Trinidad and Tobago February Political Round-Up

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000099

STATE FOR WHA/CAR

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KJUS TD
SUBJECT: Trinidad and Tobago February Political Round-Up

1. The following were notable February political developments:

- T&T's murder rate above that of 2008
- Jamaat's TT$32 million debt
- Freedom of religion versus right to education
- Shortage of Catholic priests
- Suffering foreign detainees
- Integrity Commission resigns

T&T's murder rate above that of 2008
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2. As of February 28, the country had recorded 100 murders. Acting
Police Commissioner James Philbert said at a press briefing that
gang violence contributed to the increased murder rate and observed
that there was a surge of young people involved in gangs.


3. Prominent attorney and independent Senator Dana Seetahal
predicted there will be approximately 640 homicides by the end of
2009, based on the current rate. Seetahal has called on the
government to pass anti-gang legislation and declare a state of
emergency in limited areas of Trinidad and Tobago in order to stem
the upsurge of crime.

Jamaat's TT$32 million debt
--------------


4. The Privy Council (T&T's highest court of appeal) has reserved
judgment in a case involving Abu Bakr. Following an attempted coup
in 1990, the court awarded damages in the sum of TT$15 million
dollars (US$2.5million) to the government for the destruction by the
Jamaat of several properties. Bakr refused to settle the debt at
the time and it has now grown to TT$32 million. Bakr claims in a
sworn statement that the PNM government promised to wipe out the
debt in exchange for Jamaat assistance to it in 2002 general
election campaign.


5. After the local court of appeals threw out the claim, Bakr and
his attorneys asked the Privy Council to rule on the matter. If the
Privy Council rules in favor of the Jamaat, then the statement would
be entered into evidence and the local court would have to determine
whether it was a fair agreement that should be enforced. If the
Privy Council rules otherwise, then the government can move forward,
if it so chooses, to sell all eleven Jamaat properties to satisfy
the TT$32 million debt.

Freedom of Religion versus Right to Education
--------------


6. Recently the principal of a Roman Catholic school barred a
seven-year old Rastafarian girl from attending school unless she
agreed to wear a covering on her head. The imposition of this
requirement on the child caused a furor involving the child's
mother, the principal of the school and an attorney representing the
child. Eventually, the principal retracted her directive to the
child, stating that she could return to school on the condition that
her hair was "neat and tidy."


7. The child's attorney labeled the principal's request as
subjective and asked for clarification. He went on to state that it
is ludicrous that a child is being denied her right to education
because of her hair. The right to an education is guaranteed by
T&T's constitution, he underscored. The resolution of this matter
remains pending.

Shortage of Catholic priests
--------------


8. Archbishop Edward Gilbert lamented that the shortage of priests
has gotten worse and more challenging over the years. He recently
remarked that only two men in a population of 1.3 million people in
T&T were entering seminary to become priests. Gilbert also stated
that for too long the church had been silent on issues of racism and
the gap between rich and poor. He called on all priests to urgently
deal with these matters.

Suffering foreign detainees
--------------


9. Prisoners from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria staged a hunger strike
at the Maximum Security Prison in an attempt to get the attention of
the T&T government. They say they are languishing in prison and
want to be sent home. The 20-odd prisoners reportedly have not
committed any crime in Trinidad except entering the country
illegally. The prisoners intend to keep up the strike until the
government gives in to their demand to pay for their return to their
respective homelands. However, prison officials note that the
prisoners must pay their own airfare.

Integrity Commission resigns
--------------



10. The entire Integrity Commission resigned and apologized to the
President February 4 following a High Court ruling February 3 that
it had acted in bad faith in relation to former Minster of Trade and
Industry Dr Keith Rowley. The High Court Judge found the Integrity
Commission members guilty of misfeasance in public office.


11. The Integrity Commission, empowered to investigate allegations
of corruption by public officials, had investigated 2006 allegations
that construction material was diverted from the Tobago hospital to
a private housing development owned by Rowley's wife. However, when
the Integrity Commission received the report, they ignored the
advice of their attorney that Rowley should be presented with the
findings of the investigation and be allowed to respond to the
allegations.


12. Rowley, in response, filed a suit against the Integrity
Commission claiming that he was not given a fair opportunity to be
heard, either in person or through his attorneys. Rowley stated
further that the Integrity Commission had ulterior motives. The
judge in the case took a similar stance when she stated in her
judgment that "there was an unfair abuse of power on the part of the
Integrity Commission." The judge awarded Rowley US$16,000 in
damages with interest.

KUSNITZ