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With a 600% year-on-year increase in road traffic deaths in the Tobago Division for 2023, Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, deployed a special traffic enforcement unit from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, to conduct road traffic enforcement exercises and assist with traffic management in the sister isle.
The team arrived on Tuesday (24th October 2023), and between then and ‘Carnival Friday’ morning (27th October 2023), they issued over 148 traffic tickets to motorists for various traffic violations, with the failure of drivers and front seat passengers to wear a seatbelt, the most ticketed offence. The special traffic unit also arrested eight (8) drivers, who appeared before Magistrate Anslem Leander on Friday morning. Seven (7) were charged for drunk driving, aka DUI, and one (1) for driving a motor vehicle, though not a holder of a Driver’s Permit. A businessman and a heavy goods truck driver, who were both on their second DUI charge, were fined $19,000 and $14,000 respectively. In total, Tobago Magistrate Leander belted out $54,400 in fines to the drivers for DUI and driving without a Driver’s Permit. Police Strategic Road Safety Project Co-ordinator, Sgt. Brent Batson, who is also part of the enforcement team currently in Tobago, appealed to all road users to exercise care and caution and comply with road traffic rules. He stated, “We aim to reduce the risk of injury and harm to the public in general and ensuring safe, responsible road use is a key part of that strategy. Unfortunately, we have already received some negative views about our road Policing efforts, but we are appealing to everyone participating in the 2023 Tobago Carnival activities to obey the law when it comes to driving on the roads and ensure they have a sober driver behind the wheel of the motor vehicle. He added, “To those who view our efforts as purely repressive, I ask you to attempt to change your perspective to that of preventive — we want everyone to enjoy the Tobago Carnival, but it can’t be at the expense of endangering life and limb.” Sgt. Batson concluded by saying, “To the persons who cannot appreciate our role in road safety, just speak to the families, friends and colleagues of the seven (7) persons who lost their lives as a result of road traffic accidents in Tobago for 2023. We all have our part to play in road safety, so please help the TTPS in our efforts to save lives and keep families together, by practicing safe and responsible road use.”
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Pictured Above: Matthew Perry.
UPDATE 4: The cast of 'Friends' just released a joint statement on the “unfathomable loss” of Matthew Perry. Read their full statement here.
UPDATE 3: The creators of 'Friends,' Marta Kauffman and David Crane, mourned the passing of Matthew Perry in a statement: “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew's passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent. It's a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew's case, there are no truer words.
From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us. We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment - not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
UPDATE 2: Warner Bros. TV, which produced 'Friends,' shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day, and we send our love to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
NBC also wrote in a statement, “We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry. He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”
UPDATE: Perry's family shared a statement with People, saying, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Multiple news outlets are reporting this evening (Saturday 28th October 2023) that Matthew Perry, one of the stars of 'Friends,' has died from an apparent drowning. He was only fifty-four (54).
According to TMZ, law enforcement sources said the actor was found in a jacuzzi on Saturday at his Los Angeles-area home, where he appears to have drowned. First-Responders received a call for someone having a cardiac arrest. Authorities found him unresponsive around 4:00 PM local time. No drugs were reportedly found at the scene and so far no foul play is suspected to be involved. Reports indicate Perry came home sometime on Saturday morning after a 2-hour round of pickleball, and that he sent his assistant out on an errand shortly thereafter. However, when the assistant returned about two (2) hours later, he discovered Perry unresponsive and called 911. Perry is, of course, most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit '90s sitcom, which ran for ten (10) seasons, and with him in all 234 episodes.
While 'Friends' was his biggest claim to fame, Perry had starred/guest starred in countless other TV shows over the years — such as 'Boys Will Be Boys,' 'Growing Pains,' 'Silver Spoons,' 'Charles in Charge,' 'Sydney,' 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' 'Home Free,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'The West Wing,' 'Scrubs,' 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,' 'Go On,' 'The Odd Couple' and more.
He had also acted in a handful of memorable films (mostly comedy), like 'Fools Rush In,' 'The Whole Nine Yards,' 'Three to Tango,' 'The Kid,' '17 Again,' 'Getting In,' and many others. Perry suffered from his addiction to drugs and alcohol — pain killers, specifically. He was hooked on Vicodin for years, even while on 'Friends,' and had been in and out of rehab. On top of his substance use, Perry also dealt with health issues — some of which were serious and required hospitalizations. One such incident stemmed from a gastrointestinal perforation, which forced him to undergo emergency surgery, but he luckily recovered.
While Perry never married, he was briefly engaged to Molly Hurwitz a couple of years ago, which came to an end after only six (6) months.
Perry was born on 19th August 1969, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to his mother, Canadian journalist Suzanne Marie Morrison, and father, actor and former model John Bennett Perry. Following his parents' divorce, he was raised by his mother in Ottawa, Ontario, where he was educated at both the Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ashbury College. At age fifteen (15), Perry moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks until his graduation in 1987.
Investigations are continuing into Perry’s death.
RIP. More on this as it becomes available. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: TMZ] Pictured Above: Seized pharmaceuticals on a flatbed truck. After receiving several reports of the sale of unregistered and expired drugs, currently being sold to the public at pharmacies throughout Trinidad and Tobago from Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, the Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF) investigated the matter and acted upon this information yesterday (Friday 27th October 2023) as they carried out Operation Windsor.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Operation Windsor was planned and executed in conjunction with the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division to investigate these reports. Documented information was provided by the Ministry of Health’s Chemistry, Food and Drug Division, indicating that many pharmacies have breached the Food and Drug Act, Chapter 30:01. A cosmetic company was listed as one of the companies in which unregistered pharmaceuticals were found at its various locations. As such, the company’s warehouse was selected by the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division for further inspection and to investigate previous reports made to the TTPS. Around 11:48 AM on Friday (27th October 2023), the party of investigative Officers went to a warehouse, located at Tissue Drive, Trincity Industrial Estate. They were met by a Director of the company and a Warehouse Manager. The Chemistry, Food and Drugs Inspectors then conducted an inspection of the warehouse for pharmaceutical items stored at the location. ASP Haynes informed the Director of the reports being investigated by the MATF, which were made by the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division and requested certain documentation and information. The Director then asked his employees to make checks for the said records to provide the documentation requested. During the exercise, the Chemistry, Food and Drug Inspectors discovered several breaches of the Food and Drug Act, Chapter 30:01 that were committed in the company’s warehouse. The Food and Drug Inspectors ordered that the pharmaceutical section of the warehouse be placed under immediate quarantine, owing to the lack of a Pharmaceutical Wholesale Licence and Licenced Pharmacist for the site. The Inspectors also immediately seized 14,227 pharmaceutical items, which were found to be unregistered and therefore not allowed to be sold in Trinidad and Tobago. These items were estimated to be valued at over $1.5 million. The items quarantined at the warehouse were estimated to be valued at over $10 million. Seizure Notices were issued to the Warehouse Manager and the warehouse area was secured and ordered sealed, by the Food and Drug Inspectors. The Director was interviewed, and he provided certain useful information and documentation. The Officers of the MATF then assisted the Food and Drug Inspectors in conveying the seized pharmaceutical products to the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Laboratory Building, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain. There, they were lodged for safekeeping and further investigation. The MATF Unit will continue to investigate previous reports made to identify the origin of unregistered pharmaceutical items entering Trinidad and Tobago. Enquiries are continuing.
A man is dead and a woman seriously injured following a road traffic accident in Couva early this morning (Saturday 28th October 2023). The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Kriston Baron, a backhoe driver, of Mc Bean Village, Couva.
According to reports, Baron was driving a white Hyundai H100, heading North along the Southern Main Road, around 3:00 AM, when he allegedly lost control and crashed into a wall near Rahim Masjid in Mc Bean Village. Baron was pinned inside the vehicle, while his passenger, 43-year-old Carla Babwah, suffered serious injuries in the crash.
Firefighters tried to free Baron from the wreck, but he died at the scene. Babwah was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital for medical treatment.
Investigations are continuing, led by Cpl. Basraj.
More on this as it becomes available. [Source: CNC3]
Speaking at the Post-Cabinet Media Briefing at Whitehall on Thursday (26th October 2023), Prime Minister Keith Rowley said the Government will ask the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) and other public utilities (such as WASA), to put the real cost of their services on their bills, in addition to the subsidized cost.
The Prime Minister said this is necessary “so that you could see exactly what you’re getting as against the old talk from some of them who know better, who will encourage you to rant and rave and misbehave.” Commenting on the Regulated Industries’ Commission’s (RIC) recommended rate hikes for T&TEC, he said, “The population would be encouraged to accept that yesterday is not today and may not be tomorrow. There are changes and the best thing we could do is to prepare ourselves to benefit from yesterday and to make good decisions today and to be prepared for tomorrow. Those are three steps we have to do as individual citizens.” He added that he knew people “like the five minutes of fame and wave a flag in defence of the downtrodden.” The Prime Minister continued, “We arrived at this position in a civil way. An independent Commission looked at it. There’s still going to be a significant element of subsidy on electricity in this country and you know something? I’m asking the Minister of Public Utilities, just for the help of the public on the conversation going forward. I don’t know what time it’s going to happen but we’ll talk to T&TEC and to the other utilities going forward and the real cost of these services must be put on the bill and the subsidized cost that you pay must also be on the bill.” He explained that a bill could have the real cost of $15 alongside the consumers’ subsidized cost of $3. “So you could see it and then you have no excuse after that to be misled by people who would lead you astray,” he said. “Right now, this country’s position is that we should aim to be reasonable, understand that things have changed, or are changing, and prepare ourselves to do the best we can do in a changed environment,” he added. Prime Minister Rowley said the RIC made an independent assessment of the situation and Cabinet would look at the recommendations “because at the end of the day, it would be the Government taking on the responsibility as to how much.” He added, “The Cabinet will look at what the RIC has put there and it takes into account how it will impact here, who’s going to pay there, who’s going to get relief, who’ll have to pay a bit more without relief and so on.” Noting that commercial enterprises are profit-making, P.M Rowley said, “It is unrealistic for such entities to say to the Government, ‘So that I can make my profit, you have to subsidize it.’ This isn’t a reasonable position. You have to find some way of coping with your input and I’ll be very surprised if the voice of the commercial enterprises in T&T is that ‘because we have to pay a little more for electricity, we’re now unprofitable.’ That’s not what I expect and I don’t think that’s the situation.” The Prime Minister pointed out that electricity in T&T is still among the cheapest and is still a cheap product for citizens. However, he said, “T&TEC owes billions of dollars for the gas that it burns to provide electricity, so let’s stop pretending that’s not so and if we have to pay a little bit more — and I’m hoping it’s a ‘little bit more’ — stop pretending that this is the sky falling on our heads!” He added, “The price of the gas has gone up and is going up and if T&TEC is to keep providing us with a reliable service, you don’t want rolling blackouts. All over Trinidad and Tobago people are being provided with what I consider to be a good service from T&TEC but the circumstances are that T&TEC isn’t able to pay for the gas it’s burning. “The Finance Minister pays that. The Minister’s ability to pay is also being reduced,” he said. P.M. Rowley added that the first thing to consider, is how to affordably maintain a sustainable quality service, “and we all have to agree it’s not going to be cheap and it’s not going to be free.”
[Source: T&T Guardian]
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is advising motorists and members of the general public of temporary traffic restrictions in the area of the Priority Bus Route (PBR) and O'Meara Road, Arima, on Saturday (28th October 2023) and Sunday (29th October 2023), between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. This has become necessary in order to facilitate emergency sewer pipeline repair works in the area.
Motorists are further advised to approach the area with caution and to obey the signs and instructions of the Traffic Control Officers on duty in the vicinity of the job-site. For further information or assistance, persons can contact WASA's Customer Call Centre, toll free at 800-4420 or 800-4426. The Authority thanks the public for their co-operation during this period of traffic restrictions. Pictured Above: PC Gabriel Jones of the Traffic Section, Sangre Grande Police Station, shares a complimentary ticket to a female motorist for their upcoming cruise. Photo Credit: Sangre Grande Traffic Section. Ten (10) law-abiding drivers were recently taken by surprise when they were ‘ticketed’ for obeying traffic regulations while in the busy commercial hub of Sangre Grande.
The motorists were given complimentary vouchers for the Sangre Grande Police Station Council Fundraiser Boat Cruise, which set sail tomorrow (Saturday 28th October 2023) aboard the Harbour Master Grand Cruises at 8:00 PM from the C3 Marina, Western Main Road, Cocorite. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the fundraiser will offset the costs of several community and safety outreaches in Sangre Grande and environs. During the road-check exercise conducted by the Traffic Section, led by Inspector (Ag.), Allister Kistow, Police also checked drivers and their vehicles to ensure the legal requirements to be on the nation's roads were met. Drivers and their passengers were also commended for being exemplary citizens and sensitized on traffic offences and violations that are detected by law enforcement on a daily basis. Traffic Cops also issued forty (40) fixed penalty notices for several infractions, as part of its road safety campaign. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), while Trinidad and Tobago is presently positioned at the Southern edge of the Atlantic high pressure cell, there are intermittent areas of convergence, and small perturbations, in the equatorial East to West flow, and across Trinidad and Tobago. Together with moisture advection, daytime heating and local dynamics, this will be some of the weather influences for Trinidad and Tobago over the next few days.
A Hazardous Seas Alert (Yellow Level) is currently in effect. The Met Office has provided the following 5-day weather outlook for T&T: Saturday (28th October 2023)
Sunday (29th October 2023)
Monday (30th October 2023)
Tuesday (31st October 2023)
Wednesday (1st November 2023)
In the event of a heavy shower or a thunderstorm, winds can become gusty, and street or flash flooding is likely in the vicinity. With the occurrence of any intense or prolonged precipitation, the risk of landslips/landslides will become elevated in areas so prone. Mostly mild but occasionally moderate concentrations of Saharan dust will be present in the atmosphere during the next few days. The Met Office notes that as an extended forecast goes further into the future, it is normal for the certainty to be reduced relative to the extended time period. Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.
A man is dead and two (2) others wounded following a shooting incident at a birthday party in Sangre Grande early this morning (Friday 27th October 2023). The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Jessie Baptiste.
According to reports, Baptiste was at the party in the yard of a house on Road Five Extension, Poui Avenue, North Eastern Settlement, around 2:15 AM, along with two (2) friends, when gunmen opened fire on the group.
Baptiste and his friends attempted to run away from the attackers but collapsed nearby. A neighbour took the three (3) wounded men to the Sangre Grande Hospital, where Baptiste was declared dead around 2:55 AM. The remaining men, ages twenty (20) and twenty-four (24), are said to have sustained non-life threatening injuries. Officers of the Sangre Grande CID and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region II are continuing enquiries. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: CNC3] Three (3) men are dead and three (3) others wounded following a shooting incident during a wake at Orange Field Road in Carapichaima early this morning (Friday 27th October 2023). The deceased have been identified as Keston Lawrence, also known as ‘Big Shane’ of Lamont Street, Longdenville; 32-year-old Dwayne Charles of New Settlement, Couva and 40-year-old Francis Munroe of Arena Road, Freeport. The incident is said to have occurred around 12:35 AM at the corner of Perseverance Road and Orange Field Road, where the victims were all attending the wake of a 40-year-old man who died of natural causes. According to reports, gunmen followed Lawrence, who is believed to be the target of the shooting, to the wake and walked through a track where they opened fire on him as he was looking on at a game of cards. The loud gunshots sent scores of people scampering for safety, even in homes nearby. The three (3) wounded persons were taken to the Couva District Hospital for medical treatment. Among them is a woman, who was shot in the leg.
Investigations are continuing. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: CNC3] |
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