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Leaking acid cancels classes at Holy Name

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Classes are expected to resume today at Holy Name Convent, Port-of-Spain, following an incident yesterday where a bottle of acetic acid was found to be leaking in a cupboard in one of the science labs. 

The incident caused the early closure of the school and classes at the neighbouring Holy Name Preparatory School, located on the same compound at Queen’s Park East, also to be interrupted temporarily. Those students were allowed to return to the school after fire officials gave the all clear during the mid-morning period.

During an interview, a school official confirmed the leaking bottle was discovered around 7 am by a lab assistant who detected “some not so pleasant fumes.” The official said procedures were initiated immediately to preserve the safety of the 52-staff members and 675-student population, as well as all other occupants on the premises.

The official added fire officials were contacted and assisted in securing the leaking bottle and local firm, Green Engineering, was called in to aid in the removal of the leaking bottle from the compound. Green Engineering specialises in various aspects of environmental management and engineering services.

Describing the incident as “something seemingly simple” which had prompted an investigation to determine how the bottle came to be leaking, the official said they were still awaiting confirmation on how it occurred. Although no one fell ill as a result of the toxic fumes, the official said the lab assistant was sent for medical attention to ensure there were no lasting ill effects. 

The official said it was normal for the school to be in possession of certain acids and other chemical agents as science students required them for use as part of the syllabus. However, it was stressed that all such agents were normally secured and that yesterday’s incident had led to a tightening of those procedures.

Praising the Fire Services for their timely assistance, the official lamented the fact that their equipment was not up to standard “in terms of coping with a chemical crisis.”

Pressed to elaborate, the official was unsure if the hazmat suits worn by the officers were up to standard.

‘Sad state of affairs’

Contacted on the matter, president of the Fire Services Association Leo Ramkissoon expressed concern as he said that officers who responded to the call yesterday, "did not have the equipment needed to treat with this situation in its entirety." He said after arriving at the school, officers were forced to contact the Savonetta Fire Station to seek the assistance of the hazmat response team as they were unable to treat with the hydrochloric containment.

Ramkissoon was critical of the State as he said that was clear evidence of the lack of equipment. "One is left to wonder what a great predicament we would have been in if this was on a much larger scale and more serious," he said. He said it was a "sad thing" that an external company had to be called in to complete the process.

 


Imbert to look at bank rates

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Finance Minister Colm Imbert has promised to look into the issue of deposit and saving rates charged by banks. He made the promise in winding up debate in the Senate on Tuesday in response to an earlier call from Independent Senator David Small.

In winding up the debate, Imbert said he had the authority to act on the issue by law and was “shocked” it was not a matter dealt with before.

“As far as I know, no previous Minister of Finance ever looked at this. Never looked at the fact that the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance can regulate the spread between deposit rates and lending rates and the fees and charges charged by... so that it’s in the law and I can tell you I have asked the Central Bank to start to initiate discussions with the banks on this. 

“Because this is like a culture shock, eh, to the banks, that someone would come to them and say we are going to invoke Section 44A of the Central Bank Act.”

During earlier debate on Government’s mid-year review and variation of allocation, Small had said Government could assist the public’s “belt-tightening and saving effort” by asking banks to rectify the payment issue, since he believed institutions were “robbing” people in the current situation. 

He said the depth of the problem facing Government was very deep and the options for dealing with that wee limited. “I’m not sure if everybody fully appreciates it...” Small said, adding while Government has been mandating “belt tightening” there was cynicism among the public. 

Small, who suggested various ways to save costs, especially concerning ministries’ energy costs, also recommended how Government could help the public to tighten their “belts” and save.

Noting that Central Bank’s economic bulletin stated that the gap between deposit and savings rates is about eight per cent, Small said he understood Imbert had said recently that he had some leeway in the matter. Small added: “Every time we are asking the citizens — the Government is asking the citizens to bear with the Government and tighten your belt — well, give the citizens something.

“Tell the banks: this spread, eight per cent, is too high. You are robbing people.” Small said the Finance Minister should ask banks to do something “about this thing in the way in which citizens can get some benefit.”

Small said within Government’s own control, there “is something called Tax Free Savings Bonds. I have advocated for that in every session of Parliament. Where are they (bonds)? As a citizen I have zero ability for my savings to earn.”

Small added: “(So) while we ask citizens to tighten (belts), the Government can say, well perhaps we can help citizens save and earn something on their savings.”

Small also said in his contribution: “I challenge anyone to say that these (current times) are easy waters to navigate. These are, difficult, difficult waters. 

“We need people to really stop the noise and let us focus on the issues and see how we can rally around T&T... we should recognise that these problems are so large that they require everybody to get behind the Government and try to see how we can best  work together to ensure T&T is a sustainable feature... for  everyone.”

Small added T&T also needed to figure out a way to deal with perpetrators of corruption “because that is going on here for too long.” He said he had said before that corruption did not exist in T&T since no-one had been prosecuted for this. 

He added: “Clico, HCU (Hindu Credit Union), FCB IPO (First Citizens Bank Initial Public Offering), all of those things have gone silent. Nobody has been brought to bear, to face any sort of justice in this matter and things like repayment of HCU bonds is coming out of taxpayers’ money.

“But the perpetrators? Ask Allen Stanford and Raj Rajaratnam, what is the meaning of corruption. Because I understand right now they are very, very, well taken guests of the United States Department of Corrections... that is what you are supposed to do when you run a Ponzi scheme.”

Small added: “You rip off people and the Government has to stand in, come in and bail out but people are living fat in Florida and wherever, living well and there are no penalties. Noting the assets of foreign “perps” like Standford and Rajaratnam had been frozen also, he reiterated T&T needed to figure out a way to deal with similar situations.

Young chef aims to be his own boss

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Young Keion Dennis, 20, a certified chef, comes out early every morning and sets up two tables at the side of the gas station in Montrose, Chaguanas. He spreads a plastic tablecloth over them, rests two styrotex boxes filled with fried bakes and saltfish and pies he made himself on them and mounts his large colourful umbrella over everything. And he’s ready for the day’s work. 

Dennis began occupying the strategic spot recently after it was vacated by a doubles vendor. It has a constant flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. 

Although he looks humble and unassuming, Dennis has an associate degree from the Hospitality and Tourism Institute and worked in the kitchens of top restaurants like Chaud’s in St Ann’s, the Hilton Trinidad, Woodford Cafe and Ruby Tuesday.

“It was a good world. I enjoyed it but the treatment you sometimes receive from bosses is a bit harsh. I wanted to see if I could create my own business.”

Dennis’ goal is to open his own restaurant and be his own boss and also provide a non-hostile environment for aspiring chefs in which to train. His pies and bake and saltfish stand is the first step.

“The biggest thing is to take that first step. This is my first step. It started off a bit slow but I’m building a clientele.

“Apart from my good looks, when they taste my product, they come back,” he joked.

“I also try to be lenient with my prices. Yes, you can be lenient and still make a profit,” he insisted.

“People pick up on your kindness. You will be rewarded.” His winning smile and courteous manner also draws customers.

Dennis, of Edinburgh 500, said he started off with 15 fried bakes and saltfish and ten beef, chicken and potato pies. “I am making a lot more bakes and pies now” he said. Determined and positive, he said it was “really a fear thing” that stopped people from realising their full potential. “You must go with God. It’s kinda tough to not have Him in your thoughts.”

Dennis learned that wisdom the hard way. He said his parents separated when he was very young and he ended up living with “granny”.

“My father died when I was 11 and I never developed a close relationship with my mother.”

To help granny raise him, Dennis said he began working at age 12 to fund his schooling.

“My first job was at age 12 in an upholstery place. Then I washed maxi taxis to help buy my textbooks.”

While working, Dennis studied hard while attending the Tunapuna Secondary and graduated with six passes, two 1s and four 2s.

“When I left high school I started working at KFC to pay my way through the last two years at the Hospitality and Tourism Institute. 

“I graduated with an associate degree in Culinary Management and I’m a certified chef.”

Sending out a word of advice to young people who may be fearful of pursuing their goals, Dennis said: “No matter how hard you must be determined and go forward.

“When you want to do something, the whole world will want to stop you but go with God. When you recognise Him, He will show you the way and tell you what to do and what not to do.”

Protective services riled up by $1m faux pas: Dillon fixes ‘big mistake’

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The People’s National Movement (PNM) Government will apply the past People’s Partnership administration’s promised $1 million death benefit for all protective services officers killed in the line of duty — and not just police only.

That assurance came from National Security Minister Edmund Dillon last night, as he hurried to correct inaccurate statements on the matter by two of his Cabinet colleagues which had immediately sparked fiery condemnation by the Prisons Officers’ Association (POA) and the Fire Services’ Association (FSA).

Dillon issued a statement hours after Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus told yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference the death benefit would be applicable only to police officers killed in the line of duty, as that had been the decision of the past PP administration.

Harsh reaction immediately arose from the POA and FSA, which demanded that the PNM Government honour the PP administration’s promise to pay the compensation to families of all protective service members who died in the line of duty.

In his subsequent correction of Baptiste-Primus’ earlier statement, Dillon said the $1 million compensation package “will be paid to all of the following: T&T Defence Force, T&T Police Service, T&T Prisons Service and T&T Fire Services.”

He also confirmed the package was “proposed by the previous administration to families of all members of the services slain in the line of duty.”

Baptiste-Primus spoke about the issue after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said in Parliament last Friday the payment would be made to officers killed in the line of duty. He also spoke about it at the PNM’s Malabar meeting on Wednesday.

In the PP’s 2014-2015 budget, then PP finance minister Larry Howai had announced the $1 million death benefit to the estate of law enforcement/protective service officers who died in the line of duty.

However, at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference, Baptiste-Primus, when asked if it applied to all members of the protective services, said her understanding was that it was only applicable to police officers.

Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie, also present at the briefing, said that was the “initial announcement.” He added that due to all the questions arising about it, the Government now had to establish mechanisms for the initiative.

Asked the Government’s position in the event other protective services clamoured for it also, Baptiste-Primus said: “We’ll have to deal with those issues as and when they arise.”

But she added that the decision of the former PP administration was to pay police officers and “...that is what we’re keeping faith with.” She said the payments would be made to about three to five police officers who she estimated to have been killed in the line of duty since the initiative was introduced. 

“Oh yes...” she said, when asked if it would be retroactive from the time it was announced by the PP.

Baptiste-Primus said a legal process was needed to implement the payments but this may not be lengthy. The arrangement could not be done by the authority of a Cabinet note alone, she added, since an order would have to be amended. 

She accused the PP of “not doing anything” to implement the payments. But Baptiste-Primus said it was recognised an undertaking was given and the necessary legal amendments would be made to implement it.

Soon after her announcement, however, an incensed Prisons Officers’ Association president, Cerron Richards, told the T&T Guardian: 

“The previous government assured we would receive the death benefit. I had attended a meeting on the issue with the then National Security Minister Gary Griffith, when prisons fell under the Justice Ministry, and we asked if we would be part of the plan and he said we were part of the protective services and would be included.

“We now hear this Labour Minister say otherwise. How can any government forget we are members of the protective services, subject to risk? How can a responsible government isolate one element to benefit and send everyone else out? We won’t accept it!”

Fire Service Association president Leo Ramkissoon also slammed Baptiste-Primus’ statements, querying if she had done proper research and noting fire officers are at very high risk in working with the elements and natural disaster. He said his members were clamouring for clarity and called for the matter to be dealt with urgently.

Ministry committed to making payments

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Not long after members of the Prison Officers Association and Fire Services Association criticised Government for leaving them out of the $1 million compensation package for members of the protective services slain in duty, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon was forced to correct the statement made about the initiative made by Cabinet colleagues Jennifer Baptiste-Primus and Maxie Cuffie.

After noting all members of the protective services would qualify for the payment, Dillon added:

“In September 2014, the previous government accepted the proposal from the Police Service to pay $1 million to relatives of any member of the protective services killed in the line of duty. 

“However, there has been no disbursement of the promised payment to date, notwithstanding the death of Police Constable Sherman Maynard, who was on duty outside the Port-of-Spain Prison on July 24, 2015. 

“The National Security Ministry is committed to putting in place the mechanism to get the Cabinet approval to effect the payment to family members of officers killed in duty.”

After Dillon’s correction, Fire Services Association head Ramkissoon said: “I’m relieved and hope the process will be speedily implemented.”

Efforts to contact POA president Richards last night were unsuccessful.

Police Social and Welfare Association head Anand Ramesar said the benefit had been announced in 2014 for all protective services but he said police officers were usually the most likely to lose their lives on the job.

Also contacted yesterday, former PP national security minister Gary Griffith said when the Cabinet note on the issue arose it had only included sectors under National Security: Police, Fire and Defence Force. 

He said he had pointed out prisons was also part of the protective services and the PP decided all protective services, including Prisons, would be eligible for the benefit.

Former national security minister Carl Alfonso, meanwhile, said up to last August, the ministry had been working on arrangements for payments for PC Maynard, who was killed during the July 2015 jailbreak at the Frederick Street prison. 

Alfonso said he had been in touch with the then finance minister and deputy police commissioner to do the necessary checks on Maynard’s beneficiaries for the payments. He said that process had been in train.

Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus also yesterday commented on concerns about whether the protective services’ threats of “chaos”, erupting from their dissatisfaction over the Government’s arrangements to pay arrears, could result in another day of “Total Policing”. 

Yesterday, Baptiste-Primus noted that Finance Minister Colm Imbert had said he would be meeting with the groups soon and she expected the issue would be settled. She said the debt was recognised and it would be met.

‘Sit out’ for justice

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Braving possible arrest, retrenched ArcelorMittal worker Christopher Boodram yesterday sat on the road with scores of his colleagues, blocking vehicles as he spoke to his elder sister on the phone about his decision to fight the decision.

He and other workers blocked the Point Lisas roundabout, Couva, before dawn hoping to trigger enough economic losses to force the Government to intervene in their struggle against the multinational which closed down operations last month and declared bankruptcy without paying pension and severance benefits to 644 workers.

“We not getting the attention we deserve. Even if they arrest me, I am fighting for a cause,” Boodram was overheard saying on the phone to his sister, Nadia Mohammed, as the police waited for them to get off the road shortly after 6 am. 

Traffic backed up as far as Marabella on the Southern Main Road and along the Rivulet Road towards the Solomon Hochoy Highway. For more than an hour workers were unable to get access to the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

In an interview afterwards Boodram said: “While I was sitting there I had in the back of my mind that I could be arrested. I was not afraid but I was preparing myself to be arrested because life is not the same since I lost my job.”

Boodram said his younger sister, Vanessa, and his 16-year-old nephew, Codell Lendore, depended on him for support. 

“Bills have to be paid and since ArcelorMittal closed down I have started doing construction work to make ends meet,” Boodram said. The 29-year-old former field operator said it was unfair that the Government was not standing up for the workers.

Meanwhile, Christopher Henry, president of the Steel Workers Union of T&T, said he found it suspicious that the Government was not helping the retrenched workers by passing legislation retroactively to ensure that ArcelorMittal paid the severance benefits and pension. 

Saying pension was the workers’ own deferred income, Henry called on Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus to look at the legislation and pass an amendment which would ensure the company paid the workers, many of whom had worked over 30 and 40 years.

“Now that they are in their twilight years and may not get another job elsewhere, they need their pensions. The closure of this company will have a serious social impact,” Henry said.

He said Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Douglas Mendes were looking into the matter. 

“We are awaiting their decision about what to do,” Henry said. 

Saying he felt betrayed by the PNM Government, Henry said: “Citizens expect the sitting government to protect them because these are the same citizens who put them in power. We will continue to raise our concerns even if nothing happens.” 

“These multi-national companies think they can come in here and do anything in a sovereign state. We have to put a stop to this. We want Finance Minister Colm Imbert to meet with us. We want to know why they are not holding ArcelorMittal to account for what they did to workers,” Henry said.

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On March 10, ArcelorMittal informed its workers, via letter, that the company would be closing its operations in Trinidad and terminated their employment with immediate effect. During meetings with the union, company executives claimed the steel giant was bankrupt and operating while under a $1.3 billion debt. 

A day before its closure, the union was successful in a court matter against the company for laying off workers in December and again in February. ArcelorMittal was ordered to pay the workers compensation. However, the company filed for insolvency.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert subsequently disclosed that the company’s debt was closer to $3 billion.

Steel workers to get $$ in savings plan

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Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus says former workers of ArcelorMittal could receive money from their UTC savings plan by today or early next week.

She said that during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. More than 600 workers of the Point Lisas-based steel plant lost their jobs when the company closed operations in T&T last month.

Baptiste-Primus said the issue of severance payment did not arise because of the manner in which the company was shut down. 

She dismissed a claim by the general secretary of the National Trade Union Centre, SWWTU president Michael Annisette, that the Government could pay the workers severance benefits under the Company’s Act. Baptiste-Primus said she sought legal advice on the matter and it was determined that claim was not true.

Baptiste-Primus said the workers have already been paid outstanding money by the company in a matter relating to their retrenchment following a ruling by the Industrial Court.

She said a liquidator had also been appointed to deal with the outstanding matters relating to the closure of the company.

Dealing with the issue of the payment of the workers pension plan, she said because of the capital involved “it is unlikely that one insurance company can carry that load and therefore they will have to look at a consortium of companies to address the issue of the pension plan.”

The workers, represented by the Steel Workers Union of T&T, insist they must get their pension refund.

Thieves strike Tiida car lot

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Hours after the Police Service warned drivers, particularly those of Nissan cars, about an increase in carjackings in T&T, thieves struck a car lot belonging to the president of the T&T Automotive Dealers Association, Visham Babwah.

In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday Babwah said around 1.30 yesterday morning he was alerted by security officers that his company, P&V Marketing Company Limited, at Mulchan Seuchan Road, Chaguanas, was broken into and three Nissan Tiidas stolen. 

When he visited the scene, Babwah said seven other cars, of the 15 he had on the compound, were idling, all Tiidas, save for one Nissan Sylphy. He said he observed an ambulance parked near the compound and it drove off when he arrived. 

After reviewing the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage Babwah said the ambulance had been parked near the car lot from 12.30 am up until he arrived and suspected the occupants were part of the heist.

Babwah said the thieves cut a hole in the fence and hot-wired the cars. About six hours later police recovered one of the stolen cars near Chan Ramlal Hardware, Chaguanas. 

Police told him the driver of that car ran off the road and abandoned the vehicle. The other two stolen cars were recovered in Laventille about 30 minutes later. No one was arrested. 

Speaking at Wednesday’s weekly media briefing of the Police Service, Sgt Christopher Swamber, of the Stolen Vehicles Squad, said for the first three months of the year 211 cars have been stolen and only 61 have been recovered.

He said the Nissan Tiida, particularly the white and silver grey, were easy to blend in on the roads. Also at the briefing was public information officer, ASP Michael Pierre, whose figures show that nearly one in every five cars stolen is a Tiida. This year 39 Nissan Tiidas were stolen, compared to 48 last year. 

“This is a very frightening situation for me as a businessman. I know we are in a recession but that is no excuse. I blame the shift in the (import) policy from four to six-year (old vehicles) because now people can’t import the cars and people looking to steal them,” Babwah said. 

On January 15, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon announced a new policy which prohibited the importation of gasoline-powered vehicles more than four years old. Previously, foreign-used car dealers were allowed to import vehicles that were up to six years old. 

“It is an organised business. These thieves don’t steal a car and don't have somewhere to send it. They are ordered to steal. They will not steal a car and leave it hanging around,” Babwah said.

He added that was the second time his business had been targeted. In 2006 he was robbed of three cars and two were recovered. Babwah praised the police for their hard work and called for an increase in the penalties against car thieves.

He said the establishment of the Motor Vehicle Authority would assist as well as all vehicles at the click of a button could be checked to determine the original owner as there would be paper trail from importation to sale. 

He also called on the Minister of Works and Transport, Fitzgerald Hinds, to bring legislation to Parliament for the authority to be able to operate.​​


Please don’t send me to PoS remand

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Two men accused of orchestrating a grenade attack on a shop in Barataria last month, have been denied bail after appearing in court between Wednesday and yesterday afternoon. 

Umar Prescott, 24, of Malick, Barataria, and 29-year-old David Thomas, of Phase Four, La Horquetta, Arima, were not called upon to plead to the charges which fall under the Bail (Amendment) Act 2015. The legislation precludes people charged with offences involving guns, ammunition and explosive devices from accessing bail for 120 days. 

Prescott, a welder, and Thomas, a construction worker, were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act for detonating a grenade with intent to cause death or grievous bodily harm and for wounding the two victims of the explosion — Ricardo Harewood and Kristopher St Cyr. 

Prescott appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon while his co-accused appeared yesterday. 

The two are accused of launching the grenade out of a moving vehicle at a shop at Sixth Avenue, Barataria, where Harewood and St Cyr were liming on March 23. 

Harewood and St Cyr suffered minor injuries in the explosion and were treated and discharged from hospital the following day. Harewood’s car, which was parked within the blast radius, sustained damage. 

Insp Anthony Harford, who laid the charges, told the court that two men in addition to Prescott and Thomas are to be charged with the crime but were yet to be arrested. 

During his brief court appearance, Thomas pleaded with Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar to remanded him to the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca, as he said his life would be under threat from fellow inmates if he was sent to the Port-of-Spain State Prison. 

Ayers-Caesar agreed to do so before adjourning the case. 

Prescott and Thomas, who were represented by Ricard Clarke-Willis and Seana Baboolal, will reappear in court on April 29.

Insp Anslem Hosein, from the Barataria Police Station, officers of the Special Branch and Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) also were involved in the investigation. 

Baby, toddler burnt in ‘arson attack’

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A nine-month-old baby girl is in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in hospital after she and her four-year-old brother received third degree burns when their home was gutted by fire on Wednesday.

Kyle, nine months old, and brother, Keimel Jacob, 4, were at their home at S.T.O.L Road, Palo Seco, around 3 pm on Wednesday when the fire broke out.

Their father, Keino Jacob, 26, a rigman, told the T&T Guardian the children were taking an evening nap when the incident occurred. His wooden three-room house was completely destroyed by the fire.

“Their mother bathe them and put them to sleep and I walk across by my father, about 20 feet away, and was giving him a hand to build a dog kennel,” Keino said.

“The mother came by me and told me to keep an ear out for Kyle that she also was going to bathe.”

Jacob said minutes after that his father Peter told him he had heard Kyle screaming.

“I told him that wasn’t her but when I looked across at the house, I saw smoke coming out of the window. I run straight to the house and went inside.”

What greeted him was every parent’s worst nightmare.

“Keimel was screaming ‘Daddy, daddy!’ and both his legs were on fire. He was still wrapped up in the sheet he had covered with to sleep and it was blazing with fire. He had run out of the bedroom and he was on fire.”

Keino grabbed his son and ran outside, then went back into the burning house for Kyle.

“By the time I carry him outside and run back inside, the whole house was on fire. Kyle clothes was burning on her body and I snatch her up and run out.”

Overcome with emotion during the interview, Keino claims the fire was deliberately set.

“I saw the person who did it running away from the house but I went straight in for my children... and after when the police came they said to leave it in their hands... but I know who did it. 

“There was a falling out a few weeks ago and he had threatened me but I never thought he would do something like this. Look at what happen to my children and I lost everything I ever worked for.”

The children’s mother, Malicha Thomas, spent the day yesterday at the San Fernando General Hospital where her children are warded but was too distressed to speak to the media.

Kyle, who is also suffering from smoke inhalation, remains warded in critical condition, while Keimel is warded in the Paediatric Unit in a stable condition.

“The doctors say she inhaled too much smoke and her lungs get damaged,” Keino said.

Santa Flora Police said yesterday that they had not yet arrested anyone for the incident.

Cpl James is continuing investigations. 

Cops on trial for robbing prisoner

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Fifteen years after being charged with assaulting a prisoner and stealing his money, two police officers yesterday went on trial in the San Fernando Third Criminal Court.

Police officers Bertrand Ramsumair and Ronnie Sahadeo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned before Justice Maria Wilson.

The offences committed against taxi driver Rajesh Jadoonanan allegedly happened on March 1, 2001. The officers were suspended from active duty after they were charged.

Opening the State’s case yesterday prosecutor Hema Soondarsingh said Jadoonanan was in a car with his wife at Wilson Road, Barrackpore, when the officers signaled for the car to stop.

Ramsumair asked Jadoonanan for his driver’s permit, insurance and taxi badge. 

Ramsumair also told Jadoonanan his tint was too dark and asked him if he had a bin in his car.

Ramsumair, who was accompanied by Sahadeo, told him his vehicle had to be impounded. 

Soondarsingh said Jadoonanan was shoved, put into the police vehicle and beaten at an isolated location and at the Barrackpore Police Station. It’s the State case, that at the station, the officers stole $700 from Jadoonanan.

Woman Police Constable Magferr Pierre who was the first witness to testify said she was on sentry duty at the station when she heard noises coming from the back of the corridor. 

Upon checking she saw the two officers with a man who was bareback and blood was coming out of his mouth. 

She said she reported it to Cpl Hazelwood, the officer who was in charge of the shift, and he spoke to them.

Ramsumair is being represented by attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Michael Rooplal while attorneys Rajiv Persad and Faraz Mohammed are representing Sahadeo. 

The trial continues on Tuesday.

Kublalsingh wants highway audit

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Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) leader, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, is calling on the Government to conduct a forensic probe into the Debe to Mon Desir Highway and is also asking for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as he has attempted to meet with him at least “60 times.”

At a press conference outside the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Kublalsingh said while the HRM welcomed efforts by the Government to provide financial information on the collapsed Point Fortin Highway, he urged:

“The entire process from certification to collapse must be audited.

“With respect to Debe to Mon Desir, this audit must cover the period from Environmental Management Authority (EMA) certification, the date of the bankruptcy and collapse of the OAS.”

Saying this was the most expensive project ever undertaken in the country, Kublalsingh claimed it was manipulated leading to the economic collapse.

He said while the OAS was not to blame, successive governments, since 2006, must be blamed.

“We did have a meeting with Dr Rowley before the election but I have been trying to have a meeting with him for a very long time to tell him what I know. 

The crime started in the certification process and it went on in the contract process,” Kublalsingh added.

On what he wanted to come out of the such a probe Kublalsingh said it must be ensured that the Government did the right thing and ensure the wrongdoers were brought to justice.

“If they do not act, there is a good chance that the entire Parliament in the next election will not be there.

“Governments that continue to violate proper approach and process will continue to retard development and will continue to burden the Treasury with cost overruns,” Kublalsingh added.

Sitting on a stool, Kublalsingh was surrounded by a handful of supporters unlike the crowds who had supported him when he took part in the first hunger strike several years ago.

Asked whether he believed he had the backing of the population this time around, he said he thanked God for the support from the various churches and trade unions and other groups.

And if a meeting with the PM failed Kublalsingh said he would then mobilise support from such entities.

He said he had no intention of going on another hunger strike.

“There is no need to reinvent the wheel. The 19 experts and scientists of the Armstrong Report concluded that the CDC for the Debe to Mon Desir highway was flawed and should have been sent back to the applicants, the Ministry of Works.

“That no proper social impact assessment, hydrological study, environment cost benefit analysis were done; it explicitly stated that no works should proceed until the scientific process was applied,” Kublalsingh added.

Holders of degrees receiving food cards

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After two successive governments spent more than $20 billion in social programmes over the past decade, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Franklin Khan says T&T’s poverty level remains the same.

It was one of the issues he put forward as the Government consults on its proposed Local Government Reform that would see the disbanding of the Ministry of Local Government and transferring its responsibilities to the various regional corporations.

Speaking at the Penal Secondary School on Wednesday night, Khan said the distribution of social grants was plagued by corruption with holders of academic degrees receiving food cards as part of the Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme. He said that was contained in a report currently before Cabinet.

He added: “All administrations realise that you have to spend money on social services because you have to have a safety net. After spending $20 to $25 billion in the last ten years, the poverty level has not changed. Basically, you threw $25 billion away and you have not achieved anything. The billions of dollars are not reaching the people that they are supposed to reach. 

“The system of administration is poor and it is flawed so what you have now is corruption, leakage and families who are well connected, double dipping, triple dipping and quadruple dipping. There are people who are working with degrees, Masters, and they have five food cards in the house. 

Khan noted: “Who is better to know the old lady that is getting a run around to get her pension than your councillor? Who knows who are the families who are at risk, who are suffering from extreme poverty, who is suffering from child abuse, who is suffering from domestic violence, who is suffering from incest?” 

He said while all these things happen in a community, residents should not expect a public officer in Port-of-Spain to engage the community in the way a councillor would.

With local government reform, corporations would be able to recruit their own social workers and, based on the councillor’s information, better assign aids to those in need.

While poverty remained an issue, he said, the problem was not money, but the efficiency in the execution of programmes. 

Khan said Local Government was one of the most inefficiently run bodies where unproductiveness is rampant. He said the country could not continue to pay workers for eight hours when they only completed two.

Many of the speakers at the consultation were excited at the possibilities local government reform can bring but both Khan and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Stuart Young could not say what policies the Government intended to initiate to prevent corporations from discriminating against certain communities.

Penal/Debe Regional Corporation vice-chairman Roland Hall and Penal councillor Shanty Boodram were criticised by some members who claimed discrimination. 

Tyrone Clarke said residents of lower Latchoos Road, Penal, were denied employment with the corporation because they were perceived to be PNM supporters. He said grounds and roads were taken care of in several other areas around Penal while they were being left out.

La Romain resident Irma Agard said despite complaints to Hall about the shoddy construction of a box drain which had been causing water to seep under her property since 2012, she had received no help. 

In response, Khan said his ministry would seek to introduce measures to address minority interests. He said elected officials were supposed to represent all people regardless of their political persuasion.

Hall was infuriated by the claims and, on the microphone, blamed previous PNM governments for neglecting part of La Romain because it fell under a UNC constituency. 

Protesting vehemently, he quarrelled until the moderator had to ask him to wrap up his contribution. Eventually, Clarke had to move the microphone from Hall for the consultation to continue.

Upset at the outburst, Minister Khan reminded the audience that it was a consultation and not a political meeting. He said the Monday Night Forum was on Monday and told Hall he should learn to deal with criticism better as a politician. However, Hall continued his protest even as the consultation ended.

Cops hunt for close friend

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The body of another missing woman has been found dumped in the Mitan River.

The latest victim has been identified as Felicia Persad, who was found in a leather bag which had been tied to the root of a mangrove tree and weighted down with piece of a decorative concrete pillar. 

Forestry Division employees who were trimming trees near the Mitan Bridge around 9 am yesterday discovered the bag and immediately called the police. 

Detectives PC Racha and WPC Jordan, of the Mayaro CID, responded and used a pirogue to gain access to the bag. 

Persad was found with her hands tied behind her back her, mouth gagged and with wounds to her stomach. 

The body, which was attired in a red top, black pants and with a shoe on the left foot, was partly decomposed and police believe she was murdered elsewhere and dumped there.

The body was viewed by Dr La Borde and ordered removed to the Sangre Grande mortuary, where it was transfered to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, where an autopsy is to be performed to determine cause of death.

Persad, 28, of North Oropouche Road, Sangre Grande, was reported missing about two weeks.

The T&T Guardian understands Persad had been threatened and she had applied to the court for a protection order. However, she was unable to get the court order due to administrative issues at the Sangre Grande Second Court.

Persad lived with her brother and sister at Oropouche Road, Sangre Grande, and was a sales clerk at a fashion store in Sangre Grande. A friend, who also did not want to be identified, said she was a happy young woman until her domestic problems began.

She said they had drinks on April 2 and Persad, who was dressed in a red top and black pants, told her she was heading to meet the owner of the business where she worked to hand over sales for that day. 

The friend said when she did not hear from her later on she called her phone and heard screaming on the phone. 

“That was the last voice I heard of Felicia,” she told the T&T Guardian.

Police believe an arrest is imminent once the body is positively identified.

A party of officers, led by Snr Supt John Trim, Supt Phillip, ASPs Robain, Joseph, Ag Insp Lutchman and officers of Homicide Region II and Arouca CSI led by ASP Dillon, visited the scene. Homicide officers are continuing investigations.

Only last month, the headless body of Eden Teesdale, 26, a janitor at the Mt Hope Hospital, was also found in the same river. Her body was found in a barrel which was floating down the river. 

The torso had been stuffed inside the barrel with her legs pro­truding from the top. Teesdale, of Embacadere, San Fernando, was later identified through the fingerprint records which showed she had applied for a certificate of character on July 21, 2012. 

In an unrelated incident, 41-year-old Robert Saunders, of Stone Street, Valencia, was found dead at Lewis Trace, Valencia, yesterday.

Police reported that around 7.30 am, they were called to Lewis Trace, Valencia, where residents reported seeing a body on the road.

A party of officers led by Snr Supt John Trim, Supt Phillip, ASP Robain, Sgt Lopez and officers attached to the Eastern CID responded.

On arrival they found Saunders with chop wounds and a bullet wound in the head.

District Medical Officer La Borde viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Sangre Grande District Hospital Mortuary.

Police had no motive for the killing.

Snr Supt Trim told T&T Guardian yesterday that they would maintain regular patrols and road blocks in the division and a special patrol unit on the from Toco to Matelot and from Manzanilla to Mayaro in the wake of these recent killings. 

These two killings, and another Marabella (See page A4), brought the number of people murdered for the year to 140.

Suspect in UK cricketer’s killing charged

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One of two suspects detained for the murder of British national Adrian St John was last night charged.

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard last night gave police the instructions to charge 24-year-old Maldon Pascall with the murder, after he was picked out at an identification parade on Thursday.

Police said Pascall was held Monday after he went to the police station to give a statement and his description matched one of the men who robbed and shot St John to death.

Cpl Glen Payne of the Homicide Bureau Region II laid the charge.

The second suspect, who also went to the police with his attorney “to clear his name,” was arrested on Wednesday. 

Police said they are going to expedite their fingerprint analysis to determine whether the second suspect’s prints matched those recovered from the vehicle St John was driving when he was attacked.

According to police, around 8.30 pm last Sunday, St John went to Upper Gordon Street, Mt D’Or, to pick up a male relative of two female passengers when he was robbed. 

Police said as St John, 22, was leaving the poorly lit area, two men with T-shirts covering their faces approached and robbed the two women and St John of cash and other valuables. They then told St John to drive off. But as he was doing so one of the men fired a single shot, hitting St John in the head. 

One of the women steered the vehicle to the Eastern Main Road and flagged down a passing police car. St John was taken to hospital where he died while being treated. 

St John was the captain of the Chris Gayle Cricket Academy in London. His killing was reported by several media outlets in the UK.

Gaspard also yesterday gave police the go ahead to charge Kenrick Williams, 29, with the murder of Aaron Ramsaroop.

Ramsaroop, 22, was shot body following an altercation with another man at Acona Road, Maracas, St Joseph, on Sunday.

Both men will appear before a Tunapuna magistrate on Monday.


AG details Emrith’s OAS, Nidco deals

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One-time United National Congress official Ken Emrith whose name has been mentioned in connection with the leaked “Panama Papers” scandal, was employed as a marketing consultant at the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco), under the People’s Partnership administration, when Brazilian firm OAS Construtora was hired by Nidco to construct the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Pt Fortin.

And payments by OAS Construtora to a company linked to Emrith also “seem” to have started when Emrith was still employed at Nidco. 

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi made those claims in a statement to Parliament yesterday, concerning Emrith. 

Eleven million documents held by the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca were passed to a German newspaper and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. 

The documents allegedly tracked offshore holdings of past and present world leaders, sports, business, entertainment and other personalities across the world.

Al-Rawi said: “The identity of the source is unknown but authorities across the world are being spurred into action after the huge leak of confidential documents revealed how tax havens are used to hide wealth...a number of investigations have been launched by French, Austrian, Dutch and Australian authorities among others. 

The Prime Minister of Iceland has resigned.”

Noting further revelations on Emrith, Nidco and OAS which he detailed yesterday, Al-Rawi added, “The local issues arising from the Panama Papers are receiving active attention with particular focus on enabling the efforts of requisite lawful investigative and prosecutorial agencies in and outside of T&T.”

Al-Rawi noted allegations which described how Emrith “a former low level party functionary of the UNC used a Panamanian shell company to channel millions of US dollars to offshore bank accounts including a (US)$1m consultancy fee from a convicted Brazilian money launderer connected to Brazil’s Petrobras bribery scandal. 

He said leaked files allegedly tracked Emrith’s business dealings through a Panamian-registered shell vehicle, Pendrey Associates Corporation, and his alleged “million dollar connection to OAS.”

OAS was in the running for the Pt Fortin project since the past PNM administration’s tenure and officially came on board to handle it under the past PP government, in July 2011.

Al-Rawi said, “Ken Emrith was a high-ranking candidate for the UNC executive in their recently held internal elections of 2015.”

The reference was to Emrith’s contesting the post of international relations officer on the slate of UNC MP Roodal Moonilal’s leadership bid in UNC’s December 2015 party poll.

Al-Rawi added, “Emrith was employed at Nidco as a marketing consultant from November 18, 2010 for 12 months at a monthly salary of $35,000. He resigned from Nidco on August 2, 2011.”

“On March 4, 2011, the former Government through Nidco awarded a Design-Build contract to the Brazilian firm Constutora OAS for the lump sum of approximately TT$5.2b or $1.6b more than the engineer’s estimate. 

The estimated cost to complete the highway which is now estimated to be 49 per cent complete is now in excess of TT$8 billion.”

The AG continued, “Investigations reveal that Emrith is listed as director of Pembury Consultants (T&T Ltd). This company was employed by OAS as a ‘consultant’ on Nidco’s highway project for a monthly payment of $44,800. 

Payments to Pembury from OAS seem to have started at a time when Ken Emrith was still employed at Nidco.”

“From the findings at hand, OAS paid Pembury at least $896,000 up to May 2013. Subsequent payments have not yet been traced.”

Al-Rawi said Emrith is also a director of Areyma General Contractors Ltd and Duncan Transport Ltd both of which Nidco gave contract work.

He said Areyma got a contract in August 2013 to improve Hinkin Road, Cunupia a drain and footpath, for $1.6m and a drainage job in Cap de Ville in September 2015 for $1.1m.

Duncan Transport also got a construction contract at Rousillac for a retaining wall job in July 2015 for $3.3m.

Calls to Emrith’s cellphone didn’t go through. Nidco head Dr Carson Charles said last night Emrith had been a consultant doing marketing for the water taxi and was with Nidco from 2010 to 2011. 

He said Emrith informed Nidco he was going to take up a job with OAS and he left Nidco.

“He would not have been allowed to continue with Nidco if he was with OAS since that would have been a conflict of interest. I don’t know about the Pembury company,” Charles said.

On the other two companies (Areyman, Duncan Transport) allegedly linked to Emrith, obtaining Nidco contracts, Charles said he’d heard of them, but added that many companies tender for work and are judged on who had the best price. 

He said the issues which have arisen have to be dealt with by Emrith.

Witness opts not to testify in Moruga case

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The State’s case against six police officers charged with the murder of three civilians from Moruga in July 2011 appears to be in jeopardy as its main witness has decided that she will no longer testify because of what he says are broken promises in the witness protection programme. 

Speaking on WPC Nicole Clement’s behalf at a press conference at his Woodbrook office yesterday evening, attorney Gerald Ramdeen said his client took the decision based on the failure of National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to respond within 48 hours to a letter in which she raised concerns over the security measures implemented for her and her family after she opted to testify against her colleagues in exchange for immunity in the case. 

Ramdeen said: “The inaction on the part of this government to this most serious and troubling issue clearly demonstrates this government’s lack of will to combat the criminal element, the lack of foresight to implement existing structures, the ignorance of the present threat to our national security by the criminal element and the general breakdown of governance that has plagued this country since the September 7, 2016.”

Ramdeen suggested that the media’s coverage of Clement’s plight would serve as a deterrent to potential witnesses to crimes who are unsure whether they should provide information to police. 

“You need to have a robust justice protection programme because the types of crimes being committed now. 

“Persons who want to come forward to give evidence want to ensure that they and their families are protected at all cost. 

“No cost is too high to pay to protect these persons, because the cost to our country if we fail to address this problem now, is our future, and the future of our children and families. 

“The cost is the breakdown of law and order,” Ramdeen added. 

In addition to Clement, Ramdeen also revealed at another client, who is a witness to a murder in October last year, also threatened to leave police protective custody this week due to lack humane conditions. 

He said that the witness, a university student, was initially being kept in a safe house and was then moved to a guest house in Port-of-Spain. 

“On at least two occasions she saw persons who came to use the guest house she knew. Such were the loose security arrangements for this witness,” Ramdeen said. He also claimed that although the witness was a Muslim she was forced to eat food that was not halal as that was all provided by her police guards.

Clement’s main complaint highlighted in her letter sent to Dillion on Monday, is that she was promised that she and her family would relocated aboard under the programme when she agreed to give evidence against her former co-workers in the case but instead was placed under a make-shift arrangement in which she and her daughter are living in a “safe house” with minimal police protection.

She says that since signing the agreement in June 2012, she and her daughter had been kept at three different locations, including one which did not have potable water. She also has issues with the fact that police officers were in charge of her protection and feared the possibility that her location may be compromised under this arrangement. 

“This is her reward for coming forward and being a State witness in this most serious criminal prosecution,” Ramdeen said.

No race in SSA  sackings—Dillon

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National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says there is no move to get rid of East Indians in the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).

Dillon said that in an interview with reporters during yesterday's House of Representatives debate on a bill to give the agency wider powers to garther intelligence, not only on drug related crimes but other serious crimes — including murder, manslaughter, shooting and wounding with intent, rape, bigamy, abortion, acts of serious indecency, kidnapping, blackmail, robbery, assault with intent to rob, embezzlement, larceny, offences involving motor vehicles, forgery, treason, and firearms offences.

The claim about East Indians being targeted for removal in the SSA was made after two high-ranking members of the agency, were removed during a restructuring of the organisation since the new administration came into office.

The claims were made in lawsuits filed by former employees, including former director Bisnath Maharaj, seeking compensation for their sacking on the grounds that there were targets of political victimisation and discrimination. 

Questioned about the claim yesterday, Dillon denied it, saying: "No , not at all. That could never come from me. I would never go with the idea of race in dealing with any issues."

Dillon said he never used race to deal with any issue in the past and will never use it in the future.

He said he would not be able to comment further on the matter as it was being looked at by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. Dillon said the SSA has a director (retired Col George Robinson) and was fully operational. —Richard Lord

Serious threat to T&T

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The state has information that over 400 T&T nationals - men, women and children - have gone to Syria and undergone military training and indoctrination with the Islamic State (Isis) and have been radicalised, Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal revealed yesterday.

“Government has information on the most significant security threat facing T&T and our generation - the threat of Isis infiltrating the Caribbean and T&T. What are you doing about it?” Moonilal asked in Parliament.

Speaking during debate on legislation to amend the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) to deepen local intelligence capabilities, Moonilal challenged Government to comment on information coming to hand that Government has received intelligence on the stockpiling of weapons in T&T and threats to the State.

“What are you doing with it - act on it the intelligence,” he said.

Moonilal held up a thick sheaf of documents to support his revelations. The Oropouche East MP noted that last Friday in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had acknowledged some T&T nationals had gone to Syria where Isis was active and have returned and are now under surveillance.

He called on Government to say what was being done on policies to handle such returning nationals. He indicated one option was creating criminal offences to charge people involved in financing such travel. He noted that T&T had once banned Stokely Carmichael and CLR James for ideology.

Calling for investigation of the current situation and policies to deal with it, he said people who have gone to Isis and become indoctrinated and radicalised pose a clear and present danger to the state.

The T&T Guardian has also obtained part of a file - 50 pages long - from a top-level police agency, which lists “T&T citizens who have left the country and journeys to Syria which align themselves with the Islamic State terrorist group”.

The file features the names, sex, date of birth, last known local address of each person and date of their departure, date of arrival, their status (whether confirmed in Syria) and a photograph of them. Departures range between 2013 and 2015. The list comprises 32 males, 30 females and 40 children.

The adult males in this listing are largely of Afro T&T descent between the ages of 30 to the 50s.

The women—most wearing hijabs —are also largely of Afro T&T descent, bearing Muslim names and ranging age between the 30 to 40 age group. The children, however, range in ages from two years to 16 years. This list comprises boys and girls, some mere tots, and babies.

Some of the adults are described as being affiliated to Rio Claro and Enterprise mosques.

The list starts with Shane Dominic Crawford, aka Abdullah, whose address was listed as Wallerfield. It states his status was “confirmed as being in Syria.”

Anthony Hamlet, of Rio Claro, who was confirmed as being in Syria, was listed as having died in battle.

One Clint Crawford, of Cunupia, was listed as being in Egypt, “but went to Syria and underwent jidhadist training.”

The list stated Algernon Fareed Mustapha was confirmed in Syria “and died in battle in the second week of July 2015”.

Also described as being “killed in battle” is Sean Bartholomew, aka “Shabazz”, of Lower Santa Cruz. He left for Syria via Suriname. 

Osayaba Abayomi Abdullah Muhammed, of Belmont, was listed as departing for Syria via London with unconfirmed reports of being “killed in battle.”

Shawn Parsons, of D’abadie, was listed as reportedly killed also. Ticket information was that he passed through London, Dubai and Manila to reach Syria.

Tariq Abdul Haqq, of Arouca, was listed as departing for Syria via Barbados and was “reportedly killed.”

A Cocoyea Village, San Fernando man was listed as being in Egypt, “from where he is expected to travel to Syria via Turkey.” An Aranguez man was listed as reportedly being in Syria having initially left for Egypt. 

The list included three Central women - a mother and two daughters - described as having returned to T&T after being detained at a refugee camp in Turkey. (That group was featured in media reports recently).

A Chagaunas woman was listed as being deported from Venezuela and being detained since 2014, but who was also confirmed as “being in Syria,”

Among the children, one Cunupia eight-year-old of East Indian descent was believed to be in the UK,” having transited through Curacao”. 

A similar description was given for a 26-year-old from Cunupia and a 10-year-old East Indian girl of Cunupia, a six-year-old boy from the same place plus a couple from Cunupia. Two Rio Claro children, ages five and two, were listed as having departed with a female and male for Frankfurt, Germany, via Tobago and Barbados with the final destination “believed to be Syria via Turkey.” The pictures show a chubby, smiling baby and toddler. Several other couples are described as taking that same route also.

Two other boys from Rio Claro were described as having departed to Germany via Barbados with Turkey as the final destination. A couple is also listed with these little boys.

A 12-year-old boy of Santa Cruz is listed as leaving for Syria via Suriname along with a four-year-old girl and two women.

A Geoffrey Street, Diego Martin woman was confirmed in Syria, as was a Longdenville, Chaguanas woman, an eight-year-old boy, 14-year-old youth and a six-year-old and seven-year-old, both of Rio Claro. 

A Trincity six-year-old was said to have departed to Syria via London and a man of Maloney Gardens was listed as departing to Syria via Curacao. A woman and two boys from Trincity was also listed as going to Syria via London.

A Rio Claro couple and three-year-old boy went to Syria via Guyana and a 13-year-old Longdenville boy is confirmed as being in Syria.

A six-year-old boy was also confirmed as having arrived in Turkey while a Cunupia couple were also confirmed as having arrived there along with two eight and seven-year-old boys.

A Don Miguel Road, San Juan man and two tots were also listed as heading to Syria via Brazil, as well as another couple and seven-year-old boy from the same area, and Rio Claro couples and children. An Ecclesville, Rio Claro family of five was listed crossing the Turkish border to Syria.

Others listed as departed for Syria were men, women and children from Morvant, adults from Mayaro and Richplain Road, Diego Martin and a woman born in Saudi Arabia whose TT address was Mayaro. Also listed were a Trou Macaque man, a Coconut Drive, Morvant man, plus men, women and boys from Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay. Women and boys in that group departed via Panama and Brazil. A tot and youngster from Petit Valley were also listed with adults.

Man murdered in Marabella drive-by

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Police are investigating the murder of a man who was gunned down while he was walking in Marabella yesterday.

A report stated that around 10 am, residents of Centeno Street contacted Marabella police, stating that several explosions were heard in the neighbourhood. 

When officers arrived, they found a man wearing a red and white striped vest and a pair of blue 3/4 pants lying dead in the driveway of an apartment building with a gunshot wound to the head.

The body was searched but officers found no identification and residents along Centeno Street and Blue Haven Avenue could not say who he was. 

Investigators learned that the victim and another man were walking along Centeno Street when a white Nissan Tiida pulled alongside them and an occupant opened fire. Both men ran off. However, one was shot in the head. the other got away. 

Crime scene investigators found eight shells at the scene. With aerial support from the national security helicopter, Marabella CID and Southern Division Task Force searched the area for the possible suspects but were unsuccessful.

Police also found the other man, who said he was from Marabella, while the victim lived at Vessigny. 

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