AFTER hitting his neighbour on the head with a length of iron during a fight on Saturday night, a Maracas man got a shock when he awoke yesterday morning to find the body of his neighbour lying on the ground outside his home.
The frightened man alerted police, who arrived and found Marlon Naldoo, 46-year-old out-patient of the St Ann’s Hospital, lying on the ground with a single wound to the head. Police have since detained Naldoo’s neighbour and seized a “luchette’ (a length of iron used to dig holes for posts). The suspect reportedly told police he thought that Naldoo was knocked unconscious with the blow to the head, and was not aware that Naldoo in fact had died. According to police reports, around 7.05 pm on Saturday, Naldoo, 46, who was unemployed and lived alone in a shack at Tyrico Bay Road, Maracas was armed with a cutlass and walking towards his home when he got into an argument with his 41-year-old neighbour, who was holding the luchette.
Police sources said Naldoo swung the cutlass at his neighbour, who blocked the blow with the luchette and struck Naldoo across the head with the piece of iron. When Naldoo slumped to the ground, his neighbour went home apparently thinking that Naldoo had been knocked unconscious. Sometime later, the man went to bed, unaware that Naldoo’s body was still lying outside his home. When the man awoke at 6 am yesterday, he was shocked to find Naldoo’s corpse lying on the ground. The man quickly went to the Maracas Bay police station and reported the incident. He was accompanied back to the scene by police officers, who seized a length of iron, which is believed to be the murder weapon. Visiting the scene were Supt Waldron Bishop, ASP Gregory Correia, Ag Insp Coa, Sgt Keith Louison, Cpl Francis Vidale, WPC Elizabeth Derrell and others. DMO Dr Ruby Lue Chee Lip made the trek up a hill to the crime scene where she viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary.
An autopsy will be carried out today at the Forensic Sciences Centre, following which investigators will take the autopsy report and case file to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, who will then decide on what charges will be laid. Relatives who spoke to Newsday said Naldoo was not married, had no children and lived alone in a galvanize shack. Naldoo’s nephew Lincoln John told Newsday the dead man was recently relieved of his duties at the Ministry of Health and was receiving a cheque from the Government, on which he survived. “He was a real brains man. He liked to read plenty books,” John told Newsday. The man later became emotional as he entered Naldoo’s humble home. “He was a real good man not violent or anything,” said John. Sgt Keith Louison of Maracas Bay police is continuing investigations.
LESS than four hours after being shot in the hip at his San Juan home, 33-year-old Terrence Charles was dead, succumbing to the injury while undergoing surgery at Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday.
North-Eastern Division police have since launched a massive manhunt for Charles’ killer and are continuing investigations into what is the country’s latest murder. Polices sources told Newsday that just before he died, Charles gave certain information to investigators, which is believed to be critical in the police’s investigations. According to police reports, around 11.15 am on Sunday, Charles was relaxing at his Laventille Road, Febeau Village, San Juan home when he heard a male voice calling his name loudly. When Charles went to the front of his home, he saw a man who raised a gun at Charles and fired once. Charles slumped to the floor after being shot in the hip. The gunman fled the scene.
Charles, who was bleeding profusely, was taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital by relatives who also reported the matter to the San Juan police. A team of officers coordinated by Supt Waldron Bishop, led by Sgt Mongal Hazarie and including PC Murray, went to the hospital and spoke to Charles just before he went into the Operating Theatre for emergency surgery. At 3 pm, the officers and Charles’ relatives received the news that he had died while undergoing surgery. The body was taken to the nearby mortuary. An autopsy will be done today at the Forensic Sciences Centre. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and Sgt Hazarie of San Juan CID is continuing investigations.
The brother of hospitalised shooting victim Garby George and the man who allegedly tried to kill him will both appear in the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court today.
At approximately 2:45 am on Friday morning George, 27, of Wallenvale Extension Sangre Grande, while at his home with his wife and infant child, was awakened by a loud explosion near his home. In an attempt to determine the source of the sound he went outside and was confronted by an armed man who reportedly shot him several times in the head and chest. George was rushed to the Sangre Grande county hospital where he is in a critical condition. Investigations led to the arrest of a 23-year-old deportee of the United States. The man was charged for attempted murder and several other weapon related offences.
In a related incident, at around 5 am on the same morning, 23-year-old Larry Solomon, also of Wallenvale Extension Sangre Grande was reportedly walking near his home when he was confronted by the brother of the shooting victim. The victim’s brother allegedly fired several shots. The man managed to escape the hail of bullets without injury. The victim’s brother was charged with several weapon related offences and is expected to appear before a Sangre Grande Magistrate today.
PRIME Minister Patrick Manning yesterday refused comment on reports of an impending Cabinet reshuffle. But he did not deny the report.
Newsday sources confirmed that Manning intends to move Attorney General Glenda Morean and National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee. Manning, questioned about the report during a press conference following the PNM’s General Council meeting, said “I don’t wish to comment.” The reason given for no comment was: “A Cabinet reshuffle was always an option available to a Prime Minister.” He added that the PM would look at his government to see whether it was operating in accordance with the set objectives, something that was not only done here in Trinidad but the world over. He insisted he did not wish to “further comment.”
Asked about reports that Guyana was acceding to the request from the US government not to hand US prisoners of war over to the International Criminal Court, Manning said he had seen reports which stated “that it is not so, therefore I do not know what the facts are and I prefer not to speculate.” Asked about a visit he is expected to make to Washington to hold talks with President George W Bush on the US stance to deny countries in support of the ICC military aid, Manning said he wished not to talk about that. He also refused to talk about the self-imposed curfew by the San Juan Business Association, saying he is expected to meet with business organisations “very shortly.”
THE UNC will make two of its current chairmen deputies in the Regional Corporations in which they now serve, while former Mayor Orlando Nag-essar is tipped to be the Deputy Mayor of the Chagua-0nas Borough Corporation.
The UNC has also chosen former NAR member and Director of the Land Settlement Agency (LSA), Dr Allen Sammy, to be Chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation. The UNC’s screening committee met on Saturday at the Rienzi Complex, to screen likely candidates for chairmen, vice chairmen, mayor and deputy mayor and councillors for the three corporations and one borough which it controls. Newsday sources said Sammy’s deputy will be Carl Debideen, current Chairman of the Penal/Debe Corporation. The person tipped to be Chairman of the Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation is Jeewan Mungroo with the NAR leader, Lennox Sankersingh as his deputy. At the Princes Town Regional Corporation, Khemchand Ram-dath is tipped to be the Chairman. Ramdath is a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education. His Deputy is said to be Winston Chindra, the current Chairman of the said Corporation. Newsday sources confirmed Dr Suruj Rambachan as the new Mayor of Chaguanas. However Rambachan, who was a previous Chairman of the St Patrick County Council, when contacted by Newsday said he had not been informed by the Opposition. He said if he was in fact the party’s choice he would be honoured to serve. Rambachan currently hosts a radio programme on Sangeet 106 FM.
Former Mayor Nagessar is being tipped to be Rambachan’s deputy. Nagessar also could not confirm he would be the Deputy. He too said he was not informed. Regarding the decision to replace him in the central heartland, Nagessar said he was fully supportive of the party’s decision. He said he wasn’t too concerned about who was selected as Mayor but rather more concerned about rebuilding the party and reclaiming full control of the Chaguanas Council. The PNM won three seats in the Borough. The Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Cor-poration is tied with both the UNC and PNM having won three seats each in last Monday’s Local Government election. The pulling of straws to determine which party controls the Corporation will be done on Tuesday. Meantime UNC Chairman Senator Wade Mark, when contacted by Newsday said the party had to make further consultations before releasing its confirmed choices for chairmen and deputies as well as mayor and deputy mayor for Chaguanas. Councillors at the Borough will be sworn in tomorrow while the swearing in ceremony for mayor and deputy mayor will take place next Monday. Both ceremonies are carded for 10 am.
RICK Soodan, 29, died instantly when his car crashed into a ditch off Mexico Road and the Churchill Roosevelt Highway near Wallerfield on Saturday night.
According to reports, around 9.30 pm, Soodan of Bramble Alexander Trace, Cumuto was proceeding along east along the Churchill Roosevelt highway, when on trying to negotiate a sharp curve at Mexico Road, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. Soodan, who was thrown from the car on impact, died on the spot. Motorists who saw the accident telephoned Arima police. A team of officers led by Cpl Mohammed visited the scene along with DMO Dr Antoine who viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary, where efforts were being made to have an autopsy carried out yesterday. Investigations are continuing.
PRIME Minister Patrick Manning yesterday announced that another election is due before the end of the year.
However, this one strictly involves the People’s National Movement (PNM). The party will hold its annual Convention on October 25 and 26 where all offices within the party, including that of Political Leader will be contested. Manning made the disclosure yesterday following the party’s General Council meeting at Balisier House. He said as a result of the upcoming Convention, the party will move into election mode with immediate effect. This means the various party and constituency groups are to get their house in order for elections. He said the General Council has also agreed on certain methods to be adopted in the context of the Morean report, to ensure the elections are free and fair.
The PNM’s Vice Chairman, John Donaldson, explained that in essence the party agreed with the findings of the Morean Committee and as far as possible will seek to implement all the recommendations and to have them incorporated into the party’s constitution for future elections. He said the main recommendation was that the party change its constitution for the establishment of an Election Committee. He said since there are now no provisions within its Constitution for such a committee, a group of people will be selected by the Council to do the work of such a committee, that is to monitor the elections, until the Constitution is changed. The Morean Report came out of a Committee set up by the party, chaired by Glenda Morean, to examine the party’s election process to ensure it was free and fair.
On another note, Manning said the PNM was very pleased with its victory at last Monday’s Local Government Election and as such would host a rally and thanksgiving next Saturday. The rally will commence at various locations throughout the country at different times and culminate at Mayaro. He said it was now a challenge on how the party proceeded in ensuring that the balance in society is reflected within the party. Manning said he was pleased that people who did not traditionally support the PNM had now given “us a second look and we hope to justify that confidence they have placed in the party.” He said the Council also discussed Caribbean Integration and was brought up to date on some aspects of the recent Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica.
“My dream for you as young people of the Caribbean is that you would learn to put Christ first in your lives and that Christ would influence everything that you do.”
This was the call made by Chairman of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) Youth Commission, Bishop Robert Rivas as he addressed the large gathering at the closing ceremony of the AEC Youth Assembly 2003, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, yesterday. Stating that one of the great expectations of the Assembly was that the faith of all persons may be deepened and enriched through their encounter with Christ, Rivas urged youths from all over region to know Christ and to commit their lives to Him more intimately. Revealing that it was his dream, as well as many of the bishops in the Conference, to see young people giving of their time and talent to serve the Church as missionaries both through long and short-term commitments. “Having young people serving as missionaries in our region will bring vitality to the life of our local churches,” noted Rivas.
Roman Catholic Archbishop of PoS, Edward Gilbert, in a message published in a brochure to mark the occasion of the Assembly, described the Caribbean Youth Assembly 2003 as, “…both a sign of and a cause of Catholic Solidarity in the Caribbean Church.” Adding that the Assembly provided an opportunity for regional pastoral planning, as well as spiritual renewal and growth in mutal understanding, Archbishop Gilbert said this could take place “through careful listening and respectful dialogue.” The theme of this year’s conference was “Do whatever He tells you, what more must I do,” and included delegates from 15 Caribbean countries.
ST JOSEPH police were engaged in a high-speed chase and shootout with two men who stole a car from a taxi-driver in Maracas/St Joseph and later crashed the vehicle into a drain at a dead-end road in El Dorado on Saturday night.
According to police reports, around 10.50 pm, Joel Legere, 30, of Alta Garcia Gardens, Maracas/St Joseph was plying his car for hire along the St Joseph-Curepe taxi route. He picked up two men and a woman at Curepe Junction, all of whom asked to be taken to various locations in St Joseph. On reaching Acono Road, Maracas, the two male passengers pulled out guns and ordered Legere to pull to the side of the road. They then forced Legere and the female passenger out of the car and sped off. Another motorist who saw what happened, telephoned St Joseph police and reported the incident. An All Points Bulletin (APB) was issued advising all patrolling police officers to be on the look-out for the car thieves. When the bandits reached the Eastern Main Road near St Joseph police station, they were spotted by a team of St Joseph CID officers led by Insp Michael Modeste and including Sgt Don Lezama, PC Remy, WPC Yearwood and PC Bayne who were on patrol.
The officers engaged the suspects in a high speed chase along the Eastern Main Road (EMR) going through Curepe, St Augustine, Tunapuna and El Dorado. When the officers and suspects reached El Dorado, there was an exchange of gunfire. The suspects swung off the EMR in El Dorado and onto Govia Road which is a dead-end. The suspects crashed the car into a drain and managed to escape on foot. Police fingerprint experts later “dusted” the car and reported finding workable fingerprint evidence which will now be compared with prints of suspects stored in the Fingerprint Computer File (FCF) at Police Headquarters, to see if they can find a match. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and St Joseph CID officers are continuing investigations.
Freeport Police have not ruled out arson in two unrelated fires which completely dest-royed two houses within five hours, leaving four persons homeless.
In the first incident, Jason Wilson, 27, a construction worker, told police he secured his one room wooden house at Buccaro Road, St Mary’s Village, Freeport, around 6.30 am on Friday and went to work. He said when he returned around 9 pm, he found his home burnt to the ground. Damages to the house and household articles are valued at $10,000. PC Ramdhan is continuing investigations. In the other incident, around 1 am yesterday, John Seenath, 28, a labourer, of Bagdad Trace, Chase Village, was alseep with his 24-year-old wife, Jasmine, and six-year-old daughter, Amanda, when he was awakened by a loud explosion. Seenath said he saw the house on fire and woke up his wife and daughter. While making their escape, Jasmine sustained minor burns to her feet. She was treated at the Chaguanas Hospital and discharged. The wooden house and household articiles were valued at $50,000. PC Mayers is investigating.
