He said the issue of crime and lawlessness is especially challenging, but was optimistic that new police initiatives were yielding success in arresting rampant crime, citing recent improvements in detection rates.

“Unfortunately, Trinidad and Tobago is fighting the scourge of crime and no community and no family is immune to understanding this particular pain.

“However, I think that the police are to be commended on their work,” he said.

“I am confident that we are working on every issue possible as a country and we know that there is so much to be done, so many sectors to approach I think we are headed in the right direction and I am satisfied to see the detection and arrest ratios improved, be it in kidnapping or other offences.” Broadbridge’s sons, Christopher and Stephen delivered a heartfelt eulogy in which they recalled their childhood and memories of the woman many affectionately referred to as “Two Gun Claire”.

Officiating priest, Monsignor Emmanuel Pierre denounced Broadbridge’s death and said that coping with the death of a loved one, who had died peacefully was enough but, the pain of coping with the death of a relative who was murdered, was much worse.

Pierre added that while comfort and healing will eventually come to the grieving family, it was the duty of friends and relatives to lend their support in their time of need.

The items and the bloody photo are to be exhibited in a lawsuit San Fernando attorney Stephen Boodram intends to file next week, against a Penal man for the breach and for damages for breaking off their planned engagement which had been fixed for April 29. The case against Nicholas Taransingh of Penal, calling on him to pay damages for breach of promise to marry, shot into the limelight on Thursday when attorney Boodram decided to challenge the boyfriend’s failing to show up for the engagement which resulted in the family having to turn away 200 invited guests.

The threat to file the novel lawsuit for breach of promise to marry, the last of which was adjudicated upon in the High Court in 1978 in which retired judge Monica Barnes delivered a ruling, has evoked an outpouring of support for the former would-be bride on social media.

Upon publication of the story on Thursday, Facebook was rife with comments in which the story received 284 likes from people as far away as France; 358 comments and it was shared 480 times by people from various parts of the Caribbean.

Yesterday, Boodram confirmed that he received from the woman, who also consented to speak with Newsday, but anonymously, photos of the injury she inflicted on herself on the night of the engagement.

She also presented to him the ring and a receipt for $5,000, as well as the engagement card which listed the names of 200 guests to witness the April 29 engagement.

The incident arose when Newsday visited Alexandrov at his office at the centre yesterday for a brief interview on his career and experiences in TT.

Less than ten minutes into speaking however, Director of Forensics at the centre Arlette Lewis, interrupted the meeting and ordered reporters to leave the office as media were not allowed inside the facility, due to “security concerns”.

However, Alexandrov would not accept that excuse and questioned Lewis’ motives for wanting the reporters out of the office, saying the interview was not about the centre specifically, but about his own personal experiences as a medical practitioner in TT.

“Do I need you to give me permission to talk about my personal life and my personal experieces and plans? Why do I have to talk to them outside of my office. It’s not the secret service, it’s not the CIA, they are not in the firearm lab or the DNA lab, they are in my office.

I’m not going to provide them with any information pertaining to forensics.

They are asking me about my resignation and I am free.” Lewis said that while she was not opposed to Alexandrov giving the interview, she said that it would have to be done outside the compound, however, Alexandrov continued to question her wanting the interview outside his office adding that in the past other media have entered the facility without hinderence.

“Who gave information to a newspaper that on Monday due to your intervention that the crisis was resolved in the matter. What intervention are they referring to?” Lewis said that in order for the interview to take place, it would have to be outside of his office.

Alexandrov further dismissed Lewis’ concerns as “spy paranoia”.

This was announced yesterday by the US Embassy in Port of Spain, which said the agreement to do so is “in line with (both countries’) deep and expanding programme of security and law enforcement cooperation.” The agreement provides for the continued security presence of In-Flight Security Officers (IFSOs); more commonly known as Air Marshals in the US, between the TT and the US. Air Marshals are security officers deployed on aircraft for the purpose of carrying out duties pursuant to aviation security.

The US Embassy said, “The renewed commitment will ensure that the US and TT continue to be on the forefront of the latest methodologies and security concepts. More importantly, this agreement allows the US and TT to continue to be part of an evolving joint global strategy to thwart terrorism in the civil aviation community now and into the future.”

The recent revelations of the ferry fiasco have brought no comfort to the Prime Minister as the conduct of senior administration officials is now in question.

The admission by the vice president of Bridgeman’s that his company is in possession of two irrevocable letters of credit (which can only be voided by his company) for his vessels gives the impression that they have already been paid.

This is contrary to the port/ ministry assurance that this transaction has not cost the Government a cent.

This disaster, as horrendous as it seems to be, will no doubt pale into insignificance with the brewing Sandals scandal. It is said a government official has been incessantly communicating with officials of Sandals to influence them to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by September 15.

This official must tell the population what are the terms and conditions of this MOU, which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will want to use as his great success in the upcoming Budget.

The official must say whether the Government will be guaranteeing a loan of more than US$500 million, or $3.5 billion, for the construction of the 800- room resort.

The official must also reveal the amount of mangrove and wetlands which will be affected to construct a state-of-the-industry golf course.

The official must also indicate whether Sandals demanded the construction of a new airport to service the complex and who are the landowners surrounding the new airport.

This government official must quantify the amount of tax concessions to the group over a 25- year period, given the information that Sandals will not be using any of its monetary resources.

And finally, for now, the official must indicate if Sandals/ Beaches qualified from an open tender process or whether it is the favoured choice of the Government.

We eagerly await September 15.

MARGARET MOHAMMED Penal

Many are not afforded the opportunity that you take for granted.

When I first started rig work my boss said, “You did not want to study, take hard work now.” I clearly remember turning a valve wheel 150 times. All that is water under the platform now.

So students, learn not the hard way by not studying in school.

The secret is very simple: hard work solves all problems.

It was said the future of the country was in our school bags.

Some had neither bags nor shoes.

New students, you are in control.

You write the successful story.

Do not look back.

Education is the foundation.

There is no place in this world for an uneducated boy or girl. Education is a surety for future security.

A country’s development is measured by how educated its population is. Keep the faith.

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town

Hosein points to the use of strategy in cricket, which would mean doings things in a way to help achieve victory.

There was no way the Barbados Tridents could have won that match, so where did strategy enter into it? True, in Test cricket captains “close their fields” to try to prevent a batsman, through a form of psychology, from scoring a century- making run. We are dealing here with a T20 match.

Why are people making excuses for Pollard? He was wrong.

And he knew it. What could the Tridents have gained from what Pollard did? What could cricket gain from what Pollard did with one run needed for victory at the start of the eighth over? His team could not win.

Hosein wrote that the Patriots had nothing to lose. So even if the Tridents had won that match it would still have ended the preliminary round second to last and with no hope of going into the next phase.

Whatever happened to sportsmanship? Cricket is supposed to be a gentleman’s game.

Pollard was not sportsmanlike and definitely not gentlemanly.

As an aside, did anybody else notice that the only team with no players born in TT is the one that ended at the bottom of the table? Coincidence? I think not.

GLEN PROVIDENCE via email

Over the last few months, Bisnath founder/leader of the San Fernando School of the Arts, Sport and Culture has been hard at work training more stilt walkers from all over the country as he goes after the world record. He is hoping to attract as many as 2,017 stilt walkers for the occasion. Many of the stilt walkers from both home and abroad who trained under him are also expected to join in. Apart from the attempting the record breaking feat, it’s Bisnath’s novel way to celebrate his 60th birthday and also his retirement from the Ministry of Works.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Bisnath said the support for the event has been tremendous.

He said: “I am really happy and thankful for everything.” At noon tomorrow, hundreds of Moko Jumbies will assemble on Harris Promenade to begin the walk to Skinner Park where the numbers will be counted, recorded and later submitted for verification.

Masqueraders, calypsonians and steelbands will also join in the carnival styled event.

“We want to create history so all are invited to witness the moment” a confident Bisnath said.

Moko Jumbies will be dressed in national colors.

A short while later, they executed a search warrant at his home at Kumarsingh Street, Gordon Village, Tortuga and also discovered a further 24 packets of compressed marijuana and 100 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

Police said the drugs seized had an estimated street value of $129,000.

The suspect was subsequently charged by Sgt Ali of the Couva CID with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of ammunition . According to a police report, at about 8.30 pm on Thursday, Ali along with Cpls Harriot and Duncan and officers of the Gran Couva Police Station were conducting a roadblock exercise at Indian Trail, Gran Couva when they had cause to stop and search the vehicle driven by the suspect. He was expected to appear in the Couva Magistrates’ Court yesterday

These are the suggestions that come up time and time again when citizens of TT feel aggrieved by action or inaction by the government of the day.

What happens after we take such drastic action? What are the changes we expect? Why are we not speaking about those changes now? It seems our people know what is wrong and who is to blame but seem reluctant to take the opportunity to determine the solutions or a path forward.

Over the last 15 years through the Democratic Party of TT (DPTT ) and on my personal behalf, I have been promoting a path forward for our nation. That clearly defined path found online at www.dptt.org.tt is anchored in a belief that governance must always be about service to our citizens. Our government offices must be places of comfort and efficiency, not confusion or disenchantment.

There is little to gain from protesting if we do not know what we are protesting for. We must agree on a vision for TT . The DPTT ’s vision is a good starting point for the discussion. Disagree with every aspect if necessary but for heaven’s sake let us determine where we want to be and how we plan to get there.

The DPTT ’s vision calls for a decentralised structure of government where communities are empowered to manage their infrastructure and enhance government services in the community.

It calls for structured police patrols and a new approach to community policing that promotes proactive policing as opposed to reactive policing from stations.

It calls for a new approach to conflict resolution that dismisses old court cases that clog up our courts, a system of plea bargaining, special courts and harsh penalties for all offences that threaten the lives of our citizens, and restructuring our prison system to be places rehabilitation.

The vision seeks to create new permanent jobs through community maintenance, the introduction of park rangers to secure State lands and promote eco-tourism and the employment of various new employees as we restore our heritage sites and buildings.

It envisages building a new network of roads, the integration of a light rail system with upgrades to our public transportation system and restructuring our tourism package in partnership with the private sector.

That new vision seeks to invest heavily in agriculture to not only be able to feed ourselves but to be the food basket of the Caribbean as we produce and manufacture food products for export.

It restructures our economy from a largely single-sector energy- based source of income to a multi-faceted approach that partners with our business community in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and marine services, as well as new approaches to managing our energy sector.

We are in this nation together, one people, and our path forward must be clear. The emphasis must shift from major projects that benefit the few to projects that benefit a nation. The time has come for us to realise that simply flipping the proverbial coin each election is not the way.

The TT election coin has no tails, just heads. One of East Indian ancestry and the other of African ancestry. It is time to change the coin. Let us embrace the future together and start by agreeing on the path that can lead to a better TT . Only after agreeing on the path can we seek to agree on who will or can lead us there.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email