By Denyse Renne From Trinidad Express newspapers

The police investigation into a report lodged by Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight attendant Ronelle Laidlow against Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh is continuing.

Sources told the Express a senior police officer visited the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) security department on Saturday and asked to view records of the report lodged by Laidlow.

Following a CAL flight from Tobago last week Sunday, Laidlow reported the matter involving herself and Ramadharsingh to AATT security and officers of Piarco police sub-station.

Though the 25-year-old flight attendant indicated she did not wish to pursue the matter, the police still have to investigate the incident, at the end of which recommendations will be made.

Speaking with the Express yesterday afternoon, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said acting Inspector Mark Maraj is investigating the report.

Asked about the time frame the investigation will take to be completed, Williams said: “He has no time frame and doesn’t have to submit a report to me.”

Williams was also asked whether passengers on the flight will be interviewed.

“That’s the normal way an investigation is done. The witnesses are allocated and interviewed and a statement is sought from witnesses,” he said.

Asked whether Ramadharsingh has been interviewed by the police, Williams said he could not say.

The Express exclusively reported Laidlow made a report to the Piarco police sub-station and Airports Authority security against Ramadharsingh following an incident on board Caribbean Airline Flight BW 1519, where she alleged the minister threatened her job and touched her breast while attempting to grab her employee identification badge, which was pinned to her shirt.

The minister has since apologised, bla­ming “severe fatigue” for his behaviour, and also appeared on Crime Watch last Friday to explain his actions.

At the weekend, secretary-general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Sat Maharaj called for Ramadharsingh to resign or be fired, stating the minister is an “embarrassment”, “a liability” and “a poor role model”.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Senior-cop-probing-case-251833801.html

See related story:

T&T Minister to send full report over flight attendant incident to PM 

From Trinidad Express

Minister of the People and Social Development Glenn Ramadharsingh will have to submit a report to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, detailing what transpired between him and a flight attendant on board a Caribbean Airlines flight from Tobago last weekend.

“I’ve asked the honourable Minister (to make) a full report and asked the relevant authorities to give me a full report. So it will be inappropriate to make any comment at this time until I receive those reports,” Persad-Bissessar told reporters at yesterday’s Phagwa celebrations in Palmiste Park, San Fernando.

Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) flight attendant Ronelle Laidlow last week filed a complaint against Ramadharsingh, alleging the minister’s hand touched her breast when he reached for her ID badge, which was pinned to her blouse, and threatened to have her fired. Laidlow also alleged Ramadharsingh appeared intoxicated and, as such, when she requested that he move from his assigned seat, adjacent to an emergency exit, he refused. He also allegedly refused to properly stow his luggage in preparation for take-off.

Ramadharsingh has since apologised and blamed his behaviour on “severe fatigue”. This was the first time Persad-Bissessar attended Phagwa celebrations at Palmiste Park—an annual event in its 13th year, hosted by the Pandavas group.

The group also hosts Ramleela celebrations in the park for Divali. This was also the first time the event received Government aid, through the Ministry of National Diversity.

Persad-Bissessar arrived at the grounds around 4 p.m. to the resounding rhythms of tassa music. The Prime Minister made it a family outing, accompanied by her grandson, Kristiano Bissessar, her sister, Vidwatee Newton, and her nephews. Throngs of excited supporters gathered around as Persad-Bissessar exited her vehicle, eager for a chance to greet the Prime Minis­ter. Persad-Bissessar was immediately bombarded with clouds of powdered abeer, turning her white shalwar into a splattered kaleidoscope. Unfazed, the Prime Minister greeted her supporters, daubing them as well. Finally reaching the stage, Persad-Bissessar was again mobbed by people eager to meet her and share the Phagwa traditions with their Prime Minister—and take a photograph of the moment. Organiser of the event

Chimandath Maharaj presented Persad-Bissessar and her son with two sets of mini cymbals, called jhaal, and invited them to take part in performing a traditional Phagwa folksong, a chowtal. As Persad-Bissessar and Kristiano chimed along with the band, she quipped she did not even know her grandson (Kris) could play.

She and Oropouche West Member of Parliament Stacey Roopnarine were also invited to play the jhaal with another Chowtal group from Roopnarine’s constituency.

“For the first time, my Government has sponsored partly this celebration here today; (we hope to see it) grow and continue to grow. Happy Holi (Phagwa) to everyone,” she said, congratulating all who came out for participating. She also apologised for not making it to celebrations for Phagwa in Tunapuna on Saturday, citing her delayed flight and late arrival on Friday night for her absence.

Persad-Bissessar had on Saturday, at a United National Congress (UNC) convention in Rienzi Complex, Couva, named Ambassador to the United Nations Rodney Charles as the UNC’s campaign manager for the general election in 2015. Asked yesterday if a replacement for Charles had been considered, Persad-Bissessar said: “We will have to find one.”

For more on this story go to:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/FULL-REPORT-251834381.html?m=y&smobile=y

PHOTO: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar & Glenn Ramadharsingh