The Ministry of Works and Transport is advising the public that there will be a temporary traffic disruption along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway (Southbound), from the Freeport Flyover to the Claxton Bay Flyover. This disruption will take place from Wednesday (7th December 2022) to Thursday (8th December 2022). This has become necessary to facilitate road rehabilitation works.

The hours of work are as follows:

• 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM

Considering the above, motorists are advised to comply with the following:

• Proceed with caution and observe all directional signs and barriers.
• Comply with instructions from Police Officers on-site to facilitate a safe and orderly flow of traffic.
• Be aware of heavy equipment entering and exiting the site.
• Drive with caution on all milled (possibly uneven) surfaces.
• Motorists should drive at a reduced speed on approaching the work zone.

The Ministry said it regrets any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for its continued co-operation. For further information, please visit the Ministry's website at www.mowt.gov.tt or call the PURE Unit at 638-2350, 638-2256 or 675-4052.

A truck driver was killed on Monday (5th December 2022) while making a turn on the compound of a warehouse complex owned by Sampson’s Transport Company Limited. The man has been identified as 43-year-old Nigel Rampersad from Felicity — a father of four (4) children.

According to reports, Rampersad was driving a trailer truck shortly after 6:00 PM on the compound, located at Rajkumar Trace, Mission Road, Freeport, when he attempted to make a turn. However, the vehicle jack-knifed, causing the heavy container he was towing at the back to dislodge and fall onto the cab of the truck, on the right (driver) side. Rampersad was pinned against the steering wheel and was said to have died instantly.

Investigations are continuing into the tragic incident.

More on this as it becomes available.

[Source: Loop]

A man was killed on Monday night (5th December 2022) while changing his flat tyre along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, in the vicinity of the Seereeram Brothers compound. The tragic accident took place around 9:00 PM.

According to reports, the driver got a flat tyre while proceeding along the Highway, forcing him to pull over on the shoulder lane to change it. While doing so, he was struck by a passing car and was thrown several feet, landing violently onto the roadway.

The driver who struck the man stopped to render assistance, however, the injured man died shortly after.

Police believe the deceased is a 50-year-old man from the Central Division and were awaiting confirmation from his family members up to Tuesday morning.

More on this as it becomes available.

[Source: Loop]

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is advising motorists and members of the general public of traffic restrictions at the intersection of Morne Coco Road and Diego Martin Highway, Four Roads, Diego Martin.

This has become necessary to facilitate repairs to a leaking water main. Once excavation works are in progress, vehicular traffic will be restricted to single-lane only, to and from the area.

Motorists are asked to proceed with caution when approaching the jobsite and to obey the signs and instructions of Traffic Control Officers on duty.

• DATE: Tuesday 6th December 2022
• TIME: 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM

The Authority thanks the public for their co-operation during the period of traffic restrictions.

An Arouca labourer was granted $50,000 bail, with a surety, by Magistrate Indar Jagroo, after pleading not guilty to the charge of common assault. The 40-year-old man appeared at the Arima First Magistrates’ Court on 1st December 2022 and is expected to re-appear in Court on 29th December 2022.

Police reports state that on 26th November 2022, a man’s wife allegedly found him stumbling along the roadway. An argument ensued which continued into the following day at their home. According to the woman, when the argument escalated, she sought refuge at a neighbour’s house to call the Police. However, the man blocked her and forcefully brought her back to their home. The woman then ran towards the roadway, when she observed her husband running towards her. The man then allegedly pulled out a cutlass from his waist and raised his hand toward her, causing her to become fearful for her life.

A report was made on 27th November 2022 to the St. Joseph Police Station and the Northern Division Gender-Based Violence Unit Officers responded. A man was subsequently arrested and charged with common assault.

The investigations were spearheaded by Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne, W/ASP (Ag.) Bridglal, Insp. Stanley and W/Sgt (Ag.) Edwards of the Special Victims Department.

Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram has chastised “the failure of the Rowley-led Government to protect its citizens from criminals,” as Couva North is once again rocked by tragedy with a double murder over the weekend followed by the discovery of two (2) more bodies on Monday morning (5th December 2022), right next door in Couva South.

On Sunday morning (4th December 2022), the bodies of Randy Ramdass of Chandernagore Road and his girlfriend Anita Jagdeo of Waterloo Road, Carapichaima, bearing multiple gunshot wounds, were found inside a white Nissan AD Wagon in a trace off Factory Road, Chaguanas. The Couva North couple reportedly left on Saturday evening to meet someone in connection with the sale of a parcel of land.

In a Media Release on Monday (5th December 2022), MP Ratiram said he visited the scene of the crime, together with Central Division Police, and afterwards spent time with the families of both victims. In expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families, the Couva North MP said he “feels an enormous sense of loss” as his MP’s Office shared a close relationship with the deceased.

Speaking to members of the media at the home of the Ramdass family on Sunday (4th December 2022), MP Ratiram asked of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, “How many more must die before you take action and to recognize that the Ministry of National Security is failing in its responsibility to ensure that citizens are safe?” He stated that the first Constitutional right our citizens are entitled to is the right to life, “but the Government has failed to fulfill its duty in that regard.”

On Monday morning (5th December 2022), citizens awoke to the news of another horrendous double murder in Central where the bodies of two (2) male victims were discovered at Rivulet Road in Couva. The victims, who are yet to be identified, were found bearing multiple chop wounds.

The Couva North MP added, “After spending BILLIONS upon BILLIONS behind National Security, the Rowley-led PNM has done absolutely nothing in the past seven (7) years to effectively address the unacceptable level of serious crime in Trinidad and Tobago.” MP Ratiram said the undeniable proof of this lies in this Government’s “blood-stained record of over 3,550 murders during their time in Office.”

The Opposition MP said he has made numerous calls for improved lighting in several areas of his constituency, for the repair and/or maintenence of CCTV cameras owned by the National Security Ministry and for “proper resourcing of our protective services, all of which have fallen on deaf ears and closed eyes.”

Supporting the sentiments expressed by both families in calling for justice following this gruesome and shocking event, MP Ratiram is calling on the Prime Minister to take immediate action and “fire his incompetent Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, who is sleeping on the job and has cost this country a price too dear to pay.”

[Source: UNC]