Telecommunications provider, Flow, is advising customers in parts of North-West Trinidad who may be currently experiencing a disruption in their service, that this is due to a burnt fibre line in the Lady Young Road area.

In a statement issued today (Tuesday 28th February 2023), Flow said, “We are treating this matter as a priority and our team is currently on-site working to restore full connectivity in the shortest possible time.”

Areas affected include parts of Barataria, Morvant, Petit Bourg, Santa Cruz, San Juan and Las Alturas, Lady Young Road.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences, and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding,” the company said.

The Ministry of Health revealed in its weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday (28th February 2023) that there have been 559 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus eight (8) unfortunate deaths over the period 22nd - 28th February 2023. The rolling 7-day average of new positive cases is eighty (80) while the rolling 7-day average of new deaths is one (1).

​The Ministry provided the following information about the latest deaths:

• Six (6) were elderly males
  
• One (1) was an elderly female.
  
• One (1) was a middle-aged female.
  
• Five (5) persons had multiple co-morbidities.
  
• Two (2) persons each had a single co-morbidity.
  
• One (1) person had no known co-morbidity.
  

T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 396. The country’s death toll has increased to 4,347. As of 28th February 2023, 329 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 3,628 deaths were not fully vaccinated. 390 deaths were recorded prior to 24th May 2021 (date at which the first group of vaccinated persons became fully vaccinated).

A total of 718,606 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 51.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 681,394 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 48.7% of the population. 174,486 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during an 8-day period between 20th - 27th February 2023 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

The Ministry also notes that there are currently fifty-three (53) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients — forty-eight (48) in the parallel healthcare system and five (5) in the hybrid system. One (1) patient is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and three (3) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has extended its Hazardous Seas Alert (Yellow Level) until 12:00 PM on Monday 6th March 2023, for near-shore areas of Tobago, Northern and Eastern coastal areas of Trinidad and Western coastal/sheltered areas of Trinidad. The Alert was initially set to expire at 12:00 PM today (Tuesday 28th February 2023).

According to the Met Office, Northerly long period swells have been observed affecting the coastal areas of Tobago as well as the Northern, Eastern and some parts of the Western coastal areas of Trinidad. These conditions are expected to persist over the next few days until Monday 6th March 2023. These swells can result in battering waves at coastal regions and can be exacerbated during Spring and High Tides.

All marine interests should carefully monitor near-shore/coastal sea conditions and exercise caution along affected areas. Avoid marine activities.

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

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), sunny, hazy and breezy conditions are expected today (Tuesday 28th February 2023), with a few showers likely during the afternoon. Tonight will be partly cloudy and hazy with occasional showers.

The Met Office notes that Saharan dust is present in light to moderate concentrations. Persons who are susceptible to these changes in air quality are advised to take the necessary precautions.

The forecast maximum temperature today will be 31°C at Piarco in Trinidad and 30°C at Crown Point in Tobago.

A Hazardous Seas Alert (Yellow Level) is in effect until midday today (Tuesday 28th February 2023) for near-shore areas of Tobago, Northern and Eastern coastal areas of Trinidad and Western coastal/sheltered areas of Trinidad.

The Min­istry of Agri­cul­ture, Land and Fish­eries is denying it has received reports that an East­ern Di­a­mondback Rattlesnake was found in Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry states there are no rat­tlesnakes in the country.

A post be­gan cir­cu­lat­ing on­line over the weekend, stating that an East­ern Di­a­mondback Rat­tlesnake was found in Trinidad and warn­ed persons to be care­ful of their sur­round­ings. According to the post, which included several photos of a rattlesnake, “East­ern Di­a­mond Rat­tlesnake found in Trinidad. Please be watch­ful of your sur­round­ings, toi­lets, open­ings in pipes, doors, pot­ted plants. Stay safe every­one. SPREAD THE WORD AND SAVE A LIFE.”

How­ev­er, in re­sponse to ques­tions by CNC3 News, the Min­istry said it re­ceived no re­ports of this type of ven­omous rep­tile be­ing found in the coun­try.

Any­one who finds a dan­ger­ous or en­dan­gered an­i­mal can re­port it to the An­i­mal Pro­duc­tion and Health Di­vi­sion of the Min­istry by call­ing 625-5997, 625-1473 or 669-6623.

[Source: T&T Guardian]

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, has written the Florida Bar Association to raise concerns about the conduct of Florida-based law firm, SeqourLaw.

In a Media Release today (Monday 27th February 2023), Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said, “In wake of the serious misconduct of Attorney General Reginald Armour which saw him being disqualified from a Miami Court, I have written to the Florida Bar Association to raise concerns about the conduct of Florida-based law firm, SeqourLaw, which acted on behalf of Attorney General Armour vs Birk Hillman Consultants, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-11813 CA 30 (the Piarco Airport matter in Miami).”

She added, “This complaint is specifically against Attorneys Edward Harrison Davis Jr., Christopher Allen Noel, and Arnoldo Benjamin Lacayo of Sequor Law, and is based on their decision to discuss this matter with and engage Mr. Armour in certain aspects of the case after he disclosed the fact that he was defence counsel for one of the defendants, which is a clear conflict of interest. Separate and apart from this, Mr. Armour ought to have recused himself from the outset, knowing that he previously acted for one of the defendants.

The Opposition Leader notes that Mr. Armour represented Mr. Brian Kuei Tung, one of the defendants in the case, in a criminal matter in Trinidad and Tobago prior to his appointment as Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago in March 2022. “After his appointment, Mr. Armour began communicating and liaising with Attorneys at Sequor Law with respect to the U.S. Civil Claim, making decisions on the dropping of counts in advance of trial and signing off on a settlement agreement.”

Mr. Kuei Tung and his U.S. Attorney, having become aware of Mr. Armour’s appointment as AG and his involvement in the case, filed a Motion to Disqualify both Mr. Armour and Sequor Law, which was later granted by the Court.

Sequor Law, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GRTT), opposed the Motion, and importantly, filed an affidavit by Mr. Armour. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar notes that Mr. Armour, “in his sworn affidavit, gave evidence which contained several untruths and inaccuracies, which were later exposed.”

The Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Lower Court, which disqualified both Mr. Armour and Sequor Law from the case.

The statement from the Opposition Leader concluded by saying, “The facts and judgments in this matter give rise to serious and troubling issues concerning the conduct of Attorneys of Sequor Law and Mr. Armour. Both Seqour Law and Reginald Armour need to explain to the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago why millions of dollars have now been squandered due to their negligence and seemingly complete disregard for basic legal principles. I trust that the Florida Bar Association will ensure that Sequor Law and by extension Reginald Armour, are both held accountable for their actions in this matter.”

[Source: UNC]

Roger Mootoo, also known as Roger Ravello, was shot and killed by gunmen on his way to his apartment at St. Margaret’s Village, Claxton Bay, on Sunday morning (26th February 2023). Mootoo was one of nine (9) men accused of kidnapping and murdering Petit Bourg businesswoman Samdaye Rampersad in November 2015. Rampersad was said to have been buried alive, according to testimony from Forensic Pathologist Hughvon des Vignes during the trial. Her body was found forty-one (41) days after her kidnapping, in a shallow grave in a cashew field in Carolina Village, Claxton Bay.

According to reports, Mootoo was returning to his home at building one at Cara Courts Apartments, when he was killed by gunmen who ambushed him around 4:30 AM on Sunday.

Due to the name of the apartment building, a Hotel Manager from the nearby Cara Suites Hotel and Conference Centre, is distancing their Hotel from the shooting at Cara Courts. “We are Cara Hotels or Cara Suites. We are not an apartment building. We are not affiliated with Cara Courts Apartments in any way. There was a killing but it does not involve the Hotel in any way. We are located on the same compound, however, they are two separate buildings. As you come up the hill, Cara Hotel is straight up. If you make an extreme right, you will get to Cara Courts. We want to distance our Hotel from that shooting incident. It occurred nowhere close to our compound.”

Mootoo, Phillip ‘The Boss’ Boodram, Ricky Singh, Kervin Williams and Aaron ‘Arc Eye’ Grappie were convicted for manslaughter and sentenced to twenty-eight (28) years in prison. However, they were released after serving seventeen (17) years due to errors made by the High Court Judge who oversaw the defendants’ second retrial in 2016.

Three (3) months after their early release from prison, in September 2022, Boodram was killed by Police, during a shootout at Esperanza, Couva. Police were responding to a report of robbery at the time, and giving chase to suspects in a vehicle, when there was an exchange of gunfire. All three (3) suspects were killed. The other men were identified as Malick Paul of Railway Road and Gerard Thorington of Goodwill Road, Enterprise.

Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region III is continuing investigations into the murder of Mootoo.

[Source: Newsday]

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued a Hazardous Seas Alert (Yellow Level) for twenty-four (24) hours. The Alert begins at 12:00 PM today (Monday 27th February 2023) and will remain in effect until 12:00 PM tomorrow (Tuesday 28th February 2023) for near-shore areas of Tobago, Northern and Eastern coastal areas of Trinidad and Western coastal/sheltered areas of Trinidad.

According to the Met Office, Northerly long period swells are expected to affect, firstly the coastal areas of Tobago near midday today (Monday), and eventually reach the Northern, Eastern and some parts of the Western coastal areas of Trinidad. These swells can result in battering waves at coastal regions and can be exacerbated during High Tides. These conditions are expected to persist until midday on Tuesday.

All marine interests should carefully monitor near-shore/coastal sea conditions and exercise caution along affected areas.

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

Four (4) masked men allegedly set fire to a building in St. Augustine early on Saturday morning (25th February 2023). According to reports, the property along Scott Street, St. Augustine, was being guarded by a 47-year-old Security Officer and a dog when he was confronted by four (4) men around 1:30 AM.

The men, two (2) armed with guns, two (2) with cutlasses, threatened the life of the guard and the canine and secured them in an area. The suspects then threw flammable substances onto the ground and told the guard “we just doing we wuk,” before setting the property on fire.

The suspects then fled the scene.

The guard notified Police and Fire Services and Officers of the Tunapuna and Wrightson Road Fire Stations responded and contained the blaze.

PC Singh of the St. Joseph Police Station is probing the alleged arson incident.

More on this as it becomes available.

[Source: Loop]