At the weekly police press briefing on Wednesday at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain, Sgt Dale Joseph and PC Candy Saunders- Alfred, both of the Cyber Crime Unit, indicated that ransom ware which is a programme that prevents or limits users from accessing their systems until a ransom is paid, has been rampant in Europe and TT cannot count itself immune, given the global inter-connectivity afforded by the internet.

In Europe, over 200,000 computers were infected with the malicious programme which is also called “Wanna Cry”.

Major companies like Renault and NHS were practically crippled by the malware.

In light of the recent upsurge in this new method of crime, the police service thought it prudent to warn the public.

“Ransom ware has been a growing trend over the past two years, locally and regionally and this is just a culmination, a grand reveal to the wider world of just how big a threat it is to our quality of life,” Sgt Joseph said.

Ransom ware features unbreakable encryption which means it has the ability to encrypt all file types from documents to pictures, videos, audio files and others stored in the device.

People using Cyber Ransom would usually request payment in Bitcoins, because online currencies are harder to track.

Criminals would usually demand a small payment from the victim to regain access to files, but the extortion would continue as long as one has the programme on one’s computer.

Usually, the ransom payments have a time-limit, to add another level of psychological constraint to this extortion scheme.

Going over the deadline typically means that the ransom will increase, but it can also mean that the data will be destroyed and lost forever. Ransom Ware can also go undetected by traditional anti virus programmes, so police are advising that people be particularly vigilant when downloading or opening files sent to their computer via email or social media. Police advised that people refrain from opening spam emails or emails from unknown senders or to open any link or attachments from spam emails.

Police also advised against downloading or installing pirated software, music or movie files as these may contain malicious applications which would make your device vulnerable to attack. Police also said that people should use ad blockers to defend against ads with malicious software.

As for anti virus protection, it is recommended that people buy reliable, paid anti virus products that include automatic update modules and real-time

“If you are so powerful, contribute something to a poor family.

Come and show some mercy to these people whose children cannot go to school, who are getting sick, who the rains have flooded out their homes.” R ama d h a r s i n g h issued the challenge through the media after Unicomer Courts distributed $50,000 worth of household appliances to some families in the Woodland area who lost stoves, beds, and fridges to flood waters last week.

“We call upon the people who have been spared. The businessmen.

The powerful interest groups in the community.

We call upon those powerful interest groups to show some mercy to south Trinidad. Come forward. Come from Port of Spain. See where Woodland is, where Debe is, where San Francique is.” Ramadharsingh said the goodwill of corporate Trinidad was the only salvation for affected communities as the regional corporation is under-resourced to alleviate all of the problems. Ramadharsingh also criticised the three-week processing time for the distribution of the $25 million relief fund that was approved by Cabinet to be given to storm victims for household repair.

“Applications are not being processed in an emergency format. They are being processed run of the mill, as if you are making an application on the basis of poverty.

That means that it may be months before these people get approval because those things have to be approved by a board in the ministry, the permanent secretary.

I am not sure that anyone who has a roof broken can wait to get a grant to repair that home.” Unicomer Courts gifted five stoves, five fridges, ten washing machines, and three microwaves to families living along Pluck Road, Woodland, whose homes were flooded out.

“I personally want to thank the councillor in the area, who came to my aid and helped me sandbag the river to ensure it didn’t flood my house again, at least for a little while,” said Imtiaz Baig, a Pluck Road resident whose home was flooded by three feet of water.

“I lost a stove, a couch set and a fridge. I am really grateful for the stove I’m getting today.”

He pleaded guilty before San Fernando First Court Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine. Clarke, a father of four of La Seiva Road in Maraval, is a deportee from the United States. Court prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander said that at 12.15 pm on January 13, 2016, Khimraj Ramraj parked his Nissan B15 car outside Guides Funeral Home on Coffee Street, San Fernando. He went into the Home to attend a funeral. When Ramraj returned to the car park at about 2.40 pm, he discovered his $45,000 car missing. PC Ameer Ali of San Fernando CID conducted investigations and on January 25, of that year, arrested Clarke who was driving Ramraj’s car along Morne Coco Road in Maraval.

Attorney Frank Gittens yesterday told the court that his client made a poor decision and wishes to turn his life around. The attorney added that at the time of the offence, Clarke was going through, “financial hard times.” Having already spent two years in custody, Gittens said Clarke suffered some traumatic experiences while at Remand Yard.

In passing her sentence, the magistrate noted the time Clarke spent in custody.

However, as this crime is prevalent in TT, she said, the court must show its disapproval. She then imposed the sentence on Clarke.

Some of the allowances for the period 2014 to 2016 affects officers at the Inter Agency Task Force, Guard and Emergency Branch, community policing, Financial Intelligence Bureau, Sergeants and Inspectors in charge of stations, police assigned to Government Ministers, Professional Standards Bureau, officers sitting on tribunals, motorcyclists, Breathalyser Technicians, Detectives Polygraph Examiners.

These include officers in the First and Second Division, the Association and the absorption of Special Reserve Police .

Newsday understands that under the new proposals to the CPO, the Association is now asking for: Hot Spot Allowances, for officers patrolling areas such as Laventille, Enterprise, Beetham, and other hot spot areas; polygraph examiners allowance; allowance for officers who perform duties as interpreters; special clothing allowance for officers who are required to be formally attired while carrying out duties with officials; special allowances for officers of the Professional Standards Bureau as well as the Police Complaints Unit, as well as an allowance for officers who carry out duties of judicial officers in tribunals, and officers who provide duties as emergency medical technicians; as well as a breathalyser allowance; as well as special responsibility allowance, the Association is also asking an allowance for officers who are qualified crime analysts among other allowances.

Yesterday, Secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association Acting ASP Anand Ramesar, the chief negotiator for the police confirmed to Newsday that “these allowances are included in the new proposals and that whilst the association remains very confident that there is justification for officers to be paid an allowance for these special duties performed, and the value proposed is based on sound compensation principles, it is concerning that at this stage the CPO has not indicated whether or not the management of the TTPS has been consulted.

A ward at the St Jude’s Home for girls is among two teens reported missing in separate incidents over the weekend. The two missing people have been identified as 16-year-old Mariella Alleng and 14-year-old Angelina Ravello.

Mariella Alleng, who was identified as the ward at the home, was last seen near the Carenage Fish Market, at about 5.15 pm on Saturday last. She was reported missing on Sunday by her mother Juliet Joseph.

Mariella has been described as being of East Indian descent, standing at five feet, seven inches tall, with a medium build, brown complexion and long black hair.

Angelina Ravello was last seen at her John Lane Extension, D’Abadie, home on Saturday. She was reported missing at the Arima Police

The sequence of events leading up to Zeng’s murder on Tuesday night was related by police sources yesterday who said that one of the bandit was masked and the other had no mask and his face was clearly seen in the video recording.

The footage also revealed Zeng’s husband Pinya Pochntan was about to close the doors of the mini mart at 9.15 pm, when the gunman and his accomplice pushed him to the ground and entered.

Bryan Beckles who rented the property at which Zeng, 33, operated her businessplace, yesterday told Newsday that her funeral will take place today at the Santa Cruz Roman Catholic Church at 9 am and cremation will follow at 11 am at the Crematorium in Long Circular Road, St James.

He added that relatives of Zeng who are from Guangdong in China were informed of her murder on Wednesday but they are unable to come to Trinidad for the funeral. He said Zeng’s husband and two children have been staying at his home since the murder.

The children, Beckles said, are not aware of their mother’s death, believing her to be still warded at hospital.

“They will have to be told and soon because they will have to attend her funeral. I am in a quandary as to how to break this news to them,” Beckles said

He said Sabga-Aboud’s remarks in Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown television show, do not accurately reflect the personality of his (Aboud) his first cousin.

While being, “ashamed and embarrassed”, by the remarks — which Sabga-Aboud has since publicly apologised for — Aboud said, “I know the man and he is not like that.”Aboud said the remarks were made by, “a community within a community”, and not the community itself that neither he nor countless citizens of Syrian-Lebanese heritage are members of.

He said nationals like panman Anise Hadeed and calypsonian Robert “De Mighty Trini” Elias have helped shape TT culture. He said Sabga- Aboud was the son of a former diplomat who rightly advised TT not to join OPEC, but reap all benefits of the Arab oil embargo (higher oil prices) without obligations of membership.

Aboud said a Syrian- Lebanese serves as a High Court judge and also serve the nation as lawyers, doctors, engineers, dentists, entrepreneurs, parliamentarians and even a Catholic priest, the late Fr Moses and a former national footballer and coach in Hannibal Najaar. He related the charity of the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Association and the advocacy of his group, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, which has fought governments and companies, up to the Privy Council, for human/environmental justice without personal profit.

Aboud said that to call someone “Syrian” is to question their nationality, adding, “None of us carry Syrian passports.” Our forefathers, Aboud said, came here as penniless immigrants who worked hard, saved and invested.

“So when I saw the outpouring of hatred on social media, the association of my community with drugs and guns, with being some type of ‘mafia,’ I realised something. Regardless of what arrant nonsense was said, some people naturally hate us. They have something caustic in their souls that causes them to despise us.

It has a lot to do with the commercial success of the few among my community, the cars they drive, the houses they live in, the companies they own.

“This hatred also has something to do with the suspicion that we are all involved in illegal activities. We got rich too fast for everybody’s liking. Never mind that Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, and Richard Branson were billionaires in their 30s — never mind that sacrifice, innovation and hard work shorten the height of every ladder to every top.” Aboud said his community has no less intermarriage than other racial groups.

He said: “When I was 14/15 years, I would get my cousins during the July/August holiday and had everyone doing a test.

When we finished with the tests we would play Miss Universe. We would grab our mother’s sheets and make an evening gown with it.

It was from then come up.” “One of my friends had a show, Miss Diego Martin, and I judged that show and I then I said I am going to do a show for myself and that was when I started in 2001.” He is set to host another, Miss Talented TT Pageant at Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, Ariapita Road, St Ann’s tomorrow.

For Ross hosting this is simply a wider part of aiding in the enhancement of people across the country. He said to Newsday, “I have been doing pageants since 2001. I have found myself encouraging people with different talents, whether it is in pageantry or karaoke, which I am also very active in.

For about 16 years, I have created forums for people to showcase their talent.

“Most of the time people have the talent and they don’t have the basic forum for development and exposure. I found myself doing it verbally and creating the platform for people to showcase their talent and allow them to develop.” The first Miss Talented TT was held last year also at Cascadia Hotel with Melissa McCallister being crowned Miss Talented TT . This year, 13 finalists were chosen to compete for the crown, with the hope that, “[you] train and develop them with the intention to have them move on to the national pageants to represent TT at the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions.” Last year’s winner, he said, went abroad during her reign but upon returning auditioned for the local Miss Universe screening and made it to the top 20.

While many might believe, pageants have no place in today’s world, Ross disagrees. For him pageants uplift and add to the self-esteem of those who participate.

He said: “Yes there is still a place for pageantry. I believe it is a stepping stone. Once you come here and you win a pageant, there is power in the crown. Everyone wants to be associated with a winner.” Being in pageants could branch an individual onto different career paths such as modelling and acting among others. But outside of that, Ross believes being in a pageant gives anyone that extra bit of self-confidence.

“To me it sums up to an area where it lends confidence to individuals.

That is why I have not only the Miss Talented TT but also the Miss Talented Mum, Miss Fabulous Plus, Mr Impressive and Little Miss Elegance… You can be beautiful if you’re a mum. Beauty continues after motherhood. You can be beautiful if you’re a man.

You can develop yourself, you can be confident.

“What we have found with a lot of the people who have been through the pageants. When they leave and you see them on the streets, even if they are casual, there is a certain image, there is a certain step and there is a certain confidence. There is a certain yes, I am going to go and launch out into what I always wanted to accomplish,” he added.

Ross has also handed over some of the franchises he developed to previous winners. While, eventually, he has hopes of doing grander and bigger pageants, Ross’ main focus at the moment is encouraging others and positive development.

The delegates would compete in the swimwear, evening gown and Q&A segments with judges assessing personality, looks and intelligence.

Winner of the previously held talent segment would also be announced. The 13 finalists are vying for a main prize of $10,000.

Tickets cost $125 in advance.

For more info: 321-3037.

Based on the highly successful film (Why Did I Get Married), Choose Your Partner Wisely is a look into the lives of real, everyday people with real, everyday relationships.

Among the young actors are Nicholas Subero, Rhesa Samuel and Chanel Glasgow from the University of the West Indies (UWI).

From the University of Trinidad and Tobago comes Renee King and from the TT W (Trinidad Theatre Workshop) Kala Neehall. Othe actors are Rachel Bascombe, Kearn Samuel, Chris Smith, Jeanine Lee Kim and producer is Trevon C Jugmohan.

As hard-hitting as the tale might be, Raymond Choo Kong – takes a topic that oozes seriousness and brings out the humour that lies within, guaranteeing that comic-zingers are jam-packed into this wonderful story, and if that was not enough, he has staged a second act, that’s both shocking and titillating to the audience.

This play is the third instalment of the Raymond Choo Kong Production and FI Comedy Fest 2017 which started with Death at a Funeral and Trapped in the Hen House. Choose Your Partner Wisely will run at Cipriani College for three nights from June 30 to July 2 and SAPA for two nights only on July 15 and 16.

The throats of the woman and. schoolboy were slit.

For Mohammed and Vedesh’s. relatives this was no movie but a. nightmare that will continue to. haunt them for the rest of their. lives. Police said that Rose, 56,. was the driver of a school bus. and also a care giver who regularly. had Vedesh over in her house. whenever his parents were out. working or running errands.

It is believed robbery was the. motive as several household items. and the family’s car were missing.

Police also theorise that Mohammed. and Vedesh may have. recognised the intruders and as. such, a decision was made topermanently. silence them. The Mohammeds. were married for the. past 49 years and were very well. known in the Ajim Baksh Street,. Malabar community where they. lived for 45 years.

Young Videsh, who was a student. of Ward’s Living Learning. Institute, was eagerly awaiting. SEA exam results expected to be. released next week Tuesday. The. Mohammeds’ Toyota Voxy seven-. seater car, which was stolen. from the yard, was later found by. police abandoned at Moon Land. Road in Wallerfield.

TEARS AND SCREAMS. As news spread of the double. murder, Vedesh’s parents came. running down the road towards. the Mohammed house. Vedesh’s. mother Veena wept, screamed. and wailed as she was hugged by. relatives. At one point she was. barely able to stand. “Oh God!. Why did they do that to my son?. He never did anything to anyone!. “Why didn’t they just take what. they wanted and leave? Why did. they have to kill my son? Please. bring my son back! If you shake. him he would wake up. Please. son, wake up! Beti baby, come. back to me,” she screamed.

Watching police officers going. to and from the house, Veena. screamed.

Shariff Mohammed, who made. the discovery, told Newsday that. as was customary for him, he. went home for lunch since he. worked right around the corner. from his home. When he saw the. front door ajar, Mohammed said. he knew something was wrong.

“My wife and I were married. for 49 years. We got married and. were living good. The boy was. a bright young fellah. He was at. my house so much you could say. he was practically living by me.

He come like my own child too.

From a baby, Rose used to take. care of him and later would carry. him to school.”. “When I left home this morning. everything was okay,” Mohammed. said. “When I came. back, I saw the front door open. and the back door open. When. I walked in the back, I saw the. boy lying on the ground. I asked. myself, ‘why he sleeping on the. ground?’ It was then that I saw. the splashes of blood on the floor. and walls.

“When I went into the bedroom,. I saw my wife on the. ground tied up. They slit her. throat from side to side. Just so. I lost my wife…just so,” Mohammed. said as he started to cry.

NATION’S TRAUMA. Yesterday, social media was. buzzing with news, views and images. of the double murder. Dozens. of people reposted graphic. images of the crime scene showing. Vedesh and Hafeeza lying. face down on the floor with their. hands tied behind their backs. and their feet also bound. Many. expressed shock and sorrow over. the double murder and lamented. the country’s state of crime and. lawlessness.

At the scene, Head of Northern. Division Snr Supt McDonald. Jacob said he was left shocked. at what he saw in the house. He. questioned the morality of the. killer/s. “When you see the level. criminals would go to, you have. to be very concerned. Such acts. not only horrifies the nation but. tends to heighten people’s fear of. crime. What one has to consider. is not just the primary victims,. but the secondary victims. The. entire community is traumatised. because of this incident.

“It is really worrying to see. that people in our society would. choose to enter someone’s private. domain and commit these acts. probably just for some material. gain and none of these items are. of any great value when you compare. it to a human life. We have. to ask the question, what kind of. people are we really breeding in. society today? I want to assure. the public, we will make every effort. to arrest the people responsible. for this heinous act,” Snr Supt. Jacob said. The bodies were later. removed to the Forensic Science. Centre in St James where autopsies. are expected to be done today.

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Coming in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret and subsequent flooding did not put a damper on the spirits and energy of the exhibitors and organisations, who treated visitors to a fascinating array of information, products and demonstrations which made the event exciting and rewarding to all those who were able to attend.

Among the sponsors included technology provider bmobile, which has an important portfolio of home and enterprise grade security solutions. Commenting on the three-day event, Darryl Duke, Senior Manager, Government, Security and Directories Business said, “As one of the lead sponsors, bmobile compliments the Chamber on an innovative, entertaining and extremely relevant and well-organised event. The Expo and Conference allowed visitors to obtain answers to all their security questions, in one place, from both the private sector and directly from the law enforcement officers present.” Duke noted that as the only national full-service telecommunications provider, “We work together with the Government, Corporate and Private entities to equip them with state-of-the-art security solutions and services at cost effective pricing to win the fight against crime.”

Police dogs Tess and Penny, were also a crowd pleaser as they demonstrated their skills at finding several dangerous items, including C4, a handgun and marijuana, which were hidden around the exhibitor hall. Also eye-opening was the Drunk Driver test that a Police Service breathalyser technician enthusiastically persuaded visitors to try. This involved putting on special goggles and trying to navigate the cones set up on the floor. The test, he said, explained why after an accident, drunk drivers would still insist that they could see fine, “It was the lamp post that moved,” he said with a grin.

The first stop for most visitors was the bmobile booth strategically located at the entrance of the Expo. There they were able to see first-hand the company’s CCTV and alarm monitoring products as well as download the yellow pages app.

Two police officers who visited the booth and downloaded the app learnt that not only would it provide them residential and business phone numbers and locations, but the “Around Me” feature would also tell them which businesses, for example restaurants or gas stations, were closest to them, while other features provided local news, cinema schedules and flight info.

Clive Bhola of Couva was particularly interested in bmobile’s security system. “You could be watching TV and still see what’s going on outside,” he noted. Sales Executive Sheldon Floyd also highlighted to visitors the system’s user-friendly features, including being able to retrieve their own footage, as well as its expandability. “So you can start small and expand as large as you need to be,” he said. “That’s what a number of budget conscious customers are interested in. The ability of the system to grow with you.”

The Expo featured exhibitors from a range of sectors, including IT and communications, security and alarm, construction, law enforcement, self defence, road safety and disaster management; as well as Customs and other government agencies.

Chamber President Vishnu Charran said the idea of the conference stemmed from the crime situation in the country and especially in Central Trinidad. Thanking bmobile, “which has been very generous to us,” for its support, the Chamber President noted that because bmobile is so much a part of Trinidad and Tobago, just having bmobile’s name on the event got people to pay attention to the Expo.