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An elderly man is dead following a house fire early this morning (Wednesday 29th March 2023) in Chatham, South Trinidad. The victim, who was burnt to death in the blaze, has been identified as Ezekiel Juba. He was said to be a businessman in his late 70s who was an active member of the Chatham community. According to reports, Juba was alone at his home on Beach Road, Chatham Road, when the fire started sometime between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM. His wife is said to be visiting family abroad. Officers from the Point Fortin Fire Station responded to the scene. However, the house was already gutted upon their arrival. The blaze also damaged a vehicle which was parked in the garage.
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A 39-year-old Police Constable is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate today (Wednesday 29th March 2023), after he was charged with obtaining money by false pretences.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Paul Montano was arrested after he allegedly led a man to believe that he was the owner of a Mazda 3 motor vehicle and was authorized to sell it. The man then allegedly paid sums totalling $30,000 in cash to a seller, which represented payment in full towards the purchase of the vehicle. The seller allegedly claimed that the vehicle was free from encumbrances. However, sometime later the man discovered that the seller did not own the vehicle and he was not authorized to sell it. The matter was reported to the Couva Police Station, and an investigation was conducted by W/Inspector Smith. As a result of the investigation, a suspect was arrested and subsequently charged on 28th March 2023 by PC Thomas, for the offence of obtaining the $30,000 by false pretences, contrary to section 34(1) of the Larceny Act. In a Media Release today (Wednesday 29th March 2023), the United States Embassy Trinidad & Tobago said the Department of State is “committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers.”
The Embassy notes that yesterday (Tuesday 28th March 2023), the Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register regarding increases to certain Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) application processing fees and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens, age fifteen (15) and over. The fee increases take effect on 30th May 2023. According to the Embassy, the fee for Visitor Visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as Student and Exchange Visitor Visas, will increase from US $160 to US $185. The fee for certain petition-based Nonimmigrant Visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from US $190 to US $205. The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from US $205 to US $315. The Embassy states that NIV fees are set “based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services. The Department of State uses an activity-based costing methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including Visa services.” Other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors. All fee payments for Visa interviews made on or after 1st October 2022 are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application within 365 days of paying the fee. There is no requirement for the interview to occur during the 365-day period, the Embassy said. Receipts for fees paid prior to 1st October 2022 will continue to be valid until 30th September 2023. These applicants must schedule an interview or submit an interview waiver application before 30th September 2023. The Embassy notes that the interview need not occur before that date. The Media Release concluded by saying, “Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and the U.S. Embassy recognizes the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.” The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, while certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014. [Source: U.S. Embassy Trinidad & Tobago] Pictured Above: Firearm and ammunition seized during a raid in Sangre Grande. A 25-year-old suspected gang member is currently being interrogated by Officers of the Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit (EDGIU), following the seizure of a firearm and recovery of several stolen items earlier this morning (Wednesday 29th March 2023).
The man was arrested following a raid at his Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande home after the execution of a search warrant. According to Police reports, during the search, EDGIU Officers allegedly found and seized a Glock pistol with six (6) rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition and several power tools matching the descriptions of items previously reported stolen in the district. The stolen items were subsequently handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which is currently probing several reports of larceny in the area. The raid was bolstered by Officers of the Eastern Division Task Force. The EDGIU is continuing enquiries into the matter. Trade Minister and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Paula Gopee-Scoon, is assuring that Digicel Trinidad & Tobago Limited complied with this country’s labour laws when they announced the retrenchment of 126 local employees. Digicel announced on Monday (27th March 2023) that the layoffs will take effect on 10th May 2023, as the company transitions its Trinidad Consumer Contact Centre to a consolidated Regional Centre of Excellence in Jamaica. Gopee-Scoon gave the assurance in response to UNC Senator Wade Mark’s query about whether Digicel’s decision to retrench 126 employees was done in accordance with the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act (RSBA). She said Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Smith, informed the Labour Minister on 27th March 2023 of the company’s decision, as the employees had become “surplus to its requirements.” Gopee-Scoon noted that Digicel, acting within the RSBA, gave forty-five (45) days’ notice to the affected employees, which commenced on 27th March 2023. Therefore, the retrenchment notice was carried out in a legal manner. “Each of the affected employees shall receive severance packages together with all terminal benefits due to them,” she added. Digicel has made efforts to get the 126 employees introduced to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agents, or businesses that already exist in T&T and are expanding. “Already, I’m aware Digicel has made efforts to have these particular people introduced to the other BPO agents or businesses that already exist in T&T and which are in expansion mode, so that these young people can have the opportunity. But they’ll have to go through the necessary hiring process,” Gopee-Scoon said.
“In any event, this also provides an opportunity and is an opening for the new BPOs that will come on stream shortly. There are several coming on stream that have been negotiated through InvesTT and especially with the expansion of our special economic zones, we’ll be opening the door to even more BPOs coming to T&T.” [Source: T&T Guardian] Police Officers removed two (2) more illegal firearms, a quantity of ammunition and marijuana from communities in two (2) separate exercises conducted in the Western Division.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), an anti-crime exercise was conducted on Sunday (26th March 2023) by the Western Division Task Force (WDTF). Around 11:40 AM, PC Wilson-Dowers executed a search warrant for dangerous drugs at a home located at Powder Magazine, Phase 1, Cocorite. During the search, the Officers seized a red plastic block-shaped package, containing 532 grammes of marijuana. A man was arrested and taken to the St. James Police Station, where he was subsequently charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. The Officers then proceeded to an unoccupied lot of land at Tomato Trace, Diego Martin, based on intelligence gathered. While searching the area, with the assistance of canine, ‘Miky,’ the team found and took possession of a black canvas bag, containing two (2) AR-15 assault rifles, loaded with twenty-nine (29) rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Enquiries are continuing. 29-year-old Alex ‘Spoon’ Lewis, a gardener, is expected to appear before the Couva Magistrate today (Tuesday 28th March 2023), to answer to a charge of murder of 33-year-old Ganesh Deopersad. The charges were laid against Lewis yesterday (Monday 27th March 2023), following the advice of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Joan Honore-Paul, after investigations were conducted by Officers attached to the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region III.
According to reports, Deopersad was shot and killed at his Tortuga home on 14th March 2023 during a home invasion. The suspect was arrested and the charges were later proffered by PC Bernard of HBI Region III. Investigations into the incident were supervised by Supt Dhillpaul, ASP Persad and Sgts Smith and Forbes. A 26-year-old woman was initially detained for questioning by HBI Officers on 20th March 2023, after investigators at the Cyber Crime Unit reviewed the contents of a DVR that had been recovered following Deopersad's death. The DVR was reportedly recovered on 18th March 2023. Enquiries are continuing. Police are on the hunt for two (2) men who sexually assaulted a woman in Chase Village. According to reports, the 22-year-old victim was at a bar along the Southern Main Road with a man she knew, when they began arguing. The woman told Police she then walked out of the bar, leaving her friend there, and began walking home.
However, upon reaching Perseverance Road, a dark vehicle pulled alongside her. A man exited the car and grabbed the woman and forced her into the back of the vehicle. He then drove to a nearby bridge where he sexually assaulted the woman along with another occupant of the car. The incident allegedly took place at 5:00 AM on Saturday morning (25th March 2023). The suspects then left her there. The victim later made a report to the Freeport Police Station. WPC Joseph is investigating. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Loop] The Ministry of Health revealed in its weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday (28th March 2023) that there have been 272 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus four (4) unfortunate deaths over the period 22nd - 28th March 2023. The rolling 7-day average of new positive cases is thirty-nine (39) while the rolling 7-day average of new deaths is one (1).
T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at eighty-one (81). The country’s death toll has increased to 4,372. As of 28th March 2023, 333 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 3,649 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 718,791 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 51.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 681,209 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 48.7% of the population. 174,711 persons in total have taken a booster shot. The Ministry also notes that there are currently fifty-eight (58) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients — forty-six (46) in the parallel healthcare system and twelve (12) in the hybrid system. The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has activated the following special hotline numbers, specifically for all SEA Exam Centres, to ensure that there is an adequate water supply on exam day (Wednesday 29th March 2023).
NORTH TRINIDAD
SOUTH TRINIDAD
TOBAGO
WASA notes that in the event that an Exam Centre does not have an adequate water supply, Principals or School Supervisors are asked to call the relevant special hotline number, between Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th March 2023, in order to secure a water supply. |
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