Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the Corporation’s chairman and vice chairman on Wednesday, Paray reminded the audience, which included Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, that he was the duly elected parliamentary representative and would work towards the region’s development. Rambharat, who had represented the PNM, unsuccessfully contested the 2015 General Election for the constituency of Mayaro which was won by Paray.

“Like every other of the 41 constituencies in Trinidad and Tobago, there is only one elected MP per constituency and one official MP office and two sub offices that are recognised by the symbol of the Coats of Arms. I urge you and those in the practice of playing politics with the lives of people of my constituency to kindly desist from doing so,” he said.

Paray continued: “We must not take advantage of the poor and vulnerable by using political offices to destroy their very existence, dreams and aspirations. It is our role and responsibility to empower not to trade on their vulnerability.” His statement created a stir with the audience which had spilled out from the Corporation’s administration offices to the courtyard where large screens were set up to accommodate members of the public. Paray also addressed the elected councillors telling them they were no longer candidates representing any political party.

“Be reminded of your oath of office to accept the responsibility as an elected member of council to serve all the people regardless of political persuasion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Biche/Charuma councillor, Glen Ram, was elected chairman while Alderman Vedaish Maharaj was voted vice chairman. Ram had previously served as Vice Chairman for six years and took over from Hazarie Ramdeen who served for two terms as chairman.

“A friend of his got into an altercation on Tuesday and he simply put in his two cents,” said a relative who wished not to be named.

“The gunmen could not get who they were looking for so they made and example of him, to send a message.” According to reports, Sylvester was in a Nissan Almera near a house in Paramin, when, at about 2.30 am loud explosions were heard.

When residents checked they saw Sylvester slumped over in the vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his wounds while en route.

Relatives told Newsday yesterday that Sylvester was liming with friends and playing music from his vehicle when the battery died.

Not wanting to leave the car unattended, Sylvester stayed in the car and fell asleep. Gunmen later snuck up to his vehicle and shot him several times about the body.

Relatives described Sylvester as a respectable person, and added that he had never been involved in any illegal activities.

Relatives were shocked and dismayed when they heard of his death and the manner in which he died.

Newsday understands it was only after his death did family members hear about the altercation which they believe led to his death.

“He (Sylvester) was just a young black man who was now trying to make it in this world.

He didn’t drink and he was always respectful to people around him.

If his car didn’t die, he would have gone home where he was safe.

This was just a matter of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time…” relatives said.

Police investigating the matter have not yet ascertained a motive behind the shooting.

However, Newsday understands that the investigation is now in its initial stages.

The murder toll for the year now stands at 445, according to a Newsday count.

Mohammed assured Justice Carla Brown-Antoine that she will not see her again after the judge told her she was “indeed very lucky”.

In sentencing Mohammed, Brown-Antoine made it clear she was sentencing the offender but not the offence and based on the reports she has received, there was no indication that Mohammed was likely to commit the offence again.

Mohammed was on trial before Brown-Antoine in the Port-of- Spain Second Criminal Court, along with mother and son -Gloria Benn and Jason Benn, who were also convicted.

Gloria Benn, 59, and Jason, 32, were sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison for trafficking a quantity of cocaine which was discovered at Benn’s Orisha Shrine at Achong Trace, Tunapuna, on January 21, 2006 by police who executed a search warrant.

Mohammed was only convicted of simple possession of four packets of marijuana which were wrapped in heavy-duty plastic and found in the downstairs room of a two-storey house.

All together police discovered 175 packets of marijuana, which weighed a total of 340.46 kilogrammes.

Mohammed was not found in actual physical custody of the marijuana and the jury was given the option of finding her guilty of simple possession, rejecting that she was the occupier of the shrine but that being Benn’s girlfriend, she only occupied the bedroom where the marijuana was concealed in a barrel.

The judge said Mohammed’s culpability was relatively low.

Justice Brown-Antoine told Mohammed she hoped the ‘crowd’ of people who supported her at the trial and spoke of her good character in testimonials to the court, would still continue to support her tangibly.

“I don’t see the crowd. I hope they support you tangibly and not all about talk but show you that they really support you,” Justice Brown-Antoine said.

The State was represented by prosecutor Nigel Pilgrim and Giselle Ferguson- Heller while attorney Ian Brooks represented the Benns and Mohammed.

While talking, a lone gunman walked up to the group and opened fire. Pierre sustained gunshot wounds and fell to the ground while his friends and the gunman ran off. Peirre was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he remained warded up to yesterday.

A motive is yet to be determined for the shooting and Mon Repos Police are continuing investigations.

Prior to the merging, the west side of the unit was based at the La Brea Police Station and the east side, at the Santa Flora Station.

According to a senior officer of the Division, the units were joined and placed in the recently built South Oropouche Police Station in order to centralise the unit for improved efficiency.

Though they understood the logic of the move, officers of the unit complained that the location is too cramped. “We have to choke up, choke up in one small office. When the shifts clash, it is about 13 men in the office together at the same time, so is problems,” said one officer.

According to him, the station’s dorm room does not have enough beds for the new influx of officers.

Added to this, they were not provided with personal lockers, so they retrieved old, dilapidated lockers from an old storage room in the station and placed it in the most convenient location they could find – under the staircase.

“Because we are special reserve or RRU, they saying that we are not supposed to stay in the place,” said another officer.

This as the fiesta, which has been held annually for nearly two decades to celebrate the life of former St Anthony’scaptain Anatol, will also celebrate the farewell for long-serving school Physical Educational Teacher and Tigers’ coach Nigel “Grovey” Grosvenor.

A media release from the school noted, “This memorial has been going on for about 20 years, and started with the untimely death of our dear colleague and friend Anatol.

“We have managed to stay together throughout the years especially at our Christmas Lime and (tomorrow), this one though is special to me as it is my last as a teacher at St Anthony’s College.

Yes I have the pleasure of teaching and coaching you all over the period of 33 years, and now the Ministry of Education has said it’s time to leave.” Grovesnor has called on his former players, colleagues, friends, as well as team supporters to attend the event. And all persons are being asked to contribute $100 towards the event.

Royhil Seals were involved in most of the matches on the day which included contests in the Under-19 male, U-16 male and U-14 coed categories.

In the U-16 male category Royhil Seals, led by Jonathan Taylor defeated BGI from Barbados 17- 11. The Seals were also winners in the U-19 male category when they eased past Marlins 22-7.

The Seals also battled one another as Royhil Seals Amber crushed Royhil Seals Emerald 21-3 in an U-14 coed contest, while Royhil Seals Coral trounced Royhil Seals Garnet 21-1 (U-14 coed).

In other matches BGI outlasted Marlins B 12-9 (U-14 coed), Marlins A defeated Royhil Seals Garnet 21-1 (U-14 coed), Royhil Seals Amber got past Marlins B 23-1 (U-14 coed) and Barbados WPC breezed past Royhil Seals Emerald 20-11.

The water polo tournament will continue until Sunday, while the ASATT (Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago) Swim meet will swim off at 5 pm today.

Since the accident which happened between Buenos Ayres and Erin in South Trinidad, Lester has only been communicating by squeezing her family’s and friends hands. Lester is warded at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Lester’s mother Mary Layne confirmed that her daughther started talking yesterday. Layne said, “She wanted to know when she could go home, I told her that she can’t leave as yet.” The national cyclist has to remain at hospital for six weeks.

Lester had to undergo surgery after suffering a dislocated hip when a car ran into her. She also received bruises to her face, neck and legs.

The league leaders have a sixpoint gap over W Connection and will be keen to maintain their advantage over the chasing pack.

Connection will also be in action today, against Police, in the latter game at Couva.

The remaining matches in Round Two Match Day Two will be staged on Sunday with Morvant Caledonia United hosting St Ann’s Rangers at the Morvant Recreation Ground from 3.30 pm while, at the aforementioned Couva venue, Ma Pau Stars will be facing Point Fortin Civic FC from 4 pm while Defence Force will be squaring off against San Juan Jabloteh two hours later.

History has set up what should be an intriguing contest between hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes and current leaders Jamaica Scorpions which started yesterday at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Elsewhere, two-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars face Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Guyana National Stadium, starting today, the same day that Windward Islands Volcanoes meet Barbados Pride at Windsor Park in Dominica.

In Providence, Guyana: The Jaguars will be looking to take advantage of a Red Force side low on confidence and finish the first half of the season in pole position.

The weather got in the way of the Jaguars making a bid for victory against the Pride in the previous round, at the same that the Red Force stumbled to their second defeat in a season they started with a sound victory over the Volcanoes.

This could well be another absorbing contest, considering the results of matches between the two sides at this venue.

Neither have a major advantage over the other.

Of the five matches, they have each won once, and it would be interesting to note that the Red Force have held the aces in the other three which have all been drawn.

It’s true the Red Force perhaps may have fielded stronger units for those previous five matches, but it may be something they could draw upon to find the inspiration they may require to defy the Jaguars.

Squads: Guyana Jaguars vs TT Red Force (AT THE GUYANA NATIONAL ST ADIUM, GUYANA) JAGUARS (from): Leon Johnson (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Shimron Hetmyer, Eon Hooper, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh. Unchanged.

RED FOR CE (from): Yannick Ottley (captain), Yannic Cariah, Sheldon Cottrell, Jyd Goolie, Kyle Hope, Jon- Russ Jagessar, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Roshon Primus, Isaiah Rajah, Marlon Richards. Unchanged.

Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Barbados Pride (AT WINDSOR PARK, DOMINICA) V O L C A N O E S (from): Liam Sebastien (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roland Cato, Johnson Charles, Tarryck Gabriel, Delorn Johnson, Mervin Matthew, Kyle Mayers, Kenroy Peters, Jerlani Robinson, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile.

Unchanged.

PR IDE (from): Kevin Stoute (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Kevin McClean, Omar Phillips, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Kenroy Williams. IN-McClean, Williams, OUT-Kraigg Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse.