72 held in South

Thursday, October 2nd 2008 (T&T Express)


Police have arrested 72 people, among them 14 Guyanese nationals, during a raid in the southern division.



The illegal immigrants were handed over to immigration officials, while the others will appear in court this morning. Charges include possession of illegal firearms, arms and ammunition, narcotics robbery and break ins.

The 24 hour raid began around 1 a.m. on Tuesday and was spearheaded by Senior Supt Gopeechand Ganga.

PC Nigel Carty, who was shot under his knee by a trap gun, was treated at the San Fernando General Hospital and released yesterday. Carty who was on a marijuana eradication raid in the Moruga forest when he was shot.

Two shotguns and several rounds of ammunition were seized during the raid.

SAUTT moves to Riverside Plaza



By NALINEE SEELAL Thursday, October 2 2008(T&T Newsday)



OFFICERS from the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) who were previously housed at a building at El Socorro Road in San Juan, have been relocated to Riverside Plaza in East Port-of-Spain.

This move follows a decision by Government to place gang related homicides directly under the supervision of SAUTT. The only office allowed to remain operational at Riverside Plaza is the Ministry of Labour and it is earmarked for relocation in the near future. Riverside Plaza housed several ministries in the recent past.

Under the new arrangement, SAUTT officers will be able to maintain a heavy, constant presence in crime "hotspot" Laventille and will be able to respond swiftly to any report of gang violence.

Newsday was reliably informed that homicide officers were called to a meeting on Monday where they were told that effective immediately, SAUTT was to be given lead responsibilty for solving all gang related homicides.

They were also told that Riverside Plaza will be the new headquarters of the elite unit. A street gang expert from Chicago will be working closely with SAUTT officers to deal with the rising gang violence.

The homicide officers were also told the focus on the operational side of the transformation will be on strengthening the operation of the Repeat Offenders Programme (ROPE), which currently has the service of the street gang expert from Chicago. The expert will provide specialised training in high risk patrol tactics, gang intelligence, criminal investigation and case preparation. SAUTT which has been operational for the past four years has officers in El Socorro and Cumuto.

Sources revealed that Prime Minister Patrick Manning who is the head of the National Security Council was advised to secure Riverside Plaza for the SATT officers. The rent which government paid for housing SAUTT officers at El Socorro is reported to be in the millions of dollars for the four year period.

The building had a swimming pool and gym.

Homicide officers told Newsday that more than 75 percent of the 402 murders committed this year, were gang related.

They believe that the decision to place gang related homicides under SAUTT is an indication by Government that they are not pleased with the detection rate by police in solving gang related murders.

Officers believe that the aim is to eventually place all homicides under SAUTT.

"We have no problem with that because SAUTT has their own lab, the technology and the experts to process crime scenes, while we in the police service have limited resources," an officer said.

The officer said that in many instances when a gang related murder takes place the public is afraid to come forward and give the necessary information.

This they added resulted in a poor detection rate.

Contacted for comment on the relocation of SAUTT officers from El Socorro to Riverside Plaza, Penny James who works in the unit, advised that any information relating to the relocation must come from the Ministry of National Security. Newsday contacted National Security Minister Martin Joseph on his cell phone yesterday for comment on the matter but Joseph said he was at a function and was unable to properly hear the questions being asked of him.

picture
SAUTT HQ: The Riverside Plaza new headquarters of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of TT (SAUTT).

Heroin, the next epidemic?

Darryl Heeralal


Thursday, October 2nd 2008(T&T Express)



HEROIN could soon flood Trinidad and Tobago, adding to the nation's drug problem and fuel even more gangland violence.

This scenario was hinted at by National Security Minister Martin Joseph during the Budget debate last Friday night.

"We're starting to see an increase in the transshipment of heroin coming through this country because I understand heroin fetches a much better price than cocaine," Joseph said.

The billion dollar heroin trade is more lucrative than cocaine as the narcotic made from the opium poppy is more expensive than the one derived from the coca plant.

In Trinidad and Tobago, heroin has an average street value of $600,000 a kilo compared with $400,000 for cocaine.

Heroin use has also gone up in North America and Europe.

"When cocaine first started transhipping through this country, you know what was the reaction of law enforcement? 'Trinidadians and Tobagonians don't use cocaine, so what is the big thing?' Failing to realise that changes occur.

"Back then, cocaine didn't used to be accompanied by guns. People weren't using it, so as a result there wasn't any rivalry. And then other things started to develop. They started to come...the guns stayed, then they started to use cocaine as payment and then it started to stay in the society and create problems," Joseph said.

"I have said to law enforcement 'we must not make the same mistake that we made with cocaine'.

"And I understand that heroin is a drug, the consequences of which is even worse than cocaine, so that we have to be very vigilant."

Heroin smuggling first started showing up in Trinidad and Tobago in 2000 with the seizure of a little over half a kilo (564 grammes) in a police raid.

Narcotics officers said they started seeing an increase in heroin smuggling in 2003.

Between 2003 and beginning of 2005, police, mainly the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, seized a reported 39.275 kilos of heroin worth about $23.6 million.

The United States State Department, in its 2006 International Drug Control Strategy Report, said that a total of 15.58 kilos of heroin was seized in Trinidad in 2005 alone.

And that year during the trial on arms charges of Jamaat-al-Muslimeen member Lance Small, aka Olive Enyahooma-El, undercover agent Steve McKean of the Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco (ATF) Bureau told a Fort Lauderdale court his unit had information that the Jamaat had been shipping heroin from Afghanistan to the US through Trinidad.

Local police investigated, but no member of the Jamaat was arrested.

A year later, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) identified Trinidad as a major transhipment point for North American-bound heroin.

In June 2006, the DEA broke up an international heroin smuggling ring with the arrest of 22 people, one of them in Trinidad, Gabriel Hernandez, who was later extradited.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import heroin into the US when he was extradited.

The organisation is believed to have smuggled more than 200 kilos of heroin worth over US$14 million into the United States between 2004 and the time of the arrest of members of the ring.

During the 10-month investigation, Trinidadian, US and Ecuadorian authorities seized close to 28 kilos of heroin.

Local narcotics officers have said, since the 2006 crackdown by the DEA, "There has been a collabor ative effort with foreign agencies to crack down on smugglers. We do not want a repeat of the cocaine epidemics, which we are still trying to deal with."

Since 2000, there have been significant heroin seizures at the Piarco International Airport, Crown Point in Tobago, Pier 1 in Chaguaramas and, most recently, at the Port of Port of Spain.

The DEA investigation found the smuggling ring's leaders, Javier Alexander Alvarez Monroy, a former police officer in Bogota, Colombia, and Marc Klindt, used couriers in Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador to smuggle heroin.

There were no heroin busts by police in 2007, while so far in 2008, 26 kilos of the narcotics was seized at the Port of Port of Spain.

Several Trinidadians have been extradited to the US on heroin importation charges, including Marlon Constantine, Victor Thompson, Joseph Soomai, who was on the DEA's top list of drug smugglers, Alfred John Williams, Bobby Edwards and Gabriel Hernandez.

Another Trinidadian, Jitram Sookdeo, wanted by the US on heroin smuggling charges, is still on the run after skipping bail in 2005.

Police believe the main reason for the increased heroin smuggling through Trinidad is the fact that South American drug syndicates following the Cali cartel started planting opium poppy to produce heroin as they found it difficult to sell cocaine in Far East markets, where heroin is the preferred drug.

No word yet on kidnapped girl

Carolyn Kissoon South Bureau


Thursday, October 2nd 2008(T&T Express)


Three days have passed and relatives of 18-year-old Indira Siewsankar have not been contacted by her kidnappers.

They called four hours after she disappeared on Monday and demanded $1 million for her safe release. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad visited the family yesterday, the Express was told.

But up to late yesterday relatives were still waiting to hear from Siewsankar's abductors.

Her mother, Rosina, has fallen ill and Siewsankar's sisters have formed a search party to look for her.

Siewsankar, who lives at Dam Road, Longdenville, boarded a taxi near her home to go to Chaguanas. She was on her way to Francis Fashion/Shoe Locker, where she worked as a part-time sales clerk. But she never showed up for work, company officials said.

Relatives said the family were not wealthy and could not raise the ransom.

T&T is a paradise.

quote:

Originally posted by bird:
T&T is a paradise.

Is that why Gay anese keep coming there?

SAUTT probes Kamla



By NALINEE SEELAL Friday, October 3 2008(T&T Newsday)



PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning, as head of the National Security Council, secretly ordered special surveillance carried out on Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and former Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

And the agency recruited to do this surveillance was the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT). Agents from SAUTT have been reporting their findings on the two MPs directly to the Prime Minister directly, senior SAUTT sources confirmed yesterday.

For this intense surveillance on the two MPs, the SAUTT agents, who had to forsake their regular duties, each received a stipend of $5,000 in addition to a monthly salary (which by itself is already higher than those of regular police officers).

SAUTT has at its disposal an academy in Cumuto for specialised training and superior forensic tools and other resources not enjoyed by regular members of the Police Service.

Newsday reported in yesterday's edition that SAUTT has been relocated to Riverside Plaza where its base of operations will be held.

Yesterday, Penny James, SAUTT media operations manager, said the director of SAUTT reports directly to Minister of National Security Martin Joseph.

Yesterday, acting Police Commissioner James Philbert said he was not aware which security agency the Prime Minister was referring to on Tuesday night in Parliament when he announced he contacted a security agency to probe allegations that Persad Bissessar had special access to the Integrity Commission.

"I don't know which agency he was referring to and I am trying to find out myself," Philbert said. Pressed to comment further, the acting top cop said that was all he was prepared to say.

Newsday was reliably informed that the head of SAUTT, Brigadier Peter Joseph, reports directly to the Minister of National Security.

However, sources told Newsday the Prime Minister, as head of the National Security Council, can call any head of any security agency and ask for assistance in any matter he deems a national security threat.

When the Prime Minister said he had information, since 2004, of Persad-Bissessar having special access to the Integrity Commission, SAUTT was already in existence. On October 23, SAUTT will mark its fifth year since it was established.

The source added that the request for assistance by the Prime Minister was made through the Ministry of National Security. SAUTT was contacted and carried out special investigations utilising high-tech electronic equipment, sources said. Wire tapping was used as part of the surveillance.

On Tuesday night, the Prime Minister in Parliament said persons who Government was trying to appoint to boards of State companies since 2004, told him: "We are not prepared to do that because we had reason to believe that the Member for Siparia had special access to the Integrity Commission."

"I initially ignored it but when I heard it often enough and when I realised what the effect of that was, I called on one of the security agencies to check it."

"You will not believe it, they came back and confirmed that there is someone in the Integrity Commission who is in loco parenthis, as the lawyers would say, with the member for Siparia, as a consequence of which, the member for Siparia was able to know far more than under normal circumstances, she was authorised to know," Manning declared.

"That's not true," replied Persad-Bissessar from her seat. Stating that he had "monitored" the relationship between Persad-Bissessar and an unnamed individual at the Commission, for years, Manning said: "When they (UNC) talk about the Prime Minister protecting anybody, if I protected anybody, I protected the member for Siparia."

"By one fell swoop, they play so fast and loose with it that it came into the public domain to the point where people knew about it and took the position that ˜I not serving on boards'."

The Prime Minister said this was why Government did not say "all ah we knew" when it asked the Opposition to support amendments to the Integrity in Public Life Act.

"Their strategy was, once that was known, the effect was that nobody wants to serve on boards of directors and the PNM is not able to conduct the people's business. You want to nail me? When you looking to nail people, pass me straight. You are not nailing me," Manning declared as Government MPs gleefully pounded their desks in support.

Yesterday, Persad-Bissesasr denied the claims made by the Prime Minister. "What the Prime Minister said is totally false. At no time have I received any inside information from anyone at the Integrity Commission. I have no relative working there," she added.

She added that the statement made by the Prime Minister is a weapon of mass destruction to take people's attention from the real issues. Persad-Bissessar said that for some time she has been hearing strange noises on her phone and she was not sure what had been going on.


Lock them up!

quote:

Is that why Gay anese keep coming there?

Fo hook up wid gay trinis

Kidnap victim, 18, freed in Montrose



By NALINEE SEELAL Monday, October 6 2008(T&T Newsday)



Kidnap victim Indira Siewsankar, 18, who had been missing since September 29, was released shortly before midnight on Saturday at the Montrose, Chaguanas branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The teenager alerted a passerby and her relatives who live at Dam Road, Longdenville were contacted. She was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where she was medically examined and was interviewed yesterday by officers of the Anti Kidnapping Unit.

A female relative yesterday said Siewsankar was not at the family's home in Longdenville and declined to answer more questions.

Investigators told Newsday that no ransom was paid for the release of Siewsankar and added that they had obtained new information related to the case.

Siewsankar left her home at Dam Road, Longdenville on September 29, telling relatives she was going to work at Francis Fashions in Chaguanas. She was seen at a fast food outlet by co-workers. Later that day, her mother Rosina received a phone call from a man who claimed he had Siewsankar and demanded $1 million for her safe release.

The matter was reported to Chaguanas police and officers of the Anti Kidnapping Unit were informed. The investigators were able to trace some of the calls made to Siewsankar's mother.

Officers told Newsday that an arrest is imminent.



More of the same from the nonsense crowd.......

Filipino attache to help 23 detainees



Monday, October 6 2008(T&T Newsday)



Labour Attache at the Phillipines Embassy in Washington Florenda Herrera arrived in Trinidad a few days ago to represent the 23 Filipinos who were arrested along with 11 Chinese nationals and one Guyanese two weeks ago at the Port-of-Spain docks.

The arrested Filipinos are still at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.

They were detained for work permit violations. They had previously worked in Tobago building houses and left after claims of being victimised.

An emergency meeting among the Filipino community led to the arrival of the labour attache. She is expected to meet with National Security Minister Martin Joseph today to discuss the matter.


Trini Filipinos: Filipino Labour Attache Florenda Herrera, second from left, met with members of the Filipino community in Trinidad yesterday to discuss representation for 23 Filipinos detained at a prison in Arouca.

I don't see you posting about crime amongst you grenadian illegals hiding out in the laventille hills.

quote:

Originally posted by rabindra:
I don't see you posting about crime amongst you grenadian illegals hiding out in the laventille hills.

If I see any I will make sure to post it, and by the way most of the cars stolen in T&T end up as "car parts" in Guyana.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric's_Revenge:

quote:

Originally posted by rabindra:
I don't see you posting about crime amongst you grenadian illegals hiding out in the laventille hills.

If I see any I will make sure to post it, and by the way most of the cars stolen in T&T end up as "car parts" in Guyana.

What do you mean if you see any, you grenadians are the ones doing the crime but not the time.
In Trinidad as in Guyana the magistrates make excuses for your criminality; in Surinam a black magistrate would put your behinds in prison for shaming the black race.

quote:

Originally posted by rabindra:

quote:

Originally posted by Eric's_Revenge:

quote:

Originally posted by rabindra:
I don't see you posting about crime amongst you grenadian illegals hiding out in the laventille hills.

If I see any I will make sure to post it, and by the way most of the cars stolen in T&T end up as "car parts" in Guyana.

What do you mean if you see any, you grenadians are the ones doing the crime but not the time.
In Trinidad as in Guyana the magistrates make excuses for your criminality; in Surinam a black magistrate would put your behinds in prison for shaming the black race.

Why you bother with that tar monkey?

do you know that most crime start in canada and new york,,, then when thay cant handle it they post them back to trini now trini look like the crime spot

The US and Canada have a right to send back all them criminal to their home land. Trinidad is now a crime cesspool.

quote:

Originally posted by bird:
T&T is a paradise.

Yes it is ppl can fake crimes and NOT face HARD time in jail cuz they will cry "discrimination on Indos" yuh kno its an "Indian thing" we don't understand.



Teen charged for fake kidnapping



By INDAR SEURAJ Thursday, October 9 2008(T&T Newsday)



A Chaguanas teen appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with faking her own kidnapping.

Indira Siewsankar, 18, was denied bail after pleading "not guilty" to the wasteful employment of police time by falsely reporting that she had been kidnapped and falsely imprisoned on October 5.

Indira appeared in court alongside Joey Ramkissoon, 23, Nicholas Anthony Boodram, 19, and 37-year-old Gobin Ramdass, all of Chaguanas.

The four are also charged with demanding with menace from Indira's father, Satnarine Siewsankar, the sum of $1 million with intent to steal. The money was to be made as payment as a ransom for the release of Siewsankar's daughter, Indira, who it is alleged had falsely pretended she was kidnapped and imprisoned.

Indira's father meantime, sat in court listening to the proceedings.

The offence is alleged to have taken place between the period September 29 and October 4 in Chaguanas.

The four accused were not called upon to plead on the charge when they appeared before Magistrate Brian Dabideen in the Port-of-Spain Eleventh Court.

A desperate appeal by defence attorney Shawn Fulchan to secure bail and keep Indira out of prison failed when the magistrate dismissed the application. "I am denying her application for bail," said Dabideen.

The magistrate also dismissed the applications for bail brought by the other three accused, and reminded them of the right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail.

Dejected that his application had failed attorney Fulchan hurried to the nearby High Court to file his application for a bail hearing.

Nicols Basraj appeared for Ramkissoon and Ramdass, while Boodram appeared unrepresented. Boodram, in his application for bail, told the magistrate he had been previously arrested for a robbery offence.

The matters were transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrates' Court and adjourned to Monday.

PC Terrence Dick of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit laid the charges.

picture
Indira Siewsankar

quote:

Originally posted by Prince Juno:
The US and Canada have a right to send back all them criminal to their home land. Trinidad is now a crime cesspool.

yes but when ppl try to train they chrildren these ppl want to come in yuh and tek yuh chirldren away.. and when them come out bad them a send them bak to them country

Ani, the crime situation is very complex these days. (1) Democracy, television and the free media gives criminal a world of ideas how to committ crimes. (2) We can all agree that no one wants to give up freedom and be shut out from the free flow of information. That also goes along with the internet info highway. (3) Government of each country should have a mechanism is place to rid the crimes, and have a program for deportees reentering the country. Unfortunately, Government are very lax on crimes in many societies as if they are gaining something for letting it happen so freely.

Shopkeeper tells court: I'm guilty

Accused of oral sex with boy, 6:


Nikita Braxton South Bureau



Saturday, October 11th 2008(T&T Express)



A 52-year-old man charged with having oral sex with a six-year-old boy yesterday immediately told a magistrate he was guilty when he appeared in court.

However, the charge of sexual assault was laid indictably, which means it would have to be tried in the High Court, and he was not called upon to plead.

Glen Farouk Khan, of Tarouba, Marabella, appeared in the First Magistrates' Court, and as soon as the matter was called he told Senior Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes he was guilty.

He told the court his age but said he could not recall the age of the victim.

It is alleged that Khan assaulted the boy, of King's Wharf, San Fernando, during the August vacation when the youngster went to a parlour to buy salt prunes. Khan was the caretaker at the shop when the incident is said to have occurred.

The matter was adjourned to October 21.

Swede couple chopped to death



By KARL E CUPID and ANDRE BAGOO Friday, October 10 2008(T&T Newsday)



The brutal double murder of a Swedish couple sent shockwaves through Tobago yesterday, prompting tourism and government officials to lament the killings as "a sad day" for the island.

Police found Anna Sundsval, 62, chopped to death, and her companion Oke Olsoon, 73, unconscious with wounds about his body when they received a report, at about 10.30 am, of a commotion at the couple's villa Anthony Charles Crescent, Bon Accord Estate Development, in west Tobago. Olsoon died close to two hours later while undergoing emergency surgery at the Scarborough Hospital.

Local sources said the couple arrived in Tobago from Sweden on Sunday for a two week stay following which they were scheduled to travel to Australia. The couple have no relatives in Tobago. Sources said Sundsval had two daughters and Olsoon had two sons.

"This is indeed a sad day for tourism in Tobago," said Carol Ann Birchwood-James, president of the Tobago Hotel's Association, who was among officials at the villa yesterday.

Sundsval was pronounced dead by County Medical Officer of Health Dr Mentor Melville who said she had been chopped twice across the head and face by her killer. She was attacked in a bedroom of the upstairs apartment of the villa and police described the scene as "a bloodbath".

Police believe Sundsval put up a fight against her attacker. Olsoon was found unconscious downstairs with multiple chop wounds about his body but he did not survive emergency surgery.

The couple's house workers, as well as close neighbours, cried uncontrollably when they heard the news of their murders.

One worker said Olsoon said to her over the weekend, "˜I must see Australia before I die.'

He didn't know he would be dead today."

Newsday was told that about five persons were employed by the couple.

An unarmed woman security guard stationed in a guard hut close to the fenced premises contacted the Crown Point Police Station when she heard a commotion at the villa.

She was reported to be in protective custody yesterday.

Investigators believe the killer gained entry to the villa by using a ladder to climb over the fence at the back of the property. There was a break-in at the villa last year when electronic and household appliances were stolen. It was after the robbery that the couple fenced their property.

The couple's workers, who did not want to be identified, said they visited the villa each year, sometimes staying as long as six months.

"They bought this villa to live in peace in Tobago and look what happen," an expatriate neighbour commented.

Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London yesterday extended condolences to the families of the slain couple. Senior Superintendent Nadir Khan led a team of officers to the crime scene where tracker dogs were used to search the area for the killer.

Homicide Bureau investigators also assisted the local Crown Point police and there were reports last evening that a forensic team from the Special Anti Crime Unit in Trinidad had flown to Tobago to assist in the investigation.

Tourism Minister Joseph Ross yesterday called the killings a "tragic event" which he described as an "isolated incident".

In a media release, Ross said he has been in contact with Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert and officials of the Tobago House of Assembly regarding the investigation of the murders.

Ross however noted that Trinidad and Tobago has not had many reported cases of crimes against visitors. "According to the Crime Analysis Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service there were no incidents of serious crimes committed against tourists in Trinidad and Tobago for the period 2005 to July 2008," the Tourism Minister's statement read.

"The Ministry of Tourism has also been in continuous contact with the Tobago Hotel's Association and other tourism stakeholders. We are also liaising with our overseas marketing representatives and High Commissions."

Ross will today meet with THA officials and other tourism stakeholders in Tobago. Yesterday tourism stakeholders braced for the expected impact the murders would have on the sector.

In Trinidad and Tobago, tourism (mainly on the island of Tobago) accounts directly for around six percent of GDP and employs around six percent of the workforce.

According to a report in The Economist in March of this year, there has been a clear escalation of crime against tourists in Tobago.

"While most violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago is concentrated in the ghettos surrounding Port-of-Spain, violent attacks on visitors to Tobago have risen sharply in recent years," the report stated.


Foreigners murdered

October 9, 2008: Swedish couple Anna Sundsval, 62, and Oke Olsoon, 73, chopped to death at their villa in Tobago

October 3, 2008: German national Gunther Woehner, 72, is shot dead at his Zoar Heights, Four Roads home in a robbery. Woehner lived in Trinidad for 40 years.

January 18, 2005: German Jurgen Claus Keck, 60, a retired engineer turned artist/painter, is shot dead at his Aquaview Terrace, Carenage.

April 29, 2004: Canadian professor Robert Mac Donald, 43, succumbs to his injuries after being shot by robbers. Mac Donald was in the country to attend a karate tournament.

February 26, 2004: American customer services representative Camelia Nyack, 31, is killed in a shoot-out at a friend's home at Sorzano Street, Arima after visiting Trinidad for Carnival celebrations.

February 12, 2002: American oil engineer Mark Staley, 38, of Mountain View, Wyoming, is stabbed to death during Carnival Monday night mas.

March 10, 1996: The body of an American yachtie is discovered in the Tucker Valley hills.

May 11, 1994: The bodies of Canadian Geoff Thomas Barnes, 23, and his pregnant wife Sherelle Ann Barnes, 22, are discovered on a Blanchisesse beach in May, 1994.

2nd suspect held in killings



with reporting by Elizabeth Allard



Sunday, October 12th 2008(T&T Newsday)



Another suspect was held yesterday in the brutal slaying of Swedish couple Oke Olsoon, 73, and Anna Sundsval, 62, at their villa in the Bon Accord area of West Tobago. The suspect was held in the Bon Accord area.

On Friday, a 32-year-old Tobago man was arrested at his Crown Point home, in connection with the Swedes' murder. He remains in police custody.

As the joint police and Sautt investigation continued, sources also said yesterday that a quantity of illegal drugs was found behind a fence near the murder scene. National Security information yesterday was that a Tobago diver, assisting in the searches near the murder scene, discovered a cutlass, which is believed to be the murder weapon, as well as a discarded pair of boots, believed to have been worn by the killer, in a nearby lagoon.

Witnesses are also working together with a sketch artist to come up with a face behind the killings.

Yesterday, Minority Leader Ashworth Jack, in an interview, said he was pleased with the investigations so far.

"In the scheme of things in Trinidad and Tobago, I think the police have done well, because you seldom hear of arrest after murders in Trinidad, and I think with the limited resources that the police on the island have, they need to be commended. Assistant Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Frederick, Senior Superintendent of Police Nadir Khan and his men, for the work they have done in this investigation, must be commended," said Jack.

Jack felt, however, that were adequate resources given to the Tobago Police, the service delivered to the island would be more efficient.

Jack also said that the murder investigation of the Swedish couple will determine if there will be any fall-out in tourist arrivals.

"I think the way this is handled is going to determine the confidence that people from other countries are going to have, as to whether they will visit or not.

"All over the world there are incidents like these, the way it is dealt with will determine the seriousness of the country to deal with matters like these," he said.

Swedes Olsson and Sundsval were brutally chopped to death at their villa at Anthony Charles Crescent on Thursday, around 10 a.m. Sundsval died on the scene while Olsson died later at the Scarborough Regional Hospital. Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call 555, Crime Stoppers, 639-4152, 639-2511 or 639-2515.

-with reporting by Elizabeth Allard

$1.5 million ransom demanded for UWI student
Monday, October 13 2008

A UNIVERSITY of the West Indies (UWI) student is the nation's latest kidnap victim

Police sources said a $1.5 million ransom has been demanded for the safe release of Naila Sadiq, 23, who went missing on Friday night. A close male relative confirmed the abduction at the family's Mission Road, Preysal, home yesterday. The relative, who only identified himself as her uncle, also confirmed that a ransom had been demanded, but refused to disclose the amount.

According to sources, Sadiq, whose family owns Central Equipment Rentals Ltd, was last seen around midday on Friday. She reportedly lives at an apartment on Ragbir Street in St Augustine.

Her father received a phone call from her abductors Friday night stating they kidnapped his daughter. The ransom demand was made in a later phone call. Sadiq only recently started studying for her Masters in Business Management, after taking a year off following the completion of her bachelor's degree.

At the family home yesterday, relatives refused to comment on the abduction.

Anti-Kidnapping Squad detectives could not be reached up to late yesterday to determine the status of the investigation.


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New leadership can save TT'
By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Monday, October 13 2008

THE CONGRESS of the People yesterday joined the long list of groups and individuals warning that this country will experience a financial crisis like the one being experienced in the United States and several other countries.

COP leader Winston Dookeran, said the financial global crisis will have a serious impact on Trinidad and Tobago. He said there is hope for TT, but it is time to build a new leadership.

Dookeran, an economist and former Central Bank Governor, predicted a lowering of world inflation, a realignment of currency values in search of regaining competitiveness, contraction of world output and a continuing loss of global wealth.

"Economic strategy will shift focus from development issues - poverty, equity, and structural change - to stability issues like regulation, bank capitalisation and adjustments to interest and exchange rates realignment," he said. On the issue of TT investments in the US market, Dookeran said: "Government is saying that some of the funds from the Heritage and Stabilisation fund are in Lehman Brothers and it is safe."

He pointed out, however, the company was allowed to collapse while the US government rescued the American International Group (AIG), the world's biggest insurance company.

Dookeran said: "There is the probability of an emerging trade deficit. In light of the trends in the price of oil, we have to face a risk that government's revenue cannot be realised."

The 2008 budget was based on a $70 oil price.

To mitigate these risks, Dookeran recommended that the strong protect the weak and that the economy must change. The latter, he said, is the biggest challenge. "A new world dynamics has set in "” the assumptions of economic logic we know are being tested. The real question is will this change the political logic facing the country? The solution lies in politics much more than in economics." Dookeran called Caribbean leaders, including those outside CARICOM, to meet and discuss how to respond to this global crisis.

Economist Patrick Watson said the current crisis is unprecedented and worse than any before. He also questioned why the government was not diversifying the economy.

"We depend crucially on foreign exchange and we are using it inappropriately. The non-energy sector is using it up and if the energy sector does not bring in the amount of money then we would suffer."

He said when the oil price falls, government revenue is immediately affected. Watson said he believes the Government will blame external factors, when "it is quite the opposite".

Dr Lena Brereton-Wolfe, also a feature speaker, advised that the people start storing food in their various communities and constituencies. "Organise yourself to be prepared for disaster. Do your part to help the nation," she said.


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quote:

p

ERIC where r you i miss you come back pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sleeping man gunned down in bed
By RHONDOR DOWLAT Tuesday, October 14 2008

SIX GUNMEN barged their way into a house in Laventille, pushed a woman off her bed and opened fire on her husband, hitting him several times, killing him instantly. Their mission complete, the killers ran out of the house without harming the woman. According to a police report, at about 3 am, Duane Davis, 27, of Alexander Place was asleep with his wife Alana Massiah when the door to the house was broken down by the six men who entered with guns drawn.

The killers immediately went to the bedroom and pushed Massiah off the bed before shooting Davis repeatedly at point-blank range. He did not even have a chance to get off the bed, being shot some 22 times, according to police.

A report was made to the police and a team of officers arrived on the scene. The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Although while saying no motive was established for the murder, detectives said Davis was very well-known to them. No arrests have been made and acting Cpl Stephen and PC Thomas of the Besson Street Police Station are continuing investigations

Illegal Filipino workers to be deported


Louis B Homer South Bureau



Tuesday, October 14th 2008(T&T Express)



All 23 Filipino nationals who have been detained at the Maximum Security Prison at Arouca for working in Trinidad without the necessary permission will be deported, a source at the Philippine Embassy said yesterday

The workers were awaiting their airline tickets to London, Hong Kong and then to the Philippines. Cost for each ticket is US$2,000, which is being paid for by the Trinidad Government.

The workers include one female civil engineer and 22 men. They were arrested by customs officials one month ago and taken to Golden Grove, pending investigations by the Ministry of National Security. The workers were employed with a construction company in Tobago when they were arrested, the Express learned.

Following their arrests, Florenda Herrera, the Philippines Labour and Employment attache based in Washington, arrived in Trinidad. She had a meeting with Honorary Consul in Trinidad for the Philippines, Dr Marie Advani. After the meeting it was decided that an enquiry into the infringement of the work permit process would be carried out, it was learned.

Efforts to get a response from the Immigration authorities were unsuccessful yesterday.



Now to take care of the illegal Gay anese Indos......

dad shot dead
By STACY MOORE Wednesday, October 15 2008

click on pic to zoom in« prev photo next photo »Allan Seepersad stabbed a bandit who stormed into his home in Penal yesterday morning but the businessman died from gunshot wounds during the struggle with his attacker.

Seepersad got shot as he tried to protect his wife Deera, daughter Sally, 16, and ten-year-old niece Mohanie "Nandi" Chaitram.

A police report stated Seepersad had opened the front gate of his home at Railway Line Road, Gopee Trace, Penal when two men approached him from behind and grabbed him by his neck. It was at about 7.15 am and Seepersad, who was also the father of a ten-year-old boy, was about to take Sally and Nandi to school. He owned A&D Wrecking Service & Used Car Parts.

The gunmen announced a hold-up and forced Seepersad, 43, into the kitchen where Deera was preparing a breakfast of roti and bodi. When she saw the gunmen and her husband, Deera began screaming, "Bandit, bandit!" Sally and Nandi, hearing her shouts, locked themselves in a bedroom where they were dressing for school and hid under a bed.

"While hiding under the bed, Nandi wanted to scream and run out to her uncle Allan but Sally had to cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming," Nandi's mother Asha Chaitram, 36, told Newsday.

One of the gunmen held Deera by the neck and demanded cash. "Deera begged for her husband's life and told the bandit to let her go and she would return with money," said Chaitram.

The other gunman pushed Seepersad over the lit stove and he suffered burns to his lower abdomen. He and the gunman struggled as Deera broke free of her attacker and ran through the front door screaming for help.

"Before she even came back with neighbours gunshots were heard. Two shots was fired and one struck Allan in his abdomen and the other went through the galvanise ceiling. This happened during the struggle," said Chaitram.

As he fought with the gunman, Seepersad managed to stab him in the neck. The wounded man and his accomplice then ran out of the house to a car that was parked nearby.

Chaitram said she was at work in San Fernando when she got a phone call that Seepersad, her cousin, was shot and immediately rushed to his home.

"When I reached Nandi ran out to me and hold on to my feet saying, ˜Uncle dead mummy. They can't carry my uncle nowhere mummy. He was nice to me mummy, the best uncle I ever had mummy'," said Chaitram.

As undertakers removed Seepersad's body from the house, Nandi, still dressed in her school shirt, became hysterical.

"They can't carry my uncle. He was too nice mummy," Nandi cried, as she held a photograph of Seepersad. She rubbed the photograph against her face and called out, "Uncle, uncle."

Nandi, a standard two student of Suchit Trace Hindu School, was inconsolable.

Chaitram said Nandi's 14-year-old sister died in a car accident last year and the little girl has had a difficult time accepting her death. Nandi survived the crash and has a scar on her face. Chaitram said Seepersad's daughter Sally has been like a sister to Nandi since the accident.

"Now I don't know how she will be able to cope. Her uncle was one of the best things that ever happened to her. I can't believe it," Chaitram cried as she massaged Nandi's head with rubbing alcohol.

The police issued bulletins to hospitals and health centres advising officials to be on the look out for a man seeking medical attention for a stab wound to the neck
take care of this fuss

oi, ERIC?! stop talking politics and answer the gal nah! like yu playing hard to get or wah?

p.s Ani just joking gal, ok. always like to pull Eric's leg. he's so steadfast in his dislike of Indo Guyanese, i find it amusing.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
oi, ERIC?! stop talking politics and answer the gal nah! like yu playing hard to get or wah?

p.s Ani just joking gal, ok. always like to pull Eric's leg. he's so steadfast in his dislike of Indo Guyanese, i find it amusing.

She will bite the dust just like the rest of Indo Gay anese liars who have come up against me and had to flee after I posted the FACTS about T&T.(Eric Williams sister married to Burnham etc)

She is shameless living in T&T benefiting from the robust economy and cussing black ppl for NOT voting for Panday and the gang of crooks & thieves around him, which means in my eyes she is ONLY concerned about race race race race, this is why Indo guyanese ain't popular in T&T as in Barbados.

Its NOT your race ppl dislike its the attitude of ppl like that which many of group have a like minded culture.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric's_Revenge:

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
oi, ERIC?! stop talking politics and answer the gal nah! like yu playing hard to get or wah?

p.s Ani just joking gal, ok. always like to pull Eric's leg. he's so steadfast in his dislike of Indo Guyanese, i find it amusing.

She will bite the dust just like the rest of Indo Gay anese liars who have come up against me and had to flee after I posted the FACTS about T&T.(Eric Williams sister married to Burnham etc)

She is shameless living in T&T benefiting from the robust economy and cussing black ppl for NOT voting for Panday and the gang of crooks & thieves around him, which means in my eyes she is ONLY concerned about race race race race, this is why Indo guyanese ain't popular in T&T as in Barbados.

Its NOT your race ppl dislike its the attitude of ppl like that which many of group have a like minded culture.

to begin with you neec so read back the comments you write and you will find the answer... black people dont like indains tell me why indians must like them ???? you dont know that i really dont care who eric willmas sister married.. once my sister nah married you.... why you dont tell them how erick willams wes running after mo mo,,hdd wife she is a indian awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ,,dont tell me you dont know that

Police sketch of suspect bears fruit



Elizabeth W Allard and Earl Manmohan Tobago Bureau



Friday, October 17th 2008 (T&T Express)



The release of a sketch of the suspect police are seeking in connection with the double murder of Swedish couple Anna Sundsval and Ake Olsson has borne fruit, as the police have been bombarded with calls since it was published, Deputy Police Commissioner Gilbert Reyes said yesterday.

"We are at this time following certain leads in bringing some closure to this case. Members of the public have called our hotline numbers and the information we received are bearing some fruit. Additional patrols are now in place on the island of Tobago, with joint army and police patrols at villas and guest houses across the island on a 24-hour basis," Reyes said.

He also thanked the members of the public for their cooperation so far.

Police also confirmed additional security measures have been put in place at the air and sea ports to ensure that the suspect does not leave the country.

Reyes yesterday called on members of the public to be on the alert for the suspect and asked them to contact 625-2877, 539-0042, 639-2515, 639-4142, 800-TIPS or 555 if an individual fitting this description is spotted.

Meanwhile, "Villa Olsson", the scene of last week's double murder, is up for sale.

Olsson's daughter has asked one of his friends in Tobago to put the villa up for sale since their family has no intention of visiting Tobago in the future.

The British Commonwealth and Foreign Office has since updated its travel advisory to Britons visiting Tobago, warning them of the danger of crime in the island and advising them to be careful when in their villas.

Olsson and his companion had arrived at the villa the Sunday before for a two-week stay before going on to Australia, where he promised himself to visit before he died. He never fulfiled that wish, since an intruder entered the villa for what police described as a robbery attempt, and in the process murdered the visitors.

Two young men, one 32 years old from Trinidad and another 28 years old from Jamaica, were held for questioning in connection with the incident over the weekend and released on Monday. The 32-year-old man was, however, charged for the wounding of his fiancée on October 1.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Fredrick said the men were released as there was no evidence at this time linking them to the murder scene.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
oi, ERIC?! stop talking politics and answer the gal nah! like yu playing hard to get or wah?

p.s Ani just joking gal, ok. always like to pull Eric's leg. he's so steadfast in his dislike of Indo Guyanese, i find it amusing.

Ani dont pull Eric's leg, she push hot solder bolt up his arse. She gatt e' jumping like a crapoed on hot concrete. He is steadfast in his hatred of all Indos, not only Guyana Indos. It is amusing, cuz he definitely hiding a major shortcoming, maybe he really ugly.

3 jailed in $10M cocaine case



By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Saturday, October 18 2008 (T&T Newsday)



A PIPARO mother of two was yesterday jailed for eight years and her Venezuelan and Colombian colleagues sentenced to ten years each for trafficking $10 million in cocaine. The sentence was handed down in the San Fernando High Court by Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, following the verdict of a jury on October 3, in which the trio were found guilty of trafficking 26.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at Gulf City mall's car park, four years ago.

Lutchmi Bharat, 30, who worked as a maid in Venezuela, wiped tears from her eyes as the sentenced was passed. Fernay Bohorquez, 34, of Bogota, Colombia, and Carlos Olivaries, 41, of Venezuela, bent their heads and pushed their hands forward to be handcuffed in the dock after the sentence.

On December 6, 2004, Bharat, Bohorquez and Olivaries, were arrested at Gulf City car park, La Romaine, by members of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Firearm Bureau.

Senior State Prosecutor Nizam Khan, led evidence from the officers that the trio was sitting inside a burgundy coloured Mazda motor car.

They spotted a white crocus bag in the back seat which contained 25 black plastic packets. Olivaries also had in his possession 1,740,000 bolivars and US $3. They were arrested and charged with trafficking.

Bharat, Bohorquez and Olivaries, did not testify in their defence before a jury of nine members. The State did not address the jury, neither did attorneys Jagdeo Singh, Sophia Chote, Prakash Ramadhar and Mewahlal Chatoor, who represented them.

The jury found each guilty as charged.

In a stirring plea of mitigation, Singh told Justice Boodoosingh that his client suffered abuse during her marriage.

Boodoosingh, in passing sentence, said that he took into consideration the fact that Bharat left school at the age ten and at 14, she was working as a maid in Venezuela. Her children are seven and ten years old. "Bharat's history invokes sympathy. There are many people in society who are poor and suffered the trauma of abuse, yet they do not end up here. While I am prepared to extend leniency, it would be sending a wrong message to society," Boodoosingh said.

The judge said that he took into consideration that the trio did not have previous convictions.

As the sentence were read individually to the Spanish speaking accused men, they gazed at interpreters, Luz Marina Topias de Copilah and Doris Millan, standing next to the dock.


Lutchmi Bharat in handcuffs leaving the San Fernando High Court yesterday after she was sentenced to prison for eight years.

Man held with $4m in cocaine

Airport drug bust


Denyse Renne


Saturday, October 25th 2008(T&T Express)



A major drug trafficking ring involving counter clerks at the Piarco International Airport has been busted by detectives of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB), following the seizure of $4 million worth in high grade cocaine.

The drug, which was supposed to have been shipped to Canada, was seized by OCNFB detectives yesterday morning along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, near the Pasea intersection in Tunapuna.

A 35-year-old resident of Canada was held with the drugs and is expected to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate on Monday, charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Sources say the suspect, a car wash operator, was held around 8.30 a.m. The suspect was followed by the narcotics detectives from the Piarco International Airport. Upon searching his Ad Wagon, OCNFB detectives found the cocaine, weighing nine kilogrammes, hidden inside a suitcase. The suspect was then arrested.

Sources say when the man arrived at the airport, he realised the heavy police presence and decided to forgo the transaction he had lined up. Sources added that for the past few months, they conducted surveillance exercises at the airport and following investigations seven counter clerks were fired.

The exercise was spearheaded by Sr Supt Allan Crooks and involved officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch and K-9 Unit.

Taxi-driver, 72, jailed for heroin


Jensen LaVende



Saturday, October 25th 2008 (T&T Express)



A 72 year old taxi driver was imprisoned yesterday after he was found guilty of being in possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking.

Kenrick Ali, of St Ann's Road, St Ann's was sentenced to 18 months jail with hard labour after he was found guilty of possession of 4.2 kilogrammes of heroin for the purpose of trafficking.

Ali, a retiree of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, was arrested on January 28, 2003 after officers attached to the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) searched his home and found the drugs stitched into the inner lining of a suitcase under his bed.

Inside of the suitcase was also $9,400, which Ali claimed was from a cheque he had cashed early that day.

Ali, a father of eight, claimed he was keeping the suitcase for a foreign friend whom he known for three years and had asked him to do him the favour.

Ali said he did know what heroin was or what it looked like and had no reason to suspect that his friend was a drug dealer. Ali said he met the man while working and the developed a relationship.

Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan, presiding in the Port of Spain 4A court, heard all of Ali arguments before finding him guilty and passing sentence.

Ali was also ordered to pay a fine of $25,000 or serve an additional three years in jail.

˜Bullet to the heart'



By Indarjit Seuraj Tuesday, October 28 2008(T&T Newsday)



Fluttering eyes and gasps for her final breath is the memory Chris Nicole Edwards has of her teenage daughter before she died in her arms at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Cocorite, on Sunday.

Sitting outside the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park, St James, yesterday, Edwards recalled the last moments before her daughter died.

Kimberly Tiffany Monderoy, 14, fell victim to a stray bullet during a shoot out between rival gang members at Cuthbert Circular Road in Diego Martin.

"Kimberly stay with mommy, don't do mommy that," Edwards recalled telling Monderoy as she lay bleeding and fighting to stay alive.

"All it take was one bullet straight to she heart," Edwards said.

She admitted crime had finally hit home after reading about the out of control murder rate.

Edwards made a plea for gang members to take their war away from children and innocent people.

"That's what they need to do," she said.

"Innocent people dying because of they crap," neighbour Bridget Thorpe interjected.

"Is, when the innocent have to pay for it, is the problem," Edwards said.

"Look at what I have to go through, my innocent daughter waiting to cross the road and go play," she added.

The mother of five explained she had just gone into her shower on Sunday when she heard the shots.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! And I run outside in a towel."

She said she sensed something was wrong as her five children had gone to play nearby.

The incident has since left everyone traumatised, she said.

"Not good. Everybody who was up there yesterday (Sunday) not good and is children. They can't sleep, only jumping up," Edwards said.

She described her daughter as a humble person who was always content and grateful for what she had.

"The littlest thing she get she like it. She never asked for more."

A Form One student at the Mucurapo Secondary School, Monderoy had only recently joined the cadets, relatives said.

Monderoy was standing at the corner on Cuthbert Circular, at about 5.30 pm on Sunday, when an argument broke out between some men from the area and some others who had pulled up in a vehicle.

The argument became heated and a shootout followed, with the gunmen firing indiscriminately.

Monderoy was rushed to hospital where she died before receiving emergency treatment.


MURDER SCENE: A Forensic Officer takes a blood sample at the shooting scene Sunday evening at Cuthbert Circular, Four Roads, in Diego Martin. The police took charge following the shooting of 13-year-old Kimberly Monderoy, during a crossfire between two gangs. Monderoy was hit in the chest, and later succumbed to her injuries at the Seventh-Day Community Hospital at Cocorite.

Stolen gun recovered



By NALINEE SEELAL Monday, October 27 2008(T&T Newsday)



Two Highway Patrol Branch officers on their way to provide escort for First Lady Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards, suffered serious injuries, when the police vehicle in which they were occupants crashed into a wall in the vicinity of VMCOTT at about 8.30 am yesterday.

As the injured officers, Constables Lewis and Roopchand were being conveyed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, it was discovered that one of their pistols, a 9 mm assigned to PC Roopchand, was missing.

The entire Beetham Estate was placed on "lockdown" and close to 50 police officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch, the Port-of-Spain CID, Repeat Offenders Programme (ROPE), and a police helicopter combed the area for the missing police gun.

Several homes were searched, and after almost two hours of searching the gun was found in a house.

No one was at home at the time, and police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a suspect.

Angry Beetham residents who spoke with Newsday accused the police of harassment and added that searches on Friday and yesterday amounted to undue pressure. They added that they were treated as criminals and accused the police of beating some innocent young men of the area.

Checks yesterday revealed that PC Roopchand suffered a cut on the chin, and complained of chest pains, while PC Lewis suffered broken ribs.

The two officers are now warded at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

Reports revealed that the two officers were told yesterday that the First Lady was on her way to a function, and an escort from the Highway Patrol was needed.

As the two officers travelled along the Priority Bus Route heading east in a bid to catch up with the other vehicles in the convoy the accident occurred.

Yesterday, senior police officers were high in praise for the swift action of the officers which led to the recovery of the stolen gun.

picture

What about the hundreds of guns the Manning government sold to criminals?

Why all Trini women resemble each other??

Big ganja bust in north forest



By RALPH BANWARIE Wednesday, October 29 2008(T&T Newsday)



Eastern police yesterday seized over $2.5 million worth of marijuana in a forested area of north Trinidad.

According to a report, at about 3 pm on Monday, a party of police officers headed by Sgt Beverley Paul, Ag Cpl Nicholas Vialva, and Detectives constables Randy Castillo, Verson Juanville, Yohanis Joseph and members of the Task Force journeyed about five miles into the forest where they came upon a camp.

The officers reported seeing two men in the camp but they escaped and disappeared into the forest. The police found the marijuana on tables recently packed in plastic, ready to be taken out of the forest for its destination.

The camp was destroyed by the police officers and the marijuana seized and taken to the Sangre Grande police station

Police confirmed that they know the identity of the two men and warrants have been issued for their arrest.

Sgt Paul said this is part of the continuous effort by members of the Sangre Grande CID to eradicate the drug trade in the area.


Officers of the Sangre Grande CID secure the marijuana which was found in the forests in north Trinidad and which was later destroyed.

Assassination bid on state witness foiled



By Onika James Wednesday, October 29 2008(T&T Newsday)



Police on Monday night foiled an assassination attempt on the life of a state witness who was staying at a safe house in Savannah Villas, Aranjuez.

Kirkson Villaruel, aka "Kirty," Villaruel, 21, was shot and killed by police during an exchange of gunfire outside the villas.

Police defended the killing saying they had no choice.

Police said the men were trying to get to the condo where the state witness was being kept.

Villaruel's death brings to 34 the number of persons killed by police for the year.

The witness, who was scheduled to testify in a major murder trial, was relocated soon after the incident.

Officers are working on the theory that Villaruel, and his accomplice were attempting to murder the state witness who was staying in the safe house.

"The officers who shot and killed the suspect exercised great restraint as it was their intention to apprehend the suspect alive.

"The police did not intend to fire their weapons. They did so only after the suspect opened fire at them from the bushes," a senior police officer said. He insisted that the police acted in a professional manner.

"If they wanted to kill him they would have done so since they saw him in the vicinity of the wall. The officers were forced to defend themselves against this suspect. They had no choice."

According to police, Villaruel and another man were seen attempting to climb over the southern wall of the residential condominiums at about 9pm on Monday.

Residents reportedly spotted the two men and called the San Juan police who radioed patrol officers who were on duty in the area.

Three officers from the North Eastern Division Task Force responded immediately to the call and saw the two men attempting to scale the wall. According to reports, police said they shouted to the men to stop but they ran off.

The police gave chase and followed the men for about half a mile to a nearby river.

It was reported that Villaruel and his accomplice hid in some bushes on the river bank.

Police said they were shot at and they returned fire. police said they later found Villaruel bleeding from gunshot wounds in some bushes.

Officers rushed him to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he later died.

Police believe, however, the other suspect was wounded during the exchange of gunfire. Police combed the area yesterday for the man but came up empty handed.

Yesterday, Patricia Villaruel, the dead man's mother, who operates her stall at the Botanic Gardens in Port-of-Spain, was beside herself with grief. When told that her son had been killed by police, she became hysterical.

She began to cry repeatedly calling out the name of her dead son.

As she rolled on the ground, the distraught mother cried out, "Oh God my son."

"Who kill my son. Tell meh what happen to my son," she said loudly.

Villaruel was so overcome with emotion that security officers at the Botanic Gardens were forced to summon an ambulance from the nearby Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

Inspector Moses Charles from the North Eastern Division is continuing inquiries.

Airport worker facing cocaine charges



Denyse Renne



Thursday, October 30th 2008(T&T Express)




A service employee working at the Piarco International Airport is among two persons expected to appear before an Arima Magistrate today charged with possession of $3.8 million in cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The 21-year-old customer service agent employed with Servisair T&T Limited and an 18-year-old labourer were held by detectives of the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) yesterday morning at the Piarco International Airport.

Detectives say the woman who has been employed with Servisair for the past five months resides at Todd Station Road, Talparo.

Servisair is responsible for baggage and cargo handling at the airport.

Sources say OCNFB detectives were conducting surveillance duties at the airport around 7.30 a.m., when the Bueno Vista, St Joseph labourer approached the check in counter carrying a suitcase. He was destined to board a Caribbean Airlines flight to Canada.

OCNFB detectives noticed the duo acting suspiciously and upon searching the suitcase allegedly found eight packets of high grade cocaine hidden among other contents. They were taken into custody and subsequently charged. Sources say the employee was about to place a tag on the bag when the detectives intercepted. The exercise was co-ordinated by Supt Allan Crooks.

Last Friday, OCNFB detectives busted a drug smuggling ring operating out of the airport and dented transactions between Canada and T&T. Following that bust, Kyle Riley was charged with trafficking $4 million worth of pure cocaine.

Riley, 35,of Northey Street, Longdenville, Old Road, Chaguanas, was arrested while driving along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, near the Pasea intersection in Tunapuna, when OCNFB detectives searched his vehicle and allegedly found a suitcase containing eight packets of cocaine totaling 9.615 kilogrammes, among some clothing.

Evidence too weak



By Indarjit Seuraj Thursday, October 30 2008(T&T Newsday)



Applause and cheers greeted Bruce Rezende as he left the Port-of-Spain Magistrates' Court yesterday, after being freed of the charge of killing his wife Bernadette.

Rezende's two sons Manuel and Miguel hugged him tightly, and within seconds, family and friends mobbed him. They squeezed and kissed him, and someone gave him a cellphone as he took a call before they all walked up St Vincent Street and around the corner to an office on Duke Street.

Rezende had only minutes earlier stood before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Eighth Court where he was freed of the murder charge. Fourteen years ago, Rezende's wife Bernadette, 35, a Royal Bank employee, was found with her throat slit at their home on Mendez Drive, St Lucien Road, Diego Martin.

Bernadette, Manuel and Miguel's mother, was killed during the early hours of March 30, 1994. Delivering his ruling yesterday, Mc Nicolls told lawyers the evidence against Rezende, 50, was insufficient to make a prima facie case. Mc Nicolls said although the High Court has accepted circumstantial evidence as good law, the evidence must be strong enough to send a case to trial.

"It is really a matter for a judge and jury, but the circumstantial evidence should not be so weak. There must be strong circumstantial evidence to link the accused with the crime," he added.

"The presence of the accused alone (in the house) is not enough."

The decision prompted loud applause from family and friends in the public gallery, including talk show host Anil Roberts. They were ordered into silence by police officers standing guard in the court. Bernadette's murder was first put before Coroner Brambhanan Dubay in an inquest in 2006, 12 years after the killing. After hearing the evidence, in June, this year, Dubay ordered a warrant be issued for Rezende's arrest. During the inquest, Rezende said he called his brother-in-law after he found his wife with her throat slit on her bed. Forty minutes after, he alerted the police. Rezende told investigators he heard his wife screaming and when he went to her bedroom he saw a man struggling with her, but as he tried to intervene, another man emerged and they got into a scuffle. The men then escaped through the kitchen door, he said.

In the preliminary inquiry presided over by the Chief Magistrate, and which lasted over two months, Rezende, a former Royal Bank employee, was defended by Queen's Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips who led Ravi Rajcoomar and John Heath.

The prosecution, led by Dana Seetahal, SC, sought to introduce evidence from Bernadette's attorney Joanne Julien about their private conversations which was deemed inadmissible because of lawyer/client privilege.

The prosecution also admitted evidence from the Supreme Court Registrar relating to Bernadette's estate worth more than $600,000. Several of Bernadette's former Royal Bank co-workers also testified during the inquiry.

Following the ruling yesterday, Rezende reportedly went to the side of his second wife Denise who is warded at a private hospital in Port-of-Spain. The couple have a 10-year-old daughter Melita.

picture

Pan Bill ˜a bit embarrassing'
By CLINT CHAN TACK Thursday, October 30 2008

click on pic to zoom inIndependent Senator Corrine Baptiste McKnight...« prev photo next photo »INDEPENDENT Senator Corrine Baptiste McKnight last night declared she would not support the National Steel Symphony Orchestra Bill 2008, because it was "a bit embarrassing" to the people of TT.

Speaking during debate on the bill, Baptiste McKnight declared: "It says we are not a bright people. I will not be part of that." The former diplomat also said it was "disrespectful, illegal and lawless", if Pan Trinbago is excluded from consultations on the legislation. She questioned whether it would undermine the national steelband movement, in the long run.

Referring to earlier contributions by Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald and Government senator Wesley George, McKnight said there seemed to be a "measure of confusion" in the Government about whether the steel pan was up to international standards and what a symphony was.

"I detect a lack of self-confidence. Does our self-esteem really require that we call it a symphony," she asked. McKnight said most of the senators in the Ninth Parliament were "too young" to recall that Amoco Renegades performed a tune composed by French musician Jean Michel Jarre that was part of a laser show in Paris in 1989, which was televised worldwide.

She added that senators may not know that Silver Stars spent "a decade and a half" playing at Disney World in Orlando, Florida to millions of tourists or that pan pioneer Ellie Mannette was teaching Americans to play pan in Western Virginia.

"You are talking about global recognition? What are we talking about? Hello. I think it is a self-esteem problem and we have to eliminate that," she said. Explaining that the definition and configurations of orchestras varied from one country to another, McKnight said TT would stand out as "the only steel orchestra in the world" from the simple fact that "pan is ours." "Arrant nonsense! We are not a symphony people!" she declared.

The senator also said the bill was vague about whether members of Pan Trinbago would be eligible to sit on the National Steel Symphony Orchestra board and many of the country's top steelbands could be "left devoid of some their top players" if they are on the board.

"Is this helping the movement," she asked. "I have a vision of round pegs in square holes. I say this purposefully because everything here is a little upside down."

She said if the new G-pan is the standard which the steelband movement was now subscribing to, "we will have to play in outer space" because there was no indoor facility in the country which could tolerate the enhanced musical tones from a symphony comprised of these pans.

"The Brian Lara Stadium," asked Independent Senator Basharat Ali. "No. That is an outdoor facility," McKnight replied. She also asked what would happen to steelpans promised for schools, if they were not G-pans and what would be the format used to test students with regards to steelpan music. Earlier in the sitting, Opposition senator Mohammed F Rahman warned that "we are looking to ignite a conflagration in this country" if the bill became law in its present form.

22 charges for rape, assault on foreigners
By Karl E Cupid Thursday, October 30 2008

A 22-year-old man appeared before a Tobago magistrate yesterday charged with 22 offences, including the rape, robbery and assault of foreign nationals.

Jade Bovell has been accused of committing the offences in Black Rock and Grafton over the past 15 months. Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie denied Bovell bail during a hearing at the Scarborough First Court.

As the charges were read, Bovell kept pulling up the waist of his dirty, oversized pair of jeans. His cream shirt also looked unwashed.

The first series of charges against Bovell, of Black Rock, stemmed from attacks against a middle-aged foreigner in July 6, 2007 and August 2, 2007. Bovell is accused of robbing the victim of $4,300, an RBTT Bank bank card and of committing a grievous sexual assault on her, on July 6, last year. He is also accused of committing an act of serious indecency on the woman without her consent, and of breaking and entering her home with the intent to rape on the same day. He was not called on to plead on these indictable offences. A further charge states Bovell is accused of raping the woman a month later on August 2.

Bovell also faces charges for robberies which took place between May 8, 2007 and August 17, 2008. Bovell is accused of stealing a cellphone and $900 after breaking into the home of Angela Stickland; of robbing Jason Ramsey of a cell phone and $500 at the Mot Mot Villa; and of robbing Andrew and Emma Hurde of cell- phones, a camera and $700 at the Great Courland Bay Villa. He pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Bovell is also charged with offences committed earlier this month. They include the assault of Collin Greene with the intent to rob and the theft of two gold chains, two gold rings, a cell- phone, two watches, $120 and ten euro dollars from Lyn Greene, on October 9. He opted for trial at the High Court for these offences and was therefore not called on to plead.

He is accused of the indecent assault and robbery of Kathy Murphy at a villa in Black Rock on October 16, and of stealing valuable jewelry worth an estimated 160,000 pounds sterling from Mary Housend on the same day. He also did not enter a plea on these indictable charges.

Eight charges have been additionally laid against Bovell for offences against two British couples which took place at a guest house in Black Rock on October 20. They include stealing cash and jewelry"” one of them a necklace worth 1,500 pounds sterling"” and grievous sexual assault, and an act of serious indecency against two women. He is further charged with robbing David Yoemans of a cellphone, $1,000, US$350 and Tim Elliot of $300, 550 pounds sterling and two pairs of binoculars. These too were indictable charges.

Police prosecutor Sgt Willie Davis objected to bail and said Bovell had not been traced for a criminal record. Bovell's attorney Anthony Arnold said he had been in police custody since last Wednesday and to deny him bail was "totally unfair".

"How can you keep a man in custody for six days and then come now and say you want time to trace him?" Arnold asked.

In response, Davis said Bovell was arrested on Friday and it was only after he was charged that his fingerprints were taken for tracing through the police database. The magistrate then remanded Bovell in custody pending tracing and he is due to reappear in court on Monday.

Taxi driver shot dead
By NALINEE SEELAL Thursday, October 30 2008

WHILE many Hindus were preparing to light their deyas in celebration of Divali, a 40-year-old taxi driver of Oliver Trace, Mt Hope was shot and killed near his home at about 6 pm on Tuesday.

According to a police report, Reagan Lopez was standing four houses away from his home when he was confronted by a man armed with a gun. Shots were fired and Lopez fell to the ground where he bled to death.

Persons who were liming nearby and heard the shots, telephoned the police. Officers arrived on the scene, cordoned off the area where Lopez's body lay and began their investigation.

The body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James by the District Medical Officer (DMO). Police sources revealed that a man from Oliver Trace, was held that same day, with a gun but did not state if the firearm was used in the killing of Lopez or if the man held with it, was Lopez's killer.

And while no official motive has been established for the murder, police sources indicated that Lopez was recently accused of being a police informant. Lopez's murder is the 448th for this year.

$4M ˜coke' seized "” 2 held
Thursday, October 30 2008

A 21-YEAR-OLD female employee of Service Air and an 18-year-old St Joseph man were arrested yesterday at Piarco International Airport after being found with eight packets of cocaine worth $4 million.

The drugs were discovered in the inner lining of a suitcase, in the possession of the two accused, bound for Toronto, Canada.

Police reports revealed that at about 7.30 am, the teen approached the counter service representative from Service Air and attempted to have his suitcase cleared. Officers from the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau who were observing the two, moved in and seized the suitcase. The two will appear before an Arima Magistrate today.

WAY TO GO ANI

Ministers, do your duty!
By SEAN DOUGLAS Saturday, November 1 2008

click on pic to zoom inSpeaker Barry Sinanan yesterday hit the Government for its "miserable failure" to answer questions to ministers in the House of Representatives, in his latest criticism of a government which he has already sent to the Privileges Committee for similar past failings.

His admonition came after ministers answered just six of the listed questions, as he chided: "Six out of 40 is a miserable failure."

"Members of the Government should note that there are 40 questions on the order paper for oral answer, and answering six questions is certainly not good enough. It really is not good enough. I don't know what else to do. I am appealing to ministers and Government again. It is your duty to the Parliament to come and answer these questions."

He noted two questions had been listed unanswered since February. These are question 48 (deferred 12 times since February 8) in which Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq asked Sports Minister Gary Hunt about the cost, expenditure so far, and the completion date of the Tarouba Stadium, and question 60 (deferred 11 times since February 22) where Rafeeq asked Minister of Tertiary Education Christine Kangaloo the value of her ministry's foreign scholarships, how recipients were chosen and whether the awards were ever advertised.

Sinanan said: "Question 48 reminds me of the previous Minister of Sport (Roger Boynes). He had a similar question that lasted for the whole session and it was never answered. Now I hope question 48 does not suffer the same fate under this new minister (Hunt)."

He repeated his admonition of absent ministers for whom House Leader Colm Imbert could not adequately reply to the supplementary questions posed by the Opposition.

"You put the Opposition and certainly the Leader of Government Business in a very difficult position. When supplementals are asked, invariably the Leader of Government Business is not in a position, not being the substantive minister, to answer these questions. So again, I am appealing to ministers, when you have questions to answer and the answers are ready, please attend to Parliament to answer these questions, unless you have good reason not to be here. I hope on the next occasion we will see some improvement with respect to questions being answered."

Earlier, as Imbert proved unable to reply to supplemental queries to question 148 on behalf of absent Planning Minister Dr Emily Dick-Forde, Sinanan had instructed ministers to attend Parliament to answer questions, evoking loud desk-pounding by the Opposition.

Yesterday's order paper indicated that some 36 out of the 40 listed questions had in fact previously been deferred for reply by the Government.

Previously, Sinanan had on July 11 chided the Government for allowing 100 unanswered questions to accumulate on the order paper after a complaint by Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Maharaj.

A week later on July 18, Sinanan acceded to a request by Maharaj to send the Government to the Privileges Committee, with Maharaj complaining that the failure to reply had obstructed the Opposition MPs in their duties. The matter is still before the committee.

Food suppliers abusing people
By CLINT CHAN TACK Saturday, November 1 2008

LABOUR MINISTER Rennie Dumas yesterday accused certain businessmen of "abusing the population" by continuing to raise food prices when the price of items such as grain is falling in international markets.

Speaking during debate on an Opposition motion on high food prices during Private Members' Day in Parliament, Dumas said it was curious that as food prices fell globally, "that is not reflected on grocery shelves."

"Somehow when the commodity prices move downwards, this is not reflected on grocery shelves. At this point, most commodity prices in the context of food are moving downwards, southwards as they describe," the minister stated.

"Maybe supermarkets association and every association of traders in this country will suggest we are maligning them. Their defenders in the Opposition will say we are maligning them when we say it is time prices reflect the world movement the same way grocers were willing to move the prices upwards when international prices were moving (upwards)," Dumas declared.

"I am suggesting at every level, suppliers in this country are abusing the population of TT." Describing the Opposition's motion as "out of time" with reality, Dumas explained the facts are that the world is facing a global food crisis which has been caused by an "imbalance between supply and demand", which Government has no control over.

In response, Oropouche West MP Mickela Panday declared: "People cannot eat concrete. They need to eat to survive." While she agreed with Dumas that external factors played a "significant role" in influencing domestic food prices, Panday said the ruling PNM must "shoulder the entire blame" for the collapse of agriculture in TT. Claiming that food prices have increased annually at a rate of 14 percent since 2002, Panday said Government continues to use the UNC, inflation and global events to make "excuses, excuses and more excuses" about high food prices.

She claimed that Government will continue its "wild spending on prestige projects" because as far as food prices go, "what doesn't affect them, they will turn a blind eye to it."

Tobago teacher held with cocaine
Saturday, November 1 2008

A FEMALE teacher was arrested with over $400,000 of high-grade cocaine at Crown Point Airport in Tobago moments before she was to board a flight to London.

The 29-year-old woman has since been charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited item with intent to export the said item by Customs officials.

She will appear before a Scarborough magistrate on Monday. According to a police report, officers from the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) arrested the woman at the airport on Thursday evening.

The suspect has addresses in Canaan, Tobago and Montague Avenue, East Trincity.

She is reportedly pursuing a teaching certificate at the Valsayn Teachers' Training College. The teacher was about to board Virgin Atlantic flight V52 bound for Gatwick International Airport at about 6.45 pm. A female OCNFB officer found two packets of the drugs strapped to the woman's legs.

The drugs weighed one kilo. OCNFB officers "” Snr Supt Allan Crooks and ASP Lendore "” spearheaded the exercise.

Manning misled House
By Clint Chan Tack Tuesday, October 14 2008

click on pic to zoom in« prev photo next photo »EMBATTLED PNM Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday accused Prime Minister Patrick Manning of misleading the Parliament by his allegation that $10 million could not be accounted for on the $144 million Cleaver Heights housing project, which began while Rowley was Housing Minister.

Rowley said Manning and the Housing Ministry have failed to make public all documents which Manning used to make his claims against him during the Budget debate in Parliament on September 30, and he has instructed his attorneys "to obtain all the relevant documents, letters and reports by way of application through the Freedom of Information Act."

Manning was not in Parliament yesterday when Rowley fired his latest salvo at him. The Prime Minister and Energy Minister Conrad Enill are currently in New York to meet with chairman of the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Charles Rangel. Manning and Enill are due to return home today at the end of an eight-day overseas trip which began on October 7, with visits to Spain and England for energy talks with top officials at Repsol and British Petroleum respectively.

Before debate began on the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order 2008 in Parliament, Rowley recalled Manning had told the House, "That Cabinet took a decision on the Cleaver Heights project on the basis of a submission by me; that I sponsored this project through the Cabinet, alluding to some letter with my signature without presenting it; that I am somehow involved in a missing $10 million and implicated me in the business between NHIC (NH International Caribbean) and the HDC (Housing Development Corporation)."

Stating that he was Housing Minister from November 2003 to November 2007, Rowley declared, "I had absolutely no involvement, whatsoever, in the business aspect of the matter between NHIC and HDC. I had nothing to do with the invitation, discussion, negotiation, evaluation, costing or award of contract for the Cleaver Heights project."

Rowley further stated that "it was not a requirement, nor do I have any recollection of specifically making any submission to Cabinet to seek a Cabinet approval for the Cleaver Heights project in any manner reported by the Prime Minister who told this honourable House that with respect to this project, ˜Cabinet took a decision on the basis of a submission which came from the Minister of Housing... the Member for Diego Martin West'."

Quoting Section 10 (1j) of the Housing Act Chapter 33:01, Rowley said it was clear that the HDC negotiated and entered into the Cleaver Heights project with NHIC in accordance with its mandate. On this basis, Rowley declared, "It is not a requirement nor the practice for the HDC to seek Cabinet approval for a power which it already has in law, therefore I would have had no need to sponsor any project like this through the Cabinet as put forward by the Prime Minister."

Rowley said this meant that in claiming that Cabinet took a decision on Cleaver Heights based on a submission from him, Manning "would have misled the House in the advancement of this thesis that money was missing from the contract and a slanderous question was subsequently put to me on the matter."

"Privileges! Privileges!" quipped Opposition Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, insisting the Prime Minister be referred to the House's Privileges Committee. Rowley said Manning's claim that his signature was on a letter was also misleading because the Act states that the HDC's business is managed by its board of directors and "where the corporation or subsidiary proposed to participate in an unincorporated venture, the board shall immediately give written notice of the particulars of the proposed activity to the minister."

Adding that in such circumstances the minister must give the board directions with which it must comply, Rowley said the information provided to him by the HDC on Cleaver Heights did not warrant a ministerial veto and he approved it.

"It is in this context and in this context alone that my signature would have appeared on the document relating to this project along with any other joint ventures and not as described by the honourable Prime Minister. It is for this reason that cursory reference was made by him to this signature without revealing the contents of the document which was properly executed as required by the written law," he said.

Stating the Auditor General is fully empowered by law to access all financial information related to the HDC and its subsidiaries, Rowley disclosed: "No concern of any missing money has ever been drawn to my attention by any auditor, the Auditor General or any other officer, during my tenure as Minister of Housing, nor have I seen any such reference in Parliament for the period 2005 to 2008." Rowley added that "no report from the Auditor General or any other source has ever been submitted to me as Minister of Housing, indicating any impropriety or missing funds at the Cleaver Heights project."

Expressing his confidence in the existing systems of public accounting and reporting relationships between the HDC, permanent secretary, the Auditor General and the Parliament, Rowley concluded by saying that he awaits "the outcome of the official enquiry into the missing millions as promised" by Manning.

"Yes, man. Yes, man," Warner said as Rowley took his seat.

Apart from Warner, all the other Opposition MPs and Government MPs present listened to Rowley's contribution in dead silence.


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Wednesday 5th November, 2008


Privy Council rules: Gangar must face integrity charges


Finbar Gangar



FRANCIS JOSEPH(Trinidad Guardian)



The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has ruled that former UNC Government Minister Finbar Gangar must face the two charges of knowingly failing to declare two foreign bank accounts to the Integrity Commission, while he served in the Basdeo Panday government.

The Law Lords said that the two charges were not statute barred and therefore the former Energy Minister must go before the magistrate for the preliminary inquiry.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, the Law Lords dismissed Gangar's judicial review case which he had brought against Magistrate Ejenny Espinet. The Privy Council comprised Lords Bingham, Scott, Walker, Brown, and Neuberger. They ordered Gangar to pay costs, which would be substantial. Gangar was represented by English QC Roy Amlot.

On June 4, 2004, two charges were laid against Gangar, alleging he made false declarations as to his financial affairs in the calendar years 1998 and 1999, contrary to section 27(1)(b) of the 1987 Integrity in Public Life Act. The allegation was that Gangar failed to disclose in these declarations certain monies held jointly with his wife in accounts at JP Morgan Chase & Company in New York, and Barclays Bank Plc, Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

On October 10, 2005, Espinet, presiding at the Port of Spain Magistrates Court, rejected two contentions advanced on Gangar's behalf: first, that the offences charged were subject to a six months' limitation period so that the Magistrate had no jurisdiction to proceed with them; secondly, and in the alternative, that the two charges should be heard together.

On July 31, 2006, Justice Nolan Bereaux, presiding in the Port-of-Spain High Court, dismissed the judicial review case based on the contended for time limit, but allowed it to the extent of ordering the two charges to be heard together.

On March 15, 2007, the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Margot Warner, Wendell Kangaloo, and Ivor Archie (now Chief Justice), dismissed Gangar's further appeal with regard to the limitation period.

On April 9, 2008, the Board gave judgment in Basdeo Panday v Senior Superintendent Wellington Virgil, an appeal similarly concerning allegations of the making of false declarations under the 1987 Act, which Panday (ex-Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago) had contended were time-barred. The Board held that the three charges laid against Panday were not out of time; rather the offences had been subject to a five-year time limit.

The Privy Council ordered that Panday face a second trial. In the first trial, Panday was found guilty by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls and sentenced to two years in jail. Panday appealed and succeeded but the local Court of Appeal ordered that he face a second trial. Panday went to the Privy Council, which ordered that he face the second trial.

That is now the subject of judicial review proceedings.



T&T must be the ONLY country were Indian politicians don't like to go to the local courts to clear their "good" name.

Slain officer 'an inspiration' to others


Cops outnumber residents at Tabaquite funeral

South Bureau



Saturday, November 8th 2008(T&T Express)



source
sombre: Police officers bear the coffin containing the body of murdered policewoman Neisha Dhanessar, at her funeral in Tabaquite yesterday. -Photo: DAVE PERSAD


She was killed by her husband and her body left for their seven year old son to find, but Police Constable Neisha Dhanessar was remembered yesterday as a good wife and dedicated mother.

Police outnumbered residents in Tabaquite yesterday at the funeral for the 33-year-old police officer, who was chopped to death at her home last Monday.

Her husband, Basdeo Dhanessar, 31, was found dead the next day. He had poisoned himself.

The killer was an electrician working in the Cayman Islands, and was angry that his wife had a new found independence because of her job, police were told.

His relatives said the couple had separated and she had refused his plea to reunite.

Neisha Dhanessar, a police officer for two years at the Chaguanas Police Station, was remembered by Senior Superintendent Joseph Edwards as an inspiration to other officers whose deaths had cut the ranks of dedicated officers.

Her friend, Debbie Guialdo, told mourners Dhanessar had helped raise her sisters and brothers, and earned the respect of her father, Bridgelal Ramoutar.

"She was one of the apples of his eye. She was his heart. She was the child that every parent dreams of." Guialdo said Dhanessar had wanted to be a police officer since childhood.

"She loved an respected her husband. Nothing was too hard or too much to do for him. So much so that she left herself undone for him to realise his dreams.

"The dreams she wanted to accomplish were placed on hold in order to raise her son and be a supportive wife."

When she finally decided to pursue her police career, Guialdo said, "(Neisha) was very happy in her newfound career (but) if asked, she would say the most important thing was family."

Police gave Dhanessar a gun salute at her burial at the Tabaquite Public cemetery.

Dad kills girl, 2, drinks poison too



By CECILY ASSON Friday, November 7 2008(T&T Newday)



An early morning drive with her father, Vishal Nigel Ramdeen, turned fatal for two year old Vandana Ashley, as he gave her a poison cocktail to drink in her favourite soft drink bottle. Ramdeen, 25, then took his own life by drinking the deadly mixture from another soft drink bottle.

Police believe an argument with his wife Lisa, prompted Ramdeen to kill his daughter and commit suicide. Ramdeen and Vandana were found inside his green Sunny Super Saloon motorcar near a canefield in Belle Vue Road, Diamond, Claxton Bay.

Vandana was lying on the front passenger seat, while Ramdeen was slumped on the driver's seat. Police suspect Ramdeen had laced two bottles of a pear flavoured soft drink with the weedicide, Lanate. Investigators said Ramdeen, a salesman, and his wife had marital problems.

They quarrelled at about 7.45 am yesterday, before Ramdeen took his daughter and left their home at St Margaret's Village, Claxton Bay. He drove to a canefield road, often used as a short cut by truck drivers, where he fed his daughter the deadly drink; he then drank from the second bottle. The two bottles were found in the vehicle.

A truck driver found Ramdeen and his daughter's bodies, almost four hours after they had left their home. The driver became suspicious when he saw the car parked on the deserted road and called the Couva Police Station when he saw the bodies.

Lisa screamed uncontrollably and had to be helped by two policewomen after she was taken to the scene to identify the bodies.

"What you do that for?" she screamed at Ramdeen.

Other relatives wept as Vandana's body was placed on a stretcher and taken away by undertakers. One relative confirmed the young couple had problems in their marriage.

"Marriage is not an easy thing, but young people don't listen when you warn them," said the relative.


Why kill my baby?: Policewomen help support Lisa Ramdeen after she identified the bodies of her husband Vishal Nigel Ramdeen and their daughter Vandana Ashley, two, at a canefield road in Claxton Bay yesterday.

ER, you are a low life, trying to make milage out of a human tragedy. What are you trying to prove with this last story, you iguana?

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:
ER, you are a low life, trying to make milage out of a human tragedy. What are you trying to prove with this last story, you iguana?

all he trying to prove is how blackman does treat collieman liks ass ,, KILL THEM AND KISS THEM

BLACK MAN CAN'T LIVE IN REALITY, THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE MORINING DEAD, ER HOPE YOU UNDERASTAND THIS ,,

Wednesday 12th November, 2008


Filipino ship captain fined $2.5m for ganja


RHONDA KRYSTAL RAMBALLY


A Filipino national who spent 35 years of his life at sea was yesterday fined in excess of $2.5 million after he pleaded guilty to importing prohibited goods into Trinidad waters.

Nestor Jalop Cagampang, 53, captain of the vessel Zim Kingston I, appeared before Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas Ragoonanan in the Port-of-Spain Four A Court.

Cagampang, a father of four ages 20, 16, 11 and 10 was represented by attorney David West.

After Cardenas-Ragoonanan read the indictable charge, Senior State Counsel Chaitram Bhola, who appeared on behalf of the Customs and Excise Division, recommended summary trial.

Cagampang pleaded guilty to the charge.

The facts, which were read by Bhola, stated that around 5 pm on Monday, a team of officers assigned to the Customs and Excise Marine Interdiction Unit received information that there were illegal items on board the vessel.

After maintaining surveillance of the Zim Kingston I, the officers proceeded to question Cagampang who told them there were no dangerous drugs on the vessel.

However, with the assistance of a team of divers from the T&T Coast Guard, 83.74 kilos of marijuana were discovered in two metal boxes which were attached to the hull. Cagampang was subsequently charged by Customs and Excise officers under Section 213 (a) of the Customs Act.

West described the incident as "unfortunate."

He said the boat was inspected on November 7, between 12.05 am and 12.24 am, and there were no unusual attachments.

He added that Cagampang received a certificate of clearance and made no deviations, but proceeded directly to Port-of-Spain.

"Whoever attached it (drugs) was monitoring the charters and stops," West said.

He said his client had no idea there was an attachment or anything illegal on board the vessel.

The vessel, the court heard, came from Jamaica.

West said Jamaican port workers were on the boat at all times.

He asked the magistrate to be lenient on his client and to take into consideration "where the boat came from" and Cagampang's guilty plea.

The two metal boxes were not brought into the courtroom, but were viewed outside the court in the tray of a Customs and Excise vehicle.

Cardenas-Ragoonanan said: "I will not impose a custodial sentence."

She fined Cagampang $2,512, 200, which was three times the value of the illegal drugs.

He was allowed one day to pay the fine.

Insider trading found


...But TCL's hands tied


Curtis Rampersad



Thursday, November 20th 2008(T&T Express)



A three year investigation into allegations of insider trading of Trinidad Cement Ltd shares has found evidence of improper stock market behaviour.

But a legal shortcoming and insufficient proof will prevent the alleged perpetrators from being brought to justice.

The Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission in Port of Spain said it concluded its investigation into insider trading allegations of TCL stock in 2002.

On July 5 that year, the SEC said it received a complaint from the Claxton Bay-based cement producer alleging insider trading in relation to two attempted takeovers of TCL by Mexican cement giant Cemex in February and June.

TCL alleged that insiders illegally used price sensitive information about the takeovers to trade in TCL shares.

A team from the SEC launched an investigation in February 2005, the first of its kind under the existing Securities Industry Act, 1995 and submitted its report to the SEC in March 2006.

The SEC also sought external legal advice from Senior Counsel in Barbados and Canada.

In a statement signed by chairman Osborne Nurse, the SEC said yesterday that the investigation found "considerable evidence of unacceptable market conduct" in the two trades of TCL shares six years ago.

But legal advice from the Senior Counsel indicated that the current Securities Act required the SEC to prove intent.

This established a higher standard of proof than is usually required for administrative proceedings and that the evidence in the matter and the evidence in the matter did not support the required standard of proof.

The SEC stated that the evidence was also insufficient to overcome defences provided in the law and that the probability of success in prosecuting these matters was extremely low.

"As a result, the Commission has accepted the advice and recommendations of its legal counsel and has decided to close the matter," the SEC said.

While evidence "clearly demonstrated behaviours that were unacceptable and violated the intent of the law", the SEC said it was not enough to meet the test of the Act.

The SEC has recommended that the law be revised to ensure that insider trading is not provided with any defences within the securities regulation.

TCL Group chief executive Dr Rollin Bertrand could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.

Booming drug trade in prisons


Darryl Heeralal Investigative Desk



Monday, December 1st 2008(T&T Express)




JAILERS buy and sell more than $20,000 in drugs and other contraband in the nation's six prisons every day, making State lock-ups some of the most profitable drug blocks.

This figure, a prison officer said, was a conservative one, adding that one only had to look at the price of drugs behind bars to "get an idea of how much the trade is worth".

The officer, with over 15 years' experience and who has worked in nearly all of the nation's six jails, spoke to the Express during an investigation into drug and contraband smuggling behind bars.

Both Prisons Commissioner John Rougier and president of the Prison Officers Association Second Division Michael Williams admit that drugs are being bought and sold behind bars every day but differ on the quantity and type of narcotics.

Both also agree that prison officers are involved in drug smuggling but could not say to what extent.

In the past three years, close to a dozen prisoners and officers have been arrested at the jail and at home in connection with marijuana possession and are currently before the courts.

Drugs in jail, marijuana and crack cocaine are worth up to 15 times what they cost on the outside.

A "hot" drug block will have to sell up to 15 pounds of marijuana in a day to make $20,000; in jail, it takes just one pound to bring in the same amount.

Contraband cellphones, cigarettes and rum are also sold at least twice their retail value.

A mobile call could cost up to $100.

It takes a lot less to bring in a lot more in jail.

A whole pound of marijuana on the outside usually gives between 180 and 200 five-pieces; in jail, just an ounce baled out in five-pieces the size of match heads can yield 250 and 300. An ounce of crack cocaine usually makes 200 ten-dollar balls; in jail, the same amount will deliver 500 balls.

"There is concern that rogue officers are facilitating inmates. Thank God it is very small." Rougier said.

Asked about officer involvement in the trade, Williams was equally cautious.

"I cannot safely give a percentage. There is some degree of trade within the walls based on evidence we pick up from time to time."

The prison source to whom the Express spoke argued that such a view defied the laws of arithmetic.

"In a prison population of over 5,000, at any one time fewer than 300 inmates go to court. On the evidence only a small minority is involved in drug and contraband smuggling. Don't get me wrong; prisoners are very innovative. But it is unlikely such a small number can smuggle such large amounts of narcotics into the jails."

The source added: "Do a check of the amount of drugs found on officers who are caught and on inmates and you will see pound for pound officers smuggle more drugs. All inmates are searched on entering the prison. An officer can only be searched in the presence of the prison's superintendent and that officer is not there in the majority of times when rounds change."

Contraband is smuggled into the jail by officers walking in with it, by inmates hiding it in body cavities, clothes and shoes and by prisoners' relatives, hidden in food and other items.

Sometimes people also attempt to throw drugs over the wall.

The trade is so widespread that one inmate, Ian Allen, was murdered at the Carrera Prison on Nelson Island and thrown into the sea with a boulder tied to his foot.

Homicides detectives working on the case said the murder was drug related.

"At jail, make your rounds midday and in the afternoon, and you will smell marijuana, but to find it you can't. Crack cocaine is less common, but we have ways to tell when a supply of one drug is good. If there is a lot of marijuana in the jail cigarette prices go down, and if crack is in good supply you get more ganja for your money," the officer said.

"The situation that exists is a situation that exists internationally and regionally. I have been to jails in Israel, Britain, Canada, the United States and the region and they too have problems with narcotics," Rougier said.

He said based on his evidence, though, T&T's jails did not have a problem with crack-cocaine, adding that in the past year none of this type of drug was found during crackdowns.

"Not because you have not found it means it does not exist. Anything can be bought and sold in jail, even inmates," the prison source said.

Williams said that prison authorities had not acted on his Association's suggestions in 2006 for the implementation of a security system with scanners, x-ray machines and a controlled area where both officers and relatives have to pass through before entering the prison.

Rougier said Williams was not aware of what was happening in terms of security at the nation's prisons and that facilities had been put up at some jails.

But contraband is not the only illegal activity in which officers and inmates are involved behind bars.

In 2007 then Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Gilbert Reyes, spoke about murders and kidnappings being contracted out from inside jail.

In 2003 prisoner officer Winston Sandy and a witness in a kidnapping case, Kevin Richards, were murdered by hits put out from inside the jail, police say.

The Association later admitted that rogue officers were "operating" with criminals.

1,184 PHONES SEIZED

Joseph: Corrupt prison officers sneaking in devices to inmates

Anna Ramdass



Wednesday, December 3rd 2008



Over the past six years, a total of 1,184 cellphones have been confiscated from prisoners, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said yesterday.

"One of the major challenges faced by the prison service over the years is the practice of corrupt officers making cellphones available to inmates," Joseph said in response to a question on the Order Paper from Independent Senator Gail Merhair in the Senate.

The statement also comes on the heels of an Express investigation, details of which were published on Monday ,in which Prisons Commissioner John Rougier admitted that prison officers were involved in drug smuggling.

In the Senate yesterday, Joseph said that in an effort to address the situation, the prison service has implemented a number of measures to prevent the entry of cellphones into the prisons and their use by inmates.

Joseph said there are now more robust checks of officers, and the gate lodge was outfitted to allow officers to leave their cellphones before proceeding further into the compound.

Gate scanners and hand held scanners have also been purchased to conduct searches at prison entry points, he said, and added that prison service regulations are being re-drafted to allow junior officers to be searched.

"Prison officers suspected to be engaged in the illicit trafficking and use of cellphones within the prison compound face disciplinary charges which are overseen by the Public Service Commission.

"Further, in instances where officers are found with cellphones in addition to illicit drugs, the prison service regulations provide for the referral of such matters to the police," said Joseph.

Joseph said inmates also receive cellphones and other illegal items by having them thrown over prison walls or fences.

"In the case of [the] Carrera convict prison, such packages are sometimes thrown from passing boats," Joseph said, adding that to control the situation, the waters have been monitored more closely with the assistance of the Coast Guard.

He said the purchase of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance security in and around the island is also being addressed.

At other prisons, prison perimeter checks have increased to detect strange packages as well as unauthorised people lurking around the outer prison compound.

Joseph said prisoners also received cellphones from visiting family and friends so foodstuff and clothing have been prohibited.

He said visitors trying to smuggle a cellphone or other illicit items are prohibited from future entry and the police are called in, where applicable, and charges are laid.

Man awarded $72,000 for wrongful arrest and detention



By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, December 4 2008



A 60-YEAR-OLD man, arrested and put in a cell for allegedly committing six traffic offences after a police vehicle collided with his car, was yesterday awarded $72,000 by a High Court judge.

On February 2, 2002, Bhagirath Parmanan was driving his car along the Tarouba Link Road, near the San Fernando Technical Institute, when a police vehicle crossed onto the lane he was driving, and struck his car.

Parmanan, of Ben Lomand Village, Williamsville, was confronted by police officers who asked him for his Driver’s Permit.

In a constitutional motion, Parmanan claimed he was slapped on the right ear. One of the policemen he also claimed, yanked his wallet from his pants pocket and threatened to keep it.

Taken to the Marabella Police Station, Parmanan was placed in a cell. His pleas to police officers at the station for medical attention went unheeded, and according to the former postal supervisor at Petrotrin, they also refused to allow him to make a telephone call.

The incident occurred around 10.45 pm, and in his motion filed by Haresh Ramnath, who instructed Anand Ramlogan, Parmanan stated that around 2 am, his wallet was thrown into the cell.

However, his driver’s permit, US$400 and TT$100 were missing. Parmanan was kept in the cell all night until around 7 pm the following day, when he was slapped with six charges. The charges alleged that he failed to produce his certificate of motor insurance; refused to give his name and address to a policeman; drove in a dangerous manner; drove without reasonable consideration; drove without a policy of insurance; drove without a driver’s permit.

All the charges against him were dismissed on May 29, 2002 by Magistrate Rae Roopchand. The State challenged Parmanan’s lawsuit and a trial was heard before Justice Shahfeyei Shah. The judge, after hearing attorneys for Parmanan and the State, ordered that general damages of $18,000 should be paid to Parmanan. Six per cent interest must be paid on that sum from November, 27, 2004 when the lawsuit was filed. The judge also awarded him $1,176.39 at the rate of three percent from February 4, 2002.

It was further ordered by Justice Shah that the State pay Parmanan $10,000 as damages for false imprisonment, at the rate of six percent.

For malicious prosecution, the State was ordered to pay Parmanan $25,000 with interest at the rate of six percent from November 2004. Special damages were awarded in the sum of $3,250.

The State was also ordered to pay Parmanan’s legal costs.

Hey Eric, post some Iraq pics if you have.

I gotta find them and put them in order first I am in the process of moving.

I just applied for a job in Afganistan, now I have to wait.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric's_Revenge:

I just applied for a job in Afganistan, now I have to wait.

Man you have a penchant for danger, I hope the money is good.

Colombian woman in protective custody


Nazma Muller Investigative Desk



Friday, December 5th 2008(T&T Express)



The Colombian sex worker who has accused police constable Derrick Badree of rape will not be deported before the matter is heard.

Mirza Ali, the Immigration Officer in charge of investigations and deportation, has confirmed that the woman, who has been charged with entering the country illegally, is in protective custody.

However, because of a lack of safe houses and facilities in the country for witnesses, she has had to be sent to Golden Grove Women's Prison in Arouca.

"She is not in a cell," Ali said yesterday.

"She is not being held with other prisoners. She is comfortable, receiving her meals and being taken care of. We don't have any place to put her here in Trinidad. This way she can enjoy food and accommodation at the State's expense."

Ali said if it is necessary for the woman to return home, she will be allowed to leave and to re-enter the country legally.

The woman, who has not been named because of the sexual nature of the crime, alleges that she was raped at gunpoint at a hotel in Chaguanas, after she refused to have sexual intercourse without protection. When she went to Chaguanas Police Station to make a report, she was arrested for entering the country illegally and detained.

Badree, who has 11 years service with the police force and is attached to Gran Couva Police Station, is alleged to have been on duty when he visited the hotel at 3 a.m. on Sunday, November 16 . The gun allegedly used was police issued.

Badree was charged with serious indecency, rape and common assault. The case has been adjourned to March 23, 2009.

An immigration source said the South American national was treated as any alleged rape victim and was given counselling.

"She was treated like any rape victim."

It is the responsibility of the complainant, in this instance the arresting officer, Sgt Joseph, of the Freeport Police Station, to ensure that she appears to give evidence.

Cellphones hidden in shoes



By RALPH BANWARIE Saturday, December 6 2008(T&T Newsday)



THREE days after National Security Minister Martin Joseph told the Senate that 1,184 cellular phones were seized in the nation’s prisons, a 19-year-old Port-of-Spain woman was held yesterday after trying to smuggle four cellular phones, hidden in the soles of a pair of sneakers, to two prisoners both of whom are charged with murder and kidnapping.

Police reported that at about 10.30 am, the woman who is a street vendor came to the Court and Process Branch and told officers that she had brought a pair of sneakers to be given to her relative, to wear to go to court.

Acting Sgt Learie Mitchelle, the officer in charge at the time, told the woman to hold on as other police officers were busy preparing prisoners to be taken to the nearby Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court.

While the woman was waiting, Mitchelle observed her fidgeting and sweating profusely. He then asked the woman to open a plastic bag which contained the pair of black and blue suede sneakers with stitched soles. Mitchelle noticed a strange bulge in the soles of the sneakers and called other officers to examine it.

In the woman’s presence, Sgt Mitchelle took a knife and cut open the soles of the sneakers. Hidden inside each shoe were two cellular phones while a small bag of marijuana was also hidden in the right shoe.

The woman, when questioned about the phones remained silent and was subsequently cautioned by Sgt Mitchelle and escorted to the charge room at the front of the police station where she was charged with possession of marijuana and interfering with a prisoner.

Police sources said they are awaiting instructions from the Office of the DPP on whether or not additional charges could be laid. Police later confirmed that the pair of shoes was destined for one of two men who are charged with kidnapping and murdering a woman earlier this year.

The woman who was charged by Sgt Mitchelle will appear before a Sangre Grande Magistrate on Monday. While replying to a question raised by the Opposition, Senator Joseph on Tuesday in the Senate said that the illicit cellular phones were seized from prisons cells over the past five years. Joseph blamed corrupt prisons officers for smuggling in the phones, a charge confirmed by sources within the prisons who said prisons officers were paid as much as $1,500 by inmates, to smuggle in the cellular phones.

Police sources said that with these cellular phones, gang leaders serving time or on remand, can control their gangs and even order “hits”, while behind bars.

Police officers said that this was the first time a member of the public was caught trying to smuggle in cellular phones and as a result, officers will be paying special attention to all items including clothing, toiletries, books and other items members of the public bring to police stations, courts and the prisons to be given to prisoners.


CELL SHOES: The cellular phones hidden in the pair of sneakers.

Weekend murders push year’s toll to 511
By INDARJIT SEURAJ Monday, December 8 2008

Two murders in Morvant early yesterday have now pushed the nation’s murder toll to 511.

The killings preceded the stabbing death of a grandfather in La Horquetta, whose death is still to be classified, pending further investigations.

The Morvant victims were yet to be identified up to late yesterday.

At this rate, the murder toll could reach as much as 545.

In La Horquetta, a 23-year-old mentally ill man is now in police custody after Lennard Chubbs, a 75-year-old pensioner, was stabbed to death during an argument with a relative at his home.

A report lodged at the Homicide Bureau in Arouca stated that at about 2 pm yesterday, the two got into an argument at Chubb’s home on Phase Seven. Chubbs reportedly armed himself with a piece of iron, while the suspect reached for a knife.

Chubbs then reportedly started beating the suspect who in turn dealt Chubbs several stabs about his body.

As he lay bleeding, the suspect took the iron from Chubb’s hand and began beating him. The pensioner ran out of his house, where he collapsed and died.

PC Anderson Bernard and Rawle Braznel of the La Horquetta Police Station responded to the report of a stabbing and found Chubbs lying in a pool of blood. With their firearms drawn, they entered the house where they found the suspect sitting on a chair.

Meantime, at Morvant, reports are at about 12.45 am, Morvant Police responded to reports of gunshots fired at Keer Trace. Upon checking, they discovered the bodies of two men bearing gunshot wounds to their heads. Investigators believe they may have been executed.

It is also believed that the men were not from the Mon Repos area as residents claimed they did not recognise them.

Morvant Police, too, said they did not recognise the men. The deceased were described as one being in his 30’s and the other in his 40’s.

Also yesterday, a burnt human skull was found under a bridge in a gated community at Maracas, St Joseph.

Officers at the Maracas, St Joseph Police Station received a call at about midday yesterday, that a burnt body was seen under a bridge at Santa Barbara Road. When they arrived, they discovered a burnt human skull on the bank of a river.

Investigators at the Homicide Bureau, who responded shortly afterwards, suspect that the rest of the remains might have been washed away in the flowing river.

Detectives at the Homicide Arouca office are investigating all three incidents.

Tunapuna wife raped as husband watches
Monday, December 8 2008

A 25-year-old accountant was raped at her Tunapuna home following a “lime” at her home Saturday night.

The incident was equally traumatic for the victim’s husband who was made to watch as the rapist sexually assaulted the woman at gunpoint.

Reports state that at about 10.30 pm, the victim was cleaning up after entertaining guests at her apartment on Pasea Main Road, when the masked intruder entered.

He drew his firearm and ordered the woman inside her bedroom, where he proceeded to rape her.

Her husband, an employee at the University of the West Indies, arrived home minutes later to find the intruder on top his wife.

He confronted the gunman who in turn pointed his firearm at him and ordered him to stay quiet as he did his dirty deed.

The assailant then proceeded to rob the couple of a quantity of cash, jewelry, a laptop computer and home entertainment centre, before running off.

The victim was taken for treatment at a hospital, following which a report was lodged at the Tunapuna Police Station.

Investigations are continuing.

PM: Work harder and save more
By Andre Bagoo Monday, December 1 2008

click on pic to zoom in« prev photo next photo »PRIME Minister Manning last night promised to spear the nation cuts in salaries, pensions and social assistance grants, even as he unveiled a $4.5 billion Bud-get cut, calling on citizens to work harder and “save wherever possible” in the face of the global economic crisis.

In a television and radio address to the nation at 8 pm, Manning said while the Government would make cuts in recurrent and capital expenditure across all ministries, there will be no cuts in salaries, wages, old-age pensions, disability grants or “in any social assistance programme of any kind.”

There will also be no cuts in programmes “dealing in the fight against crime”; training initiatives such as the On the Job Training (OJT) Programme, the Multi-Sector Skills Training Programme (MUST), the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture (YAPA), the Helping Youth Prepare for Employment Programme (HYPE) and Youth Training , Employment and Partnership Programme (YTEPP).

With regards to the Community Environment Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the Unemployment Relief Programme, Manning also gave the undertaking that there will be no cuts in these ventures. He also pledged to ensure that the consumer benefitted from falling food prices and to “guard against high interest rates” to prevent homeowners from defaulting on mortgages.

“Fellow citizens with this approach we will keep our economy going albeit at a slower pace. We will keep unemployment to a minimum and we will save our people from the extremes of anxiety and dislocation that could otherwise result,” Manning said.

In exchange for these graces, however, the Government will cut its recurrent expenditure by $3.6 billion, or 6.5 percent and its capital expenditure by $1.4 billion or 16.1 percent. The Prime Minister said the Government has revised the expected revenue shortfall from $6 billion to $5.3 billion, but noted that even with the announced cuts, a $741 million deficit is now expected at current commodity prices. The 2009 Budget was originally $49 billion.

The “serious cuts” in spending which will be undertaken, according to the Prime Minister, include a slow-down in the construction of new schools. All current programmes of the Ministry of Education will, however, continue. Major infrastructural projects planned by the Ministry of Health, such as new hospitals for Couva and Port-of-Spain, “will have to be deferred.”

As exclusively reported by Newsday last week, the Government will not undertake any new housing projects, “however, all housing units under construction will be completed” as well as “projects already on the drawing board.”

A major casualty of the Government cutback will be the National Carnival and Entertain-ment Centre, which had been scheduled for a construction start last month. The start of construction on this project, Manning said, “will be postponed.”

There will also be a “reduction in infrastructure improvement in communities by special purpose state enterprises” as well as a slow-down of the TTEC street lighting programme.

Other much larger-scale infrastructure projects will, however, not be cut in order to prevent the country from spiralling into a recession.

“If we are to avoid a recession in these challenging times we cannot take a contractionary approach to our economic development. We cannot completely shut down the development programme of Trinidad and Tobago. This is the engine of growth,” Manning said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister urged the population to cut back on excessive spending and to work harder to improve this country’s international competitiveness.

“We must all work harder, improve our skills and competencies and be prepared to make sacrifices for the good of our country,” Manning said. “The Government is cutting back on expenditure and it would be wise for you to save. Save wherever possible and as prices fall you will have increased opportunity to save for a rainy day. There should be no excessive spending especially when you cannot afford it. Restraint is now required.”

Manning called on the public and private sector, as well as the labour movement to work together to keep Trinidad and Tobago afloat.

“In these challenging times those who are employed must cherish their jobs. They must do so by giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay and being reasonable in future wage demands...We must all come together labour, Government and private enterprise to start the dialogue for the good of all.”

“The Government cannot do it alone. All citizens must play their part. We need all hands on deck as we make this rough crossing. Productivity is required more than ever.

“It is a very competitive world and the fight for market share can become even more intense as more countries struggle to keep their economies afloat. Our products must become even more competitive and therefore efficiency and productivity are now more critical than ever,” Manning said.

Man dies while eating roti; shop shut



South Bureau



Tuesday, December 9th 2008



A man collapsed and died yesterday, shortly after he began eating a chicken roti he had bought minutes earlier.

Bertrand Ragbirsingh, 53, of Railway Road, Couva, was drinking with two friends before they went to the roti shop around 11.30 a.m. While eating, one of Ragbirsingh's friends complained to the shop owner that his roti had a funny taste and a foul smell, police said.

Investigators said while complaining, the friend heard a loud noise, turned around and saw Ragbirsingh on the ground choking.

Ragbirsingh was rushed to the Couva District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Couva police seized several items from the roti shop and shut it down.

They are continuing investigations. -Yolandra John




Ani is that one of yuh roti gyal?

Bogus kidnap victim sorry; record cleared



Denyse Renne



Tuesday, December 16th 2008(T&T Express)



Having served 100 hours in community service for faking her own kidnapping in 2005, 22-year-old Kyna Rampersad yesterday had her conviction nullified as she related to Chief Justice Ivor Archie what she had learned from her time spent doing charitable work.

Rampersad, a student currently studying journalism at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), hopes to some day write about her story in the hopes of convincing others to stay on the right path.

Rampersad, of Sangre Grande, appeared in the Appeal Court before Justices Archie and Wendell Kangaloo.

Following coaxing from special State prosecutor Dana Seetahal, SC, that Rampersad be allowed to relate her experiences, Rampersad said her time spent at the Home for the Aged in Sangre Grande was a "learning experience".

"I mopped, swept and spoke with the elderly people at the home," Rampersad said, adding she even developed a relationship with some of the home's occupants.

Rampersad said though her required hours of service had been completed, she still goes to the home to assist in whatever way she can. Admitting that she was thankful to her parents, especially her mother, for being at her side throughout the entire court experience, Rampersad said she can now relate and "speak to her mother about anything, since she is not just my mother but my friend".

Cocaine in goat belly



Published: December 16th, 2008

The shipment of compressed marijuana
which law enforcement officers
seized yesterday. PHOTO: KARLA RAMOO



The drug smuggling trade has taken a new dimension as a goat and a pig believed to be smuggled into the country from Venezuela were being tested to determine if they were fed cocaine pellets.The animals were part of a consignment of illegal goods, including marijuana, seized by Coast Guard officers during an operation on the high seas early Tuesday.

Among the items seized were:

•559 kilos of high-grade compressed marijuana with an estimated street value of $5.5 million.

•13 cases of Polar Lite beer

•12 sticks of fireworks

Up to late yesterday, two male suspects, ages 42 and 48, of Bamboo Village Number One and Bamboo Village Number Three, respectively, were under interrogation by officers of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB).

One of the suspects was identified as the captain of the pirogue, police said. Officers at the Operations Centre at Staubles Bay in Chaguaramas said around 4.26 am they received a tip off about a pirogue approximately four miles south of Chacachacare Island.

A Coast Guard vessel, Interceptor 016, was immediately deployed to intercept the white 28-foot pirogue. The Coast Guard officers boarded the boat and found 23 crocus bags of large blocks of marijuana wrapped in plastic.

The goat and pig, which appeared dehydrated, were found tied to the stern, officers said. Members of the Marine Interdiction Unit and OCNFB officers were also called out to Staubles Bay as part of the investigation team.

Officers involved in the operation included Duty Operations Officer Sub Lt Daniel, Customs Officer Ali and Sgt Farris of the OCNFB. Police sources said the goat and the pig were put to sleep yesterday afternoon in the event of the animals carrying diseases.

OCNFB sources said close to 4,000 kilos of marijuana with a street value of $48 million and 140 kilos of cocaine valued approximately $56 million were seized by