The Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) has confirmed the fire at the Licensing Office in Caroni on Sunday (26th November 2023), which destroyed more than a dozen vehicles, was a deliberate act.
Speaking to TTT News via telephone on Wednesday (29th November 2023), Dexter Hodge noted the Fire Service Personnel attached to the Fire Prevention Section, observed a burnt trail that led to a central vehicle. He said they also realized a burn pattern that radiated outwards from that single vehicle. According to Hodge, “They would have came to the conclusion that the fire was incendiary, which means that the vehicle did not self-combust and there was no spontaneous combustion with regards to the vehicle. It would have had some human intervention to cause the fire.” Watch video of the fire below.
According to reports, around 3:30am on Sunday, two (2) men dressed in dark-coloured clothing and hoodies exited a vehicle and jumped over a fence, gaining entry into the compound. They were then seen placing something under a vehicle, before throwing a liquid on it, which set it ablaze. The suspects then fled the scene in the vehicle that was waiting nearby.
Transport Commissioner Clive Clark said he learned of the blaze around 4:00 AM, after being contacted by personnel on the compound. Clark said the Security Officer on duty reported hearing an explosion prior to the fire. “During his patrol, he [security guard] observed there was a fire in the area where the vehicles are impounded,” Clarke said in a telephone interview with Guardian Media. While Fire Officers were able to get the blaze under control, the Commissioner said, “As a result of the nature of what they saw, the TTPS got involved.” Saying that the matter was now receiving the full attention of both the T&T Fire Service and the TTPS, Clark denied suggestions that the blaze was related to electrical maintenance work that was carried out at the location on Friday (24th November 2023). “It is not anything related to the electrical updates, which went smoothly,” he said.
Besides the damage to the impounded cars, the fire did not destroy any of the building’s infrastructure, but water damage was said to have occurred as a result of the efforts by firefighters to contain the blaze.
Clark added, “I do have some serious concerns with what appears to be the cause of that fire.” He pointed out that the entire compound was outfitted with CCTV cameras. “We would have gathered certain information which will be of interest to the TTPS,” he said. “It appears as though one vehicle in particular was targeted, and the fire would have spread from there.” No arrests have been made in relation to the incident, but Police and Fire Service Officials say investigations are ongoing into the fire.
More on this as it becomes available.
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The Trade Licence Unit (TLU) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has noted an upsurge in the number of reported cases of members of the public being defrauded of their monies while attempting to obtain foreign-used vehicles, such as cars (SUVs, sedans and station wagons), pick-up trucks, panel vans and trucks.
As the regulator of the foreign-used car industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the agency responsible for the issuance of licences to facilitate the import of these vehicles, the Trade Licence Unit is advising the public to be vigilant and get familiar with ALL the requirements and procedures to import or purchase a foreign-used vehicle. While members of the public are allowed to import foreign-used vehicles for their personal/commercial use, the MTI strongly recommends that persons utilize, as far as possible, the services of a Registered Foreign Used Car Dealer, as such entities have undergone strict compliance requirements and are actively monitored by the Trade Licence Unit. To assist in making informed decisions that can help to avoid fraud risks when purchasing foreign-used vehicles from a REGISTERED FOREIGN-USED CAR DEALER, the following is recommended:
When importing vehicles directly from a FOREIGN SUPPLIER, consumers should:
Consumers may visit www.tradeind.gov.tt/tlu or the Trinidad and Tobago Trade Portal at https://info.ttbizlink.gov.tt to access information on requirements and procedures to import or purchase a foreign-used vehicle. [Source: Ministry of Trade and Industry] Fraud Squad Officers charged a 45-year-old postal worker today (Thursday 30th November 2023) with larceny servant in the sum of $59,008.25.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Alice Baptiste, a Postal Office Leader, attached to the Arima Post Shop, was granted bail by Justice of the Peace (JP) Young in the sum $150,000, and is scheduled to appear at the Arima Magistrates’ Court on 27th December:2023. The charges stem from a report where a sum of cash representing sales, was allegedly collected by a Postal Office Leader, but was never credited into the company’s account. The matter was reported to the Fraud Squad and an investigation was launched by Sgt. (Ag.) Edwards, under the supervision of Insp. Smith, and with the assistance of Snr. Superintendent Groome and Cpl. Edwards. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the decision was made to charge Baptiste for the offence of larceny servant. Officers arrested five (5) robbery suspects in Couva after intercepting a vehicle reportedly used in a recent robbery.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), around 6:15 PM on Wednesday (29th November 2023), PC Joseph and PC Dass of the Central Division Task Force (CDTF), Area South, were on mobile patrol along Rivulet Road, Couva, when they spotted a white Nissan Tiida, matching the description of a vehicle reported to be involved in a recent robbery. The Officers pursued and eventually intercepted the vehicle along the Northbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, in the vicinity of the tunnel. There were five (5) male occupants in the vehicle, including two (2) locals and three (3) Venezuelans. When Officers searched the car, they found a Ruger pistol with a magazine containing seventeen (17) rounds of ammunition. The five (5) men — a 24-year old and 30-year-old from Laventille, and three (3) Venezuelans, a 23-year-old, 24-year-old and 25-year-old — all from Carib Street, San Fernando, were arrested and conveyed to the Couva Police Station. PC Marshall of Couva CID and PC Dass of CDTF, Area South, are continuing enquiries. A 70-year-old woman was assaulted and robbed of $20,000 in cash after withdrawing the money from First Citizens Bank (FCB) in Arima on Tuesday afternoon (28th November 2023).
According to reports, the pensioner had just arrived at her home, located along Cairo Lane in D'abadie, around 12:30 PM, after having withdrawn $20,000 from FCB in Arima, when she was confronted by a man known to her. The man was said to be sitting on a chair in her yard, patiently awaiting her return from the bank. The man then allegedly grabbed her handbag and assaulted her. He took out the envelope containing the $20,000 in cash and fled the scene. The victim notified the Police and a team of Officers from the Northern Division responded. WPC Fletcher Johnson is continuing investigations into the robbery. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Loop] The National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) is advising the public that on Sunday (26th November 2023), at approximately 4:30 PM, a pocket of unexpected gas was detected at ninety-five (95) feet underground on the work-site of the ANR Robinson International Airport.
In a Media Release on Wednesday (29th November 2023), NIDCO said the discovery was made during a routine pipe installation exercise by the contractor as part of the planned works on the Airport project. NIDCO said, following the incident, “all relevant authorities were notified, and preliminary testing undertaken with the support of National Gas Company (NGC) to determine the type and origin of the gas. All site activities were suspended, the area cordoned off and the Fire Service remained on standby for the remainder of the day. Around 6:00 PM on the same evening, the gas pressure had significantly dissipated.” Further tests were conducted on Monday (27th November 2023) by an independent consultant, confirming that the gas was methane — a common biogas occurring in shallow swampy areas. NIDCO said, although the gas has now fully dissipated, “monitoring for its presence at the source will continue, in the interest of public safety.” The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is advising motorists and members of the general public of traffic restrictions along the Westbound Lane of the Beetham Highway, Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain (in the vicinity of the Lighthouse). This is to facilitate emergency repairs to a leaking 8-inch diameter pipeline in the area.
PERIOD: 7:00 PM on Wednesday (29th November 2023) to 3:00 AM on Thursday (30th November 2023). Motorists are asked to proceed with caution and to obey the instructions of the Traffic Control Officers on duty in the vicinity of the job-site, or use an alternative route where possible. For further information or assistance, please contact WASA’s Customer Call Centre, toll free at 800-4420 or 800-4426. The Authority thanks the public for their patience and understanding. The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is advising citizens of planned maintenance work which will affect several areas of Chase Village and Couva on Thursday (30th November 2023). This may result in loss of electricity between the hours of works.
According to T&TEC, the affected areas in Chase Village and Couva are as follows: CHASE VILLAGE (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
COUVA (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
T&TEC says it regrets the inconvenience which may be caused by these interruptions. A man who was beaten unconscious by his cousin, doused with gasoline and then set on fire, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday (25th November 2023) while warded in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital. The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Anil Kowlessar. The suspect is currently in Police custody.
According to reports, shortly before Midnight on 12th November 2023, while at Boissiere Trace in Gran Couva, Kowlessar and the suspect, who is a cousin, had an argument which escalated into a fight. Kowlessar was badly beaten and slammed into a wall, which left him unconscious. While on the ground, the suspect allegedly doused him with gasoline and set him ablaze. Other relatives extinguished the fire and took him to Hospital, where he was warded for first-degree burns. Kowlessar’s mother, Angela, said they were at a family birthday celebration when the incident occurred. She said the two (2) men were arguing over a van that was allegedly loaned to Kowlessar by the suspect. “I was sleeping when I was awakened and told that my big son was killed. I say no, allyuh don’t know what allyuh saying? Is when the man come up, take out a gas container and a cutlass, he telling me he now kill my big son,” Angela said as she broke down in tears. “Christmas coming up and Anil not here. He was the life of the party. He would come and hug everybody and make sure everybody ok. He was such a nice child and grew up to be a nice man,” she added. Angela said on Saturday morning (25th November 2023), close relatives were called to the Hospital to visit Kowlessar as he was not doing well. He subsequently died at 4:45 PM. Investigators are said to be awaiting the results of an autopsy to be conducted at the Forensic Science Centre. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: T&T Guardian] A man is dead and a 4-year-old boy wounded following a brutal shooting incident in Diego Martin on Tuesday evening (28th November 2023). The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Shaquille Williams, of Gilkes Street, Four Roads, Diego Martin.
According to reports, Williams was liming in the yard of his home with several family members around 6:40 PM, when he was confronted by two (2) armed men. At the time, he was standing next to a 4-year-old boy. During the confrontation, the suspects shot at Williams, who turned to run away from his home, in a bid to take the gunmen away from his family members. He was, however, pursued by the suspects and shot along Louis Street. Williams died at the scene. The 4-year-old body suffered gunshot wounds to his left thigh and hip. Police and Emergency Health Services were notified and a team of Officers from the Western Division and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), led by ASP Lynch, ASP Rajkumar, W-Insp. Degale, Sgt. Seecharan, and others responded. Officers reportedly confronted two (2) men who matched the descriptions given of that of the suspects, and there was said to be an exchange of gunfire. However, the suspects managed to escape capture. The wounded 4-year-old boy was taken to the St. James District Hospital where he was treated, stabilized, and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt. Hope. His condition was said to be stable up to 9:00 AM on Wednesday (29th November 2023). Crime scene investigators recovered seven (7) spent 9mm shells. PC Calendar of the HBI Region I is said to be continuing enquiries. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Loop] |
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