A late night fire in Penal on Friday has left a family of four without their home. According to reports the fire started at the Hosein Avenue, Rock Road Penal house around 8.35 pm. The occupants  of the house Nazir Saqie, 27, his wife Jenelle Elbourne, 26, and daughters Diana and Tamar ages four and five years respectively, were not home at the time of the mishap. Officers from the Siparia Fire Station  received a call and arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. The team was led by Fire Sub Officer Dennis Asson and included Fire Officers Ramkissoon, Bride-gemohan and Douglas. Some neighbours tried desperately to douse the fire with a bucket brigade.

However, the efforts of the firemen could achieve little as the fire had already ravaged through most of the two bedroom wooden house. According to reports the owner of the house, Saqie, upon returning home had to be comforted and even held down as he tried to save possessions from his house that was going up in flames. PC Worrell and other officers of the E-999 Division visited the scene. Officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commis-sion (TTEC) also visited the scene. Investigators are yet to determine the cause of the blaze. Fire Prevention and TTEC personnel were  due to re-visit the scene.

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl was shot on Friday while she and her father were attempting to escape a robbery attack, police said. Teenager Sabita Maharaj was shot in her left heel by bandits as she ran to a back room of a grocery owned by her father, Deonarine Maharaj, at Dow Village, California. The incident occurred just after midday while Sabita and her father were at their businessplace — Maharaj’s Super-market — when the three bandits stormed the supermarket. Reports said one of the men pointed a gun through the burglar-proofing near the cash register and ordered the owner to hand over the cash.

Fearing for his daughter’s life, Deonarine tried to lead his daughter to safety in a room at the back of the premises and as they ran, the bandit fired a shot at them. The bandits escaped empty-handed in a waiting car but witnesses noted the licence plate. The teenager was taken for medical treatment at the Couva District Hospital and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where she is resting in stable condition. Couva Police are continuing investigations.

HEALTH Inspectors on Friday forced the closure of almost the entire chain of Indian delicacy stalls in Debe, South Trinidad. Some eight food booths were shut down after it was discovered that they lacked proper facilities in the preparation and serving of  local Indian delicacies such as aloo pies, saheenas, doubles and kachouries to members of the public. Debe Village is a famous stop in South Trinidad for these mouth-watering, highly spiced delicacies. Two years ago, the area took on the new look of a thriving cottage industry where the food stalls were rebuilt in a neat row, equipped with marked parking spots.

As early as 7.30 am Friday, Public health officers from the Victoria Division of the Ministry of Health swooped down. In the midst of persons purchasing and eating the delicacies, the health officers entered the stalls. Half an hour later, customers vacated the area and the doors to the stalls were closed. Sunday Newsday learned that officers discovered that the stalls’ kitchen areas were unkempt, unsanitary and were not adequately ventilated. No one was charged but officers issued warning notices to the stalls’ respective owners to repair and upgrade cooking facilities or face having their businesses permanently shut down.

Moya Moya victim Stephen Hunte has been able to secure a visa to enter into the United States but is still trying to secure funds for the operation which cannot be done locally. Stephen is a victim of the rare disease called Moya Moya which causes blood vessels leading to the brain to narrow and close. He requires bypass surgery which involves the connection of normal blood vessels in the scalp to blood vessels on the surface of the brain to allow blood flow. The estimated cost of the surgery is US$60,000. Stephen, of Kelly Village, Caroni, is a standard five student of Fatima RC Primary School but was unable to sit this year’s SEA exams because of his illness.

Since Stephen’s story was published in the Sunday Newsday two weeks ago, members of the public and corporate bodies have responded, favourably. Arrangements are being made by one insurance company to acquire a plane ticket for the 12-year-old to Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, Gloria Maharaj has also been able to set up a savings account, number 1333540, at First Citizens Bank, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. The account can be accessed through any branch of FCB. Gloria can be reached at 799-6452.

Scores of aged, but clearly not old, persons, including President Professor George Maxwell Richards, gathered yesterday at the Chinese Association St Ann’s to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Retired Persons (TTARP). TTARP was formed ten years ago by a body of ten persons who endeavoured to enhance the quality of life of citizens over the age of 50. To date, the association has been successful in securing product discounts, affordable health care, reduced insurance premiums, with the assistance of various corporate bodies. To date 22,000 persons have registered with the association and reaped the benefits of its existence.

President Richards, an active member of TTARP’s executive, was treated to two very well received musical performances from Alicia Pilgrim and Anthony and Reynold Woodroffe of the Brass Musical Institute. The second of the performances was a rendition of David Rudder’s “Trini to de Bone” to which the energetic crowd sang and tapped their feet. In addition to the ceremony there was the launch of TTARP Village, a small exhibition in which various businesses and small business owners displayed their products. Following a short tour of the Village, the President conversed with his Association colleagues much to their delight.