At the Piarco International Airport, BET hip-hop awardee and two-time Grammy nominee, Cardi B, upon her arrival, stuck her tongue out, a signature style known to be done by the former reality TV star.

The Bodak Yellow rapper, real name Belcalis Almanzar, showed up bare-faced, dressed in a red track suit with black boots and wearing her long black hair loose.

Before taking her seat, the New York native danced briefly to the sounds of D Function Crew Rhythm Section and stopped to pose for pictures with Carnival models and fans who learned of her arrival and seized the photo op.

Cardi B’s visit is specific to the event Big Bad Soca which was held in south Trinidad at the Brian Lara Stadium carpark last night where the rapper performed.

The event, headlined by Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) also featured soca’s heavyweight champ Machel Montano. His addition to the cast was mentioned yesterday during the press conference hosted by Carnival band Tribe, which welcomed Cardi B. As it was announced she seemed visibly happy and surprised that MM would be on board.

Born of Caribbean parentage—her mother a Trinidadian and father Dominican—Cardi B underscored at the press conference that coming to Trinidad is like coming home as she immediately feels the warmth and love whenever she visits.

When asked to say a few words, in her animated voice she said: “Oh my God. Why didn’t you guys tell me you were gonna have all of this for me? I would have put on some make up. I look ugly. And I’m so tired, I was sleeping. I look ugly.

“Anyway, I just want to tell everybody thank you. From the moment I got here, I could feel the love and everything. Where I’m from…America….with everything that’s going on right now, it’s a horrible place. But as I got here, I just feel like I could relax myself and have a good time. So bring on the tamarind balls.”

In a subsequent interview the rap diva said nobody can party like Caribbean people and she is proud to have Caribbean roots.

Cardi B’s big break came last September when her rap single Bodak Yellow topped the charts, breaking records as she became the first female rapper to top the Billboard charts without the assistance of any other credited artist in nearly 19 years. She also received two Grammy nominations for best song and best rap performance.

Assurances from Government on T&T’s safety, immediate warning about T&T from foreign countries - and anger from some Muslim groups.

That’s the fall-out from yesterday’s revelation by police that several people had been held concerning a plot to disrupt the Carnival.

Confirming the situation, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said last night Government and security forces had for some time been on top of monitoring the situation concerning the threatened plot.

The T&T Guardian ascertained that several people - including three from El Socorro and one from Sangre Grande - were held and being questioned by police.

The Islamic Front said police executed simultaneous searches at the Nur- e Islam mosque in Aranguez, Munroe Road masjid and other jamaats in Sangre Grande, Bamboo, Valsayn and Laventille.

The US Embassy and UK High Commission immediately warned their citizens in T&T of the threat. Immediately after the police briefing, the US Embassy in Port-of-Spain, via statement, said, “The T&T Government recently disrupted a plan to attack the Carnival. In light of the recent operation the T&T Government is taking additional active steps to secure Carnival events out of an abundance of caution.”

The advisory warned US government personnel “to exercise additional caution and increased situational awareness if they participate in Carnival events” and keep “a low profile.”

By 8 pm, the UK also posted a website notice saying, “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in T&T... attacks could be indiscriminate, including in crowded spaces and places visited by foreigners. The T&T authorities have arrested some individuals who planned to carry out attacks against Carnival on 12 and 13 February 2018; an attack is still possible.

“The T&T government is increasing security measures for the Carnival; you should remain vigilant and avoid crowded places and large gatherings.”

Yesterday’s revelations occurred in the absence of National Security Minister Edmund Dillon who was on overseas business. Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, acting for Dillon, didn’t reply to calls.

However, Al-Rawi, commenting on the police claims said, “The National Security Council had been fully updated on all positions the TT Police service spoke to (yesterday) on the state of preparedness. This (revelation) was a situation that was constantly being monitored and aggressively managed to ensure the safety of all in T&T.

“We’ve been on top of this (situation) for quite some time, aggressively managing it. What we were aware of was the result of a significant amount of work.”

Al-Rawi added, “The bottom line is at this time of year and throughout the year, one has to be vigilant and vigilance is being exercised. And Carnival is a very special time, be assured there is a significant and abundant supply of law enforcement in and about T&T.”

Yesterday’s police raids at some mosques have been criticised by some Muslim groups.

Islamic Front headed by Umar Abdullah accused police of seeking to “to further oppress and target Muslims.”

“We regard the recent searches by police officers at (mosques) - Nur e Islam, Munroe Road, Sangre Grande, Bamboo and Laventille jamaats - over the last few hours, as juvenile, baseless, and a clear indication of the vendetta and dislike of the state towards Muslims in this country.”

Calling on the Police Commissioner for answers, Abdullah said: “We believe this a sour, pathetic attempt by the state to persecute Muslims and under the guise of ‘raids and searches’ to disrupt the Muslim community.”

A second bank employee charged with defrauding her employer, Republic Bank Limited (RBL), of $.25 million will face a Port-of-Spain magistrate later today.

The 37-year-old Diego Martin woman was yesterday charged on 19 counts larceny, six counts of forgery and six counts of uttering forged documents. She was employed at RBL’s Glencoe Branch.

Police investigations revealed during the period May 2011 and June 2017 the employee allegedly stole $253,500 from several account holders. A report was made by senior RBL officials to the Fraud Squad.

The investigation was led by Snr Supt Totaram Dookhie, who was assisted by Sgt David, Cpl Seemungal and WPCpl Nicole Antoine.

The bank employee was arrested yesterday at her home. Acting ASP Wayne Abbot laid the charges.

On Monday, RBL employee, Stephanie Elie, 22, of Hugh Payne Terrace, Arima, appeared before PoS Magistrate Kerri Honare-Narine accused of 14 fraud charges. Elie, who was last assigned to RBL’s branch at Valpark Shopping Plaza, in Valsayn, is accused of stealing $315,700 in a series of transactions between November last year and last month.

A Trinidadian who was detained in Saudi Arabia in August 2015 on grounds that he had links to terrorist organisations, was detained by police yesterday in a raid on his Mohammedville home, but relatives are accusing the police of using brute force which they say was unnecessary.

The man's father told the T&T Guardian that around 3.30 am yesterday there was banging and loud noise on the downstairs door of his home, where one of his sons resides with his wife and children.

He said the officers broke down the door, assaulted his son and started searching the house. The officers, he said, only produced a search warrant almost at the end of the search two hours later. The warrant was in the name of his other son, who lives upstairs with him, and was to allow them to search for arms and ammunition.

The distraught father said the officers were heavily armed and had shields to protect themselves, “but they were dressed in different uniforms.” He said the officers tied the hands of family members and allowed dogs into the house during the search. He said they found nothing but still detained his son.

The son was flagged as being involved in activities linked to terrorism by Special Branch officers and was detained when he returned to Trinidad in 2015. It was subsequently, on his return to Saudi Arabia in that year, that he was detained in that country. He only returned home a year ago and relatives say he was “trying to restart his life, but it had been difficult.”

The father said attorneys for the family had advised them to make a report to the Belmont Police Station, because the officers “did not follow procedure.”

His cousin, who spoke briefly to the T&T Guardian, said “it was a traumatic experience,” adding the people who live in Mohammedville had “helped build the country.”

The man's father accused the police of using “excessive force.

"If they had told us they had a warrant we would have cooperated. And even though they used force we cooperated and helped them. There was no communication before they broke down the door and ask us to lie down and tied our hands. These people came in the house, they read nothing to you but tie your hands behind your back and have dogs walk through. They wake up the babies who were asleep. The babies were crying. It was extremely traumatic.”

The T&T Guardian was told the officers had a “special raid” which targeted homes in Mohammedville, Farouk Avenue and other parts of El Socorro, San Juan. The exercise resulted in the man's son and two other men from the area being detained. In addition to homes, officers also raided two mosques in the area, but nothing was reportedly found.

The man said "instead of targeting innocent people the police should be out looking for the real bandits and killers." Up to last evening the man's son had been transferred from the Riverside Plaza to the Belmont Police Station after he complained of feeling unwell.

The cancellation of the T&T Express from the seabridge yesterday resulted in chaos and confusion at the Port of Port-of-Spain, as scores of passengers were left stranded for several hours at the height of the Carnival season.

The cancellation, the T&T Guardian was told, stemmed from the vessel not being granted a further extension of its class certification or its sea worthiness. Last year, the vessel was granted an extension of its certification, which expired this week.

This led to Caribbean Airlines (CAL) being faced with a backlog of passengers destined for Tobago on the eve of Carnival.

The T&T Spirit has been on dry dock for over six months, while the Cabo Star has been the lone cargo vessel sailing the seabridge.

Yesterday, the situation outside the port turned into frustration and anger for passengers holding confirmed tickets, as many complained they had to wait for hours in the sun and rain to be shuttled in Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses to Piarco.

With frustration etched on his face, 74-year-old Cyril Mc Intosh and his wife Lydia, 72, of Arima, complained that for four hours they had been standing in line with tickets in hands to board a bus. The couple was heading to Tobago for a mini vacation, but said this soured the trip. When the bus pulled up, the couple was edged out of the line by an unruly mob and had to wait for another shuttle. By then, a heavy shower came and the elderly couple, dragging their suitcases and a box, had to run for shelter.

Another disgruntled passenger, who gave her name as Nicole, vowed this was the last time she would be heading to Tobago.

“Some other country would get my money when I have to go on a vacation. The Government is losing revenue by this chaos and confusion taking place on the seabridge. I don’t feel sorry for us, because we are experiencing this for the first time, it’s Tobagonians I feel sorry for. Since 7 am we came with our confirmed tickets and it’s after 2pm and we have not boarded a bus as yet. Our country is in a total mess,” said a visibly upset Nicole.

Standing next to her husband and four children in the scorching sun, Nicole voiced displeasure that there was no port police to ensure mothers with children and the elderly were given priority to go on the bus.

"Everybody pushing to get in. There was no order or numbering system. Is every man for themselves," she said.

It was only after the media arrived on the scene that police began to ensure there was an orderly system.

At Piarco, passengers were seen sitting on the floor of the crowded airport waiting on flights. One female passenger admitted she did not experience any problems with CAL, as the flights ran every hour.

In a statement on Wednesday night, the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) said the vessel was pulled to secure the safety of passengers, vehicles and crew. It advised customers who purchased confirmed tickets for the period February 8 to 14 that they will be accommodated on Caribbean Airlines flights based on the availability of seats.

Such seats, PATT said, would have been provided at no cost to the passenger, while passengers' vehicles would be accommodated on the daily sailing of the Cabo Star and all ticket holders would be shuttled via PTSC to the Piarco and ANR International Airports at no additional cost.

In response to a question by Guardian Media on whether the T&T Express did not pass its class certification, PATT chairman Allison Lewis yesterday said “the vessel (Express) has to undergo some repairs frequently due to its age and the fact that its needs to go on dry dock. We have applied for an extension and the surveyors asked for certain things to be done before they can grant an extension.”

Lewis said the vessel will be inspected today and it was possible it would pass inspection.

Also contacted on the issue, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the ferry was an operational issue and referred the matter to the PATT.

In a press release last night, meanwhile CAL's corporate communications manager Dionne Ligoure said based on the current challenges on the seabridge, the airline will provide support for travellers and increase capacity on the airbridge between February 7-14.

Ligoure said CAL has been working with PATT "and priority will be given to passengers disrupted by the ferry cancellations," saying there was a process in place to accommodate these passengers. She said in addition to its current schedule of 20,444 seats, the airline will increase capacity by 4,720 more seats for the next seven consecutive days starting yesterday.

Kevon Saitoo and Dawuud Hood, the two men allegedly held with over $6 million worth of marijuana in 26 crocus bags, were denied bail yesterday.

Saitoo, 35, a security officer of South Oropouche, and Hood, 35, a PH driver of Belmont, appeared before Siparia Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert in the First Court charged with possession of 461.05 kilogrammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. They were not called on to plead to the indictable charge.

The men were arrested around 7.30 am on Tuesday after the police intercepted a white panel van along the SS Erin Road in Santa Flora. It is alleged police found the crocus bags of marijuana in the van. The men were subsequently charged by Sholto Sookram of the Erin Police Station.

The magistrate, along with the accused, attorneys and police officers, viewed the crocus bags of marijuana inside the panel van parked in the courtyard. Prosecutor Sgt Starr Jacob said 25 crocus bags contained 30 packets of marijuana while the other bag had 13 packets. The marijuana, she said, carried an estimated street value of $6,220,040.

Defence attorneys Ramnarine Soorjansingh and Kris Ramlal made an application for bail.

Given the seriousness of the offence, the quantum, weight and value of the drugs, together with the criminal background of the accused, the magistrate said she was not inclined to grant bail, advised them of their right to apply to a judge in chambers and adjourned the matter to March 8.

For a third time in less than a month, A&V Oil and Gas have lost their bid for an injunction blocking State owned Petrotrin from terminating its agreement and withholding a $83 million payment over allegations of inflated billings.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate judges Andre Des Vignes and Charmaine Pemberton yesterday dismissed the company’s appeal against the decision of a High Court Judge, who rejected the injunction application in mid-January.

Appellate Judge Prakash Moosai had upheld Justice Avason Quinlan-Williams’ decision in a procedural appeal, late last month.

However, the company requested that a full three member Appeal Court panel reconsider the issue.

In its written ruling, the panel ruled that the company had failed to prove that both Quinlan-Williams and Moosai were plainly wrong in their concurring decisions.

Immediately after the ruling, the company’s lawyer British Queen’s Counsel Peter Knox indicated that his client would lodge a final appeal before the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.

Knox expressed concerns over whether his client would be immediately evicted from the oil field, it has been operating under licence from Petrotrin since 2009.

Petrotrin’s lawyer Deborah Peake, SC, said that her client was unwilling to give an official undertaking but stated that it would not take steps to enforce the termination for the next two weeks.

In her decision, Quinlan Williams had said that Petrotrin was justified in terminating based on the findings of internal and external audit reports into its relationship with A&V.

“Applying an objective test of what reasonable grounds means Petrotrin had reasonable grounds for suspecting that A&V had misconducted itself based on the information contained in the internal audit report,” Quinlan-Williams said.

She rejected A&V’s claim that Petrotrin was required to disclose the external reports, prepared by global oil and gas consultants Gaffney Cline and Kroll Consulting, as she said that they was privilege information.

She suggested that it was also not entitled to the injunction as the contract contained a multi-tiered and explicit dispute resolution process which includes negotiation, mitigation and arbitration.

A&V is also being represented by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, Ronnie Bissessar, Vijaya Maharaj and Varin Gopaul-Gosine. Ravi Heffes-Doon and Marcelle Ferdinand are also representing Petrotrin.

Although the rain failed to put a damper on Wednesday night’s Big Bad Soca fete featuring US Grammy nominee Cardi B, the drama behind the scenes led to 2018 Road March contender Patrice Roberts and US-based Lyrikal boycotting the show.

Roberts and Lyrikal were among the original cast of artistes to perform at the event at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy car park in Tarouba.

Roberts arrived backstage around 2.45 am yesterday and found that there was no changing room to prepare for her presentation, especially after just finishing a gig in Couva.

According to her manager Adanna Asson, they arrived an hour earlier than they were expected to hit the stage as Roberts had a specially prepared outfit for the event.

Asson said what they met backstage were two trailers for Machel Montano and Cardi B. Under two tents was a bar where people had crowded to shelter the rain.

She said a committee member of 66 Entertainment, the promoter of the event, was apologetic but empathised with the people sheltering in the rain.

Still determined to perform, she said Roberts’ team formed a human barricade, used tables and “house and land” umbrellas to allow her to change into her outfit.

While waiting for Bunji and Fay-Ann’s set to finish, they were bumped down the order for Cardi B. Still patient, she said that a woman who came with Montano’s dancers told everyone that they needed to clear the tent. The rain was still falling so those under the tent, which included Roberts and Lyrikal stayed.

She said some time later, a man came with an authoritative tone, and ordered everyone to vacate the tents as they attempted to create a partition.

“It still meant that we had to go out in the rain. At this point in time, I told them that my artiste was here and he said he did not care and that we had to clear the tent. Our breaking point was when he started to talk and put his hands in an artiste’s face,” Asson said.

She said up to yesterday, they did not know who the man was as he wore no uniform of the promoters or Montano’s crew. Calls were made to 66 Entertainment for a response, but no one answered. Asson said despite the upset, Roberts holds no malice towards the promoters and is willing to work with them again.

“We have worked with this promoter before and never had any issues in the past. Up to last year, we performed at their event and the treatment was impeccable. We hope to work with them in the future and we will talk to iron things out.”

During his set, Bunji Garlin commented on a layout that proved to be awkward at best, with a fence down the middle separating General patrons from VIP and another fence separating VIP from Ultra VIP that pushed VIP further away from the stage. In the VIP section, patrons were promised a food inclusive experience but were disappointed with the offerings as many expressed that they felt duped by the promoters.

While Bunji and Fay-Ann delivered excellent performances, it was Hip Hop artiste Cardi B who had patrons screaming her censored lyrics word for word. Coming on stage to one of her more recent hits, MotorSport, the artiste displayed her signature upbeat personality as she shared that she was “Trini”.

She performed for about 10 minutes before saying she didn’t come for American music and introduced Machel Montano, who brought the Soca Kingdom to South, keeping patrons warm as the rain beat down.

Patrons were short-changed with the absence of Voice and Shal Marshall, however, Jamaican artiste Shenseea, Nailah Blackman and Preedy all lived up to the hype.

Attorney Keith Beckles has given the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (Tuco) 12 hours to come with a plausible reason why his client, calypsonian Duane O’Connor, was not selected as a finalist in Sunday’s Calypso Monarch competition.

If Tuco fails to come up with a valid explanation, Beckles will be heading to court today.

On Wednesday, Beckles sent a pre-action protocol letter to Tuco’s president Lutalo Masimba questioning why the points on his score sheets were changed following his performance at Calypso Fiesta last Saturday.

Beckles claimed his client’s score had been changed by a judge from 28 to 25 and if the reduction had not taken place O’Connor would have been in the final of the coveted competition.

Attorney Marlon Moore, acting on behalf of Tuco, responded yesterday to Beckles, outlining their case.

Moore said the Adjudicating Review Committee interviewed the judge in question who gave evidence to the committee that there was never any change of the score, but merely a clarification of the figures as written. He also stated that the judge confirmed it was a 25 and not 28 and that he tried to write 5 over a previous 5 which compounded the issue.

Beckles, in response to Moore, maintained that this was not reflected in the committee’s minutes and the issue lacked accountability and transparency.

O’Connor said some people had been telling him not to fight the matter.

“I know what I am facing. It’s totally frustration on my part as an artiste. We need to put a stop to judges making continuous errors like this.”

Masimba said if O’ Connor was not satisfied with the ruling of the committee the matter could be taken to the general council who will call an emergency meeting.

Minutes after being freed on a murder charge yesterday, Ira Mitchell, who spent 12 years in prison awaiting trial, appealed to the authorities to expedite the court process.

She made the appeal just after she walked out of the San Fernando High Court into the arms of family members.

Mitchell, 39, went on trial last month charged with the murder of her uncle-in-law Balo Seurattan, who died from a broken neck 18 years ago at their Princes Town home. However, it took the jury less than an hour of deliberations to return a not guilty verdict.

“You are free to go,” said Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas after he discharged Mitchell.

Mitchell said afterwards, “I am so happy to be freed today. It not easy to prove your innocence in a country like this, where so much crime going on and they just want to blame Peter for Paul. It really hard.”

Praising God for her freedom, she added, “I pray the rest of the ladies in the prison system right now could get through because it have a lot of innocent people sit down in prison. It not easy sitting down in prison knowing that you are innocent.

“People taking plea bargains not because they guilty, they are taking the plea bargains just because they are fed up...I really think the ministers ought to do something about this situation. People waiting for court dates for five, six, ten years, you sit down just waiting for a court date.”

She said her faith gave her the strength to survive prison.

“If I was a weak heart I would have just throw in everything and take a manslaughter or murder felony or something, because you so tired of it. It not easy. The women suffering, the men suffering and they need to do something about this situation.”

Mitchell also thanked lawyers Rekha Ramjit and Jared Ali for believing in her.

Mitchell was charged in 2006 following a coroner’s inquest. Her husband was also charged, but he was freed about seven years ago. Mitchell, who discovered Seurattan’s lifeless body on the bed, told police he was sick in the days prior to his death. She said on the day he died he had fallen twice and got a cut above his eyebrow.

The state’s case against her was based on circumstantial evidence. State attorney Sabrina Jaglal and Selywn Richardson led evidence from forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes, who said Seurattan’s injuries could not have been caused by a fall.

However, pathologist Hubert Daisley, who was called as a defence witness, testified that Seurattan’s injuries could have been caused by a low level fall.

Pupils and teachers of the Lendore Hindu Primary School were said to be horrified when gunshots rang out in the area yesterday, minutes before school dismissed for the day.

The gunshots came as gunmen killed 21-year-old Jeremy Hernandez in the yard of his School Street, Enterprise property.

According to a police report, residents heard explosions at about 2.20 pm and later found Hernandez, a labourer, bleeding from gunshot injuries. He died at the scene.

Residents told the T&T Guardian yesterday they fear members of the Unruly Gang were “getting back active.” They believe they were also responsible for a recent spike in robberies in the area. Residents are calling for more police patrols in the area, especially as Carnival is just three days away.

The Galleons Passage now officially belongs to T&T after the Government on Wednesday paid US17.4 million less a five per cent retention fee for the new ferry.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert defended the spend saying the purchase price of US $17.4 million “for a new ferry is very fair and reasonable when compared to the cost of similar new vessels.”

He said no additional payments were made to the original owner who commissioner the ferry or to the shipyard.”

Imbert has been keeping the population up-to-date on developments relating to the ferry via Twitter.

He had earlier posted: “It’s official. The Galleons Passage has been registered in the name of the National Infrastructure Development Company of T&T (Nidco) and an experienced crew is currently being mobilised in Guandong, China, to sail the vessel to Port-of-Spain.”

Imbert also said the vessel was issued a class certification by Lloyd’s Register Classification Society of 100A1 SSC Passenger Ship. This means that the vessel is suitable for seagoing service, was constructed or accepted into Lloyds Register class, is maintained in good and efficient condition and has good and efficient anchoring and mooring equipment.

The vessel was handed over to Nidco after undergoing sea trials and will set sail for T&T today. It is estimated that it will take two months to get here, with an arrival date sometime in April. Nidco will operate the vessel which will be leased to the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) on the seabridge.

The Galleons Passage was purchased for US$17.4 million and the trip from China will cost an additional US$800,000 which well-placed officials at the PATT said included bunkering and mobilisation costs.

The vessel carries the International Maritime Organisation’s number of 9772888 and is listed as a passenger/ro-ro cargo ship. It is currently sailing under the flag of Vanatu. I

The Galleons Passage will be introduced as the third vessel for the domestic route which has been plagued with problems since the departure of the Superfast Galicia in April last year.

Only on Wednesday the PATT announced that the lone vessel currently on the seabridge, the T&T Express, was being pulled from service because of rough seas. Unofficial word is that the vessel, which has been experiencing mechanical and other problems, failed to get a renewal of its insurance from Lloyds. Port officials declined comment when asked.

High-powered weapons were used in the killing of an employee of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) at La Horquetta yesterday morning.

The victim has been identified as Kevon Robinson, 31, of Phase 7.

According to a police report, at about 1.30 am Robinson was on his way to his home when he was ambushed by gunmen who shot him several times. Robinson died on the scene.

Police said that they are bracing for reprisals as an alleged “war” is brewing between members of the community at Phase 5 and Phase 7.

A relative of Robinson said his family is hurting. “I feel helpless but not hopeless, the community is in pain and shattered.’

Meanwhile, T&T Coast Guard divers have retrieved the body of a man at Chaguaramas.

Police officers at the Carenage Police Station say it is not the body of missing diver Chevonne Bartholomew who disappeared during a dive on January 29.

Police said the body the coast guard divers pulled out of the waters is of East Indian descent. The body was spotted at about 8 am. The man is believed to be in his late 40s.

The body was handed over to officers of the Carenage Police Station.

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the man.

Investigations are continuing.

Less than three days after the Ministry of Works and Transport was given the all clear to resume work on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway extension to Manzanilla, environmental activist group Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has obtained another injunction halting the project for a second time.

Appellate Court judge Peter Rajkumar yesterday granted the injunction as he deemed the FFOS’s appeal, over the decision of High Court judge Kevin Ramcharan to strike out its case on Tuesday, as urgent.

The injunction will last at least until early March, when Rajkumar would determine if FFOS has raised sufficient grounds in its appeal to warrant it being granted leave. If the group is granted leave then the appeal will be heard by a three-member panel of the Appeal Court.

Under the terms of the injunction, the project’s contractor Kall Co is only allowed to continue surveying the construction site and removed trees which have already been felled under the permission of the Forestry Division.

The ministry’s lawyers attempted to have the injunction varied to allow the continued construction of an access road to the site as done by Ramcharan when he first granted an interim injunction, when the work began early last month.

Rajkumar refused after FFOS attorneys pointed out that the road would infringe on the buffer zone between the proposed route and the Aripo Savannas, the designated environmentally sensitive area which FFOS is claiming is under threat by the construction.

FFOS is appealing Ramcharan’s decision to dismiss their judicial review lawsuit challenging the process used by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to grant a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the project. As a result of his decision to refuse FFOS leave to pursue its claim, the interim injunction was automatically discharged.

Ramcharan’s decision was largely based on the fact that the lawsuit was filed outside the three month statutory limit.

He said that while FFOS was required to file the lawsuit three months after the EMA granted the ministry the CEC on June 22, it filed it exactly three months after it learned of the CEC on July 6.

FFOS are claiming that Ramcharan should have used his discretion to extend the time limit due to the public interest in the case.

In addition to rejecting the claim based on the unreasonable delay, Ramcharan ruled that all 14 grounds, raised by FFOS in the lawsuit, did not have a realistic prospect of success it they were eventually taken to trial.

Ramcharan also stated that he felt the EMA has followed the required process before granting the CEC. FFOS was represented by Anand Ramlogan, SC, Jayanti Lutchmedial, Alvin Pariagsingh and Robert Abdool-Mitchell. Deborah Peake, SC, and Ravi Heffes-Doon represented the EMA, while Ian Benjamin represented the ministry. Kall Co was represented by Douglas Mendes, SC, and Devesh Maharaj.

ABOUT THE HIGHWAY

In the lawsuit, the group is challenging the process used by the EMA for granting a CEC for first phase of the project between Cumuto and Guaico. The 5 km segment is estimated to cost $400 million. It was claiming that the process was procedural flawed and failed to consider alternative routes for the project, which would have less impact on the environment and existing communities. The group is contending that the construction works, which commenced on January 8, has already infringed on the Aripo Savannas forest reserve, which was declared an environmentally sensitive area by the EMA in 2007. The reserve consists of 1,780 hectares of land which is home over 500 species of plants including seven rare species and two endemic grasses as well the endangered ocelot. According the EMA’s website the area is internationally renowned for its unusual flora and striking vegetation communities and is one of the more intensively studied natural ecosystems in Trinidad.

On the eve of the Carnival festivities, popularly dubbed ‘the greatest show on earth,’ Trinidad and Tobago is getting a lot of international attention over the announcement of a terror threat uncovered by the security forces ahead of the celebrations.

At least four countries have advised their nationals that despite the arrest of people linked to the terrorist threat “an attack is still possible” and urged their nationals to be extremely careful.

The threat also got attention of at least two British newspapers - the Sun and Independent -which both reported on the warning issued by the British Foreign Office in light of the announcement made by the T&T police on Thursday.

The Sun reported: “In a dramatic late night announcement, the Foreign Office said the Trinidad and Tobago authorities have arrested some individuals who planned to carry out attacks against Carnival on February 12 and 13.”

Despite the arrests, the Foreign Office noted that “an attack is still possible. The Trinidad and Tobago government is increasing security measures for Carnival. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Foreign Office also warned British nationals to avoid crowded streets, which it said was “soft targets for jihadis.”

The Sun reported that around 30,000 Britons a year visit Trinidad and Tobago.

“Some have family links to Trinidad but most are tourists heading to Tobago, which has direct flights from London on BA and Virgin,” the Sun said.

It reported that T&T, which has a population of 1.3 million people, “has the highest ISIS recruitment of any country in the Western Hemisphere.” It added that around 125 people are feared to have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq “and they pose a severe threat when they return home.”

The Independent reported the threat in a similar manner, noting that “while the Caribbean is generally regarded as terrorist free, Trinidad and Tobago is an exception.”

The British Foreign Office updated the terrorism section of its travel advisory to Thursday, warning of the terrorist threat and telling Brits that while the government was “increasing security measures for the Carnival, they should remain vigilant and avoid crowded places and large gatherings.”

Similar warnings came from the US and Canadian Governments.

There’s been no response from the US Embassy in T&T on a CNN report that US military personnel helped capture the individuals detained by police on Thursday concerning a plot to disrupt Carnival.

Police said they had unearthed “credible information” of the threat, with ASP Michael Jackman confirming the individuals planned to engage in criminal conduct to disrupt activities surrounding Carnival 2018.

In a report yesterday, CNN subsequently stated: “US troops participated in anti-terror raids on Thursday in T&T in helping to capture four “high value targets.”

CNN quoted two US military officials, adding military personnel from US Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in the region, “advised and assisted local Trinidadian security forces in apprehending the four extremists who are believed to be part of a network engaged in plotting terror attacks.”

CNN added the US troops did not participate in any direct combat. It said T&T “has long been an area of concern for the US military and intelligence communities as it is assessed to be home to ISIS sympathizers, with officials saying that some of its citizens have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join extremist groups.”

CNN added that in April 2017, US Navy Admiral Kurt Tidd, the Southern Command head, said “some of the individuals who left T&T have shown up “on film engaged in terrorist acts” and have committed murders in Syria.”

Police’s revelations of the plot also made it into Newsweek. The magazine featured warnings by American and British authorities on the issue and that several people had been detained, as well as quotations from CNN.

Newsweek reported that “more than 100” T&T nationals joined the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. It also claimed that in Middle East territories controlled by ISIS, “foreign fighters recounted how they had crossed paths” with Jamaican and T&T citizens. Newsweek quoted Harry Sarfo, a German who returned home and is now in jail, who reportedly said some of the Caribbean foreign fighters had become members of special ISIS units known as Jaysh al-Khalifa, or the “Army of Caliphate.”

More hunting and further “operations.”

Police yesterday returned to do searches at the Mohammedville, San Juan home of one of the persons who was detained in Thursday’s investigations concerning a plot to disrupt Carnival.

This was confirmed by official sources as well as Mohammedville residents. But up to 8 pm there was no official word of the release of those who were held on Thursday - or of charges being filed.

Investigations continued yesterday following police searches at homes in the Mohammedville area in the early hours of Thursday, when several people were detained. The Nur-E Islam masjid was also searched.

Police Service Information officer ASP Michael Blackman later revealed police had unearthed “credible information” of a threat to disrupt Carnival. He confirmed the individuals planned to engage in criminal conduct to disrupt Carnival activites.

Those detained included Tariq Mohammed, son of radio announcer Shamoon Mohammed and a member of the Mohammed clan. Mustapha Khan and Fawaz Ali, both of El Socorro, were also detained.

Yesterday there were indications that another person - from Enterprise - was detained. Official sources confirmed that “a lot of operations are going down......”

Mohammed was an Islamic studies student at the University of Medina, Saudi Arabia. When he and his family returned home in 2015 he was interviewed by Special Branch police. After that, on the family’s return to Saudi Arabia he was detained for 16 months over 2015-16, again being questioned by Saudi authorities on suspicion of being linked to terrorism. He claimed to have been subjected to torture and denied any link to terrorism

Mohammed was released and returned home in December 2016. He recently was involved in paramedic studies, his family said.

Another detainee is a Muslim cleric who also studied in Saudi Arabia years ago. He teaches in El Socorro areas, colleagues said

After the men were taken to Riverside Plaza they were separated. Mohammed was moved to Belmont Police Station where he remained yesterday.

Relatives said police on Thursday said they were satisfied there was “nothing on him” and were “just waiting to get directive from superiors for release.” Lawyers representing the detainees said the men could only be held for 48 hours - until early this morning. Mohammed’s attorney said she’d spoken to police at 7 pm and was told there was no update on the situation.

However, meetings were held by police on the issue around mid-afternoon yesterday. Following that, a party of officers returned to the El Socorro residence of another detainee to do searches.

Sources said they were seeking any material - including arms, ammunition - as their search warrant had stated on Thursday. The man’s family said they were bewildered and hadn’t been told anything.

Relatives of the other detainee, who has a wife and seven children, said he hadn’t been brought back to the area.

“We don’t know what he’s being held for, they seem to be now looking for something to hold them on. We don’t know where this is going...” they added.

Mohammed’s father Shamoon told T&T Guardian he’d call police again this morning.

“We’re still awaiting news. But I’m certainly going to update the Police Complaints Authority and Police Commissioner on what’s occurred here,” he said yesterday.

Nur-E Islam has nothing to hide

The Nur-E Islam mosque, which was searched by police at 4 am on Thursday - and to which some of the detainees are affiliated - said it was awaiting evidence for the police’s actions. In a release mosque leadership stated: “We co-operate as much as possible with the authorities for the good of our country. In this regard we acknowledge the professionalism displayed by police officers who conducted a search of the masjid’s premises on Thursday at 4 am.

“Our (congregation) adhered to the laws of the country and have nothing to hide. At the same time we’re concerned about alleged abuse of members of our congregation at their private homes, resulting in serious injuries to at least one person.”

The statement added, “The police have made certain allegations and have detained though not arrested, some Muslim brothers. We await the evidence of their actions.

“As Muslims we don’t condone any of the immoral activities associated with Carnival, but it’s not within Islamic principles to attempt to take matters into our own hands and attempt to disrupt Carnival by causing destruction, harm or injury to people or places. If there was really was such a plot, we totally condemn it. We hope this is a misunderstanding with the Muslims and look forward to justice, honesty and integrity.”

Muslims of T&T PRO Imitiaz Mohammed, who said his niece’s family were affected by Thursday’s Mohammedville search, condemned what he said was police brutality during the search.

“They live downstairs a place the police searched. Her husband was cuffed and their door broken down. Brutality!” Mohammed said.

“This is a conspiracy between T&T’s Government, the police and the US to undermine the Muslim community and make people believe Government’s anti-terrorism bill - expected soon - is necessary. They want to broad-brush Muslims as terrorists, but this aggression could end up creating terrorists.”

He added, “We don’t know who will be next. But this incident will turn off people’s support for the bill. Families affected by this should take legal action.”

The Children’s Authority of T&T is currently investigating a case in which a teenager claims she is being prostituted by her own mother and whether a woman who has identified herself as the child’s mother as has prostitutes working for her in St James.

The authority launched the probe after the child did a video highlighting her abuse and appealing for help. The video was made by someone who subsequently posted it and video of the teen’s mother on social media.

The videos angered scores of people who subsequently called on the Children’s Authority and the police to rescue the girl. The video has been shared 3,400 times on Facebook as well as on Whatapp.

In the first video which went viral on Thursday night the child begs for help, saying her mother, identified by name, has been forcing her to “make fares” at Murray Street, Woodbrook. Saying she has a troubling background, the teenager said she has been asking for help but no one, including the police, has reached out.

“My mother is sending me on Murray Street to make fares. I am telling police and police not helping me. It is big men and one of them knows my real age and yet he keeps calling and begging my mother to let me come (by him).” The girl claimed she is beaten by her mother if she refuses to have sex with the men.

“This going on three months now and any-time I say I don’t want to go, she either beat me or don’t want to feed me. She does all kinds of things to me.”

The girl showed scars on her foot and neck as proof of the beatings. Saying she did not want to be placed in a children’s home, the teenager revealed that others had taken custody of her but whenever that happened, her mother “made bacchanal” and she was sent back to the abusive home.

In the second video, the woman, believed to be her mother, admitted she had “two or three whores working for me,” but did not address the teen’s allegations.

In a statement yesterday, Children’s Authority communications manager Cheryl Moses-Williams said they received the video and were investigating.

“The authority is appealing to the person who recorded the video, as well as any member of the public who has information regarding the whereabouts of the child, to contact our hotline at 996 or 800-2014. All calls are confidential and can be made anonymously,” Moses-Williams said.

She added, “The public is advised that according to the Children Act (2012), anyone who causes or encourages the prostitution of or sexual penetration of a child, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.”

Police are now investigating the death of an eight-year-old boy, who reportedly succumbed to injuries he sustained after being beaten with an iron pipe by a close relative yesterday.

Ishmeel Phillips, of Rydale Avenue, Greenvale Park, La Horquetta, collapsed in an unconscious state at his home after the beating. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex Paediatrics Emergency Department by police constable Thaddeus Caraballo.

Caraballo, who lives next door, was alerted by the child’s stepmother Michelle Smith, 34, that Phillips was not breathing after he collapsed.

The T&T Guardian was told the incident took place shortly after 1 pm yesterday. Phillips died while undergoing treatment at the emergency department about one hour later. For 45 minutes doctors tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate him. Phillips suffered deep gashes to his head, face, arms, legs, rib cage, abdomen and back.

Relatives described the child’s attacker as “evil” and alleged the child was a victim of continuous physical abuse for years.

The relative is said to be a former soldier who is now wheelchair-bound. He was shot and wounded while on duty in Morvant several years ago and was discharged medically unfit. The soldier was granted a single unit Housing Development Corporation house in Greenvale after he suffered the injury.

Smith was up to press time still being interviewed by homicide detectives. The detectives were notified by hospital officials after Phillips was take to the hospital.

An investigation has been launched.

RHONDOR DOWLAT
ABRAHAM DIAZ

Former bank employee Nikisha Winter-Roach has appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on 31 counts of fraud.

The charges against Winter-Roach, 37, of Blue Basin Gardens, Diego Martin, included 19 counts of larceny servant, six counts of forgery and six counts of uttering forged documents in connection with the theft of $253,500 between May 2011 and June 2017.

The charges were laid by acting ASP Wayne Abbot.

The charges stemmed from a report made by Republic Bank’s Glencoe branch bank to the Fraud Squad in 2017 and an investigation into the alleged theft of monies from the accounts of several customers. Winter-Roach was dismissed from the bank last year, following the launch of the investigations. Investigations were led by Fraud Squad head Snr. Supt. Totaram Dookhie, assisted by Sgt. Jason David, Cpl. Rohan Seemungal and W/Cpl Nicole Antoine.

Winter-Roach was reported missing on July 26 last year. She was found five days later tied up and in a disoriented state by a neighbour close to her home at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas.