Williams is expected to travel to Australia to be the recipient of an award from members of the International Women’s Police Association.

He will then travel to China to attend an INTERPOL conference for commissioners of police then proceed on a short vacation with loved ones.

Sources revealed that Phillip was also due to proceed on a three-month course in Washington which would have started in a few days’ time and Acting Deputy Commissioner Deodath Dulalchan would have acted as commissioner in the absence of Williams.

However, sources also revealed that Phillip and Acting Deputy Commissioner Earla Christopher, who was supposed to travel to Australia to attend a conference, were called to a meeting on Saturday and informed that they were not granted permission to leave the country.

It remained unclear why leave for the two officers was not granted.

As a result of the new development, Assistant Commissioner of Police Surujdean Persad will act as deputy commissioner of Police in charge of crime.

Efforts to contact both Williams and Phillip proved futile.

Phillip was reported to be in meetings with the Director or Public Prosecutions yesterday seeking direction in an investigation against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.

Sources also revealed yesterday that, prior to proceeding on leave, Williams sent messages to several senior officers that they were transferred to various sections and branches.

In his Independence Day Message to the nation, the Prime Minister said these words and actions were central to the successes of TT’s athletes at the recently concluded IAAF World Championships in London.

Recalling the success of the men’s 4x400m relay team at that event, Rowley said they showed they had, “made up their minds” and “our country can achieve if we work together”.

While the country faces many challenges, Rowley remainded confident they could be overcome.

“Let us move forward with the focus, grit and determination demonstrated by our athletes,” he said.

Rowley said now is the time to, “support one another as we seek to implement the most progressive strategies and policies to attain economic, social and cultural growth and development.” He said while TT continues to live up to the promise and potential it demonstrated when it attained independence 55 years ago, “we can ill-afford to falter now.” The Prime Minister said, “We must strengthen our democratic institutions and implement policies that are tailored to our specific conditions and developmental objectives” He added, “In so doing, we will increase our chances of success exponentially.”

“As long as you believe you can make a change for the better, it can be done,” Lungren said.

Lungren was the main speaker at yesterday’s launch of the Caribbean Security Forum 2017 at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. He said it took a wedding photographer, in recent years, to lobby for legislation in California to increase the penalties to 25 years for a felon after two convictions.

During a robbery, the photographer’s daughter was shot dead by a felon who had several convictions and had recently been released from jail. Lungren said that when the photographer engaged with lawmakers to increase the penalties for convicted felons, they literally questioned, “Who are you to come before us to tell us how to write law?” The photographer, he said, then went through the process in California and, despite opposition, he won.

That law, Lungren said, was one of the key elements that was helping to keep the crime rate down.

The Caribbean Security Forum is an initiative of the Global Business Leadership Forum and the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Services Industry which will be held on September 21 and 22 in Port of Spain.

“Our hope is that this forum would be one of the means to make that change (in TT),” Lungren said.

The forum, which is being organised by the business community to share ideas on how the current crime and security issues were affecting the TT society in general, will involve non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and faith-based organisations, among others.

The forum will tap into a number of local and international experts.

Their objective is to devise a plan that is workable for all stakeholders and could be implemented by all committed parties.

Prior to travelling, Lungren said, he took note of the US State Department’s status for American tourists in terms of safety and security in TT. It said, “critical” for crime. That was the highest level of concern by the US State Department, he said, noting that violent crime was a critical issue in this country.

Having worked to reform the criminal justice system in California when the state was experiencing escalating violent crime over a 25-year period, Lungren said changes had to be made in the way the criminal courts operated. He said aspects of the bail system were changed along with certain aspects in the definition of crime.

Lungren said, he was not suggesting that what was done in the US should be done in TT, however, some things could be adapted while other innovative measures could be taken to suit prevailing conditions.

In a release, Annisette said Duke sought to bring to the attention of the nation, the plight of the travelling public who use the seabridge between Trinidad and Tobago.

“While some may argue that his approach to bring attention to this contemptible situation was unorthodox, we in NATUC are of the view that when traditional methods are not working, it is time to resort to new and innovative solutions to deal with problems.” He continued, “NATUC shares the pain and distress of the people of Tobago who have been suffering immensely over the colossal failure of the government to address the seabridge issue in a meaningful way. NATUC therefore welcomes Mr Duke’s symbolic and courageous attempts to bring this despicable issue into the living room of every Trinbagonian.” He said NATUC will continue to raise issues that are affecting the well-being of citizens and in this particular case, the failure of the Government to sign the charter party agreement which has allowed citizens the services of the super-fast Galicia for a further period of two months.

“We trust that the people of Trinidad and Tobago would put aside party politics and deal with the real issues that are affecting the citizenry. Historically, party politics has caused a polarisation and a divide in our society and this has resulted in a poor state of affairs for Trinidad and Tobago.

We cannot continue to behave like the proverbial ostrich and pretend that these are only minor hiccups and that all is well.” Annisette further added, “All of us are painfully aware that Trinidad and Tobago is in a state of dysfunction and our institutions are failing to deliver the services that are required of them to ensure smooth governance for the citizens. The general public is fast losing faith in the government and these institutions to the county.” He said Watson Duke has demonstrated he has the testicular fortitude to commit to a cause, and to go the full distance to seek relief for the people of Tobago and by extension, all citizens of TT.

In a statement, the association said the politicians described the detention as a ploy to distract attention away from the escalating murder rate, the Tobago ferry “fiasco” and the revocation of the appointment of the Minister of Public Utilities Robert Le Hunte .

The association said such accusations called into question the independence of the police service and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and undermine public confidence in the administration of justice .

“If it is the experience of those who operate within the corridors of power that the DPP and the police are susceptible to political influence, then the proper and constructive approach is to propose reforms which would insulate law enforcement officers from such interference in the exercise of their powers,” the association said .

The association cautioned members of the public to reserve comment until after a court of law has pronounced .

They also cautioned all concerned against using these events to inflame political passions .

“In that regard, seeking out the opinion of politicians, including the prime minister, on an ongoing criminal investigation can only serve, unhelpfully, to politicise the issue,” the association said .

She declared, “Strong leadership is required to confront the challenges we face.” In her Independence Day Message to the nation, Persad-Bissessar said, “ There is a sense of hopelessness in the country, with thousands of citizens struggling to get by, having lost their jobs and only source of income.” She attributed this to, “another sharp decline in our economy.” Persad-Bissessar also said she was saddened that, “ our citizens continue to grapple with the scourge of crime and criminality.” She said lack of quality health care and recent cuts in education, are also cause for concern in TT today.

However in spite of all of these negatives, Persad-Bissessar believed the citizens of TT, “are capable of greatness in every area.” She was confident that, “we will soon be firmly back on track for further development. “ Persad-Bissessar said her goal and that of the Opposition remains improving the quality of life for the entire population.

She said the Opposition is currently, “developing policy proposals to build our economy, create sustainable jobs and to continue to develop our nation’s human capital.” Persad-Bissessar said these proposals include the development of a knowledge-driven diversified and growing economy in TT. She urged all citizens to play their part in rebuilding this country’s sense of patriotism and nationhood. Persad-Bissessar said it was incumbent on all people to build a society which is one of, “acceptance, tolerance and equality.”

This law also permits the Commissioner or a police superintendent to grant or cancel permission given to anyone to discharge fireworks.

The ministry reminded citizens to follow specific safety tips to ensure their use of fireworks do not cause accidents and injury.

These include keeping pets indoors if possible or ensuring their enclosure/kennel is comfortable and securely locked if pets are kept outside; make sure it is legal to use fireworks if your area; never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass; always have a bucket of water and/ or a fire extinguisher nearby, know how to operate the fire extinguisher properly; supervise children around fireworks at all times; stand several feet away from lit fireworks; if a device does not go off, do not stand over it to investigate it, put it out with water and dispose of it and always read the directions and warning labels on fireworks.

The ministry said, if a device is not marked with the contents, direction and a warning label, do not light it.

Woods, of Indian Walk, however admitted villagers become unruly and not only cursed police officers, but seized a pair of handcuffs which fell out the hands of the police as they tried to handcuff another villager known as “Fathead”.

They also seized a spent shell after the melee which erupted at Teesdale Road Junction, Indian Walk. Video footage of the incident have since been uploaded on social media.

“We are fed up with the police,” Woods said. “The men in here are always the usual suspects. Is stereotyping all the time. My husband is a rasta, he is a mason, a quiet person who don’t interfere with anyone and he was on his way to work with a bag filled with tools. He did not have a gun.” She said it was the reason the community immediately came to his defence and the situation escalated.

Woods told Newsday because of Jules’s past experiences with police, he opted to run away instead.

Only last year and two other men were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, she said.

She alleged when Jules ran into the bushes, police fired two shots at him. It is one of those shells that residents recovered and refused to turn over to the police when they came to investigate allegations.

They however handed members of the St Mary’s Police Post the handcuffs which the officers lost in the melee.

Yesterday in a media release, police said a warrant is to be issued for the arrest of a male suspect who allegedly assaulted police officers during the conduct of their duties.

Once held, he is expected to face charges including assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and using obscene language.

Meanwhile, police are also searching for an individual who allegedly seized the gun which police claimed fell from the initial suspect.

All relatives know is that late Monday evening while at her aunt’s home at Techier Village, Point Fortin where she had been spending a week-long vacation, Tinniyah received a phone call (on a borrowed phone) after which she left the house telling them she was taking a walk outside.

Tinniyah has not been seen or heard from since. Checks with relatives and friends have so far proven futile. Speaking from his home at Lake View, La Fortune, Point Fortin yesterday, her distraught father Errol Rauseo pleaded with the public to help him locate his last child who, he said, will enter form four at Holy Name Convent, Point Fortin.

He described her as five feet, two inches tall and brown in complexion with shoulder length hair.

He said she was last seen wearing a black track pants with green stripes and a pair of slippers.

Anyone with information can contact 555, 999 or 800-TIPS or any police station.

This warning was sounded by a magistrate yesterday to a motorist in the San Fernando Magistrates’ court, who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and also, exceeding the speed limit.

“The court has to ensure the public safety, and yours as well. Putting all that into the mix, you took quite a dangerous course,” Magistrate Natalie Diop told Nicholas “Rico” Mohammed, 25, who was arrested on Tuesday night along the northbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway. Mohammed was fined a total of $8,000 for both offences.

The legal speed limit on the highway is 80 kilometres per hour and 65 kilometres per hour on secondary roads.

Brought in handcuffs into the courtroom, Diop read the charge that when a breathalyser test was done on Mohammed, it was revealed that the alcohol content in his breath was 75 microgrammes.

The second charge alleged that he exceeded the speed limit by 53 kilometres per hour.

The prosecutor, Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit, said it was at about 9.29 pm when WPC Rajpatie Mahabir who was on a speed-test exercise with other police along the highway, stopped Mohammed’s vehicle – TDJ 6786, in the vicinity of Corinth. She told him that he had exceed the legal limit of 80 kilometers per hour. The officer then detected, the prosecutor added, a strong scent of alcohol which emanated from Mohammed’s breath.

Asked why he opted to drive whilst drunk, especially a heavy goods vehicle and, to compound matters, was speeding, Mohammed told Diop that he had suffered a bout of frustration while at work that night. A mechanic by trade, he said that he had applied for a loan, but the bank turned down his application.

“I was trying to get over something in my personal life. I have been really stressed out.

So, after work I went out, had a few beers and when I was finished, I was just trying to get home safe and was unaware I was over the speed limit.” Before passing sentence, Diop told Mohammed, “In your attempt to get home safe, you acted in a manner that made you unsafe.

You are now worse off than you were last week, because you are now standing before the court as an accused.

Your duty is to keep yourself safe as well as others.” Diop fined him $6,000 on the drunk driving charge, failing which he will serve nine months in jail. For exceeding the speed limit, he was ordered to pay $2,000 or serve two months. He has four months to pay the fines.