It therefore makes absolute sense to for the National Theatre Arts Company to produce the two-act play Play Mas by Mustapha Matura, to be performed on February 3 and 4 at the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando, and then hopefully in Port-of-Spain later in the season.

Matura, originally from Belmont, moved to London in 1962. He became a significant playwright in regards to the West Indian experience and, in 1974, Play Mas premi?red at the Royal Court, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play. There was also a major revival of the play in the United Kingdom in March 2015.

Belinda Barnes, artistic director of the National Theatre Arts Company, explained that while Play Mas was written in the 1960s, it is still pertinent today because of the issues highlighted in the play, including the relationships between the country’s Indian and African descendants, and what Carnival does for the country.

“In the play a delegation comes to ask the Commissionerof Police to lift the State of Emergency so people

could play mas, and everything would be all right. It’ What he is really saying is that, as a people, despite what is going on in the country, all we want to do is play mas,” explained Barnes.

“It moves from a realistic style in the first act and then it becomes very absurd. But in that absurdity there is a lot of truth, a reality that really makes us look at ourselves and question how Carnival affects us,” she continued.

Roxanne Brathwaite, corporate services co-ordinator of the national performing arts entities under the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts — the National Theatre Arts Company, National Steel Symphony Orchestra, and the National Philharmonic Orchestra — noted the company has recently been performing the works of local playwrights.

She pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago too had classics as well as classical works in several fields in the arts.

She said Matura created several of these classics, as he was able to reveal a lot about who we were in the past, and who we are now as a people.

“The beauty of a classical piece is that it is able to transcend time and generations.

And so these stories are relevant to this contemporary period.

The stories are about life and people and how people interact,” said Brathwaite.

“Personally, I think it’s very important that our community gets to know our stories and our playwrights before we embark on the works of people of other countries,” interjected Barnes.

Tickets to the performances are available free of charge to the public. Brathwaite explained that the ministry established national performing arts entities in order to influence the performing arts sector positively by showcasing its possibilities, not only its operations through a high standard of work and professionalism, but to highlight the opportunities available for persons interested in the field.

She also stated the ministry decided to offer many performances to the public free of charge in order to “encourage inclusion and participation to as wide a cross section of the population as possible.” “It’s giving the widest cross section of TT as possible access to the arts, getting the taste for it to encourage them to patronise the arts.

Mas continues on We have to nurture that desire because theatre can not exist unless we make new audiences of younger people,” added Barnes.

She said the return on investments was not always financial when it comes to the arts.

The returns could also be social as the arts had the potential to change a life as it could take people out of their situations, and give people more options for entertainment as well as professions.

Barnes said through the years there were limited opportunities to become involved in the arts and young people were discouraged from pursuing professions in the field. However, with the creation of the performing arts bodies, the existence of the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), and the focus of the ministry to develop the arts, TT was catching up with other countries.

According to Brathwaite, the ministry recognised that the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COST AATT ), and the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) provided tertiary training in the performing arts, on and off the stage, and these were actual professions.

“We recognise that if you are creating programmes and graduating young people, there needs to be a robust sector that can absorb them, that can hire them instead of them leaving the country, just teaching, or giving up after being trained in this skill,” she said.

The three entities, she said, would provide consistency and predictability in performances on stage, grooming the players, musicians, and other members, to become the best. She also noted it was attractive for people to be able to work at what they were trained to do in their own country, especially as it was no longer as easy as it was in years gone by to go abroad and find work in these fields because of the world’s economic situation.

Brathwaite noted the company is working on a production in collaboration with one of the universities offering performing arts programmes, in order to provide a bridge between the students and the professionals.

In addition, all three entities would soon be able to be hired out to the private sector for events and recordings.

The company was introduced in 2009 with a one-off production for the opening of NAPA. However, it was established in 2014 with 13 players on a one-year contract. After a one-year break, the company resumed work in 2016.

At the moment, there are only six players in the company – Syntyche Bishop, Lalonde Ochoa, Marvin Dowridge, Adam Pascall, Shivonne Churche-Isaacs, and Fabrice Barker.

Brathwaite said the small number of players influences the type of plays chosen to be performed, and there were also financial and administrative limitations.

However, she stated the ministry already had auditions and is working on increasing the number of members, as well as administrative and technical staff including a stage manager, costume designer, and more. Some of these, she said who would work with all three entities. In the meantime, Brathwaite described the challenges as predictable so that internal adjustments were often made. For example, she said they engage persons from outside the company for technical and artistic support, first looking to persons within the Division of Culture, then to the wider ministry, and lastly by buying services. s the relationships between the country’s Indian and African descendants, and what Carnival does for the country.

“In the play a delegation comes to ask the Commissioner of Police to lift the State of Emergency so people

The calls were made yesterday during debate on the Tobago House of Assembly Election (Validation) Bill which became necessary as the date of January 23 was one day short of the requisite 21 days after nominations.

Independent Senator Taurel Shrikissoon expressed concern that all correspondence from the stakeholders, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the THA Chief Secretary, the President and the Prime Minister, was on December 14, all one day. He said that he was not there to ascribe blame but there was a fundamental flaw for the choice of dates and the writs as well.

“It was rushed and last minute,” he added. He said the consultative process was not given enough time and the error could have been avoided with proper care and due diligence. He pointed out that the writs were issued by December 13 then the date proposed would have been correct.

“The last minute approach to governance cannot work. It cannot be standard operating procedure,” he stressed.

Shrikissoon said the powersthat- be should not be waiting for deadlines approaching to get into high gear and mentioned the FATCA legislation. He stressed that as a citizen, he wants this style and approach to governance to be addressed.

He pointed out that according to law, the political directorate chose the minimum timeframe for the elections to be held.

Independent Senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir said a genuine error was made and he does not believe it was “malevolent”. He pointed out the time period was mid-December and this was a time that every State agency and citizen is more involved in winding down operations than looking at new materials.

He agreed with Opposition Senator Wade Mark that the people of Tobago had lost a day of campaigning though he could not say whether it would influence the outcome of the elections.

He pointed out that with the extraordinary sitting parliamentarians would have to come out and parliamentary staff would have to work overtime representing a cost to the State to correct the error.

Mahabir stressed a need to put in measures mechanisms to ensure it did not happen again.

He noted the THA, the Office of the Prime Minister, the EBC and the Office of the President were involved and none picked up on the problem.

He said he would have expected the Chief Election Officer would have replied to the secretary of the Cabinet that the date was not correct. He said the problem was caused by the agencies in silos and cracks that exist and there is a need to “plaster the cracks”.

He advised the Chief Election Officer should ensure all obvious legal requirements are complied with and when there are elections in the future one officer should be held responsible for all administrative requirements.

Independent Senator Melissa Ramkissoon said not enough checks and balances were in place and pointed out that this was not the first validation by this Parliament.

She suggested one way to avoid errors was to look at fixed election dates.

Angus Christopher James, 46, also known as “Ghost” of Bay Shore, Marabella, was shot and left for dead in his car at about 8 pm. According to a police report, James left his Marabella home to ply his vehicle for hire along the Marabella-Gasparillo route. The report stated that at about 7.15 am yesterday, James’ blue B-15 vehicle was discovered abandoned along Parforce Road in Gasparillo. His body was discovered slumped across the steering wheel and police said James was bleeding from a single bullet wound to the back of the head .

The District Medical Officer visited the scene and pronounced James dead and ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James where and autopsy will be performed tomorrow .

Yesterday, when Sunday Newsday visited the family’s home at Bay Shore, James’ mother, Marjorie James-Gomez, 64, said she last saw her eldest son minutes before he left home on Friday evening .

She said early yesterday morning there were police officers in front of her doorsteps who delivered the tragic news .

“When I saw the police I knew something was wrong and I was prepared for the worst. I knew it had something to do with Angus because he did not come home last night (Friday),” James-Gomez said. The mother wept, saying, “It hurts to know what happened to my son; it really does. I don’t believe I will get any justice .

If I say that my son had enemies, I would be lying and, if I say he did not have any enemies, I will also be lying because I don’t know. He never told me about any threats on his life.” James-Gomez said she would not seek revenge for her son’s killing and instead, would leave it in the hands of God. “These people or whoever did this to my son, I know they have families, so how could you sleep at night knowing you took a son from his mother,” the woman sobbed. Recalling the last conversation with her son, James-Gomez said, “He had already walked out the house and he forgot his cellphone and I called out to him and he rushed in. He took the phone and left .

I did not know that would have been the last time I would see him alive.” James-Gomez also said on many occasions she warned her son to be careful due to the nature of his job as a PH-driver .

In Bon Air West, Stephon Tyrell, 32, was shot dead while liming next to ‘People’s Bar’ at about 8 pm on Friday .

A police report stated a gunman approached him and fired several shots .

Tyrell, the report stated, ran a short distance and collapsed in some bushes where he succumbed to the gunshot injuries .

Sgt Robert and PCs Lalsingh and Paul from the Arouca Police Station visited the scene and are conducting investigations.

The beaches shoreline were smeared with oil and up to late yesterday, State-owned Petrotrin was cleaning the area.

The beaches became unsafe for beach lovers and as for the residents, among them children, they spent the day yesterday cleaning thick sticky oil from their clothing and footwear.

In confirming what appeared to be an oil-spill, Petrotrin issued a release in which it stated the the matter was still under investigation.

The affected beaches included Carat Shed Beach, Coffee Beach, Station Beach and Point Sable. Speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday, La Brea Fisherfolk Association president, Alvin La Borde, said oil washed ashore at about 6 am yesterday at the beach front. He began receiving telephone calls from residents that there were patches of oil on the water and on the sand.

“I am not sure of the origin of the oil, but I know the waters now may not be safe to go in, and I think Petrotrin should make considerably effort to put warning signs so residents would know they cannot enter the beaches until it is safe to do so,” La Borde said.

Mother of two, Tinesha Modeste, who is also seven months pregnant, said yesterday’s incident was a flashback to the 2013 massive oil spill which forced many residents out of their homes and they were unable to cook.

A pregnant mother was hospitalised for nausea.

Modeste said, “Yesterday when we woke up and there was oil on the shore again. I don’t know if this is a repeat of three years ago, but I know that they don’t care about the residents who live here.” Modeste said she was one of the affected residents back then and still suffers from a skin condition caused by the 2013 oil spill.

“This is the end result of what happened to me.

I can no longer go into the sun without my skin breaking out and this started the last time I came in contact with the oil and nothing never came out of it,” Modeste said adding she is not keeping any hope out for compensation for yesterday’s spill. Another resident Charmaine Marcano said Petrotrin has neglected the people of La Brea.

“For years we have been neglected, so I only expect them to make excuses and more cover- ups. None of the residents have gotten any compensation for what they have lost and suffered due to that oil spill,” Marcano said.

Marcano said whatever is in the atmosphere has left many residents with a “mystery skin condition”.

In 2013 La Brea, especially in the Coffee Beach area, was one of the five communities affected following a massive oil spill on December 19.

Petrotrin in a media release yesterday stated the company was aware of reports of what it described as “oil pellets” on the beaches along the south-western peninsula coastline. A team of company personnel, the release stated, visited the beaches and confirmed the presence of the oil pellets.

Petrotrin also said the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and the Environmental Management Authority were notified while investigations continue to identify the source of the oil. release said a clean-up exercise will be conducted in a manner that minimises impact on the communities and the environment.

Small patches of an oily sheen were seen even on rocks along the coastline.

Residents said high tides had carried the oil out to sea, but they expressed fears that the low tide would leave oil residue on the beaches.

Supporters turned out in red shirts armed with the PNM paraphernalia to show their support for the party, as well as to participate in the festivities which included performances by Mitchila Williams, Salty, Uncle Ellis and Shauntelle Melville.

Though off to a late start, youth speakers spoke briefly between performers and highlighted their reasons for supporting the PNM.

In his address, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley urged the young people gathered to not take anything for granted.

“All over the world, there are examples of people who did not do what could have been done to influence the next generation positively.

“You here in Tobago, you know the kinds of policies that we are talking about, policies that create an opportunity in economic development, in tourism and to ensure that you have the opportunity and make it work for you. There are programmes in Tobago to ensure young people to train themselves to get training whether it is to provide services in health, in education, in business or in their own enterprise, you are given those opportunities which you take for granted,” he said.

He went further asking them to see the opportunities as public policies, identified, outlined and supported by a political directorate who looks towards the future, knowing that if these things are made available the young people coming out of school they would see opportunities and they would work towards making those opportunities change their lives.

The Prime Minister noted there is a difference between the PNM and the other political entities in the race.

“It is that our opponents largely thing of the moment and the individuals who they are contesting against, whereas the PNM thinks about the future, your future, the future of young people. A political party that really wants to serve the nation, whether it is at the national level or the local level, whatever you are pursuing in terms of policies that will transform into programmes, it has to have a purpose and that purpose is how well it contributes to the development of the next generation. Because parents have to be concerned about their children and their grandchildren and political parties make decisions or ought to make decisions to create an environment, a climate in which those who are coming up will see a place for themselves in the tomorrow and see opportunities for themselves and it is how you seize those opportunities, how you grasp them, how you identify a place for yourself that you too will begin to become successful in this society,” he said.

Political leader of the Tobago Council of the PNM Kelvin Charles noted that having been in office in Tobago or the past 16 years, the PNM has literally transformed the island, doing a lot for young people especially.

As a result, he pledged the continued support of the next THA administration.

“The next THA administration is going to continue the progress and the development so we en finish yet. We would have invested a lot in you young people at various levels… so as I look across this sea of red this evening I see the future of Tobago, I see your future because at the end of the day, what we are doing now is really for you,” he said.

Charles said as Tobago continues to be takes to the next level, the party is looking forward for the young people to play their part in the continued transformation.

Wong Sang was selected by the country’s first prime minister Dr Eric Williams to introduce the showcase which turned out to become the longest-running and possibly the most important venture of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts. Though she later became synonymous with Best Village, her selection was a fortuitous twist of fate. The original person who had been in line to lead the programme in 1963 had to be rushed to Tobago when Hurricane Flora struck.

The eighth of 12 children born to Stella and Albert Moyou, Wong Sang attended Tranquillity Government School before moving on to St Joseph’s Convent in Port-of-Spain. After a short stint at George F Huggins, she joined the Public Service in the early 1960s and in 1963, was assigned to the newly-formed Best Village initiative.

“At that time Dr Williams had just completed cottage meetings in the rural districts and he decided that a forum was needed where the people could showcase their cultural talent which was not being exposed,” she once said.

Though she came from a Trinidadian/ Chinese background, that did not stop Wong Sang from being effective in her post as secretary and coordinator. Such was the breath of her appreciation of the potential of all cultural forms.

She was able to mobilize a wide range of people and to encourage the widest breath of cultural expression.

She was able to bridge any scepticism the communities of Afro and Indo-Trinidadians may have had, embracing the opportunity to showcase their ancestral and indigenous talents.

She reached out to people in Siparia and Rio Claro and other rural areas.

Wong Sing also played a role in the emergence of parang, especially La Divina Pastora under Best Village, on the national scene. She was also instrumental in setting up East Side Plaza on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, an extension of the Best Village programme where craftsmen and designers could develop mirco- businesses.

As noted by Joan Yuille-Williams at Thursday’s moving funeral, cock does crow, but hen does lay the egg. Wong Sang was a woman of action, a true public servant.

One fascinating aspect of Wong Sang’s legacy is her role in fostering a greater appreciation for local food. Best Village was not just about art and craft.

“The local dishes and fashions were considered low class until…Dr Eric Williams found a way to bring the culture forward through the Best Village,” Wong Sang once said. Foods such as the Chinese dish of fried rice and East Indian dish of roti became even more popular through Best Village.

Wong Sang, who grew up in a home where a housekeeper was employed, once said: “I remember when the servants would go to their little hut and prepare their food of saltfish and rice while major foods such as baked potatoes and baked chicken, fish and chips are prepared in the main house. Best Village broke the barrier and the African, Chinese and East Indian dishes came to the fore.” Of Wong Sang, Erica Williams- Connell last week said, “My father realised that a programme such as Best Village could provide the ideal vehicle for raising the consciousness of our own nation vis-a-vis our national heritage.

But it is one thing to have an idea, quite another to implement it. He chose Joyce Wong Sang to do so.” Wong Sang was a shining light on the cultural front. She will enter the history books as a loving patriot.

The authorities now find themselves in a rather uncomfortable position in dealing with the internationally- rooted Uber company while having PH taxis parading all over the place __ useful as they may be, but with dangers too. These forms of lawlessness, like so many aspects crime and justice, did not happen overnight.

Works and Transport Minister, Mr Rohan Sinanan, seems on the right track when he said last Tuesday: “Based on the advice given to the ministry by its legal department, the service being offered by the Uber company is not in keeping with the legislative framework of TT to operate such a service.” Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi cautiously commented: “On the one hand there is at Uber quite a very interesting, progressive step of the registration exercise, of the vetting of the security, which is a step beyond Trinidad and Tobago’s PH driving system.” He continued: “But on the other hand, there is a collision with the existing laws in this country where cars for hire have to be registered for hire.” Services like Uber will require a legislative amendment, he added. Then there is the matter of insurance for the protection of passengers. No doubt, and apart from those directly concerned one way or another with this Uber challenge, the public will ask if you require Uber service (i.e.service via cell phone, etc,) to be so “legalized,” what about the PH taxis situation __ a long standing issue?

Take citizen, Shahad Q Ali, for example when, commending Uber for security and comfort, stated: “The Ministry of Works and Transport should rid themselves of the bias by targeting Uber as the only service in TT that uses PH drivers.” Well, it is not so much “bias” as it is a fresh notice by both Mr Sinanan and Mr Al-Rawi of the need to revise the outdated Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, thus possibly stopping PH taxis as a significant part of our lawless culture.

When he was Works Minister, Mr Jack Warner did make a short-lived attempt to “regularise’” PH taxis.Now, I must admit, I have used Uber services abroad. It was safe, punctual and quite accountable.What this Uber now provokes is for a complete overview of the relationship between transport and crime.For example, given the laws as quoted by both Sinanan and Al-Rawi, how come we now see private cars, those with “P” license plates boldly being used as rental cars?

With this and the PH case, as Mr Sinanan pointed out, what are the implications for passenger insurance? The Works Ministry stated: “When you travel with an authorised taxi, you are ensuring the relevant checks and balances have taken place. The use of a private vehicle for hire is contrary to its registration.”

All this therefore presents a public interest opportunity to have a government agency now responsible for making licence plates __ putting a stop to the prolific spread of “one-hour” licence plate shops all over the country. How can the police properly investigate a robbery, a rape or murder when the getaway vehicle has a wrong or stolen licence plate? Now, a lot of our lawlessness has already broken through the gates __ some even ”regularised.” Uber communications official, Ms Julie Robinson-Centella, argues that Uber is not a taxi company but an online service provider, and that passenger insurance is covered by Guardian General. Look, at the end of all this, it would be helpful to all if the PH and related lawless matters are handled now, while working with Uber to fall within the country’s laws as both Mr Sinanan and Mr Al-Rawi suggested.

Now is a good time to begin a fullscale attack on lawlessness of all kinds, including white collar crime, garbage and pollution and state boards’ corruption.

Yesterday’s Tobago House of Assembly (Election Validation) Bill 2017 was passed by 28 votes “for” and one vote “against”, with zero abstentions. With all Government and all Opposition Senators who were present backing the Bill, plus eight Independent Senators, the sole objector was Independent Senator Melissa Ramkissoon.

The Saturday setting of debate brought out some light moments in the Senate with Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge saying he hoped his was the last contribution (barring the AG) so everyone could resume their usual Saturday schedule, only to be told that his colleague, Rodger Samuel, a pastor, also wished to speak, to which Sturge remarked, “Praise the Lord!” Another light moment came in the wind-up by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi whose constant refuting of the earlier speech by Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen, brought a quip from a seated Opposition Senate Leader, Wade Mark, “I think you have a crush on Senator Ramdeen.” Al-Rawi replied, “All crushes aside, some people are not my type. I am a very happily married man.” Ramdeen stood up but did not cite any point of order to interject into the proceedings, even as Al-Rawi still stood.

Senate President Christine Kangaloo rose to restore decorum, chiding the fact of Al-Rawi, Ramdeen and Samuel having all been on their legs together.

In the debate, Sturge hit persons for blaming President Anthony Carmona for the mix up as he declared, “The President can’t set the date. That’s misleading the public”. He said few instances exist where the President can act on his own.

Saying this mix-up must never happen again regardless of whose fault it is, Sturge said no-one must use Christmas nor Carnival as any excuse for the error. “Let’s not use Carnival as an excuse: ‘Yes, I’m 70-years-old, but I have a 17-year-old to wine on down in Harris Promenade’.” Independent Senator Sophie Chote lamented an innuendo that President Carmona had messed up, saying such a claim is “absolutely unfair, untrue and disappointing”. She regretted the Bill was not being passed by any special majority (to protect it from a constitutional challenge) and she said it is now likely to be challenged in the law-courts.

Samuel was chided for tedious repetition to which he replied that his school-days had taught him that repetition is a good thing, a remark that earned him a second chiding from Kangaloo which led him to apologise.

The AG backed the Bill by saying it does not wreck anybody’s current legitimate expectations, as all THA candidates are now on an equal footing.

He said the Bill does not pertain to any legal proceedings and does not target anyone, even as the election results are not yet known for tomorrow’s polls.

Mark made the comments yesterday during debate on the Tobago House of Assembly Election (Validation) Bill. He said the sitting was called because of the “ineptitude, lack of rigour, carelessness, incompetence, and even to some extent recklessness by the present administration”.

He criticised attempts by Al-Rawi to place the blame for the incorrect date of the elections on the President. “I do not support this attempt to place the entire burden on the shoulders of the office holder of the Presidency as well as on the EBC (Elections and Boundaries Commission) and seek to absolve almost completely the Government from any responsibility, accountability or blame for this egregious error,” he stressed.

He stressed that the letter sent by the EBC showed that the Prime Minister is involved and the AG, as legal advisor to the Prime Minister, cannot escape responsibility.

“Stand up, take responsibility and apologise for the error committed.

If you cannot do that tender your resignation immediately to the Prime Minister,” he advised.

He said the President was not responsible but “you (the AG) are using his name”. He reported that he would bring a motion about the administration’s “machinations to destabilise, discredit and remove this President before his term is up”.

“A conspiracy against the President of this country,” he declared.

Senate President Christine Kangaloo advised that Mark speak about that issue when he brings his motion.

Also in his contribution Mark called on the Attorney General to make the legal advice available which made him initially come to the conclusion that the election was legal as stated in a newspaper interview.

“I want to warn this Government and I want to give advice to the Prime Minister. I want to advise the Prime Minister that the sooner he can get rid of the Attorney General from his Cabinet…is the better for this Government.

We have been given too much substandard advice, opinion from this Attorney General…and it continues and I believe the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will be in severe difficulty if they continue,” he said.

Mark pointed out that leader of The Platform for Truth Hochoy Charles raised the issue at a public meeting on January 13.

He pointed out that the Government has the Strategic Services Agency and where was the intelligence to tell the Attorney General what was happening. Government Senator Paula Gopee- Scoon raised a point of order of relevance and Kangaloo upheld it. When Mark seemed to continue in that direction Kangaloo asked Mark if he was questioning her ruling.

He responded: “I never would do that.

I sat where you sat in the past…I acted as vice president as you know in another incarnation and I had the opportunity to act as President of the Senate. So I understand the responsibility. I never query and I would never question because nobody could have queried me. I understand your power because I had your power.” Mark stressed that the President cannot fix the THA election date on his own and that the Chief Secretary would never come up with a date without consulting the Prime Minister.

“Tell us the President is the one who fix election and call elections and you have nothing to do with that. Who are you fooling? The Prime Minister is responsible,” he added. He said the people of Tobago were being robbed of a full day and that one day could cause the PNM to lose elections. He added that he was not there to blame the EBC but did not call for a “tightening” of the agency.

According to reports, a relative heard screams coming from Marshall’s Fifth Street Extension, Oropune Gardens home in Arouca. When the relative went to investigate, they saw Marshall bleeding from the wound and the female relative standing nearby with a large kitchen knife covered in blood. The police and emergency health services were called but Marshall died on the scene.

Heavily armed police and investigators swarmed the home and the suspect was detained by the police.

Up to press time, it was not said if the homicide would be classified as a murder.