AVA MARIE BRUCE, the country’s second highest performer at this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams, missed out on sharing the number one spot with eventual winner Shivan Ramlochan, by a single point.

Bruce, a pupil of Robert Village Hindu School, Tableland, secured 100 percent passes in the Essay and Mathematics categories of the SEA exams, but 99 percent in the English category. Ramlochan scored 100 percent in all three categories. The 12-year-old budding scholar, however, bears no ill-feelings towards Ramlochan, nor does she in any way feel disappointed about her performance. “No, I am extremely happy at my performance and in fact, I am very relieved at having passed for the school of my choice, which is Naparima Girls’ High School in San Fernando,” Bruce told Newsday during an interview yesterday at her Robert Village, Tableland, home. “I am not disappointed at all. To reach this far is satisfying enough for me,” Bruce said, with her bright, attentive eyes twinkling.

When Newsday visited her yesterday, an elated Bruce could hardly contain her excitement saying that on the morning of the SEA results, she had experienced “tiny fingers of fear” running along her spine as she thought about securing a place at one of the nation’s top secondary schools. “After the exams, I don’t know, most of my friends said they found that it was easy,” she said. “But to me the exams were challenging, especially maths.” Bruce, the penultimate child of eight children, said faith in God together with the support of her parents, Alpha and Angela, provided the platform for her success. She said this was coupled with lots of hard work and extremely supportive and dedicated teachers, singling for special mention her Standard V teachers — Mr Harry Seehara and Mr Biddal. She said her study regime consisted of two hours of study on evenings with over seven hours of extra lessons on Saturdays.

An avid reader, Bruce admitted that she was a sci-fi addict, with a love for the X-Files television fiction series. As for her future career, Bruce, brimming with confidence, said her desire was to become a medical doctor. “I want to help people,” she said with a shy smile. It was a goal met with the approval from Bruce’s mother, who said her daughter was capable of becoming the family’s first medical practitioner. “Ava takes her school work very seriously and is very dedicated to whatever she sets her mind to,” the proud mother said.

SYAM RAMKISSOON, the 26-year-old son of chicken magnate Jai Ramkissoon, was robbed of a $50,000 payroll and kidnapped by three men around 2 pm yesterday. The car with the kidnap victim was last seen heading towards the Sangre Grande area.

Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, as well as officers from northern and eastern divisions, were dispatched to the scene. A National Security helicopter was also called in to assist in the search for the car transporting the kidnap victim. Reports revealed that around 2 pm, Syam, in company with his mother Sumintra, 63, were at Sasa Farms, Manuel Congo Road, San Rafael, where they had gone to pay workers when three men in a white car blocked the car Siam was driving. Reports revealed that the young businessman reversed the car, which ended up in a river. The three kidnappers snatched Siam from the driver’s seat and bundled him into a white Vauxhall. They then drove away leaving a startled Sumintra in the car. Sumintra, who suffered cuts and bruises, was assisted by farm workers. She was taken to the Arima Hospital where she was treated and discharged. Sumintra was interviewed by the police and described the kidnappers as being one of  East Indian descent and two men of African descent.

When Newsday visited Ramkissoon at his Mausica home yesterday, he appeared distraught and pleaded with kidnappers to spare his son from any violence. Ramkissoon claimed that when his son left home yesterday, he was in possession of a $50,000 payroll to pay workers at the Sasa Farms. Up until 6 pm yesterday, Ramkissoon had not received any word from kidnappers. He told Newsday that he is in no position to pay any ransom right now but he wants his son returned to him. He said that he is now reliving the experience 17 years ago when his daughter Sharon was kidnapped and eventually released unhurt. Syam was married just six months ago. Friends and relatives of the kidnapped man gathered at the Ramkissoon home to lend support to the worried family. Inside the house, officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad were seen speaking on the telephone and taking notes. Investigations are continuing.

Nirmal “Massive” Gosine, 31, a finalist in the 2003 Chutney Monarch Competition who was kidnapped outside a Montrose Chinese restaurant around 6.15 pm yesterday was released one hour later after he convinced his abductors that he did not have any money.

Reports revealed that Gosine was in company with his wife Candice and eight-year-old daughter at the restaurant when three men entered and ordered him out. His wife reported to the  police that the men bundled her husband into a waiting car. Around 7.20 pm last evening Gosine reported to the police that the kidnappers asked for $120,000 and later reduced it to $20,000. He was able to convince the kidnappers that he did not have any money and was dropped off. Investigations are continuing.

PENAL police have mounted a search for a gang of armed bandits who struck three bars in three days in San Francique.  In the latest report, the getaway car was abandoned in a canefield in M2 Ring Road and lawmen were trying to lift fingerprints off the vehicle.

The latest businessplace to fall prey to the gang was Lall’s Bar where $4,000 in cash and jewelry were stolen from the proprietor and patrons.  According to police reports, around 8.30 pm, five bandits wielding cutlasses and a gun alighted from a black B-14 Nissan Sentra. The armed men stormed the recreation club and announced a hold-up. Proprietor Jeewanlal Harilal was forced to hand over $300 cash while Surajdeo Harilal and Monica Beepath were robbed of their gold chains valued $1,500 and $2,000 respectively. The gang made a good escape in their vehicle, which was later discovered abandoned and empty on M2 Ring Road. This report follows two similar robberies on Monday night with bandits in similar fashion, hitting Secret Stone Bar at Timital Junction and Midway Bar and escaped with over $12,000 in cash, jewelry and items. PC Douglas is investigating the robbery at Lall’s Bar.

Two persons were arrested while a motorist was charged with driving without a driver’s permit during a roadblock exercise carried out at the Beetham Highway and Western Main Road, Cocorite, yesterday.

During the exercise, which involved over 100 police and soldiers, a man, wanted on a warrant, was held in a car at the Beetham Highway while a second person, a Jamaican, who has overstayed his time in this country, was also arrested. The third person was charged with the traffic offence. The roadblocks came to a premature end shortly after midday yesterday following heavy showers. Newsday learned that the roadblock exercises form part of the anti-crime plan aimed at flushing out criminal elements travelling in vehicles. The roadblock is also intended to search vehicles and seize illegal weapons and drugs.

Senior police officers said yesterday that more roadblock exercises will take place shortly and will be spread to other divisions. Motorists using both the Beetham Highway and the Western Main Road said yesterday that while they welcome the roadblocks, they feel that the exercises could be better managed to prevent traffic pile-ups. At the Beetham Highway and Western Main Road, traffic piled up for hours during the searches.The exercise at Beetham Highway was led by Captain Nedd of the Defence Force and ASP Alfred Sealey. Supt Lennox Gonzales led the exercise in the west.

A 15-year-old schoolgirl, who is the mother of an eight-month-old baby, was among four persons arrested in connection with the $2.5 million jewelry store robbery at Zina’s Jewelry, Price Plaza, Chaguanas, on Thursday morning.

The Belmont schoolgirl, wanted for two other jewelry store robberies, was placed on identification parades yesterday where she was pointed out. She was later interviewed by Sgt Dennis Housend and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad. Reports revealed that around 11.30 am on Thursday, five men including a woman staged the daring daylight robbery at the jewel store. The five held up security guard Nicholas Punette, of Advance Security Company. Punette was robbed of his wallet containing $30 and his Smith and Wesson revolver as well as 12 rounds of ammunition. The bandits then ordered employees of the jewelry store to lie on the ground and robbed the store of jewelry valued $2.5 million.

Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station were alerted and a party of officers led by Inspector Raphael, Sgt Housend and Ag Sgt Persad went to the scene. An All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police divisions to be on the lookout for the getaway vehicle. Reports revealed that officers of the joint police army patrols led by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard and the Chaguanas CID received a tip-off that the getaway vehicle was seen in Mt Hope. Officers went to Mt Hope Road, where they saw the car with four of the five suspects. A chase ensued and the suspects abandoned the vehicle.

Three suspects — ages 26, 24 and 22 and the 15-year-old schoolgirl — were arrested. The stolen jewelry as well as a Taurus revolver, ammunition and a stolen car were recovered. All the items were handed over to officers of the Chaguanas CID. The owners of Zina’s Jewelry, Zina and Omardath Ram, were contacted and they went to the Chaguanas Police Station where they identified the stolen jewelry. Investigators told Newsday that with the arrest of the four suspects they may be able to solve two other jewelry store robberies in Central and another at Valpark. Senior officers praised the quick response of the police which led to the arrest of the four and the recovery of the stolen jewelry.

Three persons were shot in three separate incidents on Thursday night.

The first occurred around 10.30 pm when John Sue was standing at O’Meara Road, Arima. Two men walked up to him and sought information about a man. During his conversation with the men, Sue, 25, was shot in the buttocks. The gunmen then fled the scene. Shortly after, Lydel Trancuso, 32, of Wallerfield, was standing in the vicinity of the Arima market when he was confronted by two men who shot him in the left thigh. He was treated at the Arima Hospital and warded. Then around 5.30 am, Collis Corbie, 34, of Trincity, was at his home when three men pretending to be police officers called him out of his house. He was attacked by the three men who tied him up and, during a struggle, Corbie was shot in the left thigh. He was also robbed of a firearm.

Four Trinidadians have been charged in connection with a series of armed robberies in Tobago within a period of 72 hours. The men were charged late Thursday afternoon following investigations by officers of the Special Task Force in the island.

A 29-year-old of Phase One, La Horquetta, has been placed on several charges of armed robbery and one count of kidnapping arising from an incident on Sunday (June 29) in which two female attendants at the NP Service Station in Carnbee were allegedly robbed at gun-point of some $12,000 in cash. He was also charged by Detective PC Earl Arthur, of the Scarborough CID, with kidnapping a Tobago man and robbing him of his car valued at $23,000. The man has also been charged by Detective Jason Clarke, of Crown Point Police, on separate counts of robbing a man of $400, as well as a woman of $800, both at Milford Court, Bon Accord, late Sunday. The three other men — a 27-year-old, also of Phase One, La Horquetta; a 21-year-old of Third Street, Barataria and another 27-year-old, of Monroe Road, Tunapuna — have also been charged with armed robbery at Busy Foods Supermarket at Darrell Spring in Scarborough on Tuesday last. It is alleged that the Busy Foods manager was robbed at gun-point of $8,500 in cash and a cell phone valued at $3,000, while a cashier was robbed of $2,700 in cash and other grocery items. The four men will appear in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday.