According to reports, the vault was secured on Friday by a senior manager. Yesterday at about 7 am, a security guard arrived for duty and discovered a hole in the back of the building. When he made further checks, the guard also discovered the vault located on the eastern side of the building, had been cut open.

Arima police were alerted and ACP Radcliffe Boxill, Inspector Birch, Sgt Thomas and others went to the credit union. Fingerprint experts were also called to the scene and Newsday understands that the burglars may have feared detection which is why they decided to leave immediately after cutting into the compartment of the vault with contained the $443,000.

Yesterday, the $600,000 was removed from the vault and placed elsewhere for safekeeping. Police sources said yesterday that they are working on several leads and believe that arrests are imminent.

Well-placed sources said that investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the burglary was done with information provided by someone working in the credit union.

Minister Gopee- Scoon said the TIC provides an excellent opportunity for companies and entrepreneurs to assess feedback from clients, determine market potential, conduct research and also evaluate competition.

“The Government is committed to restore growth and facilitate the diversification of the economy of our twin-island state. Our well-developed manufacturing sector has been cited as an area of strength, and, if properly harnessed and incentivized, will enable us to achieve our development objectives.” She highlighted the importance of trading across borders to achieve the country’s sustainable goals and stated that the Government is developing several initiatives to increase market access for domestic goods and services under bilateral and regional trade agreements.

She reiterated that a healthy and vibrant region would be very good for business.

Minister Gopee- Scoon assured the audience that, “A tremendous amount of activity is taking place behind the scenes to open markets and create opportunities for our non-energy exporters in particular, and I firmly encourage our domestic private sector to make full use of these opportunities in the development and execution of your business plans.” The importance of the 4th industrial revolution featured prominently with the private sector urged to be aware of technological changes, be innovative and to incorporate cutting- edge technology in their manufacturing processes.

The Minister also stated that work was ongoing with CARICOM partners to develop a Regional Policy for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It was noted that a healthy and vibrant region is good for business, and important if Trinidad and Tobago firms are to gain a secure foundation from which they can then expand to the rest of the world.

Addressing the audience also were Christopher Alcazar, President of the TT Manufacturers Association; and TIC 2017 sponsors Ambassador Brian Lara representing Telecommunications Services (TSTT); Karen Darbasie, Group Chief Executive Office, First Citizens Bank and Rakesh Goswami¸ Executive Vice President of Strategic Alliance, Enterprise and Tobago Operations in TST

Her mother Yvonne Wall, a 65-year-old pensioner told Newsday, “Those boys (in the area) does tell them (pushers) don’t give the girl nothing to sell because if police comes, she cannot run. But they not listening and the beauty about it is when she gets locked up, none of them coming with a dollar to help me.” Michaelene has a clubbedfeet deformity and walks on her ankles. The young woman was spared a jail term yesterday when Magistrate Jasmath, sitting in the Second Court, opted to place her on a $5,000 bond, ordering Wall to be of good behaviour for the next three years.

Should she re-appear in court, the Magistrate warned, she will go to jail. On Sunday, police arrested Wall inside a house with seven small packets of marijuana in her possession. An angry Yvonne said despite her best efforts to prevent her daughter from using and selling drugs, there are those intent on keeping her in the trade.

It is this reason, the concerned mother said, she must move out of the environment if she is to save her daughter who she claims, is not well-educated. The angry mother is now making a public appeal for an HDC house.

“I must come out of this environment,” Yvonne told Newsday yesterday, “It is the only way to help her.” Yvonne, her husband Michael Nurse, 74, along with Michaelene occupy a dilapidated one-bedroom house which she rents at $450 per month. “My living conditions are the worse,” Yvonne said yesterday. “When my daughter has to use the bathroom, which is outside, I have to hold her hand. We tired encounter snakes in the bathroom.” Yvonne said that at times they are forced to use a neighbour’s facility to ease themselves. Her family, she said, is extremely poor.

On Sunday night, Yvonne confronted the man accused of giving Michaelene marijuana to sell but he denied being responsible.

“But everyone tell me is he. When my child gets lock up, is me and me alone to face the music.” Yesterday, Michaelene’s attorneys Frank Gittens and Chantal Paul called on citizens to help lobby for a home for the family saying conditions under which they live are inhumane. “If we want to help Michaelene we have to get her out of La Romaine,” they said.

The young woman first shot into the news in March 2016, when she was held with 14 grammes of marijuana near her home.

Disabled veterinarian Dr Kryiaan Singh stepped in and paid the fine. She was again held in February this year on a similar charge and was fined $4,000 or 18 months in jail. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Singh said nothing had been done to empower Michaelene since she was first arrested. He said the state needs to do more for the disabled.

The Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr Lovell Francis, recently deemed this situation as “a crisis more serious than the oil and gas problem.” He is quite right, because the impact of low literacy skills among some of our students can be gauged as a barrier to learning, which impedes intellectual growth and development.

Data emanating from examinations held in the primary and secondary schools attest to very poor performances in reading, comprehension and other literacy-based subjects.

Mathematics is also affected because literacy competence is important to the comprehension of mathematics and mathematics- based subjects.

Moms For Literacy, being a solution-oriented organisation, recently launched an initiative which will enable parents to competently assist with the tutoring of their children in reading and related skills.

We have also been collaborating with the National PTA, Ministry of Education, inclusive of the Minister of Education, and regional council leaders as part of our effort.

We call upon the national citizenry to recognise the challenges in the literacy area and act on it.

TREVOR OLIVER PRO Moms For Literacy

Now in its sixth year, it is the intention of Paparazzi Carnival to bring together a collection of art, culture, adventure, style, people and stories from around the world as part of its presentation for Carnival 2018.

Patrons saw 11 sections, each depicting the designers’ interpretation of what comprises Nomadik Nation As such designers Alejandro Gomez, Karlene Ballah, Marcus Eustace, Jennerlee Ramnarine, Dominique Mc Clashie, Shivonne Churche (aka Lil Bitts) and Afiyah Bishop (from the fashion house Loud by Afiyah), came up with Akibahara, Asiaq, Badjao, Bollywood, Campeche, Mystic Romani, Negasi Rebels, Red Light District, Tacana Tribe, Wahkan Warrior and Yasawa.

Creating big impacts on patrons were Akibahara, a Fusca- based costume, the intricate design of Asiaq in white and silver, the wings of Campeche and Churche’s Negasi Rebels.

Following the presentation, there was a live performance by young soca artiste Nailah Blackman, then the cooler fete continued in full swing, with all the vibes of Carnival that kept patrons partying till two o’clock on Sunday morning.

Being the second time she has been fired does not make it easier to accept.

We are all led to believe that her decision to be photographed next to President Anthony Carmona with a so-called “community leader,” Cedric “Burkie” Burke, was the reason for her dismissal. I wonder if he was a so-called “close male relative” if the Prime Minister would have acted differently?

THELMA JOSEPH La Brea

The charges alleged that the woman was also signing documents claiming to be an individual named Vina Bayne. The first charge read to Guerra alleged that on July 4, at Republic bank in Mayaro, with intent to defraud, she attempted to obtain $2.5 million from the bank payable to Vina Bayne.

The charge stated Guerra pretended to be Vina Bayne and the cheque was valid. The second charge alleged that on the same day, with intent to defraud, she had in her possession a false driver’s permit.

A third charge stated Guerra on the same day same and place, uttered a false document namely a driver’s permit claiming to be Vina Bayne. The fourth charge read by Magistrate Jasmath, alleges that with intent to defraud, Guerra had in her possession a false identification card claiming to be Vina Bayne.

A fifth charge alleged Guerra uttered a false document namely an identification card in the name of Vina Bayne. A sixth charge alleged Guerra uttered another false document namely a WASA bill in the name of Vina Bayne.

The seventh charge alleged that she uttered a false document namely a copy of a certificate of registration to a company with the name Vina Bayne Interiors. The final charge is that Guerra uttered a false document namely a valuable security payable to Vina Bayne in the sum of $2.5 million drawn from the account of Marooni Enterprise Ltd.

All charges were laid indictably and the accused woman was not called upon to enter any plea. Attorney Chantal Paul told the court that her client was in custody for the past seven days. Paul, in a bail application, said that Guerra has no previous conviction or pending matters before the courts.

Magistrate Jasmath later refused bail and remanded Guerra into police custody.

The matter was adjourned to July 12 and transferred to the Mayaro Magistrates’ Court.

Initially the WASA women had turned on the pressure to be ahead by two games to nil.

However Maharaj and Spicer managed to draw level (2-2), and then claimed the decisive set to emerge victorious.

Overall, the winners emerged from a field of five women’s pairs.

The WASA Men’s Team also featured in the Men’s Doubles Finals, but likewise were outclassed.

The Arima Hawks team of Reeza Burke and Arun Roopnarine led two games to nil. The WASA team of Curtis Humphreys and Yuuvraj Dookram then drew level (2-2). Then Burke and Roopnarine pulled ahead to be overall winners by three games to two.

They topped an initial field of 31 men’s pairs.

The Mixed Doubles was won by a WASA team of Joseph and Humphreys, who beat Maharaj and Luc O’Young. The winners beat an initial field of nine mixed pairs.

Both teams will square off at the aforementioned venue for the final tomorrow. The WASA team consisted of Curtis Humphreys, Kenneth Parmanand and Yuuvraj Dookram. The Hawks team was made up of Reeza Burke, Arun Roopnarine and Anson Wellington.

In the quarter finals, both WASA I and Hawks got a bye into the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, WASA beat D’Abadie Youth 3-1, and Hawks beat Carenage Blasters 3-2.

In Division Two (Open), eight teams featured in the Men’s Team quarter-finals.

WASA beat Arima Table Tennis Club, UTT beat Petrotrin, Powergen beat Blasters II and D’Abadie Youth beat Blasters I.

The semi-finals saw UTT beat WASA to book their place in the finals, as did Blasters I who beat Powergen.

In the Men’s Team Division Three (Open) quarter-finals, Solo Crusaders beat Queen’s Park II, Couva Table Tennis Association beat WASA II, Warrenville beat TSTT and WASA I beat Central Warriors. The semi-finals saw Couva beat Solo, and Warrenville beat WASA I.

The tournament started last Wednesday and ended on Sunday.

Parris defeated Antiguan Usiah De Silver with a technical knock-out in the second round of the 56kg youth finals.

In other boxing news, there was an eight-bout card at the Cosmic Boxing Gym in Marabella on July 1. Biomel Boxing Gym was well represented in the fight card. Stanley Brooks (Biomel Boxing Gym) defeated Enrique Jones (Long Life Boxing Gym) in a 60kg contest after the referee stopped the contest (RSC).

Joseph Beckles also got a victory for Biomel, getting past Kevin Beharry of Long Life Boxing Gym in an 80kg fight by RSC. In a 63kg fight, Denzil Massy (Biomel) got past Tyrek Weeks (YTC Conquerors) by an unanimous decision.

Joshua Sylvester got another win for Biomel, after defeating Josiah Hunte of YTC Conquerors by a split decision in a 69kg contest.

In a women’s 45kg bout, Alicia King (Siparia Boxing Gym) outclassed Serafina Clarke (Biomel Boxing Gym) by RSC. In a Long Life Boxing Gym showdown between Malik Joseph and Aleandro Jones, the latter came out victorious.

In a 56kg fight, Sherkeem Hernandez (YTC Conquerors) defeated Blessing Waldropt (Biomel Boxing Gym) by a split decision.