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The Archibald family stand proudly at the front entrance to their new home at Jacob Hill Settlement, Wallerfield after receiving the keys on Sunday. – ROGER JACOB

Twelve families in the Jacob Hill Settlement in Wallerfield received keys to starter-home units on Sunday.

Land Settlement Agency chairman Wayne Innis said nine of the 12 keys for the units in the development were given to women.

He was speaking at the key-distribution ceremony. He said the Jacob Hill site is one of the designated settlement areas under the LSA’s listing.

“In 2018, the LSA surveyed the area and identified 35 structures on the eastern portion of the site. From the survey results, it was determined that these occupants were living in poor conditions and without basic amenities such as pipe-borne water, electricity, and sanitation facilities.

“Consequently, the LSA began infrastructural development work to improve living conditions but it was determined that in order to do this properly, 12 households had to be relocated. Selection of these households for a starter home was done through a random draw. The two-bedroom, one bathroom, units were constructed through the LSA’s Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP) model at an estimated cost of $142,000.”

Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Adrian Leonce said the LSA was doing tremendous work as the statutory agency in charge of the regularisation of squatting. He commended the staff at the agency.

Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings, Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation chairman Kwasi Robinson, Minister in the Ministry of Housing Adrian Leonce, Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, LSA chairman Wayne Innis, LSA CEO Hazar Hosein with the12 receipients of starter homes at Jacob Hill Settlement, Wallerfield on Sunday. – ROGER JACOB

“It brings much-needed relief to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the society. The LSA is performing upgrades on 14 sites, yielding close to 4,000 lots. They’re working to secure pre-construction statutory approvals on ten sites yielding 2,148 lots. They’re conducting infrastructural work on 12 sites, yielding 1,263 lots, and doing the land use planning on 13 sites.

“Our innovative HVIP, implemented through the LSA, continues to improve infrastructure and poor-quality housing in targeted villages, including Matura, Valencia, Cumuto, Talparo, and now here in Wallerfield.”

Leonce said the allocation for the project had been increased in the 2023 budget.

La Horquetta/Talparo MP Foster Cummings said when he did his initial walkabout in the community, it burned his heart to see the conditions people were living in. He thanked his ministerial colleagues and the LSA for helping the recipients receive their starter homes.

“The LSA came in and assessed the situation and that entire community was approved by Cabinet to receive this type of development. The first phase is that we have built these houses to relocate those who have to come to this location, the second phase is that those who have to remain at that location will receive a housing unit like this courtesy of the government. We also intend to construct a community centre at that location for the benefit of the residents of Jacob Hill and Wallerfield. This project has already been sent to tender.”

Some of the starter homes at Jacob Hill Settlement in Wallerfield. – ROGER JACOB

He said similar projects under the HVIP will be pursued throughout the country.

Housing and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said the recipients were being relocated from the Jacob Hill recreation ground which is required for public purpose.

“A total of 35 residential lots were developed on this Wallerfield East site, including the 12 lots on which the starter homes were constructed. We therefore have another 23 families who are also benefiting from fully-developed lots on this site.”

She said it gave her great joy and job satisfaction to see the project had been brought to fruition. Robinson-Regis said the infrastructural development works on the lots included drainage works (construction of concrete box drains and detention ponds) and road works, at an estimated $6 million.

“When the LSA conducted its comprehensive social survey of state lands, 30 structures on the Jacob Hill Playground were identified as single-family residential structures. It was further determined that the quality of the houses in the area provided insufficient shelter. Eighty-nine per cent of the households were assessed as offering poor living conditions. In addition, an estimated 52 per cent of the structures were categorised as shacks, lacking basic amenities such as access to pipe-borne water and sanitation facilities. The survey results also highlighted that only 15 per cent of the households had approved electricity connections.”

Robinson-Regis said having a home enabled families to stay together, and ensured children and adults had a safe, stable place to return to and learn in.

The recipients said they were grateful for the housing units and would be moving in as soon as possible.

Aveela Archibald said she was holding back tears and didn’t have words to express how she felt upon receiving her key.

“We’re feeling joy in our hearts because this is a start for us and the family from where we came from. I have seven children, and this is such a great start. I thank Foster Cummings for what he did for this community.”

Michael Abraham, Archibald’s fiance, said he was grateful to have a roof over his head that he could call home for his family.

“I want to thank all the people who played a part in this. I came from nothing, I have a big family, we went through the world.

“We took a chance where we were by the recreation ground that we could call home, because you can only stay so long by family and friends, and it was risky, and we want to thank God for making this happen.”

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File photo –

Police are trying to identify the body of a man found dismembered in the waters off Chaguaramas on Sunday.

Details were still sketchy up to press time, but police told Newsday reports of a severed leg being found in the water came to police at about 10.45 pm. Kayakers and beachgoers found the remains floating near the kayak centre.

Shortly after, a severed head was found.

Police and Coast Guard officers responded to the report and found the dismembered body of a man. The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy is expected to be done pending identification.

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Karen Nunez-Tesheira. –

FORMER People’s National Movement (PNM) government minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira says her decision to challenge the Prime Minister, her former Cabinet colleague and friend, for leadership of the party was not an easy one. But she believes she has no other choice because of the challenges facing the people of TT today.

Newsday spoke with her on Sunday after she was interviewed on WYZE 95.9 FM on Saturday evening. She told the host she was challenging Dr Rowley for the post of political leader in the party’s internal election on December 4.

Nunez-Tesheira told Newsday she is eligible to be a candidate in the election as she is a lifetime member of the party.

On why she chose to do so, Nunez-Tesheira said this was not too different from what happened in 1997 when Rowley challenged then PNM political leader Patrick Manning (now deceased) for the party’s leadership.

Rowley’s challenge to Manning happened after the PNM lost the 1995 general election. Manning retained his post in the 1997 internal election.

Nunez-Tesheira also recalled that Rowley challenged Manning’s leadership as prime minister after he was fired from the Cabinet in 2008 after raising questions about corruption at the Urban Development Corporation of TT (Udecott).

In both cases, Nunez-Tesheira said, “I can’t recall anyone challenging his commitment to the party.”

Anyone challenging for the PNM’s leadership is not someone who is opposed to PNM.

Nunez-Tesheira is not forming a slate to rival any by Rowley. For her, the only key post in the election is the political leader’s post.

Based on her own observations over time, Nunez-Tesheira said believes the PNM’s leadership is heading in the wrong direction.

“If we continue along this path that we are going, I don’t know where TT will be.”

Nunez-Tesheira recalls Rowley was one of the first people to welcome her into the PNM’s ranks in 2007, and gave her considerable support when she was a political neophyte.

She considers him to be her friend.

But as a leader, Nunez-Tesheira said Rowley has been a disappointment.

“If I was a Cabinet minister, I would be shivering in my boots because he is intimidating.”

She also believes Rowley has a level of irritation and contempt for certain things.

“I think he believes because he made it as poor black young man from a single-parent (home), I think he seems to be intolerant of those who have not done it.”

Nunez-Tesheira said times have changed from then to now.

“He cannot look at the circumstances we see in the urban communities where there is a recruitment drive among the vulnerable young men and women who see no way out of their poverty, except to be accomplices in what is an underground economy.”

She said leaders need to be more empathetic and focus-driven “on creating opportunities for people to come out of poverty.”

Asked about the level of support she could expect from PNM members, Nunez-Tesheira believes there are many who silently agree with her – that it is necessary to change the party’s leadership.

“I guess it would be very intimidating for anyone to want to challenge him on any level.”

She believes government ministers who are senators would be particularly reluctant to criticise Rowley since he has the constitutional power to remove them from the Cabinet and the Parliament.

She said if any of these people support her, they may do so silently as they could be risking their own political survival.

She said she has spoken to party members who never voted in internal elections before, but who are now promising to vote for her in this one.

Nunez-Tesheira is concerned about what she sees as a lack of implementation in many areas of government policy.

“When you have a government that is very weak on implementation, what’s the point of telling what you’re going to do if you don’t do it?”

Prime Minister and PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley. –

She believes Rowley’s style of leadership as PNM leader and prime minister has caused some people to lack trust and confidence in the party and Government’s ability to address their concerns.

Nunez-Tesheira is unfazed at the prospect of leading a PNM executive comprised of Rowley loyalists, if she defeats him on December 4. She’s also not worried about the possibility of being a PNM political leader outside of the Parliament while Rowley continues to lead the party inside the Parliament as prime minister and as Diego Martin West MP.

She said such a scenario would allow her to focus more directly on strengthening the party. She also said as finance minister she was able to “have a perspective of how government operates.”

Nunez-Tesheira was confident of working with people in the PNM’s leadership because many of them were there when she was finance minister and D’Abadie/O’Meara MP from 2007 to 2010.

She believes her track record as a minister and understanding of how government works will be assets she can use.

She does not believe any claims made against her in the past would affect her chances of winning.

Referring to the collapse of Clico and CL Financial in 2009, Nunez-Tesheira said no wrongdoing has ever been attributed to her.

“Certainly if they had anything that they could throw at me, they would have done it already.”

She added, the Colman commission of inquiry report into Clico and CL Financial was never released, either in its entirety or any part which related to her role as finance minister, in the last 12 years.

“I am not going to do what other politicians say, ‘Take it to the police.’ Take it to the public. I want to hear what they have to say, because I know you have nothing.”

Nunez-Tesheira promised to remain a PNM member and not align herself with another party if she loses to Rowley.

“No. I would not do that.”

She said she maintains a deep loyalty to Manning.

“Not for him as a person, but what he stood for and his politics.”

She said she is no political grasshopper.

“I don’t think the country has a space for more than two parties.”

While the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) have a space in Tobago’s politics, she said Trinidad’s political space is already occupied by the PNM and UNC.

While acknowledging there is public despair in TT and people want a change, Nunez-Tesheira believes the PNM can still make that change.

“I am saying to them, you don’t have to go far. The party (PNM) is a good party. It’s the leadership and those at the top which have caused the problem we are having today.”

Nunez-Tesheira said this a common phenomenon when a political leader has overstayed his or her time.

“If you move the leader and you have a good party for what it stands for, and you have a good leadership team, there is no limit to what a country or any organisation can achieve.”

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Relatives and colleagues of slain security officer Jeffery Peters, joined relatives of slain Jerry Stuart and wounded Peola Baptiste in prayer during a candlelight vigil on Saturday at the site where the tragedy occurred at Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine. – YVONNE WEBB

FEARFUL that the reading of the budget and other issues may put the investigation into the deadly Pennywise Super Centre heist, and the officers who lost their lives, on the back burner, the Estate Police Association (EPA) held a candlelight vigil on Saturday night, on the site of the September 19 tragedy.

“The reason why we are here is because we know the nation is a ten-day wonder. We know that with the reading of the budget, this situation has gone cold,” said EPA president Deryck Richardson.

“We think that in light of what the association would have been lobbying for – better protection for security officers, exactly what was missing from this particular incident – we intend to keep a number of vigils to keep it alive.”

Friends, relatives and colleagues gathered on the spot where Allied Security officers Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart were ambushed and shot dead, and their colleague Peola Baptiste critically wounded. Baptiste is still in hospital fighting for her life.

Richardson said security officers put their lives on the line every day because of the security threat in the country, and the people carrying out those threats, who they have to confront, are using high-powered rifles.

“We are outgunned and woefully undermanned, and all for a paltry salary of $18.75 per hour.”

He called on Allied Security to take care of the children and families of the dead and wounded officers beyond what is available under the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

“Mr Peters has two daughters, ages two and six. We also have Mr Stuart who had two children. There has to be some support for the children, especially as their fathers would have been able to work and take care of them.”

Estate Police Association president Deryck Richardson (left), joins hands relatives of critically-wounded security officer Peola Baptiste and Pastor Brian Jones (red shirt) during a candlelight vigil for Baptiste and families of her slain colleagues Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart at Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine on Saturday evening. – YVONNE WEBB

The EPA has written to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority for an investigation into whether any breaches were detected and whether appropriate sanctions must follow.

“So, it is not a done deal. This is not something we intend to sweep under the carpet.”

Colleagues joined hands with relatives of the officers and prayed with them.

“We thought it important that we revisit the spot, and we want to thank the families for having the strength to come out here tonight at this particular place, to join with us, where we can join in fellowship and say a prayer in memory of them.”

Richardson said it is also important to keep Baptiste in their prayers.

“Prayers is what has been sustaining her. Her pain is our pain. She is at the ICU (at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope) still making progress. Let us look at her strength and strengthen ourselves.”

As he prayed for the departed souls, the wounded, and their families, Pastor Brian Jones said, “I never thought TT would have come to this.

“Tonight we celebrate the lives of the two officers who were mercilessly gunned down on this spot.”

He also prayed for the four of six suspects in the heist, killed by the police, “who perpetrated this wicked act. We pray for their families as well, because many of their families seem to give the impression they were not aware their loved ones were involved in this. So we pray for mercy.

“Let the EPA never stop until full justice is done with these companies, that they will make the requisite changes to protect the lives of the officers who continue to work.”

He also prayed for the full restoration of Baptiste’s physical and mental health.

Peters will be laid to rest on Monday, after a service at the Mt D’or Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Stuart’s funeral was held last Friday at the Belgrove’s Funeral Chapel, Tacarigua.

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[Update: 5pm, Sunday, October 2]

The Barbados Meteorological Services continues to closely monitoring the progress of a tropical wave now located near 47/48W south of 14N.

This was the new location as of 5 pm today, Sunday, October 2, 2022.

Current Situation: Throughout the day convection associated with this wave has decreased somewhat and the system remains disorganized however, some sporadic development of deep convection is likely over the next 12 to 24 hours.

Intensity Forecast: Conditions are currently marginally favorable for slow development over the next 24 to 48 hours as it approaches Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean however, after 48 hours numerical guidance suggests that conditions should become less conducive for tropical cyclone development as it crosses the island chain.

Track Forecast: The system is expected to track westward to slightly north of westward at 15 to 20 mph over the next 24 to 36 hours with some reduction in forward speed as the system interacts with a deep layered trough which is forecast to be anchored across the region on Wednesday.

Special Note: Regardless of development this wave in combination with a deep layered trough will bring some moderate to heavy showers and occasional gusty winds to Barbados on Wednesday.

Recommendations to the public: Stay alert for updates from the BMS on this system over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The next update will be on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 8 am or sooner if conditions warrant.

[Original story: 8:25am, Sunday, October 2]

Barbadians are being put on notice as the Barbados Meteorological Services closely monitors the progress of a tropical wave located near 46/47W south of 14N as of 8 am today, Sunday, October 2, 2022.

This wave is expected to bring showers midweek whether it passes directly or indirectly.

Over the past 12 hours, convection associated with this wave has increased but the system still remains rather disorganized.

Intensity Forecast:

Conditions are currently marginally favourable for slow development over the next 24 to 48 hours, after which numerical guidance suggests that conditions should become less conducive for development after 48 hours.

Track Forecast:

The system is expected to track westward to slightly north of westward at 15 to 20 mph over the next 48 hours before getting caught up in a deep layered trough forecast to be anchored across the region.

Expectations for Barbados:

Regardless of development this wave in combination with a deep layered trough will bring some moderate to heavy showers, occasional gusty winds to Barbados on Wednesday into Thursday.

Recommendations to the public:

Stay alert for updates from the BMS on this system over the next 24 to 48 hours. The next update will be at 5 pm today, October 2, 2022 or sooner if conditions warrant.

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