22 June

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Tribunal into doctor’s ‘racist rant’ set for July 2

The first hearing of the Medical Board's tribunal into the alleged racist conduct of Philippine-based physician Dr Avinash Sawh is on July 2.In a letter sent to Sawh and his attorney Martin George, the Board's attorney, Rajiv Persad of Allum Chambers, indicated that the hearing would be virtual and requested an email address for Sawh and his representatives to facilitate the hearing. The tribunal does not propose to begin the hearing of the substantive matter on July 2. However, it will use the occasion to explain the procedure and give directions for the filing of any preliminary issues for the...

21 June

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2 charges of ‘infamous and disgraceful conduct’ for doctor in race-talk probe

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DR AVINASH Sawh faces two charges of “infamous and disgraceful” conduct. Sawh, who was accused of making racist statements in phone calls with a former employee, has also been told the Medical Board has set up a tribunal. The board hopes the tribunal can hold its first meeting on July 2. The board’s attorney Rajiv Persad told the San Fernando-based doctor of the board’s latest decision on the allegations against him on Friday. It is alleged that Sawh’s conduct in the recording of the telephone call “may have amounted to infamous and disgraceful conduct under Section 24 of the Medical Board Act,” and that...

11 June

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Court grants injunction blocking NPTA meeting

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SATURDAY’S general council meeting of the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) is off. Late on Thursday, Justice Kevin Ramcharan granted an injunction to members of the association, represented by the law firm of Martin George and Company. The injunction was pursued by former NPTA president and St George PTA president Zena Ramathali and her team, who have alleged that Saturday’s meeting was “illegally and fraudulently” called. The court will now have to decide which team is the legally constituted body. In 2019, less than two months before the NPTA elections, the association’s general council removed its national executive committee. A member of the general council...

11 June

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Lawyer for doctor in race-talk probe: Respect the process

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ATTORNEYS for Dr Avinash Sawh have asked for the process to be respected with regard to the Medical Board’s investigation of him. He has been accused of making racist statements in phone calls with a former employee. Attorney Martin George, who leads a team from the law firm Martin George and Company, which is representing Sawh, gave an update on the issue on Thursday. He said the team submitted a 258-page response to the board, "refuting each and every allegation and claim and complaint” against Sawh, and providing reasons in law and fact as to why there should not be any further...

23 May

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Tobago pensioners go after ex-THA assemblyman for $.4m

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ATTORNEYS for an elderly Tobago couple are going after former assemblyman Handel Beckles of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for close to $.4 million he owes them for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation. Beckles, his aunt Merle Beckles-Benjamin and their church Impact Ministries were ordered in 2019 ordered to repay pensioners Fitzroy and Cordella Pantin a total of $399,594.12. The Pantins had gone to court to recover the money. On Thursday, the couple’s attorneys wrote to Chief Secretary of the THA Ancil Dennis to say Beckles was a registered judgment debtor and since the former assemblyman has failed to pay,...

15 May

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Attorney to write CoP about client shot by police

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A 24-year-old man who was shot by police in Signal Hill on Tuesday remains warded at the Scarborough General Hospital under police guard. Relatives of Shermal "Chubby" Noray, who was shot in his chest near his Lambeau/ Signal Hill Road home, claim the shooting was "unjust" and have retained attorney Martin George. There have been conflicting reports as relatives say Noray was unarmed and relaxing in his car when police arrived and started shooting. Police claim they were fired at first and a gun was found at the scene. George said, “Attorneys from the firm of Martin George and Company made a...

30 April

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George: Don’t shut down every time cases rise

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George says the country has to find ways to “creatively and meaningfully live with the virus” and while he understands that the government must take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 it’s not enough to just shut down the economy when cases increase. The Tobago Chamber head is once again calling for mass vaccination which he said is the key to economic recovery. Responding almost immediately to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement of additional COVID-19 restrictions yesterday, the prominent attorney said he believes that the only way to manage the economy while navigating...

19 March

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Employee loses $1m lawsuit against TSTT

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A Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) payroll clerk has lost her almost $1 million lawsuit against her employer, over it reneging on an offer of early retirement. Delivering an oral judgement, during a virtual hearing yesterday, High Court Judge Frank Seepersad dismissed the breach of contract case brought by Brenda Mark against the State-owned telecommunications provider. Seepersad noted that while the company made an offer of voluntary enhanced early retirement in April 2014, which was accepted by Mark, the process to form a binding contractual agreement between the two parties was far from complete. Seepersad noted that the prospectus document issued to employees,...

11 March

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Big Easter weekend for Tobago hoteliers

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Tobago is expecting a bumper Easter weekend with Trinidadians flocking to the island. Responding to Newsday via WhatsApp on Tuesday, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) president Chris James said villas and self-catering properties are the top sellers for the long weekend. “Easter weekend has seen an increase in bookings and presently stands at 49 per cent across all property types with villas and self-catering doing best,” James said. Hinting at the limited availability of tickets on both the air- and seabridge, he said the association is advocating for more flights. “We will be speaking to the authorities to increase ticket availability for Easter....

10 March

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Judge to rule on TSTT clerk’s claim for $.9m pension benefits

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NEXT Thursday, a High Court judge will give his ruling on a claim by a TSTT payroll clerk who is seeking almost $1 million. She says the amount is owed to her as part of the company’s voluntary enhanced early retirement plan (VEERP), a pension lump sum and a reduced monthly pension. Brenda Mark, a permanent employee of TSTT since 1984, said she submitted an application for VEERP in April 2014, and her lump sum figure was calculated and given to her. It amounted to $974.289.04. She was invited to financial counselling sessions and said she believed TSTT was serious about “the binding agreement”...