These conditions are expected to continue over the next few weeks.” Maloney added that to help alleviate this problem, the airline has limited the number of seats sold out of St Vincent to allow some baggage to be carried, “especially in the times where these wind conditions are expected.” Steve James, one of the affected passengers from LI 771 on January 7, had reached out to Newsday for help two days into his wait for the luggage left behind in St Vincent to be flown to Piarco International Airport, Piarco, Trinidad.

Four days after James and the other passengers landed in Trinidad, their luggage arrived overnight (between Monday, January 9 and Tuesday, January 10) at Piarco, along with other delayed baggage, on a baggage- only flight and a commercial cargo flight. Without making specific reference to this flight, Maloney told Newsday, “LIAT makes every effort to have the bags forwarded as soon as possible to be reunited with passengers, including on other LIAT flights out of St Vincent that have space to take these bags, as well as using external services.” Affected passengers “are informed when the bags have arrived in the country (station) and reunited with their bags at their earliest convenience.

LIAT continues to make safety its number one priority and hopes to continue to serve our customers in the region,” Maloney stated.

Information on compensation on delays and delayed baggage can be found in LIAT’s Conditions of Carriage

In a release, the EMA said Angostura was contacted and the Authority’s team will visit the areas where the odours have been reported to determine the source of the environmental concern and whether any immediate remedial actions are required.

The EMA stated it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide any relevant updates as they become available.

The Authority encouraged members of the public to contact them at 680-9588 and 285- 4362, or via email complaints@ ema.co.tt to report environmental incidents of a similar nature.

Al-Rawi said DNA testing could. solve Ramkissoon’s murder,. speaking at a news briefing at. Tower D, Wrightson Road, Portof-. Spain.

“We are in discussion with entities. for the population of the DNA. register which will start with getting. samples and putting it onto. the database of the entire prison. population, and allowing for the. DNA sampling at law of arrestees.

So forensic evidence from a DNA. basis will be available.

“Let me put the relevance of this. into focus. We saw a very heinous. crime committed with the strangulation. of that beautiful young. child Rachael Ramkissoon. Right. now we are confined to evidence. which may perhaps best be led. from a DNA basis, because there. will be traces.” He said that having. a proper, functional DNA register. will improve the chances of detection,. prosecution and conviction. using such available evidence.

Williams said the police have. made progress in solving Ramkisoon’s. murder in the shortest. time, having allocated “extensive. resources”. Admitting last year. had the most murders in six years,. he said he aims for this year to be. the lowest in 13 years. He said. this year the police have solved. six murders, two committed this. year and four from past years. See. Box Below.

There have been 27 murders. committed so far in 2017 with the. last taking place yesterday when a. man was found chopped to death. in his car which was parked at the. side of the Churchill Roosevelt. Highway.

Williams said most murders. last year were in the Northern. Division (124) and the Central. Division (79), with the leadership. in both areas changed and the. former now under his direct control.

“I want to give the nation the. assurance that 2017 will be a far. better year for us.”. He said the TTPS is using all. resources including full-time and. reserve officers to provide safety. and security in all communities.

“We have increased our patrols.”. Williams said the TTPS Cold. Case Unit is being boosted even. as 42 past homicides are seen as. highly solvable. He said the police. seized 752 illegal firearms. in 2016, compared to 691 seized. the year before. Criminals still. seek more firearms, he said, with. which most murders are being. committed.

He said the TTPS has got more. armourers who can more quickly. process ballistic evidence, so as to. speed up court cases this year. He. vowed to further improve police. preparation to prosecute in law. courts, such as by mastering

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MURDER CASES SOLVED THIS YEAR

– Antonio Maharaj of Marabella, charged on January 7 for the murder of Marlon Davis which occurred on October 25, 2015 – Maurisa Mc Clean of New Grant, charged on January 5 for the murder of Janice Figaro which occurred on November 24, 2016.

– Anil ‘One Foot’ Mayers of La Horquetta, charged on January 9, for the murder of Salim Gonzales which occurred on October 31, 2016.

– Elijah ‘Bry’ Roach, charged on January 16, for the murder of Kamal Charles which occurred on September 4, 2016.

– Hashim Neptune, charged on January 12, for the murder of Simeon Selvon which occurred on January 3, 2017.

– Lauren Charles, charged on January 16, for the murder of Learie Wendell Timothy which occurred on January 12, 2017.

The contest is expected to be competitive as both boxers have an impressive record. Lawrence from Siparia, who has had numerous bouts in Venezuela recently has a record of eight wins and one loss. Edwards of Cocorite does not have a defeat to his name with a record of eight wins and one draw.

Both boxers were beaming with confidence at a press conference held at the Sweet Lime Restaurant in Woodbrook yesterday. The taller, slimmer Lawrence stated, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am going to grasp it with my both hands. My opponent here Nigel Edwards he is a bit stricken in age, he looks like a pensioner, how would I let a pensioner beat me? I feel good going into this fight. I have been going to the gym, working long hard hours. I believe I am where I supposed to be.” Edwards was quick to respond saying, “He (Lawrence) has to prove to me that he could beat me in the ring because all that talk about pensioner, pensioner (is nothing). There is a history of pensioners beating younger boxers. I don’t talk with my mouth, my hands will do the talking.” Patterson Hassan Matthews, the coach and manager of Edwards also threw some words at Lawrence. Matthews said, “I only hope that Siparia prepare the stretcher for our colleague (Lawrence) here.” Fight promoter Boxu Potts, who is also the manager and coach of Lawrence was grateful to Ma Pau for the support and is anticipating the bout. Potts said, “We want to thank Ma Pau Members Club once more for being the front runner in boxing.

On the 28th of this month in Siparia you will have the pride of Siparia go up against the pride of Port of Spain.

This is going to be a north-south thing, you will have Sheldon Lawrence representing his hometown of Siparia and you would have Nigel Edwards representing Port of Spain.” Ma Pau is giving $10,000 towards the fight card.

Potts said there will be at least five amateur bouts and three supporting bouts. Gates will open at 6 pm, while the main bout is expected to start at 8 pm

John, TT ’s all time leading scorer with 70 goals, played in several FA Cup matches during his career.

John played in England for more than 10 years lining up for Derby County, Coventry City, Bristol City, Nottingham Forrest, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Southhampton and Crystal Palace.

Yesterday hundreds of fans line dup at Movietowne in Port of Spain to get a picture with the world famous trophy.

Manchester United fan Daniel Rogers was in his glee yesterday.

“Glory glory Trini Man United,” he declared, “I’m honoured to be in the presence of the triumph of my favourite team and the best team in the world Manchester United and share in the glory of the FA Cup.” The FA Cup will make numerous stops throughout the Caribbean over the next week. Shortly after the FA Cup trophy touched down at the Piarco International Airport on Monday, John said it was great to see the trophy he fought for as a player.

“It means a lot to me, we all know the FA cup is one of the most prestigious trophies that you will play for. As a player playing in numerous FA Cup games I never had the opportunity to lift the FA Cup. I think having it in Trinidad is massive,” John said.

John added, “probably the closest I have been to the FA Cup or lifting the FA Cup was today. I got an opportunity to touch it and I think as a player you cherish those moments, although I never got to win it, but just being in the same room with the FA Cup is a great feeling.” Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith knows people in TT are excited that the FA Cup is in the country especially as Manchester United are the current holders of the cup. Smith said, “Trinidad and Tobago are huge English FA Cup fans, football fans, and we have quite a huge part of the population, I am not one of them, that are Manchester United fans, I am a Gunners (Arsenal) fan.” Today the FA Cup trophy will be taken to Barbados, then to Jamaica from tomorrow to Saturday and will end the tour of the Caribbean in the Cayman Islands from Saturday to Tuesday.

Dwight Yorke, Manchester United Ambassador, who himself lifted the FA Cup in 1999 with United’s glorious treble-winning team, will join Flow as a special guest on the final leg of the tour to make a special announcement about the soon to be launched skills-development initiative for young footballers – another Flow/Manchester United partnership.

Trudy De Verteuil, director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Flow said, “Flow has partnered with Manchester United. We have been working with them for about six months and during that time we have worked very hard to bring the most exciting sports broadcasting to you and to our customers.

Speaking with the media after the grand opening ceremony of newest MovieTowne cineplex in the C3 Centre in Corinth on Monday evening, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi spoke to the concerns raised by the Ministry of Transport and members of the public about the legality of Uber, and other similar local services. “In fact, we were dealing with amendments to the motor vehicle legislation today (Monday) at the legislative review committee and certainly we look to the point.

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, but on the other hand there is a collision with the existing laws in Trinidad and Tobago where cars for hire have to be registered for hire. It is certainly worth having a look at in terms of where the balancing act should result in legislative consultation.” Al Rawi continued, “There are progressive and legitimate aims in services like Uber and that will require a legislative amendment and treatment.” Another “collision” with the law to be considered by the committee is that vehicles, under the current law, must be insured for their intended use, said Al Rawi.

Al Rawi said that former governments, including the last, have attempted to legislate the “PH” system upon which the economy has prospered for a long time. “They did not result in any certainty because it is not an easy fit,” said Al Rawi.

“Uber is something that can perhaps survive a different kind of inspection because of the type of organisation it involves. It is a centralised, organised structure but it certainly will require some legislative framework.” Some citizens, excited by the entry of the international brand into a country with less than spectacular public transportation services, have however raised concerns over the assurance of security when using Uber in a crime-ridden Trinidad and Tobago. Al Rawi said, “There is nothing other than decency to protect people as a first round of protection,” but that security remains the responsibility of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

This was how relatives described the execution-styled murders of a man and his common-law wife who were shot in their heads as they slept on a bed in their Guapo home during the early morning hours yesterday. The victims, Luenda Anthony, 29, a mother of one and Rickey Mohammed, 40, a father of three, were shot once and twice to the head respectively as they lay side by side on their bed in their Limefield Road, Cochrane Village home.

The couple was among five persons murdered between Monday and yesterday, in a 12-hour span, which sent the country’s murder toll to 27 in the first 17 days of this year. Anthony was a security officer.

No motive for the murders has been established although investigators told Newsday that the victims were embroiled in a land dispute with a woman.

Police said that at one o’clock yesterday morning, gunshots were heard inside the couple’s house.

Anthony’s mother Nicole Anthony, 45, who lives nearby heard the shots and ran to her daughter’s house to investigate. On seeing the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law covered in blood on the bed, Anthony screamed, causing other neighbours to come running to see what had happened.

“When I heard the gunshots, I ran to their house and called out to my daughter. I said, ‘Lu Lu’ just before I entered the bedroom. When I saw her soaked in blood next to her husband who was bleeding from the head, I almost collapsed,” Anthony said. Her daughter appeared to be dead, the anguished woman related, while husband Mohammed groaned and said to call an ambulance.

“Those were his final words.

He stopped moving and did not say anything else,” Anthony said.

A report was made to the police and officers who arrived on the scene and cordoned off the house, later found a bag of marijuana in the roadway. It is believed that in their haste to get away, the killers dropped the bag of marijuana.

Saying that a person has to be possessed by the Devil to go into another person’s house and commit murder, Anthony cried that her daughter and son-in-law did not deserve such a violent end.

“My daughter worked hard Monday to Friday as a security officer and on Saturdays she worked at KFC. She worked hard to provide for her family. She did not deserve this. Whoever did this is not human.

This was a demonic act,” she cried. The couple lived together for just over a year. Another occupant of the house, Luenda’s nine-yearold daughter Christina was at the time, spending the night at her grandmother’s home. Mohammed worked part time as a labourer in the Pt Fortin Borough. Up to press time, no arrest had been made and investigations are continuing.

This was how relatives described the execution-styled murders of a man and his common-law wife who were shot in their heads as they slept on a bed in their Guapo home during the early morning hours yesterday. The victims, Luenda Anthony, 29, a mother of one and Rickey Mohammed, 40, a father of three, were shot once and twice to the head respectively as they lay side by side on their bed in their Limefield Road, Cochrane Village home.

The couple was among five persons murdered between Monday and yesterday, in a 12-hour span, which sent the country’s murder toll to 27 in the first 17 days of this year. Anthony was a security officer.

No motive for the murders has been established although investigators told Newsday that the victims were embroiled in a land dispute with a woman.

Police said that at one o’clock yesterday morning, gunshots were heard inside the couple’s house.

Anthony’s mother Nicole Anthony, 45, who lives nearby heard the shots and ran to her daughter’s house to investigate. On seeing the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law covered in blood on the bed, Anthony screamed, causing other neighbours to come running to see what had happened.

“When I heard the gunshots, I ran to their house and called out to my daughter. I said, ‘Lu Lu’ just before I entered the bedroom. When I saw her soaked in blood next to her husband who was bleeding from the head, I almost collapsed,” Anthony said. Her daughter appeared to be dead, the anguished woman related, while husband Mohammed groaned and said to call an ambulance.

“Those were his final words.

He stopped moving and did not say anything else,” Anthony said.

A report was made to the police and officers who arrived on the scene and cordoned off the house, later found a bag of marijuana in the roadway. It is believed that in their haste to get away, the killers dropped the bag of marijuana.

Saying that a person has to be possessed by the Devil to go into another person’s house and commit murder, Anthony cried that her daughter and son-in-law did not deserve such a violent end.

“My daughter worked hard Monday to Friday as a security officer and on Saturdays she worked at KFC. She worked hard to provide for her family. She did not deserve this. Whoever did this is not human.

This was a demonic act,” she cried. The couple lived together for just over a year. Another occupant of the house, Luenda’s nine-yearold daughter Christina was at the time, spending the night at her grandmother’s home. Mohammed worked part time as a labourer in the Pt Fortin Borough. Up to press time, no arrest had been made and investigations are continuing.

In a TV6 television interview Estrada said he was disappointed about the innuendos put out about FATCA, a law passed by Congress and no mere presidential decree. ” “This ‘can’ will be kicked down the road, because there are some folks __ some of them that are fighting this (FATCA) – probably have cocoa in the sun, as you say here. There are some of them, and I stand by it.” Estrada said, “This (FATCA) targets US citizens, folks that are involved in tax evasion, money laundering, terrorism financing, illegal accumulation of wealth, and yet we have folks that are saying this is trampling on the rights of the ordinary Trinbagonian.” He was fine with the US authorities accessing US citizens’ tax details from TT banks.

“I pay my taxes. I want all my fellow citizens to pay their taxes. I want to know if they are financing terrorism (or) accumulating illegal wealth. So this is all about US citizens.

“I suspect that a lot of the opposition comes from folks that have lots of wealth hidden in banks in the US. I suspect they may have family members and their concern is that eventually that information will be shared one day as our countries continue to share information.” He said, “If this (FATCA) is not taken care of, the citizens of TT will face some very tough financial consequences”.

Estrada said FATCA does not trample the rights of ordinary TT citizens. “We have people in this country who say they believe in fighting corruption, they believe in fighting terrorism (so) why would you not support a law like this?” He said the US is a land of law where taxes are paid.

“There are people with interests who are willing to take this country down, with them, to protect their interests.” Estrada said the US will mull various strategies on TT’s FACTA stance.

Charles in a statement alleged that Trinidad- born Estrada was “farce and out of place”.

“Outgoing ambassador Estrada seems to think that our country is some banana republic where we uncritically, without review, or detailed analysis support without question the dictates and impositions of our colonial masters, or ‘massas’ as our founding father was wont to say,” the MP hit in a statement.

“Ambassador Estrada is ‘farce and out of place’ firstly to flout diplomatic conventions and engage frontally in our domestic affairs where one can, based on his comments, take the view that he supports one side of the political divide.” Charles hit Estrada for allegedly suggesting that persons who sought a review, as provided for by a Joint Select Committee, must have “cocoa in the sun”.

The MP said Estrada ignores the fact that no one is against FATCA but many persons have called for a purposeful and comprehensive review of what it is, its implications for our country and the readiness of our institutions to comply with its mandates.

Charles alleged that Estrada lacks a full appreciation of the processes of the TT Parliament which he said exists to ensure the best laws are enacted in the interest of all citizens.

Charles said Estrada does not appreciate that at the Opposition’s insistence, proper procedures were put in place to ensure that the FATCA Bill will be passed in time to comply with US mandates, while ensuring its full review by interest groups in TT.

“Is he aware for example that payment to the IRS by US citizens working in our country and earning TT dollars have to be paid in US and not TT dollars? If this is true, as I am sure it is, we have to understand fully the implications for our foreign exchange situation and put mechanisms in place to effect same.” Charles lamented that as a TT national by birth, Estrada had all the goodwill for his posting to be a success and take TT forward, with a balanced, nuanced and informed perspective on deliberations on important issues.

“He missed many golden opportunities to be a transcendental figure and that is most unfortunate,” Charles concluded. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

In pretty tourist brochures, we boast of our islands’ warmth and hospitality. But while our national identity is tied to merriment and festivity, there is at least one area where we don’t live up to our image.

When it comes to driving, we throw all our cordiality out of the window.

Initial reports into the murder of 28-year-old CEPEP worker Balmatie Bachan linked the incident to a “bad drive” on the Churchill- Roosevelt Highway. The matter remains subject to police investigation and the facts of the case will have to be established.

But the link made between the killer and an intemperate driving temper is not far-fetched. Sadly, it seems to be an all too common reality.

Last April, the murder of 23-year-old Isiah Williams was linked to a bad drive. In March, the nation was shocked when a video showing a woman being assaulted by an irate driver after a supposed bad drive went viral.

Nor is this deadly mean-spiritedness new. A look further back in the records, to the year 2012, reveals that 43-year-old Jagdis Harripersad was also reportedly stabbed to death after a bad drive.

Driving is already a risky activity.

High levels of speeding, drunk driving, reckless pedestrian crossing, and the inappropriate use of mobile devices have all made the roads more dangerous. To this we must add the downright hoggish behaviour that unfolds on a daily basis. As we drive there is often scant courtesy, people dart in and out of lanes without regard for overtaking rules, lights are not properly dimmed, and a general sense of malarkey prevails.

As 2017 gets off to a flying start, now is as good a time as any to implore drivers to not only exercise caution on the road, but to be courteous.

We take some comfort in the implementation of speed guns which last year arguably resulted in reduced levels of road fatalities and increased ticket revenue. But we also urge the State to continue its road regime reforms through the speedy implementation of new technology.

Last week, the Ministry of Works and Transport launched Trinidad and Tobago’s New Driving Permit System at a press conference hosted by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan.

“The new driving permit being launched is embedded with barcode technology that significantly reduces the risk of duplication,” the minister said.

“In the very near future, meaning in a few months time, legislation will be brought to the Parliament which will allow authorised officers to scan permits on the scene and obtain all relevant information about the holder of the particular driver’s permit.” The system was also launched in Tobago on Monday.

Under the new system, the scanning of a barcode on the new driving permit will allow officers to obtain relevant information such as whether the holder has any recorded and/or outstanding infractions of the law in real time.

Potentially, therefore, this can play a role not only in traffic management but also combating crime.

The majority of murders involve the use of a car and there have been longstanding concerns about the tampering of chassis numbers as well as vehicle number plates.

Drivers are now being urged to be more vigilant and to desist from taking risks. New services, such as Uber and Drop, allow people to call a taxi with the use of an app on a smart phone. High fines and penalties for offences are just one reason to reconsider poor practices.

Another is the sacredness of human life.

We hope all the legislative, administrative and commercial developments will continue to transform how Trinidad and Tobago citizens relate to each other on the roads. Better practices are definitely needed, not ones leading to murder.