Yesterday, the two constables, assigned to the Besson Street Police Station, remained in custody and were still being interviewed by officers of the Organised Crime Narcotics And Firearms Bureau (OCNFB). Sources revealed that the constables’ homes in Laventille were searched on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday but nothing illegal was found. It is alleged that the two officers left the Port-of- Spain CID on Tuesday claiming that they were going on enquiries. The officers then allegedly picked up a 24-yearold El Socorro man in a marked Police-issued Xtrail and took him to the South Western Peninsula .

While in the district, the El Socorro man allegedly collected four crocus bags containing high-grade marijuana that allegedly came from Venezuela, three hand guns with ammunition and a quantity of alcohol .

The items were placed in the vehicle and were supposed to be transported to El Socorro for packaging and sale .

However, officers of the South Western Division Task Force, led by Sgt Shaheed Ali and acting on a tip-off, attempted to stop the vehicle in Cedros shortly after 5 pm on Tuesday .

A roadblock was then put in place in Rousillac and the vehicle was stopped .

The police vehicle was searched, the drugs guns and alcohol were found and the two constables, along with the 24-year-old man, were taken into custody.Senior police officers, led by ACP Crime Irwin Hackshaw, condemned the alleged actions of the officers and said they had brought the Police Service into disrepute .

His comments were echoed by President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Acting ASP Michael Seales .

Yesterday, sources at the OCNFB said they were now working on information that police vehicles were being used to transport drugs from the South Western Division to El Socorro for an extended period .

They added that, based on information received, a very senior officer was aware of the alleged illicit operation and supported the actions of some junior officers including the two constables detained on Tuesday .

The Mouttet report must be followed up by the Fraud Squad because we need justice. Those who are responsible for setting up the “go-between” company to charge taxpayers an additional US$6,000 day for the Cabo Star must face the courts.

Every manager, every employee involved must not be allowed to roam freely. There has to be serious consequences for those withholding information from the Board of the Port Authority.

There are surely criminal elements currently operating on the port if this report is proven true but there is also the possibility of political elements as well. The report shows that they were intentionally undermining the board and consequently the line minister by withholding documents and correspondence so as to advance their hidden agenda.

Then we hear of the attempt to bully the Government into a five-year contract for the Super- Fast Galicia, and the same people may have had an interest here also. The corruption at the port stinks and must not be allowed to continue.

All this trickery and mismanagement taking place and the people of Tobago are left suffering in the process.

I say fire them and bring them before the courts because we must never allow a few selfish and corrupt people to cause a whole country to be in disarray.

SAMANTHA MAHARAJ Chase Village

Central, last season’s historic Pro League three-peat champions, must seek a win and moreso, a boost in confidence when they host leaders North East Stars from 8pm tonight in the second game of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

North East Stars (21 points) look down on Central (10 points and a game in hand) from five spots away, while mid-table San Juan Jabloteh (14 points and two games in hand) and Defence Force (12 points) face each other from 6pm in the opening game at the Couva venue today.

W Connection (20 points), who Central narrowly escaped by a point for the crown last season, are within striking distance of the top spot and welcome Point Fortin Civic (9 points) from 4pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Saturday.

Also on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Morvant Caledonia United (7 points) are against Police FC (10 points).

But for now, all attention will be on Central, the high rollers of the last three seasons, and North East Stars, a side in search of their first league crown since 2004.

Central held the Derek King coached-North East Stars to a 1-1 draw in their first and only meeting this season in a much anticipated rescheduled Round One match on September 9 at the Arima Velodrome with legendary Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John debuting as head coach.

League and Caribbean Club Championship-winning coach Dale Saunders had departed Central at the beginning of the month due to unpaid salaries, as clubs continue to “struggle without Government’s assistance” according to the Central’s operations manager Kevin Harrison back then.

Saunders’ decision was one of the latest among an exodus of staff and players that now represent North East Stars.

However, since holding the Stars to a draw the Couva Sharks have lost three games in a row, counting their 2-0 exit from the FA Trophy first round (Roundof- 64) on Saturday and Tuesday’s 2-0 league defeat against bitter Couva rivals W Connection.

Furthermore, Central have not posted a win in their last nine games in all competitions—six of them ending in losses—since defeating Defence Force 4-0 on June 30.

Meanwhile North East Stars are undefeated in their last four games in all competitions with the last two ending in wins— most recently Tuesday’s 2-0 win over third-placed Club Sando.

This weekend’s Pro League fixtures will culminate on Sunday with Sando (17 points), eager to rebound from their weekday loss, visiting cellar-placed MIC-IT St.

Ann’s Rangers (7 points) from 4pm at St. Augustine Senior Secondary School Ground.

Pro League fixtures: (Friday 22 September 2017) Defence Force vs San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm, at Ato Boldon Stadium; Central FC vs North East Stars, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium; (Saturday 23 September 2017) W Connection vs Point Fortin Civic, 4pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium; Morvant Caledonia United vs Police FC, 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium; (Sunday 24 September 2017) MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers vs Club Sando, 4pm, St. Augustine Senior Secondary School Ground.

Investigators searched the property of the incarcerated man and found a Hyundai Tucson, a Nissan Sylphy, a Nissan B15 and a Nissan B12, all bearing false registration plates.

ASP Michael Sookar led officers including Sgt Sterling Taylor and Cpl Shiraz Ali, on the search as part of a police exercise in the north coast between 6 am and 2 pm on Wednesday, during which a quantity of marijuana and two guns were found in other Las Cuevas districts.

The officers first went to the Maracas Bay fishing depot where they found two kilos of marijuana worth $20,000.

They then went to St Michael Village and searched an abandoned lot where they found a Beretta pistol and a magazine with two rounds of .38 ammunition

The weeping woman, who did not give her name, went with other relatives to the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday where an autopsy confirmed the 47-year-old was shot in the back.

“I know he is going to Heaven. Just looking at him…he seemed so much at peace,” the woman said. “He did so much good during his time and impacted positively on so many people, especially his family, that I know he is bound for Heaven. I know he is at rest.” She described him as an Angel who did everything he could for the benefit of the people around him.

Relatives said that in Mack’s final moments, he was thinking about helping others. They said when a car-load of gunmen opened fire along Lady Young Avenue on Tuesday evening, Mack pushed Jhamali Haywood to the ground, being shot in the back in the process.

Haywood, who was still shot, survived the ordeal. Another man, James Julien, 25, was also killed in the incident.

Mack’s relatives lamented the state of the country in terms of crime when a law-abiding citizen such as Mack, who was on his way to a parlour to purchase bread, could lose his life via a bullet to the back.

“It seems the youth of today do not care,” a relative said. “For some reason there is something that older generations learned about respect that is not being taught to children today.” No arrest has been made and investigations are continuing.

The first event hosted by Phillips was held in 2005 at what is now known as Nelson Mandela Park. It was a Criterium race which is a short course racing style with numerous laps.

The race has since evolved into Phillips’ signature event, the “Michael Phillips Republic Day Classic” and will be hosted this year on the Diego Martin Highway on the portion which is blocked off every Sunday morning from 6am – 10am for the “Keep Moving” programme which he also runs.

This year’s Michael Phillips Republic Day Race will feature a host of exciting races ranges with participants ranging from ages 6 – 70 with the final event featuring cyclists from around the world who will battle for the top prize of $2000.

Last year’s defending champion, Jymes Bridges (Antigua and Barbuda) of Team DPS, will be back to battle the best for his chance at the top step on the podium again. Some of the top local names to look for are Tyler Cole (Team DPS), Akil Campbel (Team PSL), Joshua and Adam Alexander (Team Raiders) and of course Emile Abraham (Tobago – Team Pharmaco),who after announcing his official retirement from cycling two years ago, has not quite been able to stay away and is currently the US Masters 40 – 45 Crit National Champion.

Top participants:
Denmark – Nicklas Pedersen
Argentina – Jose Luis Rivera
Colombia – Sebastian Caicedo
Colombia – Camilo Pedroza
Colombia – Cristian Torres
USA – Aria Kiani
USA – Ben Foster

TEAM PHARMACO
USA – Corey Davis
USA – Winston David
GUYANA – Raynauth Jeffrey
USA – Jake Silverbug T&T – Emile Abraham
USA – Caroline Baur
USA – Parker Kyzer

TEAM RAIDERS Adam Alexander Joshua Alexander (Rider present at conference) Raphael Meran – Dominican Republic (Ride present at conference) Adderlyn Cruz (Rider who was present at conference) Maximo Rojas – Venezuela Andrez Diaz – Venezuela Stalin Quinterio – Dominican Republic

TEAM PSL Nick Stapler – Holland (Big Name) Marloe Rodman – Jamaica (Came 2nd last year)
TEAM DPS Jyme Bridges – Antigua (Defending Champion) Tyler Cole – T&T

A relative said she last spoke to Thomas, a PH driver, mere minutes before he was killed. He called family members at about 11.40 am on Wednesday, to tell them he was hired for a driving job.

“He said he was getting a work and would be home later,” said the relative. “We began thinking it was strange he did not come home at 5 pm and at 7 pm we started getting worried.

Then we turned on the news,” she added.

Reports are that just before midday on Wednesday, gunshots were heard at Springvale Road off Trou Macaque Road in Laventille.

Residents made a report and police responded, only to find Thomas’ body slumped over the steering wheel of his white Nissan AD wagon. Thomas worked in CEPEP three years ago but quit to ply his car for hire. He was a father of six. No arrest has been made.

Mark is a member of that JSC which is conducting an enquiry into the operations of the domestic seabridge. Young reminded reporters that Rowley presented documentary evidence to the JSC on Monday, including the Christian Mouttet report, to support his statements.

He said those documents included was a May 25 email and letter from Baja Ferries director general Oscar Ruano to suspended TT Inter-Island Transport CEO Leon Grant about the Cabo Star cargo vessel.

Indicating that Baja Ferries was the original owner of the Cabo Star, Young said Grant’s email address is clearly identified as “leong@ patnt.com.” However, Young said at Tuesday’s sitting of the JSC, Mark claimed the e-mail address which Rowley referred to was “leong@ patt.com.” Young said this was an attempt by Mark to give Grant the opportunity to say, this “was not in fact his email. Indicating the e-mail address Mark spoke of was a figment of his imagination, Young distributed copies of the email and letter to reporters. He declared, “The document speaks for itself.” Young said Mark and the Opposition did not know, “we also have it forensically imaged from the server at the Port Authority of TT.” He said Mark, like all other JSC members, had full access to the documentation which Rowley provided to the JSC to support his testimony.

Describing Mark’s actions as “reprehensible,” Rowley said he was disgusted but not surprised. He said if Parliament was not proroguing at midnight last night, Mark would have been sent to the Privileges Committee for his actions. Rowley said Mark’s actions were similar to actions he took as Speaker of the House of Representatives when private motion was raised against former finance minister Larry Howai about Howai allegedly being involved in insider trading at First Citizens Bank.

Rowley reminded reporters he moved that motion and prosecuted that matter with documentary evidence.

This was the opposite of what was reported by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during his testimony at the Joint Select Committee’s (JSCs) enquiry into the procurement and maintenance of vessels on the inter-island ferry service, at the Parliament Building, on Monday.

Further, it was reported that Christian Mouttet, who conducted an independent investigation into the operations of the inter-island sea bridge, on behalf of the Government, had said communication was sent to Grant from Oscar Ruano, CEO, Baja Ferries, original owner of the Cabo Star.

However, Grant has denied this, insisting he never received any correspondence concerning the Cabo Star.

“I can say at this forum that I never received any letter or e-mail on any proposal concerning the Cabo Star as was indicated a couple of days ago,” he told the enquiry in response to a question from JSC member Wade Mark. “The first time I heard about the Cabo Star, during negotiations with the team, was when Bridgeman’s (Services Group) placed it on the table for us to consider.

“It was never part of the evaluation process, So I never knew anything about the Cabo Star until when, during the negotiations, Bridgeman placed it on the table…” Mark also asked Grant if an e-mail address, leong@patt.com, to which the PM referred was his. Rowley had alleged that CEO of Baja Ferries, Ruano, had corresponded with Grant about the Cabo Star through this e-mail address.

“Are you saying that this e-mail address, leong@patt and this e-mail being sent to you at this address, is this a fake e-mail?” Mark asked.

“Is this a false address or are you saying that this is your e-mail address but you never received any correspondence to the effect that was given in evidence by the witness, the Prime Minister?” In response, Grant stated: “Let me say that the e-mail address for work is leong@patnt.

com.”

Samlal’s white Nissan panel van was missing from his premises.

On Wednesday, acting on the advice of the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions George Busby, WPC Janelle Ransome of the Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region III), laid the charge of murder against Ranoo, also known as Ronnie Ranoo. He was expected to appear before a magistrate in the San Fernando Court yesterday.