Two (2) men are assisting Police with their investigation into a robbery that occurred at a local proprietary establishment on Thursday (1st June 2023).

According to Police reports, around 9:00 AM on Thursday, two (2) men entered a Marabella Spa posing as customers. Upon entry, the men pretended to ask about services provided at the establishment when one of the men pulled out a gun and instructed persons to lie on the ground.

The proprietor and another individual were able to disarm and subdue the would-be robbers. Police were then contacted.

Officers immediately responded to the scene, where a .38 Special Amadeo Rossi revolver with three (3) live rounds and .38 Special ammunition were seized. The duo was arrested and they are both receiving medical treatment at a Hospital while under Police supervision.

The men are expected to be charged with assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government is advising citizens of the River Level Advisory as of 3:30 PM this afternoon (Friday 2nd June 2023), following rainfall across several parts of the country today. The Caparo River is currently at 84% capacity, as can be seen in the River Level Advisory below:
​

• ​Aripo River - 17% Capacity
• Arouca - 35% Capacity
• Caparo - 84% Capacity
• Caroni (Bamboo Settlement #3) - 43% Capacity
• El Carmen (Caroni River) - 40% Capacity
• North Oropouche (Toco Road) - 27% Capacity
• South Oropouche - 16% Capacity

The Ministry notes that the report is based on latest information generated by Regional Corporations’ Disaster Management Units (DMUs). All reported incidents will be sent to the relevant authorities for assessment and dispatching relief.

Affected communities are urged to call their relevant DMUs.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) for fourteen (14) hours tomorrow (Saturday 3rd June 2023).

The Ministry urges the public to take caution.

Two (2) men were shot and killed in Morvant this morning (Friday 2nd June 2023) during a confrontation with Police Officers. One of the deceased has been identified as 26-year-old Allasafe Huggins, while the identity of the other man was not confirmed by relatives up to Noon today. Police said the second man was known to them.

According to reports, Officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at a home in Vegas, Morvant, around 4:30 AM, when they came under gunfire. The Officers reportedly took cover and, in keeping with the Use of Force policy, returned fire. Two (2) men were observed on the ground after the gunfire ceased.

A firearm was allegedly found near the victims.

The injured men were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for medical treatment. However, they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations are continuing.

More on this as it becomes available.

[Source: Loop]

According to the latest weather update from the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) today (Friday 2nd June 2023), the axis of the most recent Tropical Wave passed Trinidad and Tobago yesterday. The trailing convergence and instability, after the axis, has produced partly cloudy to cloudy conditions, with light to moderate showers or rain in varying areas, and isolated heavy showers or thunderstorms, this morning.

The forecast is for these conditions to continue, with a medium to high chance for a few heavy showers or thunderstorms during the afternoon, becoming settled during the evening.

The axis of the next nearest Tropical Wave is situated near 56° West longitude (240 Km to the East of Trinidad and Tobago). The axis is expected to arrive at Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow morning. As this Wave approaches, there is increasing instability ahead of its axis, linking with the trailing convergence of the recent past Wave.

The Met Office has therefore issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) for fourteen (14) hours tomorrow (Saturday 3rd June 2023). The conditions tomorrow are going to be partly cloudy to cloudy with showers or rain in varying areas and a medium to high chance for thunderstorms to develop.

The Met Office notes that the atmosphere will remain very moist and unstable throughout the weekend and into Monday (5th June 2023). In the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms, winds can become gusty and street or flash flooding is likely.

Tropical depression #2 has now been updated to Tropical Storm Arlene. This Storm poses no threat to Trinidad and Tobago at this time.

Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) for a total of fourteen (14) hours. The Alert begins at 4:00 AM tomorrow morning (Saturday 3rd June 2023) and will remain in effect until 6:00 PM for Trinidad and Tobago, including offshore areas.

According to the Met Office, there is a high (70%) chance of intermittent rainfall of varying intensities and isolated thunderstorms associated with Tropical Wave #7, from early tomorrow morning (Saturday). The most intense activity will favour Eastern offshore areas. Heavy downpours can lead to street/flash flooding and be accompanied by brief, gusty winds. Localized ponding and landslides/landslips are likely in areas so prone. Seas can become additionally agitated in heavy showers/thunderstorms.

Citizens are advised to not venture into flood waters. Be alert to river levels. Continue to monitor weather conditions and official weather updates.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

Six (6) fish­er­men were held up at sea and robbed of a vessel by gun­men, off Ica­cos Bay, Ce­dros, early on Thurs­day morning (1st June 2023). The fish­er­men were said to be in two (2) pirogues about three-quar­ters of a mile off the coast. One pirogue was cap­tained by 48-year-old San­jay Ma­hase, while the oth­er boat was captained by Dar­ren Ramdeen.

Ac­cord­ing to re­ports, a white ves­sel with a 200HP Yama­ha en­gine, oc­cu­pied by six (6) men armed with guns, ap­proached the fish­er­men’s ves­sels around 6:00 AM, which had been tied along­side a vessel belonging to Her­itage Petroleum Company Limited. The sus­pects, said to be a lo­cal and five (5) Venezue­lans, an­nounced a rob­bery. Fearing for the lives, the fishermen, ex­cept one, man­aged to es­cape on­to the Her­itage ves­sel.

The ban­dits left with the pirogue be­long­ing to Ma­hase, which was fit­ted with a 75HP en­gine, valued at $75,000. The fish­er­men who escaped onto the Her­itage ves­sel were res­cued and tak­en to the Her­itage Point Fortin Base.

Po­lice were later told that Ramdeen had man­aged to re­turn home with his ves­sel and was said to be in good health.

Sgt. Har­riper­sad of the Ce­dros Po­lice Sta­tion is leading investigations into the incident.

​[Source: T&T Guardian]

Pictured Above: The bullet-riddled car following a drive-by shooting in La Romaine.

Two (2) persons, a woman and a man, are currently hospitalized following a horrific drive-by shooting in Bamboo Village, La Romaine, last night (Thursday 1st June 2023). According to reports, a woman was driving a car with a male passenger along the Southern Main Road around 10:00 PM, when another car heading in the same direction pulled alongside.

An occupant of the vehicle then opened fire on the woman’s car. The female driver, as well as the male occupant were both struck in the hail of bullets. The other car then drove off. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras.

The wounded woman and man were taken to the San Fernando General Hospital for medical treatment.

Police have yet to establish a motive for this drive-by shooting. No arrests have been made.

Officers from the San Fernando Police Station are continuing investigations.

More on this as it becomes available.

​[Source: Newsday]

UPDATE (12:30 PM): Dangerous and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning ongoing across parts of West-Central Trinidad associated with a cluster of strong thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall is accompanying this activity. Street/flash flooding is likely.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), we can expect partly cloudy to cloudy conditions today (Friday 2nd June 2023) with the likelihood of a few periods of showers/rain. There is also a medium (40% - 60%) chance of isolated thunderstorm activity. Tonight will be generally settled apart from lingering showers over a few areas.

The Met Office notes that street flooding and isolated flash flooding events are possible with the occurrence of heavy downpours/thunderstorms. Gusty winds may also occur.

The forecast maximum temperature today will be 30°C at both Piarco in Trinidad and Crown Point in Tobago.

Seas are slight to moderate with waves up to 1.5m in open waters and below 1m in sheltered areas.

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is advising citizens of planned maintenance work which will affect several areas of Longdenville, Chaguanas, on Friday (2nd June 2023). This may result in loss of electricity between the hours of works.

According to T&TEC, the affected areas in Longdenville are as follows:

• From Longdenville Substation heading West into Cashew Gardens including Glendale Gardens, Kensington Gardens and Carisen Field Phase 3B up to LP #108 Brookhaven Boulevard and all associated side streets - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

T&TEC says it regrets the inconvenience which may be caused by these interruptions.

The Ministry of Works and Transport is advising the public that there will be a temporary road closure on the Bonne Aventure Road, Gasparillo, between the 2.4 Km and 2.6 Km marks, in the vicinity of Ragoobar Lands, effective from Friday (2nd June 2023) at 5:00 PM to Sunday 11th June 2023 at 5:00 PM. Due to a concern for the safety of road users, it has become necessary to close the road to facilitate Phase I of repair works — sheet piling.

During this period, the Ministry said the roadway will be closed to all vehicular traffic at this location and only local traffic will be allowed up to the point of the work zone. Alternative routes are available through Ragoobar Lands Street, onto Darneaud Street, onto Bedeau Street and vice versa (refer to this map).

The public is advised to utilize the alternative routes and comply with the following directions:

• Proceed with extreme caution and observe all directional signs and barriers.
• Comply with instructions issued by Police Officers and Traffic Wardens, where necessary, in order to facilitate a safe and orderly flow of traffic.
• Be aware of heavy equipment entering and exiting the site.

​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 (www.mowt.gov.tt) or call 625-1225.