A 31-year-old businessman is expected to appear at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 31st March 2023), charged with the offence of fraudulent conversion in the sum of $64,000. Stefon Rabindrunath of Barrackpore was arrested on Wednesday (29th March 2023) and charged on Thursday with the offence.

According to Police reports, a man allegedly paid the sum of $64,000 to the accused as a down-payment towards the purchase and subsequent delivery of a silver Honda Vezel vehicle. The accused promised the man the delivery of the vehicle within six (6) to eight (8) weeks. However, the man never received the vehicle, and all attempts to obtain a refund proved futile.

The matter was reported to the Fraud Squad and PC Williams conducted an investigation. During the investigation, an exercise was conducted by Officers of the Southern Division Fraud Squad and a warrant was executed at the home of a suspect, who was later arrested and then charged.

Investigations were supervised by ASP Arnold Lutchman and supervised by Inspector Seepersad, Sergeant Lodhar, and assisted by Corporal Ramdial, and PC Ali.

Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo received this country’s highest national award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT). Prime Minister Keith Rowley was present for the presentation of the award to President Kangaloo by the Hon. Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Ivor Archie, ORTT, at a short ceremony held at President’s House on Wednesday (29th March 2023).

​The Inauguration of President Kangaloo, who became this country’s seventh President, took place on 20th March 2023 at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, with many dignitaries in attendance.

A body was found near the Usine pond, Ste. Madeleine, on Thursday morning (30th March 2023) and remains unidentified at this time. The deceased is a man of East Indian descent, about five (5) feet, ten (10) inches tall, brown-skinned, with a ponytail hairstyle. Police said he appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s. He was found wearing a blue three-quarter pants and a T-shirt.

The body was found near the old entrance to the pond around 6:00 AM, with several spent shells found nearby.

As the body remains unidentified, Police are seeking assistance from members of the public to come forward with any information that will lead to the identity of the deceased.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest Police Station. Information can also be provided anonymously via 555, 800-TIPS or through the TTPS App.

[Source: Loop]

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch issued speeding tickets to 121 motorists during the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day holiday yesterday (Thursday 30th March 2023). They are therefore warning motorists to obey the roadway speed limits, to avoid having to pay hefty fines and obtaining demerit points on their driver’s license.

Head of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, Senior Superintendent Clint Arthur, advised that he observed that speeding habits were coming back in full view of the Police at times, and motorists needed to be reminded there are consequences to exceeding the speed limits.

He stated, “Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher has highlighted road safety as one of the organization’s strategic priorities. Drivers need to recognize the unnecessary risk they place on their lives and the lives of others when they speed and drive recklessly on the nation’s roadways.”

Senior Superintendent Arthur highlighted the fact that the speed teams recorded the highest violations at night with the speed guns measuring speeds as high as 170 Km/h on the Highways. He explained, “These speeds are unacceptable and will not be tolerated and they pose a serious risk to all road users. Drivers seem to forget their unsafe decisions can quickly and negatively affect road users.”

TTPS Road Safety Co-ordinator Sgt Brent Batson added, “Excessive speeding continues to be the leading cause of driver loss-of-control situations. When this is combined with distracted driving and alcohol, it is a sure recipe for disaster.”

He reminded motorists that right-of-way is a ‘theory” under law, but drivers need to still reduce their speeds when approaching intersections, especially on the main roads at night. Sgt Batson added, “Drivers make mistakes and sadly often take chances. Motorists need to assume that another driver is not going to stop and reduce their speed as a preventive, defensive measure. Stop signs and stop lines don’t stop cars.”

According to data from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch Roadway Surveillance Unit, twenty (20) persons have died in road traffic collisions for this year compared to twenty-six (26) for the same period in 2022, indicating a 23% year-on-year reduction.

Three (3) women were robbed of nearly $1.5 mil­lion in cash and oth­er valu­ables during a brazen home invasion in broad daylight in Cunu­pia on Wednes­day (29th March 2023). According to reports, a 38-year-old woman was at her home at Madras Road with her two (2) teenage daugh­ters, when a group of six (6) armed men forced their way in­to the premis­es around 12:00 PM.

The men an­nounced a hold-up and tied up the three (3) vic­tims. They then pro­ceed­ed to ran­sack the home, grab­bing sev­er­al items of val­ue, be­fore leav­ing in a bur­gundy ve­hi­cle. The victims were eventually able to untie themselves and notify Police of the incident. Upon checking what was stolen, the family discovered a pel­let gun, a quan­ti­ty of jew­ellery, and $454,000 in cash, which was be­ing kept at the home, were miss­ing.

The ve­hi­cle which was used in the rob­bery was later found aban­doned in the area. It was taken for forensic examination for possible fingerprints, which would help to identify the suspects.

In­ves­ti­ga­tions are con­tin­u­ing.

More on this as it becomes available.

[Source: T&T Guardian]

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is advising customers that problems are being experienced with their direct emergency phone lines in East Trinidad:

• 643-2433
• 643-2510
• 643-1974

T&TEC notes however, that its Emergency Call Centre remain operational and can be contacted at:

• 800-TTEC (800-8832)
• 800-BULB (800-2852)

The Commission said, “We are working with our service provider to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers.”

In a Media Release today (Friday 31st March 2023), the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) said it has intensified its efforts to address the impact of the Moruga grasshoppers (Moruga locusts) population in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry notes that in addition to ongoing pest management and containment strategies, it has set up dedicated teams in four (4) County offices to “address the problem at a community level.” Currently, MALF's containment strategies target the locusts' 1-year lifecycle. During this period, the Ministry said it undertakes “vigilant surveillance activities to detect, contain and destroy the pest. Targeted spraying of chemicals using mist blowers and boom sprayers is utilized along the perimeter of the infested forests to destroy the locusts at their most vulnerable (hopper) stage. MALF continues to conduct sensitization sessions in affected areas, educating citizens on best and safe practices to combat the pest.”

The Ministry said it will continue to “explore all viable options and work with all stakeholders to ensure the situation is effectively managed.”

Citizens are urged to contact the Ministry's regional offices for further assistance:

• St. Patrick East, Penal: 647-8871
  
• St. Patrick West, Point Fortin: 648-1426
  
• Nariva/Mayaro, Rio Claro: 644-2882
  
• Victoria: 655-1742
  

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), we can expect partly cloudy/cloudy periods today (Friday 31st March 2023) with scattered showers, especially from late-morning. There is also a low (30%) chance of the odd heavier shower or thunderstorm, favouring Southern parts of Trinidad. Tonight will be partly cloudy with lingering showers over a few areas.

Gusty winds and street flooding are possible in the event of heavy downpours.

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

Two (2) men were robbed by gun­men of their cash and valu­ables while collecting garbage in Piarco on Wednes­day morn­ing (29th March 2023). The victims have been identified as Pu­ran Mathu­ra of Preysal Vil­lage, Cou­va, and Amar­nath Gan­gacha­ran of Soliedad Road, Clax­ton Bay. Both men were held up around 6:45 AM as they worked along Fourth Av­enue, Orop­une.

According to reports, the vic­tims were on their route col­lect­ing garbage when they saw two (2) men ap­proach­ing. One of the men pulled out a gun and an­nounced a rob­bery as the sec­ond man searched the truck’s cab.

The sus­pects lat­er fled the scene on foot in dif­fer­ent di­rec­tions.

Mathu­ra was robbed of $180 as well as his na­tion­al iden­ti­fi­ca­tion card and bank cards; while Gan­gacha­ran was robbed of his Sam­sung S20 cell­phone, val­ued at $6,000.

Investigations are continuing.

[Source: T&T Guardian]

Police Officers are currently conducting a manhunt for a suspect after discovering a drug den in St. Ann’s, Port-of-Spain on Wednesday evening (29th March 2023). In total, 115 Marijuana plants were found, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition and a Police-issued bulletproof vest.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), during an anti-crime exercise by the Port-of-Spain Division (POSD) and Port-of-Spain Gang Intelligence Unit (POSGIU), the Officers acting on information received, proceeded to a house located at Upper St. Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, armed with a search warrant.

Upon arrival, the Officers observed that the front door to the house was open. The Officers announced themselves and received no response. They then proceeded onto the premises where they discovered three (3) rooms, each containing several marijuana plants with overhead lights and other equipment.

The scene was processed and 115 Marijuana plants were discovered on the premises, along with forty (40) rounds of 7.62 ammunition and one (1) round of 5.56 ammunition, along with one (1) Police-issued bulletproof vest.

The items were seized and taken to the POSGIU office, pending further enquiries.

More on this as it becomes available.