political direction; Anthony back as PM

Kenny Anthony addresses supporters after winning Monday's general election

The St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) made a stunning comeback in general elections Monday, defeating the governing United Workers' Party (UWP) of Stephenson King and returning Kenny Anthony to office after five years.

Preliminary results show that the SLP won 14 of the 17 seats in the Parliament, a gain of eight seats. The UWP won the other three.

Anthony's party was swept out of office in the 2006 election, winning only six of the seats. However it kept up a constant amount of pressure on the government and its efforts paid good dividends Monday.

One of the more controversial issues that dogged the King government was its relationship with Taiwan.

Anthony had always been confident that he would be back. He told St. Lucians the “days ahead will be hard, it will be difficult” and pledged not to send the wrong message with the victory.

“I am afraid there will be no holiday (Tuesday), we will get to work immediately. There is a hard job ahead of all of us and it is important for the sake of this country that we take the right step from now,” he he told supporters in a victory speech.

King had hoped to win a second consecutive term and was clearly disappointed with the result; he did not concede or make another statement Monday night.

Several of his cabinet minister went down to defeat and there are already calls for recounts in some of the close constituencies.

King won his seat comfortably as did Anthony, who urged his supporters to “celebrate quietly whether in their homes (or), their own communities.” He told them from Tuesday they have to "come back to work and start the job of rebuilding our country”.

Guyana election results Wednesday, PPP hoping to retain office

Guyana's governing People's Progressive Party (PPP) is confident that it will remain in office when the results from Monday's elections are declared by Wednesday.

At the close of polls opposition parties charged there were incidents of multiple voting in government strongholds and complained about scuffles outside some voting centers.

Steve Surujbally, chairman of the elections commission, told international media covering the election his agency is looking into several allegations from the opposition. However he called them "very, very, tiny" incidents that would not mar the elections.

"It did not go too badly, but we had some really stupid and nonsensical episodes that we are sorting out," Surujbally told the Associated Press (AP).

Gordon Shirley, head of observers from the Organization of American States (OAS), said turnout appeared very high. By the early afternoon, more than half of the 476,000 eligible voters had cast their ballots, he told AP.

The PPP had been under extreme pressure during the election campaign with the opposition charging that it was corrupt and was in bed with drug lords. 

Economist Donald Ramotar, who is seeking to succeed President Bharrat Jagdeo had pledged continuity. He campaigned on a promise to continue Jagdeo's policies by safeguarding vital mining and agricultural sectors and improving education in Guyana. Jagdeo could not run, having served two terms.

At the close of the polls Ramotar remained confident of another victory by the PPP, which held 36 of 65 seats in the last parliament.

"We have been able to demonstrate that we don't discriminate in our government policies and the resources of the country have been distributed to every single region very fairly," Ramotar told reporters. "We will win bigger this time."

Retired army commander David Granger, the presidential candidate for the Partnership For National Unity (PNC) coalition accused the government of racial discrimination and pledged to set up a national unity government if he wins.

"I look forward to establishing a government which could represent all of the interests of our people," Granger said.

The Alliance For Change party was led by attorney Khemraj Ramjattan, who was was considered a minor player whose role would be to take votes from the two main candidates.

"We have to change this system of indecent governance and eliminate the rising tide of corruption in the country," Ramjattan said after voting.

Plotters had chosen Nov. 24 as the day to carry out assassination plot: Sandy

National Security Minister John Sandy told reporters on Monday, November 24 - last Thursday - was the date the plotters had scheduled to execute their plan to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three senior cabinet ministers: Anand Ramlogan, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, and Chandresh Sharma.

Sandy spoke at a media conference at the National Security ministry.

He confirmed that Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs told him about the plot on November 18 while he was chairing a hemispheric security meeting at the Hyatt hotel in port of Spain.

"This plot to undermine the security and stability of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was to be executed on the 24th of November. Twenty fourth being a significant date in the political successes of the Prime Minister," Sandy stated.

"As a consequence, the Prime Minister was immediately alerted and briefed on the said afternoon, 18th of November, by senior members of law enforcement. Further gathering of intelligence over the five days following the initial report led to the arrest and detention of 13 individuals."

Sandy confirmed that he received legal advice to issue Detention Orders against four of them: a gang leader from Central Trinidad, a serving Police Sergeant, a businessman, and a former soldier. He said more such orders will soon be issued.

The minister added: “By the end of the state of emergency we should have enough information against the suspects. If not they will have to be released. Investigations are still continuing.”

Sandy said he was saddened to learn that former soldiers have been implicated in the plot. "As a former soldier, it grieves one to try to understand, here we have someone who has pledged to serve the State, to give his life to the State and is alleged to be involved in other activities against the State."

Sandy stated that in his opinion the Prime Minister did the right thing by speaking about the plot since all kinds of rumours about a planned coup were already in circulation.

He also confirmed that the CIA and MI6 are working alongside local law enforcement in investigating the plot.

Ramesh says PM did not act properly in revealing plot; Panday disagrees

Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj believes the government should have kept a lid on the plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and some of her senior ministers instead of making a public statement about it.

However the National security minister, and a former minister, do not share the views of Maharaj, who is a former Attorney General.

John Sandy told reporters Monday it was the right thing to do because there were all kinds of rumours circulating about an imminent coup.

Maharaj said the public announcement of the alleged plot has caused some people to doubt if there really was such a plot. 

"If there were such evidence, every effort must be put in place for them to be caught in the act of trying to carry out the plot," Maharaj told the state television service, CNMG. 

"Why, if there was such a plot, the perpetrators were allowed to get away? That is why, I think, there may be a lot of disbelief among sections of the community as to whether there was a plot or not," he added.

Maharaj suggested that the Government should adopt a more strategic approach to national security matters.

"If they had information about a plot, then obviously it is a serious matter and it should not be a public relations exercise at that time. It should be a law enforcement operation and that is how, I think, Government operates and should operate," he stated.

However, Subhas Panday, who served as a minister in the national security minister with Sandy said on CNMG's morning program First Up that it would be premature to judge the Prime Minister's decision without knowing all the facts.

"My view is the Prime Minister was right in sensitizing the public on the matter. It is open Government, it is transparent Government. They are not hiding it and the Prime Minister made the point, if you don't like it, then you have a time in 2015," he said.

Panday said it is obvious that the choice to alert the nation was a political issue and that it was done in the best interest of citizens.

"If you have information, but it cannot be used as evidence and that information is about the assassination of the Prime Minister, action should be taken immediately.

"The Prime Minister in her wisdom probably thought it was an occasion to alert the public so you don't wait until the matter happens for example like Benazir Bhutto, or, in our own situation in 1990 when we had the information, we sat on it and we lost Leo Des Vignes," Panday said.

UNC official slams Rowley, Manning for "callous" remarks about assassination plot

The International Relations Officer of the United National Congress (UNC) said on Monday he is deeply disappointed with remarks made by Opposition Leader Keith Rowley and former Prime Minister Patrick Manning with respect to the assassination plot against the prime minister and three members of cabinet.

In a media statement, Shane Mohammed noted Rowley's characterisation of the plot "as hysterical political expediency and a motive to extend the State of Emergency." 

Mohammed noted that the government does not need a public spectacle to make a case for extending the emergency since it has the required majority to pass any extension.

He said Rowley's remarks were "most unfortunate" and reflect his callous disregard for human life. 

"As experienced members of Parliament, both Mr. Rowley and Mr. Manning should be more aware and mindful of the traumatic and negative effect the events of 1990 had on not only the international image but also “us” as a people; and the possible negative outcome had the planned assassination been left unaddressed," Mohammed stated.

He added, "Dr Rowley as a citizen, who aspires to be the Prime Minister of the Republic, should be reminded that his thoughts and remarks regarding the safety and security of his colleagues were reckless, without basis and disrespectful to the preservation of life despite political differences."

With respect to Manning, Mohammed said the comment that he had a “good laugh” shows why he no longer "sits as Leader of the PNM and Head of the Government". 

He said during his tenure as head of government Manning demonstrated a careless lack of regard for human life. 

"Mr. Manning remarks are reminiscent of his previous remarks on loss of human life as “collateral damage”, a remark that began his decent from the office of the Prime Minister and possibly on this occasion his exit from the House of Parliament," the UNC official declared.

"These statements and views show little difference between Mr. Manning and Mr. Rowley but instead highlight their inability to be politically mature and be true leaders of a diverse and cosmopolitan society that is Trinidad and Tobago," Mohammed stated.

He pledged to "stand in solidarity" with the Prime Minister and the Government "in their fearless determination to rid Trinidad and Tobago from criminal activity that threatens the democracy that we harmoniously live in."

Rowley not changing his mind about assassination plot

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is standing firm on his position that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar overplayed the situation involving an alleged plot to kill her and three top cabinet members.

Rowley has faced severe criticism since his statements on Friday. Rowley told the Express newspaper he is not questioning the fact that the Police are investigating the matter. "I never doubted that the Police were conducting an investigation," he said.

However he said his point has been and remains that he is not convinced that the Prime Minister became a target because of her crackdown on criminals through the State of Emergency.

"Having been told of a threat that is being investigated, she immediately converted it into a political diatribe of justification for an emergency which had not yet been properly explained," Rowley told the paper.

"I have not heard a police officer...come out and say that," he said.

Rowley insisted that police did not give him any "secret information" when he met with them on Friday on instructions from the Prime Minister.

"The information given to me by the Police as to the basis for this arrival at an assassination plot was largely information that was already in the public domain," he said. 

He wanted to know how the Prime Minister concluded that she was the target because she disrupted people's drug trade and she is hitting them in their pockets.

Letter: Does Rowley want to see PM's corpse to be convinced?

Murder conviction usually requires a corpse.

Now, to be convinced that an assassination plot ever existed, it seems that only a dead PM would convince Rowley and cohorts.

The early intelligence response may have compromised eventual conviction, but it has saved the life of the Prime Minister by removing the players from free circulation and aborting their plot.

Cynicism has been spawned in a nation long suffering under PNM administrative abuse. 

Manning’s paranoia and seclusion from traditional security, staff and cuisine catering were assented to by media acquiescence despite the non-lethal threats he faced as the norm in his current view. These threats were known only to him and spouse and dealt with by hyper expenditure at national expense insulting his fellow citizens in service.

The current threat was not a figment of the PM’s brain, but a product of Police and National Security surveillance and was imminent on a date significant to her career. 

Had the SoE not existed at that time, it would have been necessary to declare one to deal with the threat preemptively, since the countdown clock was ticking away and hard evidence not yet assembled for conventional arrests.

When Robocop was originally detained at his luxury apartment, dangerous clues were reportedly found plastered on his walls suggesting political targets. It is very likely that investigations were immediately triggered and his release was to permit his continued contacts to be surveyed by available high tech means.

The idea that the assassination plot is payback by drug lords is not the only possibility. 

The number of “Muslims” corralled suggests that this is a religious strike by fundamentalists, not against a Hindu hierarchy as suggested, but against a WOMAN PRIME MINISTER the concept of which is anathema to certain radical “Muslims” who find it intolerable to endure. 

The Taliban is infamous for its repression of women as are several “Muslim” clerics in Islamic theocracies. Islam has been perverted in the worst of ways globally and our TT radicals must be equally confronted.

If the intel is correct and the master mind as identified, the plot may have jelled now because the SoE offered a new window of opportunity to perpetrate the act.

The cynicism of Rowley and Company is political and the PM’s passing simply regrettable in their worldview. 

That Islamic Fundamentalism would have entered a new dimension here with horrendous repercussions does not impress them. Nothing in Abu Bakr’s adventure could compare to what we have been presented today.

The nation should take this threat very seriously. The 1983 bombings remain significant as does the burning down of the Empire cinema for showing Entebbe.

MF Rahman

Arima bridge has not collapsed; Jack calls report of collapse 'political mischief'

Jack Warner on Monday accused former Arima MP Pennelope Beckles of "political mischief" with respect to reports of the collapse of a bridge on Arima.

Media reports Sunday said the newly built $20 million bridge had collapsed. However Warner called a media conference Monday at which he said it was a lie. And he produced new pictures taken by officials of his ministry to show that the bridge is standing.

He said the attack on his ministry by Beckles, who is now a PNM Senator, is "shameful and misleading".

A visibly upset Warner stated: "It is wrong, it is wrong to deliberately mislead the population." 

He said he intends to write the press council and send the relevant pictures "to show this because what has transpired on a TV newscast last night (Sunday) should never happen again."

He added, "I challenge any one of you to go to Arima by the Mt Pleasant bridge and see for yourself. What you will see is the bridge fully intact and a little more than one hundred metres from the bridge, the road has collapsed."

Warner said there are many reasons to explain why the road collapsed, most notable of which is a burst waster main that undermined the land.

He also said that the land is shifting to the river, two houses are threatened and "we are trying to have them relocated."