In a release, NATUC declared, “This statement made by Mr Nance is purely speculative and for this alone we challenge him to support this assertion by supplying us with factual data and concrete evidence.”

As it noted the comments Nance made during a talk show on MSNBC last Saturday, NATUC said, “We are demanding that Mr. Nance immediately withdraw his statement and issue a public apology to the citizens of TT, as well as to our emigrants who have laboured for decades in the United States and have helped to grow and shape the economy of North America.”

NATUC further stated that Nance’s claims, “would also seriously affect our nationals travelling to the USA and those living the USA who may wish to travel back and forth.”

At a press conference yesterday at the Public Services Association (PSA) officer in Port-of-Spain, Duke who is also PSA President, displayed a newspaper photo of Dr Rowley at the annual Bishop Anstey High School all-inclusive fete on Saturday.

“It irks me to see the Prime Minister frolicking at a Carnival party when crime is on the increase,” Duke said. He also knocked new THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles for saying he (Charles) had no crime plan.

“When the Chief Secretary says he has no crime plan that seemed to me to be a window for criminals.

Because in the ensuing days a number of criminal activities have taken place (in Tobago) in an intense manner as never before seen.” Duke said gunshots were heard in Signal Hill, a man was robbed of his car at gunpoint, one was almost kidnapped while walking along the Claude Noel Highway and there have been two murders already in the sister-isle.

Duke also spoke of a child aged three found wandering along Shirvan Road on the weekend.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg where crime and criminality are concerned in Tobago and we have a Chief Secretary who says he has no crime plan and will look to Trinidad for one.” He queried the $25 Billion that National Security got in the past five years and asked what value had citizens gotten for that expenditure.

Duke called for the full outfitting of all 15 municipal corporations with the appropriate municipal constabularies and for Rowley to give this directive to the Local Government Minister to get it done.

“We the Progressive Democratic Patriots have a crime plan and as the minority leader I will be writing the House asking for the crime plan of the Chief Secretary and also the legislative agenda, because high on that agenda should policing in Tobago,” he said. As for Rowley being at fetes, Duke had this to say: “We are calling on the Prime Minister to get more involved in Tobago’s business and stop falling around with the party business.

You are not a party man, you are an old man…act your age and act more responsibly.”

Noel Gow, who was arrested last week Monday appeared in court before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John charged for the murder of Khemraj Persaud, 35, also known as Khemraj Ramkelawan, also known as ‘Leaf ’.

The arrest was effected by Head of San Fernando Police Headquarters Operations Unit Inspector Don Gajadar, at a service station in Duncan Village. Persaud, 30, was shot dead outside his apartment in Duncan Village on April 25, 2015. The victim’s friend Guyanese-born Shawn Boodhoo was also shot and wounded in the April 25, 2015 incident.

Persaud who lived in Trinidad for eight years, was shot twice in the head. His body was flown back to Berbice, Guyana for burial, ten days after the murder.

Gow yesterday stood before Senior Magistrate Forde-John who read four charges namely that on April 25, 2015 Gow murdered Persaud; on that same day, he allegedly shot and wounded Boodoo; on the same date he had in his possession an illegal firearm and the last charge was that he had in his possession illegal ammunition.

All charges were laid indictably and the accused was not called upon to enter a plea. As murder is a capital offence (for which the penalty is death), the accused cannot be afforded bail. Magistrate Forde-John asked court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan if he had anything to disclose and he said that a file will be prepared and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for appointment of a State attorney.

The accused was not represented by an attorney. Woman Police Constable Tricia Knights laid the charges. The case was adjourned to April 23.

Justices of Appeal Peter Jamadar, Prakash Moosai and Charmaine Pemberton yesterday reserved their decision to mid-February, Jamadar told lawyers for both sides yesterday, adding that the court will rely on written submissions advanced ahead of yesterday’s hearing. The gas company sought leave to take their challenge to the Privy Council, after the local appeal court gave a ruling on a procedural issue, which saw the claim being struck out.

The stay on the court’s dismissal order, which prevents SIS and RFRL from disposing its assets, will remain in place until NGC files its appeal in London. Last year, three appellate court judges – Justices Rajendra Narine, Judith Jones and Peter Rajkumar – in a majority ruling struck out, agreeing with lawyers representing SIS and Rainforest Ltd, that crucial timelines stipulated by the Civil Proceedings Rules for civil cases were not adhered to in the prosecution of the case.

Both parties were seeking a resolution of the matter when the issue of the lapse of deadlines in accordance with the CPR rules came up.

On December 23, 2015, a court order was granted by the High Court in favour of the NGC against SIS which saw assets in the sum of US$180 million being frozen “until the determination of intended arbitration proceedings between NGC and SIS concerning the Beetham Water treatment Project.”

In court documents obtained by Newsday, Protect Intelligence Services Limited is claiming from Ramadharsingh $76,000, plus 9.08 percent interest until the date of judgement and costs.

According to an Amended Statement of Case, filed on December 16, 2016 by attorneys Mervyn Mitchell and Stefan Mungalsingh, an agreement was made for the company to provide bodyguard services to Ramadharsingh at a rate of $2,400 per day plus double time for public holidays.

The company, in its lawsuit, claims it provided such services for Ramadharsingh from August 27, 2012 to September 7, 2012 inclusive of the public holiday of Independence Day on August 31.

As such, Ramadharsingh owes $33,120 for this period.

In addition, the documents signed by Marvin Tewari, a director of the security company, stated that after an agreement with Ramadharsingh, the company agreed to install security- related equipment at Ramadharsingh’s residence at Point Pleasant Park in Chaguanas at a cost $43,000.

The matter is listed to come up in the Port-of-Spain

The bands by order of appearance, selections, (composers) and arrangers are:
PSC Silver Stars – “We Are the Conquerors”, (A. Daniell/B.Henry), Liam Teague MHTL

Starlift – “Good Morning”, (Jovan James), Robbie Greenidge

Phase II Pan Groove – “Red, Black & White”, (Len “Boogsie” Sharpe), Len “Boogsie”

Sharpe CAL Invaders – “Full Extreme”, (MX Prime), Ardin Herbert

Desperadoes – “Good Morning”, (Jovan James), Carlton Alexander

Massy Tdad All Stars – “Full Extreme”, (MX Prime), Pelham Goddard/BJ Marcelle Bptt

Renegades – “Good Morning”, (Jovan James), Duvonne Stewart

Play order for Wednesday Feb 1: East – Small Conventional – 6.30 pm

Revelation Institute for Performing Education (RIPE) – “Say Say” (Winsford Devine) Dante Pantin

Tunapuna All Stars Rhythm – “Run Things” (Seion Gomez/M Loquan) K. St. Clair

Flamingoes – “Soca Train” (Maximus Dan) Salah Wilson Moods – “People” (Kes & Full Blown Entertainment) Adrian Jackman

Potential Symphony – “Magic Drums” (Len Sharpe) Seion Gomez

B Minor Steel Orch. – “I Believe” (Roderick Gordon) Bertram Pablo Brewster

Sound of Music – “The Eucharist” (Thecla Forde Rodriguez) Thecla Forde Rodriquez

North – Medium Conventional – 7 pm

Tokyo Steel Orchestra – “Drive It” (Edwin Ayoung) Richard Jerry

Courts Sound Specialists – “Dangerous” (M. Loquan/Ken Philmore) Rudo Forteau Flabej –

Pan Demonium -“Cheers To Life” (Aaron St. Louis) Akua Leith

Belmont 5 th Dimension – St. Margaret’s Super Stars – “Bacchanal” (GBM Productions) Shenelle Abraham

Thursday February 2: East – Large Conventional – 6.30 pm

Birdsong – “Pan Kingdom” (Mark Loquan) Mia Gormandy

Republic Bank Exodus – “Good Morning” (Peter Ram) Pelham Goddard/BJ Marcelle

Super Novas (FCB) – “Rumble in the Jungle” (Amrit Samaroo/ Mark Loquan/Chuck Gordon) Amrit Samaroo

Moods – North – Medium Conventional – 7 pm

Western Stars Philharmonics -Panatics – “People” (Kees Dieffenthaller) Reynold”Pro”

Huggins West Stars – Valley Harps – “Total Disorder” (Kelvin Pope) Michelle Huggins-Watts

South/Central –Small Conventional – 7 pm Antillean All Stars – “Out of the Box” (Loquan/Gomez) Glen “Zola” Williams

Music Makers Steel Symphony – “One Day” (S.Francisco) Rodney Wilkes Old Tech – “Ooh La La” Alston Cyrus Sean Ramsey

Golden Hands – “Push” (V.A.Headley) Vanessa A. Headley

Panosonic Connection – “Big People Party” (Darryl Henry) Andre Munroe

Pleasantville Kalomo Kings – “Peter Pan” (Kegan Keller) Jason Farrell

Allowing citizens to legally acquire guns, said Persad-Bissessar, is one of the “key issues” that the government must prioritise discussing.

In fact, she demanded that “the Keith Rowley-led government immediately convene an extraordinary session of Parliament to debate the crime situation, with the specific aim of informing the public of their immediate plans and strategies, the measures it intends to utilise to ensure the immediate short term reduction of the murder, kidnapping, rape and assault rates.” Additionally, she called for women to be allowed to legally carry pepper spray so they could better protect themselves.

Persad-Bissessar said if the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) had not dismantled some of the previous crime-fighting initiatives by the People’s Partnership, like the Community Comfort Patrol and the National Operations Centre, crime would not have reached the “crisis” level that it has.

Relatives combed the waters for a few minutes before Singh’s body resurfaced. “His body had started to swell. I knew he could not stand a chance. His wife and children were around him crying and screaming. I remember the children saying ‘Daddy don’t die…

please daddy’,” an emotional Mohammed recalled. He said family members were still traumatised over losing their home which collapsed as a result of a broken water line which undermined the property. Since then they have been without a home to call their own. “It was really hard for Kimchan (Singh). He struggled with his kids and wife but they were his world.”

Pastor Kwame Jordan was addressing mourners at the funeral service of murdered security officer, Christine Roxanne Joseph, at Guide’s Funeral Home, Coffee Street, San Fernando. Joseph, 21, was murdered by her estranged boyfriend, Keyon Roberts, 29, who stabbed her repeatedly and later committed suicide by setting himself ablaze in an outdoor bathroom.

He died as a result of third degree burns to 90 percent of his body.

The incident occurred at Parforce Road Extension, Gasparillo on January 23. “To date Trinidad has recorded 54 murders and today is the 30th, so in 30 days there are 54 murders that we know of and everyone is looking at the Government for the answers,” he told mourners.

“I am not PNM or UNC, I am a Trinidadian.

When UNC was there we had the same murders and the PNM is here we have the same murders and yet we are still looking for answers from government.

The government don’t have the answers, but we blame government come and go. We want to blame them for the situation we having in our country.” He told mourners that the situation we are now experiencing as a nation started in the homes.

Parents, he said, are leaving their children unattended and there are no longer father figures in the homes so the young men don’t know what it is to be a man or how to treat a woman.

Jordan said society has become so broken down with no moral values and now we live in a place where anything goes. He said that not even the police could curb the crime or solve murders because they themselves are afraid.

“Apparently criminals have better guns than them.” Eulogising Joseph, relative Deanna Forbes described her as loving and kind. She said Joseph’s smile was always contagious. “She loved herself and she was known as the ‘selfie boss’.

She was one of the most loving and ambitious women you would have ever met.” Joseph was laid to lest at the Caratal Public Cemetery.

Last Friday, president of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association, Alvin La Borde, said oil pellets had been observed staining the brown sands at Carrat Shed and Coffee beaches during the early morning hours. He observed that not only were the oil pellets proving to be a nuisance to fisherfolk who use a portion of the beach to anchor their boats, but it was also hampering tourism in La Brea as a group of tourists stopped by Carrat Shed beach after visiting the Pitch Lake but left after venturing into the water with clumps of oil sticking to their feet.

In a media release yesterday, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) stated that the Coffee, Carat Shed, Pointe Sable and Station beaches as well as beaches at Fullerton, which had been affected by the washing ashore of “tar balls” had been completed.

The EMA stated that site visits conducted by its officers confirmed that Fullerton Beach was “successfully cleaned by community representatives, with the assistance of Petrotrin, while at La Brea, clean-up was conducted by Petrotrin, as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts in the area.” “No upset conditions were identified at Petrotrin’s onshore or offshore operations,” the EMA stated after fisherfolk observed that the oil could be emanating from either a fuel bunkering barge or an oil well.