Suspect held in Tecia’s murder

Henry was strangled on June 13 after she went on an errand at a shop near her home at Essex Road, off Cook Street, Laventille. Her body was found in a dirt hole under a neighbour’s house on June 17 — the same day five men were detained for questioning.

These five suspects were released by police on Saturday. Acting on information, heavily armed police led by Insp Sahadeo Singh went to Block 8 and arrested the latest suspect yesterday.

Meanwhile, Government is contributing an estimated $11,500 to the funeral expenses of the family of murder victim Tecia Henry, who will be buried on her birthday tomorrow. Minister of Community Development Marlene McDonald yesterday disclosed that her ministry has paid $8,000, and the Ministry of Social Development $3,500, to help the Henry family cover the cost of the funeral.

“By our calculations, funeral expenses were very well covered,” McDonald stated.McDonald, the MP for Port-of-Spain South, denied reports from residents that she had not visited the Henry family nor shown support to the grieving community. The neighbourhood where Tecia lived falls under the Port-of-Spain South constituency.

McDonald said she and a team from her ministry and constituency met with Tecia’s relatives the day her body was found. The team included parliamentary secretary Junia Regrello, Community Development Fund director Edgar Zephyrine, constituency chairman Jean Elder and vice chairman Frances Peterson. McDonald said she was “warmly greeted by all members of the community” and spent almost two hours with them.

Social Development Minister Dr Amery Browne also visited the Henry family and members of the community last week and has since disclosed that counselling will be provided with help from the private sector.

Tecia’s relatives had asked for the Government’s help to relocate from the community, however, there has been no word on if a new home would be provided for them.