Highway Reroute activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh is perturbed by Government's insistence to restart the collapsed Solomon Hochoy highway extension by completing the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment ahead of the others.

The highway once pegged at $7.5 billion has three segments- Golconda to Debe (completed), Debe to San Francique/Siparia Road and Delhi Road (Fyzabad) and Delhi Road to Southern Main Road at Vance River  to Dunlop Roundabout, Point Fortin.

It is the second alignment which runs through 13 populated villages in Mon Desir that Dr Kublalsingh and the Highway Reroute Movement have been contesting.

During a press conference held at the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Paramount Headquarters in San Fernando on Friday, Dr Kublalsingh said he was preparing to wage war against Parliament if  Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley does not make good on his promise to meet with them.

He said the HRM has made over 70 attempts to meet with Dr Rowley and although the Prime Minister agreed to meet with them on two occasions, the meetings were cancelled at the last moment and were never rescheduled.

Kublalsingh called for a full-scale independent audit of the collapsed highway project. He said following Dr Rowley's announcement last week that construction of the highway will restart by the end of March or early April once contractors place their bids, the HRM has been concerned.

Saying the announcement was like rubbing salt in their wounds, Kublalsingh said, " We will be looking carefully at Parliament to see whether it is a revolving door for corruption. It seems Parliament is an affliction to the people and we will have to deconstruct it."

Read more about Dr Kublalsingh's plans to dismantle governments plans for the highway in tomorrow's Guardian.

Highway Reroute activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh is perturbed by Government’s insistence to restart the collapsed Solomon Hochoy Highway extension by completing the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment ahead of the others.

The highway, once pegged at $7.5 billion, has several alignments- Golconda to Debe (completed), Debe to San Francique/Siparia Road and Delhi Road (Fyzabad) and Delhi Road to Southern Main Road at Vance River to Dunlop Roundabout, Point Fortin.

It is the second alignment which runs through 13 populated villages in San Francique to Mon Desir that Dr Kublalsingh and the Highway Reroute Movement have been contesting.

During a press conference held at the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Paramount Headquarters in San Fernando yesterday, Kublalsingh said he was preparing to wage war against Parliament if Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley does not make good on his promise to meet with them.

He said the HRM has made over 70 attempts to meet with Rowley and although the Prime Minister agreed to meet with them on two occasions, the meetings were cancelled at the last moment and were never rescheduled.

Kublalsingh called for a full-scale independent audit of the collapsed highway project.

He said following Rowley’s announcement last week that construction of the highway will restart by the end of March or early April once contractors place their bids, the HRM has been concerned. Saying the announcement was like rubbing salt in their wounds, Kublalsingh said: “We will be looking carefully at Parliament to see whether it is a revolving door for corruption.

“It seems Parliament is an affliction to the people and we will have to deconstruct it.”

He called on government to focus on completing the San Fernando to Point Fortin segment and leave the segment which runs through the communities until a proper hydrological study and cost benefit analysis are done.

“The segment from Debe through Mon Desir is running through 13 communities and will have significant impact on our ecology. We have nine miles of highway cutting through 150 homes, 119 farms , mosques temples and churches. It is disasterous to our food economy,” Kublalsingh said.

Saying government must not proceed until substantiative studies are done, Kublalsingh said: “I don’t want to warn the Prime Minister because he is a man of science...a geologist and he ought to have better sense.

“I want to ask him to meet with us because we have been struggling for over 15 years through successive governments and we have never lost.”

Political leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah said the Government was no longer tied to contractural obligations with OAS Construtora so it should carefully consider the HRM’s position before proceeding further with the Debe to Mon Desir segment.

“The wise and proper thing to do is to not proceed with this segment,” Abdulah said.

Officials RBC Royal Bank remained tight-lipped yesterday about how many workers have been offered VSEP and voluntary early retirement packages by the bank.

In confirming the moves to reduce staff on Thursday, RBC officials had said the changes being made are in keeping with the bank’s strategic plan, which also includes merging the operations at its Chaguaramas and Westmoorings branches, Carlton Centre with the High Street, San Fernando branch and consolidating operations at Point Lisas with the Couva branch.

Some customers are already expressing concern about the planned changes. Several business owners at the Carlton Centre Shopping Complex said the branch located there brings customers to their stores. Susan Bissessar, who operates a clothing shop near the bank, said it is convenient to do transactions at the bank.

“Whenever we need petty cash, we can go right over. This bank caters for a lot of people and we are surprised that it will now be relocated,” she said.

RBC customer Jaahad Duprey said businesses will face even more hardships once the bank closes its doors.

“Lots of people come here to do business and it will be inconvenient for people to use the other branches,” he said.

Bank officials declined to comment saying they were not authorised to speak. A source said, however, that VIP bank customers will have to do business in Gulf City as those services are not available at the High Street branch. VIP customer Robert Crichlow said he was very unhappy with the move.

“I am accustomed to Carlton Centre and now I will have to face the chaos in Gulf City because the VIP has gone to that location. I do not understand this move because it is going to impact negatively on the workers,” Crichlow said.

A source said there are more than 30 employees at RBC’s High Street branch some of whom have been offered VSEP.

In response to questions from the T&T Guardian, Republic Bank Limited (RBL) managing director Nigel Baptiste said there are no plans to retrench workers. He said the bank’s focus in a challenging economic environment will continue to be on efficiency and service.

In emailed responses, Baptiste assured that RBL’s future “is intertwined with the economy so we will do our best to contribute to its early recovery through support of business with growth potential, guidance to businesses that need restructuring, focus on expanding the range of alternative channels available to all and self-improvement.”

He said in a recession companies need to ensure there is communication with stakeholders, including employees, about their strategic plans for the future.

Baptiste added: “There is a need for shared responsibility and mutual respect in finding solutions to the various challenges that confront us. The economy has survived previous recessions and if we work together, we will all survive this one as well.”

Approached for comment, the Bankers’ Association of T&T said it is “not privy to the individual banks’ internal matters and as such, we do not comment on their internal matters. Any specific internal issue relating to any particular bank should be directed to its respective communications department.”

Vincent Cabrera, president of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union said the union does not have legal status to represent workers at RBC. He said for five years the union has been waiting on approval to be a recognised union.

“The bank, over the last five years, has reduced the workforce by over 1000 workers and they are attempting now to do that again,” he said.

Cabrera said due to retrenchment trends in the economy, the union would be making a statement on the matter shortly.

Police are yet to decide whether they will charge a 32-year-old mother of seven with motor manslaughter, after she knocked down a pensioner with her vehicle while reversing from the compound of a Chinese supermarket at St Margaret’s Junction, last Wednesday.

Relatives of Ramraj Ramrattan, 70, of Kalpoo Avenue, said the woman was rushing to take her child to the health centre after he got a cut in his hand and did not see Ramrattan in front the supermarket.

In a statement to police, the driver said Ramrattan was lying down on the ground at the front entrance of Daishesheng Supermarket around 7:50 am, when she reversed and came into contact with him. When pedestrians began shouting to her to stop, the woman put her car in forward gear and rolled over Ramrattan a second time.

Witnesses filmed the horrific accident as Ramrattan lay unconscious under the car. Eight men from the area later lifted the vehicle off of him. Ramrattan was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died at 1:30 pm on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Guardian after his funeral service yesterday at the Mosquito Creek Shore of Peace, a close relative denied he was intoxicated when the accident occurred.

“They saying he was drunk and sleeping in front of the supermarket but it is 11 years now that he stopped drinking,” the relative said. She explained that Ramrattan’s wife, Dolly, died last year and since then, “He was a handyman and he was always on the road. Everyone knew him. He liked to stay alone but he never disrespected anyone.” Another relative said Ramrattan loved children and did not support corporal punishment.

Relatives said they were awaiting the conclusion of the police investigation so that the driver could be charged.

Cpl Bacchus of the St Margaret’s Police Station are investigating.

While waiting for his girlfriend’s mother to prepare a birthday lunch for him, off shore worker Damian Simmons decided to pay a quick visit to his mother’s house. However, this decision cost him his life.

While on his way to her home at Union Park East Extension around 1 pm yesterday, a gunman opened fire on Simmons at St James Street, Marabella, shooting him on the head and back. He died instantly. Police said it was possible that Simmons may have been lured to his death and then robbed.

Speaking at the crime scene yesterday, Simmon’s pregnant girlfriend, Megan Sanchez, said she did not know who wanted him dead.

“He was at home good all the time and then he got a phone call. I heard him say ‘Dawg, ah coming’ and then he left. It was only an hour later that I saw on WhatsApp that he died,” Meagan said, clutching her belly and sobbing silently. She said none of Simmons relatives had the courtesy to inform her that he had died.

Saying that Simmons was looking forward to the birth of his daughter, Megan said it was possible that Simmons was robbed and killed. She said he was wearing a thick expensive gold chain before he left home but this was missing when the police found the body. His wallet containing his ID card, drivers permit and bank cards was recovered and handed to relatives. Meagan said Simmons was not afraid of anyone and did not have enemies.

“He had a good job as an offshore worker with Massy. He was a good man and I don’t know what I will do now that he is gone,” Megan said. She added that Simmons had been living with her for two years but they were never married. He had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship.

Meagan’s mother Ann Marie Sanchez said Simmons celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday and wanted to eat callaloo, baked chicken and potato pie.

“I had already made the callaloo and pie and he was waiting for the chicken when he got the call,” Ann Marie said. She described Simmons as a hard worker who never had any issues with others. Just before his death, Simmons posted a photo of himself and three friends on Facebook.

“This has us shaken up because we do not know why anyone would want to kill him,” Ann Marie said. Police recovered four spent shells and two live rounds of ammunition on the crime scene.

The body was viewed by a District Medical Officer and then taken to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy will be done today.

Panicked after a gunman shot his teenaged brother and then fired at him, a horrified Nathaniel Roberts saw a ray of hope when a marked police car came up towards them on a dark empty street in San Fernando on Saturday.

But instead of turning on the siren and attempting to apprehend the gunman, Roberts said the two police officers stayed in the vehicle almost as if they were afraid to respond to the gunfire, while the gunman and his friend fled through a track near Rushworth Street.

Roberts’ brother Anfernie Hamilton, 19, of Sunflower Avenue, Pleasantville died from the bullet which severed a main artery in his left leg. Up to late yesterday, police were searching for two suspects from San Fernando.

During an interview yesterday, Roberts and his mother Phillipa Ancilla -Roberts called on acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to investigate why the officers failed to assist the brothers.

Saying Hamilton’s life could have been spared if the police had acted swiftly, Roberts said he was hurt and disappointed by the poor response.

“The police saw the man shooting at us and I had to pelt a cup to defend my brother while he lay bleeding on the ground.  The police stood there looking on. The gunman was backing back towards the police vehicle and shooting and when he realised the police was there they ran down a track behind a Chinee shop on Rushworth Street,” Roberts said.

Recalling the incident, Roberts said they were liming at a bar with three girls when a man whom he knew came up to him and deliberately bounced him on the shoulder. 

“I knew him because he lives by my child mother but he and I don’t have anything. Whatever disagreement we had four years ago, we patch that up. Those fellas were drinking and the alcohol was in their head so they were looking for bacchanal thing because they had their piece (gun) on them,” Roberts said. 

To avoid a confrontation, Roberts said he advised his younger brother to leave the bar and they started walking up Cipero Street. The assailant and his friend followed and Roberts said he began telling the man to “stop drinking and getting on wild.”

Instead of listening to his pleas, Roberts said the man jump kicked Hamilton and a scuffle broke out following which he shot Hamilton at point blank range on the leg just after the police car drove up the street. Standing over him, the gunman then attempted to fire another shot but Roberts said he threw a cup at the man, hoping that the police would save them.

Hamilton’s mother Phillipa said he left the Pleasantville Secondary School in July last year and was studying welding at Metal Industries Company (MIC). He planned to do electrical engineering at the National Energy Skills Centre, Phillipa added.

 “He was never living a bad life and he did not deserve this. He wanted to make something of himself. He was my baby and before he went to the party I warned him to be careful,” Phillipa revealed. 

An autopsy will be done on Hamilton’s body today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

"The police saw the man shooting at us and I had to pelt a cup to defend my brother while he lay bleeding on the ground.  The police stood there looking on

Cricket legend Brian Charles Lara put Barrackpore residents in a frenzy when he competed in a friendly match with other cricket heroes to raise funds to help underprivileged children supported by the Daren Ganga Foundation.

The residents from various cricket clubs in the county, paid $1,000 each to play on the same field with cricket superstars Lara, Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lendl Mark Simmons, Nicolas Pooran, Rajindra Dhanraj and Dinanath Ramnarine.

During the game, Lara scored several sixes one of which went over the fence of the Barrackpore United Recreation Ground and struck spectator Kishan Beharrysingh full on his mouth, bursting his lip. He was medically examined but was not hospitalized. 

Lara led his team to a four-wicket victory over Ganga’s XI in the celebrity T20 match in front of a sold-out venue.

The 47-year-old, left-hander blasted 67 of 27 balls which included five sixes and seven fours to set up his team’s successful run-chase.

Chanderpaul, who was Lara’s partner when he broke the world record (375) in Antigua in 1994, helped himself to an unbeaten 53 which comprised six sixes after he faced 38 balls. Rajendra Dhanraj was the best with one for 27.

Lara XI reached 184 for six off 18.2 overs after Ganga’s team totalled 178 for seven of 20 overs. Ganga scored 48, while Pooran added 31 of 16 balls and Simmons 25.

Former WIPA president and former West Indies player Dinanath Ramnarine picked up four wickets for 25 runs and Ganga two for 16.

Following the day’s event Ganga speaking to Guardian Media, praised the superstars for contributing to his scholarship fund which provides one-on-one mentorship and coaching to talented youngsters in a multiplicity of disciplines including sports, dance, singing, arts and culture.

“We are using the Foundation to engage young people. It is about empowering them and providing opportunities to them,” Ganga said.

He called on government to hire professional coaches and students who have graduated with physical education degrees to work in the communities to hone budding sporting talent.

Saying it was not enough to provide facilities, Ganga said these community coaches will be able to spot talent and provide the right mentoring to youths. “This can serve as a deterrent to crime,” Ganga added. He also said that existing sporting clubs must be given adequate resources and there must be a system in place to ensure that the clubs are active in communities.

Urging youths to have a balance in life whilst placing priority on education, Ganga said there were many local heroes who can serve as an inspiration to the youth.

Since his Foundation started in 2010, Ganga said over 70 youths have benefitted and have excelled in their chosen fields.

Among these are Arun Roopnarine and Brittanny Joseph, T&T’s top table tennis players and popular singer Gabriel Rajkumar who performed at the cricket event.

Local historian Angelo Bissessarsingh is calling on the National Trust to take charge of a midden in Valsayn where three Amerindian artefacts dating to 2000 BC, were discovered by a land owner on Sunday.

The animal-shaped figurines were posted on Facebook by Melissa Jagroop-Topha.

Bissessarsingh said it appeared the artifacts were from the Parico tribe, from which Piarco got its name.

“To find it that far under a swamp is unusual. I was informed that the three pieces of pottery were found three feet in a piece of lagoon in St Augustine south of UWI. It is marshlands and it would be unusual for them to settle there. They might have lived there for a short time,” Bissessarsingh said.

Classifying the figurines as Saladoid pottery because of the design and shape, Bissessarsingh said the Saladoids lived near streams, rivers and coastlines.

“To find three pieces of pottery in one spot is pretty strange especially since they are of one type. Bissessarsingh called on the University of the West Indies Archaeology Unit led by Dr Basil Reid and the National Trust led by Michelle Solestine to investigate the findings.

“Officials at UWI should look into it to see if any other pottery can be found. Too often these sites get looked over and then we hear the unfortunate news that the artefacts have started disappearing. Saladoid pottery and usually starts around 2,000 BC and ends 13,000 BC,” Bissessarsingh said.

Asked whether the National Trust had the authority to take charge of the site, Bissessarsingh said the Trust was the curator of T&T’s national heritage but despite the passage of legislation, there was no enforcement body to execute the existing laws.

Praising Jagroop-Topha for dealing sensibly with the matter, Bissessarsingh said the three artefacts should be carefully safe-guarded and lodged at the Archaeology Centre of UWI.

Senior lecturer in history, at the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of T&T, Dr Radica Mahase also called on the public to respect the heritage site.

“I think once there are any sites where historical artefacts are found, some measures must be put in place to preserve them until work could be done on the site. The Archaeology Unit at UWI led by Dr Reid and the National Trust of T&T should work together. Dr Reid, who is the expert on these matters can give us an idea of what time period the artifacts are found and advise further,” Dr Mahase said.

Emails sent to Solestine and Reid were not answered.

Standing in the charred rubble of her Couva home, Angela Mahabir and her three brothers yesterday made a desperate plea for help after their home was destroyed by fire for a second time in 11 years.

Mahabir, 32, said she was at work around 9 am, when she got a call that her house was on fire.

Sifting through the remains, Mahabir said her eldest brother, Rajesh Mungroo, had gone to drop her 13-year-old son, Kumar Mahabir, to the Milton Presbyterian Primary school when the fire started in the front bedroom.

It is uncertain what caused the fire but Mahabir said it brought back horrific memories of the time when her son accidentally set fire to the house in 2007, leaving them all homeless. 

"This time I do not know how this fire started because I took off the stove and the gas tank before I left home. There was nothing lighting in the house," Mahabir said.

Saying they planned to spend the night at a relatives home, Mahabir said, "We were thankful for the help we got then and now we are again hoping that people will help us because we are poor."

Her other brother, Naresh Mungroo, works at a nearby duck farm while her youngest brother Sanjay is unemployed.

The family, who lives at Basta Hall, Couva said they lost all of their valuables including clothing, appliances, furniture and Kumar's school books and uniforms.

"I bought him some new school shirts and I had to put the logo on it. He had some of his books in his bag but the rest of books destroyed," Mahabir said. Neighbours said they noticed the fire from the windows of the house but by the time the fire officers arrived, the house was well engulfed.

Fire prevention officers say they plan to return to the house today to search for clues into the cause of the blaze.

Meanwhile MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh visited the family yesterday and called on the Minister of Social Development Cherrie Ann Crichlow-Cockburn to treat with the family in the same manner that she treated the fire victims of Nelson Street who were left homeless during a fire on January 1. During that fire Jameel Allamby, 33, a paraplegic, died. That fire was sparked by the indiscriminate use of fireworks.

Indarsingh said he is liaising with the Disaster Management Unit and the councillor Gangaram Gopaul to see what assistance could be given.

Anyone wanting to help the family can contact Mahabir at 384-0927. Couva police are continuing investigations.

Striking workers from Inland and Offshore Contractors Ltd say they are bracing for victimisation when they return to work later this week as their 90-day strike comes to an end on Thursday.

Some of the workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, say they are certain that when they go back to work, the company’s management would find ways to make them suffer.

“Some of us were anxious to go back out to work but then the company stated that we should return on Friday rather than Wednesday and this made some of us worried about victimisation,” one of the strikers said.

He added that a few workers had broken the picket line and returned to work but the majority of employees had stayed truthful to the cause.

“I think we got the respect from the company but right now all of us are very demotivated and when we go back out to work we will not have the zeal that we had before,” another worker said.

Asked what impact the strike had on family life, the workers said many of their colleagues from Icacos and Cedros did not have money to travel to come to the strike camp every day.

“Some people had problems paying their bills and they had to hustle with odd jobs,” he added.

Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union shop steward Ronald Williams was engaged in a meeting yesterday and was expected to meet with the striking workers yesterday to let them know the date they would have to return to work.

Meanwhile, IOCL’s Human Resource and Industrial Relations consultant Suren Dookie said not all workers would be required to come out to duty on Friday.

“This is not about victimisation. We have to roster our crews. We are in discussions with Petrotrin to ensure that things are ready and then we will roster our crews. We are also in touch with the union to ensure that there are no impediments with respect to employees resuming duties,” Dookie added.

Saying that IOCL does not engage in victimisation, Dookie added, “I cannot allay their fears, in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act, either party can make a request to the Minister of Labour to refer the matter to the court. If the union and employer doesn’t make a request the Minister doesnt have the authority to refer it to court.”

He added that any worker who feels victimised can bring their concerns to the OWTU.

The union is seeking a wage increase of 80 per cent for the period 2013-2015 to put the workers on par with Petrotrin’s minimum wage. IOCL officials maintain that the requirement to pay the Petrotrin minimum wage is null and void because a collective agreement already exists with a representative union.

IOCL provides marine and land transportation services for Petrotrin’s Trinmar operations. The strike action began on October 20, last year.

As the last hours of their 90-day strike trickled to an end, workers from Inland and Offshore Contractors Limited (IOCL) locked arms and marched in front of the company's headquarters in Otaheite yesterday.

Shouting, "Stronger than ever," the workers said they will remain united in their fight until they achieve their just dues. Spokesman for the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Ronald Williams said he and his comrades planned to spend the night at the strike camp. 

 "We are going back to work victorious and we will await our day in court when we will bring the evidence to show that we were discriminated against," Williams said. He predicted that IOCL would victimize workers, adding, "It's in their blood. This is how the capitalist operates."

He admitted that the families of some workers suffered because of the loss of income. Asked whether the OWTU will be continuing to extend support to families, Williams said, "The OWTU is not just about collective bargaining but it is also about educating workers so they can have a better quality of life."

Saying unity is strength, Williams noted that the strike has taught the workers important values of camaraderie.

Asked whether he was satisfied with IOCL's explanation that all of the workers could not be rostered to work on Friday because arrangements were still being finalized with Petrotrin, Williams said, "The company had three months to do what they had to do. Now that the strike is over we will be heading to court and we are confident we will get a fair hearing."

IOCL is one of the three main contractors which provide marine transport to Petrotrin’s Trinmar Operations. IOCL's  Human Resource and Industrial Relations consultant Suren Dookie said the company will be writing to Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for the matter to be referred to the Industrial Court. He added that IOCL does not victimize workers and if there were any such concerns, then the issue could be raised with the OWTU. IOCL qworkers officially went on strike onOctober 20 as they called on the company to pay the Trinmar minimum wage. However, IOCL saids this represented an 80 per cent wage increase which the company could not afford.

The University of the West Indies Archaeology Unit cannot excavate and survey the site where 2,000- year-old Amerindian artefacts were found in Valsayn unless the owner grants them permission.

This was revealed by senior lecturer of Archaeology at the University of the West Indies Dr Basil Reid.

In an interview, Dr Reid said he has not yet had the opportunity to visit the site as permission must be granted by land owner Melissa Jagroop-Topha.

“People have rights and the land owner will have to give permission for us to do a site visit,” Reid said.

He explained that pieces of pottery or adorno appears to be Saladoid (Palo Seco), which is a Trinidadian “local” group of the Saladoid culture that extended from T&T to Puerto Rico during the period 500 BC to AD 600.

“Decoratively, Saladoid (Palo Seco) pottery show painted, incised, punctuated, and modelled motifs. Adornos were originally affixed to ceramic bowls, which were usually trotted out during ceremonial feasting and used as serving containers,” he said.

Saying the find is reflective of ritual activity by this pre-colonial native group, Reid explained that the Palo Seco pottery has several traits (especially after AD 350) that were the result of trade/interaction between the Saladoid of Trinidad and the Barrancoid of South America.

“The Saladoid people were the first fully horticultural native people to have colonised T&T, arriving around 500 BC, although the Saladoid site of Lover’s Retreat (Tobago) yielded an even earlier radiocarbon date of 770 years BC,” Reid said.

Saying he was pleased but not surprised by the discovery, Reid noted that “several pre-colonial native sites have already been found throughout T&T and there was every reason to believe that several more will be discovered, especially in urban areas like the east-west corridor of Trinidad where there would be a relatively high level of site disturbance.”

He expressed confidence that the National Trust would partner with the UWI’s Archaeology Unit to excavate the site.

“However, the owner has to first give us permission to both survey and excavate, as the finds were found on private property,” Reid noted.

Meanwhile, Trinidad born Art history professor Lawrence Waldron, who is based in New York, spoke with CNC3 and pleaded with the family to stop any planned construction until the site can be professionally checked.

Waldron said the discovery of the artefacts was proof that the Saladoid people did not settle only near rivers, streams and coastlines but possibly inland as well.

“I think to find it so far inland suggests to me that we should be looking for other Saladoid sites throughout the island,” Waldron said.

“If they keep on finding artefacts on the property, they must stop any work that is being planned for the site so that the UWI team could step in and do a proper field study.”

The landowner Melissa Jagroop Topha has not responded to requests for interviews even though she posted photographs of the artefacts on Facebook. She tagged local historian Angelo Bissessarsingh, who said it appears that the artefacts were of Saladoid origin and were part of the Parico tribe which settled on the swampy marshlands of St Augustine and Piarco.

Similar artefacts have been found in several parts of T&T. Reid and his archaeological team have discovered spatulas, grind stones, called metate and pestles, which were used to pulverize edible foods as well as an array of broken pottery at Marianne Estate in Blanchisseuse, and at St Johns Village, South Oropouche near the marshlands of the Oropouche swamp.

Beloved historian and author Angelo Bissessarsingh has slipped into unconsciousness and doctors say he will lose his battle with pancreatic cancer soon.

The national hero who published four books despite his illness, took a turn for the worse over the weekend. His father Rudolph Bissessarsingh said, "Things are not looking good at this time. His condition changed overnight. He is on morphine and he has slipped into unconsciousness. The hospital said there is no hope. We are totally depressed over this."

As a devout Buddhist, Rudolph said it was his hope that Angelo will be reincarnated.

"His consciousness will live on. He will never die," Rudolph said.

He also said that Angelo's closest friends from CNC3 as well as his mentors and confidants Francesca Hawkins, Judy Raymond, Professor Brinsley Samaroo, Michelle Celestine and others, visited him at their Siparia home.

Saying the outpouring of love shown to his son was overwhelming, Rudolph added, "We are really grateful to all of you who have been a friend to Angelo and who helped him during his ordeal."

Over the past few weeks, Angelo had been confined to his bed as the cancer severely impacted on his mobility.

Speaking to this reporter last Thursday, Angelo said he was hoping to live until the middle of February to see his latest book Folklore and Mythology in T&T published.

He also revealed that he was in the process of compiling and publishing another book of short stories documenting life in the southern part of the island.

"I have the data and I have already found the imagery for that so we can start publishing it in February but living with the limitations as I do, it is very difficult but I am hoping to see it published," Angelo said at the time.

He described his illness as "restrictive" but despite his immobility, Angelo continued to dictate his weekly Guardian column as well as compile his research. Admitting that he suffered from bouts of depression, Angelo said, "I do get periods of depressiuon but as long as I have my books and my tablet, I am happy."

Angelo is the founder of the Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago heritage resource and writes a column titled “Back in Time” for the Trinidad Guardian. He has published several books, including Walking with the Ancestors—The Historic Cemeteries of Trinidad, published in 2013; Snapshots of the History of Trinidad and Tobago, Virtual Glimpses into the Past; and Pancho’s Dilemma, all published in 2016, which have earned him many accolades.

Angelo was given the keys to San Fernando by former mayor Kazim Hosein (now Local Government minister) in 2016 and was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) during last year’s Independence Day awards.

When his sister Lavern Goddard died from Aids after contracting HIV from a brutal rape, budding soca artiste Vaden Thompson, also known as Blessed V, decided it was time to put stronger lyrical content in soca music.

“I decided that music is my life. My sister Lavern was really close to me and after she was raped and she got HIV, she died and I was devastated. I decided back then that I want issues to be raised so we can all be socially conscious of what was happening in the world,” Thompson said.

He said his two sons, Isaiah, six, and Azana, eight, and his wife Ayanna Thompson (who is his marketing manager) have been the source of his inspiration.

A self-proclaimed “people’s person,” besides writing music, Thompson said he operates a small clothes shop and does some voice work for commercial ads. He is also involved in community activities for Emancipation and Indian Arrival, and is an MC for community events and family gatherings.

For almost 15 years, Thompson said he tried to make his music reflect social issues. But—except for his debut soca hit Milk and Honey, sung on the Heart Attack Rhythm in 2004—most of his songs, he said, have been sidelined. Thompson claimed many radio stations have been side-lining his music because the soca industry is controlled by what he calls “the soca mafia.”

“The social ills of crime, vagrancy, poverty and inequality tore at my heart, but although I wrote song after song, it got me nowhere because certain people who control the soca industry were more interested in pushing ‘rags’ and ‘wine’ songs,” Thompson said.

“I give song after song and paid my dues, and yet I am still not recSILVAognised, because radio stations fail to play good music,” Thompson complained.

He added, “People are jumping up to ‘rags’ and ‘wine’, while every day people are being kidnapped or going missing. We are not singing about the issues.”

Saying there was a need to go back to using music as a creative art form which documented history, Thompson asked, “Where is the spirituality in the music like what we got from Ras Shorty? Where is the essence of the music? It hurts my heart to know that I have conscious music and it is reaching nowhere.”

He commented that ordinary people have been the victims of politicians, and that unity was needed among all.

Despite his setbacks, Thompson said he is eager to try for the Soca Monarch crown with his 2017 Power Soca Hit titled Fire.

“Fire responds to so many things that are happening in the country—crime, violence...I am highlighting the poor and defending the needy,” Thompson said.

To please the crowds, Thompson said he has also produced a song called Wining Yuh Waist.

He has tried his luck at the Soca Monarch competition three times before, but he never made it to the semifinals; this year, though, he thinks he has a good chance.

Thompson said he used up all of his savings to open his own recording studio at his home in South Trinidad so that he could produce and market his songs on social media.

He added, “I am marketing my songs via Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud, which is an online audio distribution platform based in Berlin, Germany, that enables its users to upload, record, promote, and share their originally created sounds.”

So how does he see his songs?

“I sing reality music. My songs have sense and focus. I don’t bring seasonal music. ... I sing songs that will uplift T&T.”

MORE INFO: To contact Thompson, email him at blessedvee31@gmail.com or blessed_v@hotmail.com or call 286-6607 or 318-3718

In their quest to find employment at the construction of the $6.3 billion Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited (CGCL) petrochemical complex in La Brea, hundreds of residents staged protests yesterday, causing a shutdown at the construction site.

Under the watchful eyes of the police, the protestors from fenceline communities of La Brea, Vance River, Rousillac, Guapo and Gonzales gathered at the construction site from 6 am. Holding up placards which read, "Inequality, Victimisation and Distress," the residents demanded that CGCL, which comprises of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the National Gas Company (NGC) and Massy Group fulfil its mandate to hire workers from the fenceline communities.

President of the La Brea General Council Marlon Greaves said although the residents were in support of the plant, they were fed up of being sidelined. He said only 10 per cent of workers at the construction site lived in La Brea. A total of 2,000 workers are expected to be hired during the construction period. Saying residents gave up their gardens and hunting grounds to accommodate the plant, Greaves said it was unfair that now families had to starve because they couldn't get work.

He revealed that unemployment in La Brea was over 80 per cent and families were suffering because of the high cost of living.

The complex which will produce methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) at the Union Industrial Estate, La Brea, is expected to be completed by 2019 but Greaves said if members of the communities are not hired, no construction will go on.

Qualified safety officer Dixie ann Williams said the protestors were hoping to get a meeting with the officials. She said the existing labour recruitment office was totally incompetent and has been hiring people as far as Guayaguayare.

"The people from the fenceline communities are upset because under the MOU a certain percentage of workers from the communities should be hired. This is madness. we want to make a peaceful stance because everybody here have a skill. I want the Prime Minister to know we voted for him and now we need his help," Williams said.

Steel fixer Octavia Morgan said she has been coming to the construction site since July last year and although she was recommended by the Ministry of Labour for employment, she has been turned away.

"It hard coming here every day and when you come here thinking you get work, they turn you away. It hard going  back home to face my family," Morgan said.

Contacted yesterday,  MP for La Brea Nicole Olliverie said CGCL has hired locals.

"I am aware that the company has made great efforts in engaging contractors and residents where they meet the required qualifications," Oliverie said.

 More than two dozen Task Force officers swooped into known drug dens in San Fernando on Thursday, seizing a pistol, ammunition and marijuana.

Two suspects including a 45-year-old roulette operator and a 40-year-old labourer were arrested as the officers searched homes and shacks at Kings Wharf, San Fernando, Mount Moriah Hill and Vistabella.

The raids done by the Operations Unit supervised by Senior Supt Adeliene Pesnel and executed by ASP Zainool Mohammed and Insp Don Gajadhar, began around 11 am and lasted until 5 pm.

Southern Division Task Force officers, the CID, Traffic Unit, Operations Unit and Customs and Excise officers, including Sgt Ramroop and WP Sgt Morrison, went to Mount Moriah Hill where they raided a business place.

A roulette operator was searched and a bag containing 73 grammes of marijuana, the Glock pistol and ammunition were allegedly found on him. The man told the officers that he needed the weapon to protect his business.

The officers then went to Kings Wharf where fishermen's shacks were searched. A bag with 60 grammes of marijuana was found near the shacks.

A labourer was also found with seven grammes of marijuana in his pocket. Known drug dens in Vistabella and Springvale were also raided. The team of officers received commendation from Gajadhar and Mohammed.

A senior officer said they will continue the fight aimed at recovering illegal firearms over the next few months.

In their quest to find employment at the construction of the $6.3 billion Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited (CGCL) petrochemical complex in La Brea, hundreds of residents staged protests yesterday, causing a shutdown at the construction site.

Under the watchful eyes of the police, the protesters from fenceline communities of La Brea, Vance River, Rousillac, Guapo and Gonzales gathered at the construction site from 6 am.

Holding up placards which read, “Inequality, Victimisation and Distress,” the residents demanded that CGCL, which comprises of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the National Gas Company (NGC) and Massy Group fulfil its mandate to hire workers from the fenceline communities.

President of the La Brea General Council Marlon Greaves said although the residents were in support of the plant, they were fed up of being sidelined.

He said only 10 per cent of workers at the construction site lived in La Brea. A total of 2,000 workers are expected to be hired during the construction period. Saying residents gave up their gardens and hunting grounds to accommodate the plant, Greaves said it was unfair that now families had to starve because they couldn’t get work.

He revealed that unemployment in La Brea was over 80 per cent and families were suffering because of the high cost of living.

The complex which would produce methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) at the Union Industrial Estate, La Brea, is expected to be completed by 2019 but Greaves said if members of the communities are not hired, no construction will go on.

Safety officer, Dixie Ann Williams, said the protesters were hoping to get a meeting with the officials. She said the existing labour recruitment office was totally incompetent and has been hiring people as far as Guayaguayare.

“The people from the fenceline communities are upset because under the MOU a certain percentage of workers from the communities should be hired. This is madness. We want to make a peaceful stance because everybody here have a skill. I want the Prime Minister to know we voted for him and now we need his help,” Williams said.

Steel worker, Octavia Morgan, said she has been coming to the construction site since July last year and although she was recommended by the Ministry of Labour for employment, she has been turned away.

“It hard coming here every day and when you come here thinking you get work, they turn you away. It hard going back home to face my family,” Morgan said.

Contacted yesterday, MP for La Brea Nicole Olivierre said CGCL has hired locals.

“I am aware that the company has made great efforts in engaging contractors and residents where they meet the required qualifications,” Olivierre said.

A list of questions was e-mailed to CGCL’s Human Resource Manager Josieann Richards who said she would respond shortly.

More than two dozen Task Force officers swooped into known drug dens in San Fernando on Thursday, seizing a pistol, ammunition and marijuana.

Two suspects including a 45-year-old roulette operator and a 40-year-old labourer were arrested as the officers searched homes and shacks at Kings Wharf, San Fernando, Mount Moriah Hill and Vistabella.

The raids done by the Operations Unit supervised by Senior Supt Adeliene Pesnel and executed by ASP Zainool Mohammed and Insp Don Gajadhar, began around 11 am and lasted until 5 pm.

Southern Division Task Force officers, the CID, Traffic Unit, Operations Unit and Customs and Excise officers, including Sgt Ramroop and WP Sgt Morrison, went to Mount Moriah Hill where they raided a business place.

A roulette operator was searched and a bag containing 73 grammes of marijuana, the Glock pistol and ammunition were allegedly found on him. The man told the officers that he needed the weapon to protect his business.

The officers then went to Kings Wharf where fishermen’s shacks were searched. A bag with 60 grammes of marijuana was found near the shacks. A labourer was also found with seven grammes of marijuana in his pocket. Known drug dens in Vistabella and Springvale were also raided. The team of officers received commendation from Gajadhar and Mohammed.

A senior officer said they will continue the fight aimed at recovering illegal firearms over the next few months.

Dead pelicans are continuing to wash ashore on the beaches of La Brea more than a week after oil pellets and sheets of crude oil surfaced off Carat Shed Beach, Coffee Beach, Station Beach and Point Sable.

However, president of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association Alvin La Borde said the discovery of the dead pelicans may not have anything to do with the oilspill.

Saying pelicans usually show up dead during the start of the dry season, La Borde said, "I can't see how this is related to the oil spill. Pelicans usually die around the dry season. I don't know why. This has been happening for years now."

Asked whether he believed that the fish stocks were contaminated, La Borde said it was up to the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Environmental Management Authority and the Ministry of Health to determine this.

La Borde also said it was important for the citizenry to know the toxicity levels of the Gulf of Paria, adding, "It is not only pelicans who are dying under suspicious circumstances, but humans as well."

 Meanwhile, secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea Gary Aboud said birds and bottom feeding fish also continue to wash ashore sick and dying.

"Today there are two dead pelicans (one of which the EMA has taken for testing). Yesterday there were another two dead pelicans. Last week there were over eight pelicans found dead in total. Pelicans have been frequently dying only on these oil spill affected beaches and only since the disastrous Dec 17th 2013 oil spills," Aboud said.

Dismissing reports that the birds died of heat stroke or by diving in shallow waters and breaking their necks, Aboud said his group was determined to get answers.

"Under the Freedom of Information Act, FFOS have requested copies of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) lab reports on the fish which were sent overseas and found to be safe to eat," he said.

He added, " When/if these documents are made available, the FFOS will immediately examine all its details, including the chain of custody (where did the samples originate, analytical methodology and what were the results of the analysis) and we will report back to the public on whether the report disproves the FFOS findings that “significant" levels of cancer causing Poly-Cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in the fish and in the sand in the near shore areas of La Brea.

Aboud called on government to respond to the fishery contamination.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said the IMA will be meeting with the fisherfolk to discuss the state of the water in March. Fishermen from over 14 fishing villagers are expected to attend the meeting.