An hour before the scheduled release at 9.30 am of a number of promotions to the rank of sergeant, Justice Margaret Mohammed granted an injunction to 11 police officers ordering Williams not to take any steps to promote any of them. The officers who sought the injunction have been awaiting the Police Service’s promotion advisory board since 2016 for their ratings in qualifying examinations for the rank of sergeant.

They wrote letters and filed an injunction but to no avail. Last month, Justice Joan Charles ordered the board to provide the information, but even the judge’s order has been disobeyed. The officers had also sought the ratings of the latest batch of officers who have been promoted in order to compare the ratings.

Attorney Dinesh Rambally drafted the injunction until 2 am yesterday in preparation of an 8.30 am hearing before Mohammed. The injunction outlined the fate of the officers who are: Ag Sergeant Audie Alexander Moona, Jerry London, Curt Douglas, Rene Katwaroo, Ramweshwar Gopaul, Daryl Theophilus, Jimmy Marcano, Dirk John, Anslem Knott and Terrence Salandy.

The merit list was released on Monday. But in their lawsuit before Mohammed, they stated that due to a shortage of sergeants in the service, a number of them were called upon to act.

But way back in 2015, they were informed they would be considered by the board for promotion and they would have been given an opportunity to engage in the process.

In April 2016, a merit list was released, but their names were not on it.

Pursuant to Section 19 (5) of the Police Service Act they applied to the board to be given their ratings in the qualifying examination.

They say did not get an acknowledgement.

An attorney wrote for them, and, in July last year, he was informed that the request was forwarded to the Solicitor General’s department for consideration. In August last year, Rambally filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act. In October, they were given their ratings, however, they were not given the ratings of the officers who were promoted in order to assess whether they were unfairly prejudiced.

Yesterday, Rambally argued the injunction before Mohammed in which he informed her the papers were served at the office of the commissioner. The judge granted an order of mandamus, compelling the board to provide the requested information.

Rachel Noel-Eute, senior legal associate for the Children’s Authority, explained to the magistrate that the authority learned of the incident earlier this month when a report was filed after injuries were sustained by the child.

She said the authority intended to remove the child from the custody of her parents once she was discharged from the hospital and seek alternative living arrangements pending a police investigation and an independent investigation headed by the authority.

The child is at the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.

Oliver’s attorney Richard Mason in his application for bail, said his client has no matters before the court. Stroude granted Oliver bail with a surety in the sum of $100,000. As part of her bail conditions, she is to report three times a week to the West End Police Station in Diego Martin and remain 100 feet away from the child and her family at all times. The court prosecutor also requested that Oliver surrender her passport to the court.

However Mason said his client’s passport was expired but promised he would present it at the next hearing.

Oliver is expected to reappear in court on October 26. Earlier this month the child, who lives with her father, was left in the care of a woman who allegedly dealt a severe beating to the toddler.

Campbell is a champion at the 2017 Elite Under-23 National Track Cycling Championships with gold medals in the Women’s Omnium and Individual Pursuit. In the latter, Campbell clocked a time of three minutes 55:44 seconds to surpass her previous best of three minutes 56:86 seconds in the Elite Under-23 National Track Cycling 2015.

Now, she is eligible to participate with older athletes, some who are Olympians. Although her competitors are more experienced, she said to Newsday yesterday, “I feel pretty confident.

I’m way stronger and faster than I was two years before.

I’m hoping to take home the gold.” Her coach, Elisha Greene, has her on a strict training regimen which she believes will take her to the next level. She wakes up between 4-5 am every morning to go cycling on the road. Then her evenings are interchanged with going to the gym or more cycling. She said that some of her training sessions left her her in pain but she is hoping the hard work will put her in good stead when the Pan Am Track Championships pedal off today at the National Cycling Centre, Couva.

Campbell will be competing against riders from Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela.

She will be taking part in a variety of events including the Stretch Race, the Omnium Points Race, Keirin and the Individual Pursuit. She remains calm and collected despite facing a tough task versus some world class riders.

“I don’t look up to the girls there as superior to me,” Campbell said. She believes once she rides smartly, she can defeat her rivals.

The national athlete hopes to progress in the career of cycling and has her sights set on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan as well as competing in the World Cup and World Championships.

She hopes her achievements are an inspiration to the younger generation of female cyclists and wants everyone to see that female cycling is on the rise and that women can win too.

Also representing this country on the women’s team for the championship are Alexi Costa, Jessica Costa, Cheyenne Awai, Alexandra Bovell and Christiane Farah.

In the men’s team are Njisane Phillip, Nicholas Paul, Kwesi Browne, Keron Bramble, Quincy Alexander, Akil Campbell, Varun Maharaj, Lorenzo Orosco, Jovian Gomez, Gevan Samuel and Adam Alexander.

Al-Rawi said as Attorney General, he should not be busy getting involved in any matters relating to Ramlogan as the matters were in the hands of the Police Service (TTPS) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Member of Parliament for the San Fernando West constituency was speaking with reporters after a tour of the city to observe effect of the recently implemented traffic plan. He was accompanied by mayor Junia Regrello.

Al-Rawi said him distancing himself and any member of the government are for reasons which are constitutional. “No member of the Executive has any business in that.

“We keep a very careful distance away from the business of the Police Service and that of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. No doubt this matter has gripped the nation’s attention because it has been one long in the making.” Meanwhile commenting on Monday’s protest “swim” by Minority Leader in the Tobago House of Assembly Watson Duke, Al -Rawi said Duke was free to do what he wanted but that would not take away from the fact the prime minister, Ministry of Works and Transport, Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Port Authority have been in conversations regarding the seabridge issue. “The issue of the seabridge and airbridge is one which is of great concern to the government of Trinidad and Tobago. The long term solution is a critical one and the government is focused on making sure we work our way through a short term, medium term and long term of solutions.” During his walk through San Fernando, Al-Rawi greeted taxi drivers, traffic wardens and pedestrians. He also commended the San Fernando Mayor on the traffic changes deeming it a success.

One Young World, a British-based charity founded in 2009, connects bright young leaders from around the world to deliver change.

The first caucus brought together young people from Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, the Bahamas and St. Lucia to discuss issues such as social entrepreneurship, the future of education, social inclusion and the Commonwealth.

During the event on Thursday last at his Maraval residence, Stew also bid farewell to this year’s Chevening Scholar, Mukta Balroop.

Stew congratulated Balroop on his achievement as the Chevening Scholar 2017.

In addition to expressing his gratitude to bpTT for co-funding this year’s scholarship, Stew commended Balroop’s focus on Media Law which he will pursue at Queen Mary, University of London.

He encouraged Balroop to look beyond his formal education and to allow himself to gain international perspectives from his fellow students; to understand the world from others’ viewpoints.

The HDC’s commercial properties manager Maurisa Findlay said it was all part of a move to position the mall as a secure area for families to relax and support local businesses. A series of events will be held at HDC malls nationwide to attract the local communities for shopping and leisure.

Findlay introduced Newsday to several store-owners.

Eunice Skeete of Colleen’s Delicatessen (named after her daughter) said her business had been set up in 2005 when the mall had first opened. “I’m from Tobago. My speciality is curried crab and dumpling, but I can cook anything – Chinese, Italian and Creole.

I cook like home, with the natural Tobago flavour anytime you come here. I cook with passion and love. The taste is just right.” She was full of praise for the HDC’s efforts to uplift the mall. “It was down but now Miss Findlay is boosting it up. We see a great improvement in the place.

“It’s a great encouragement to go forward.

The environment has become better. They put in new landscaping and have started to do renovation, so all we need now is to get the air-conditioning going.” Baked chicken fried fish, braised lentils, veggies and pumpkin rice were on yesterday’s menu board.

Across the hall Bernadine Joseph ran Annie’s Café, Annie being a nickname given to her by the Aboud family where she’d formerly worked.

“I”m into pastries – cake, banana bread, pizza slices. I make it from scratch, and sell.

“I do patchoi pizza, saltfish pizza and veggie pizza. I also do wedding cakes, plus a little Arabic food. I learnt from the best, Mrs George of Ellerslie Park.” Joseph was also glad at improvements in the mall.”Since the mall was going down, I had prayed for something good to happen for us. God is great. My prayers worked, and a lot of things are going on now.

“God sent two beautiful angels, Miss Findlay, and Miss Young who runs the mall. They are looking for betterment for us in this mall.” Joseph was pleased with the upgraded mall security.

Selective Hair’s Michelle Baptiste said she had opened her stall last January in the middle of a recession, but that things were going well.

“This cabinet here was filled with virgin hair, and it all sold out for graduation,” she said proudly. Saying such hair can sell for $1,600, she said, “Hair is big business in Trinidad and Tobago.” Baptiste said most TT women (especially Africans) go for Brazilian hair which she said has a lot of volume and body, compared to the Peruvian and Indian hair which is more straight and silky and which is more often used by women with naturally straight hair but which is thinning.

Blended hair can be bought at more affordable prices than the virgin hair, she said.

Also present were Roxanne Layne and Edicta Carty-Belle of the Family Planning Association (FPA) who used models to demonstrate and advise on the correct technique for using a male and female condom to residents.

Layne said, “We’re not just about the pill and condom. We offer sexual and reproductive health services, for men, women and young people. This includes cervical cancer screening, manual breast examination, prostate cancer screening and gender-based violence screening and counselling.” The FPA also offers testing for HIV and STI’s such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, plus counselling.

The prostate test is subsidised at $200.

Also displaying their services were Sulton Industries TT (SITT) who do general contracting, maintenance and landscaping, plus Jessica Baker-Gill of Diamond Brite which does cleaning including power washing of house exteriors.

Many residents needed to be evacuated as the deadly flooding has already taken the lives of nine people. With this, Trinidadians’ concern for their friends and relatives has grown.

With Harvey downgrading from a hurricane, many residents who stayed at their homes thought that its impact would not be as brutal. However, some of them found themselves trapped in their houses and needed to to evacuated.

Gerard Alfred, who previously lived in Santa Rosa and now resides in Houston, was trapped in a bar during the storm last Saturday.

Alfred had initially underestimated the impact of the storm in his area. However, he later needed to be assisted to safety as he was trapped by flood waters. One of his relatives said, “We’re concerned and worried for his safety now that things have changed.” The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said yesterday, that with the fourth day of heavy flooding almost 30,000 Houston residents were estimated to seek emergency shelter and 450,000 are expected to seek disaster assistance.

The NHC later said that Harvey was moving eastward towards Morgan City in Louisiana.

They warned of its impact saying, “Ongoing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding will continue across Southeastern Texas.” This has Trinidadianas worried for the locals that may be residing there.

A Chaguanas resident said, “I’m worried and pray that the storm misses them so that no one will be displaced.” Enrique Assoon, who could not contact his family in Houston, expressed deep concern for them as the flooding had become life-threatening.

He said, “I’m not getting any response at all from my family. I’m really worried and scared for them because I’ve been trying to message them on all social media platforms and I can’t reach them.” The locally-based family of Vincentian Lorna Thomas said that their concern grew as water levels in front her house increased.

Her niece, Marion Thomas, said after receiving a picture of flooding in Lorna’s front yard she had not been able to contact her aunt.

Many Trinidadians are worrying for their family living in Houston and are continuing to pray for their safety.

The National Cycling Centre and the National Aquatic Centre are two venues in Couva used by a number of people to exercise.

However, the current review being done by SPORTT will not allow members of the public to use the venues in Couva for private recreation.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath wants to encourage national citizens to live healthy and made the decision to open the NCC to the public.

Bassarath said, “The venues belong to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and you have to allow the people to use it. Hence the reason that I invited the people to use the National Cricket Centre, it is open for them. We are the ones who have to encourage our nationals to be fit and to exercise.” Bassarath said he disagreed with the decision by the Sport Company to close the facility to the public temporarily, saying the venue was paid for by tax-payers.

He said there were no reports of vandalism or theft at the facility and wondered why it was being closed to persons simply wanting to exercise.

“It is disheartening to know that Mr Dinanath Ramnarine (SporTT Chairman) and the Minister of Sport (Darryl Smith) will collaborate to debar the people from using the stadium,” he said.

Byron is set to demit office having attained his seventh year of stewardship at the regional court. The tenure of president is for a non-renewable term of seven years.

A release from the Port of Spain-based CCJ said, the process of seeking his replacement had begun with the post being advertised extensively.

Advertisements have been in the public domain since August 4.

The RJLSC, which is tasked with the responsibility of finding a new president, has also communicated with regional and international stakeholders informing them of the start of the recruitment process, the CCJ said.

The deadline for the submission of applications is September 18, 2017. Details, including guidelines for applying, are available on the CCJ’s website at www.

ccj.org In a comment on his tenure to date, Byron said, “It has been an honour to serve the region as the President of the CCJ.” He was “particularly proud” of what was accomplished by the judges and the rest of the court’s team during his tenure. “It is now time for me to take on other challenges but I will look back at the six years I have spent at the Court, with pride and with a great deal of fondness,” he said.

Byron has been a jurist for over 50 years. He was first appointed as a judge in 1982.

He was sworn in as the second president of the CCJ in 2011 in St Kitts.

His predecessor was Trinidadian Justice Michael de la Bastide TC.

Byron was appointed by the heads of government of the Caribbean community on the RJLSC.

Applicants must have been a judge for over five years or have practised, or, taught law for at least 15 years.

A criteria of an applicant must possess “high moral character, intellectual and analytical ability, sound judgement, integrity and understanding of people and society.”

The Secretariat of the JSC wrote to Purdey last week via e-mail requesting him to attend.

He gave a commitment to attend one of the four hearings inquiring into the operations of the inter-island ferry service and more particularly the procurement of the cargo vessel the Cabo Star and the passenger vessel the Ocean Flower II.

The contract which had been awarded to Bridgeman’s was cancelled due to its failure to deliver the Ocean Flower II on time.

Purdey said he was willing to be cross examined and to provide documentation to clear his company’s name.

Sources revealed that all those contacted by the JSC so far have said they are willing to cooperate except former chairman of the Port Authority board Christine Sahadeo.

The JSC e-mailed asking Sahadeo to attend one of the four hearings but she has not yet given a commitment.

The inquiry will be held over four days with hearings in both Trinidad and Tobago.

The inquiry is one of four investigations into the acquisition of the ships.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has also commissioned businessman Christian Mouttet as sole investigator to investigate the procurement process, while Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan has requested the Port Authority to provide him with a report. That report, according to Sinanan is due by this weekend.

The Integrity Commission has also been asked to investigate the issue by former transport minister Devant Maharaj.