Three masked gunmen armed with 9 mm pistols opened gunfire on a group of men engaged in a card game at Trou Macaque, Laventille,  killing a St Ann’s Hospital wards attendant and a mason, around midnight on Friday.

The deaths of Richard Kirt Rosal, 32, and Julien “Boy Boy” De Gannes, 33, who both died at ward 54, of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital early yesterday, pushed the murder rate to 94 persons for the year, so far. Both victims are believed to have died from gunshot injuries to the head. Four others, identified as Anslem Cox, 21; Thor John, 21; Brendon Cox, 19, and Kelvin George, 21, who were also shot, were up until yesterday listed in serious condition at ward 54 of the hospital.

Police investigators said yesterday that based on information received, the gunmen are believed to be part of a gang from an area in Laventille known as “Africa.” They added that the bullets were not meant for Rosal and De Gannes. Police reports revealed that just after midnight, Rosal, De Gannes and four men were engaged in a card game at the corner of Springville Road, Trou Macaque, when three masked gunmen emerged from a dirt track and began firing at the six men. The gunmen then fled the scene through the same dirt track and escaped. All six were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where they were warded. Rosal and De Gannes died at ward 54 without regaining consciousness. Cynthia Rosal, the grieving mother of murder victim Richard Rosal, said that her son earned an honest living as a mason and had a rasta hairstyle because he was fascinated with the hairstyle. She pointed out that he was respected in the area and was the voice of many people  when the area was plagued by a lack of water. Several young men of the area claimed that he often counselled them, advising that they live a good life.

Yesterday, his picture was placed on a public notice board in the area by several of his friends who appeared angry by the killings. “We want the Prime Minister to know that we are unhappy with the crime situation in Laventille, and we also want him to know that innocent people are being killed and no one seems to have the solution to put an end to the senseless killings,” Rosal’s mother said. She pointed out that when she was finally allowed to view the body of her son at the hospital, his rasta hairstyle was already shaved off in preparation for surgery but she insisted that her son was not attended to by any doctor. At Buller Trace, Laventille, Aretha Arcia, who described herself as the best friend of De Gannes said that Julien was not involved in any gang, and hardly ever went anywhere. She added that he attended  a “blocko fete” at the Trou Macaque, basketball court on Friday and was returning home when he became engaged in the card game close to the basketball court. She pointed out that she is certain that it was a case of mistaken identity. She added that “Boy Boy” as she fondly called him was interested in securing his own home and having his two children ages five and three to live in a good community.

Arcia said that when she heard of the shooting she rushed to the scene and assisted in taking her friend to hospital. She claimed that no doctor attended to Julien and it was only when he was pronounced dead at ward 54 around 2.30 am that a doctor was seen on the ward. Arcia expressed outrage over what she described as “senseless killings” and added that she was fed up of the situation in Laventille. She added that the police/army patrols placed in Laventille are not enough. She also feels that every area in Laventille should have the permanent presence of the police and army on a daily and nightly basis. A party of officers led by Snr Supt Reyes and including Ag Supt Denoon, Insp Ramnarine and others visited the scene of the shooting deaths. Investigations are being conducted by officers of the Besson Street Police Station.

Public Administration Minister, Dr Lenny Saith, was forced to undergo emergency surgery yesterday at Southern Medical Centre, Quenca Street, San Fernando after being admitted for profuse bleeding from the urethra tract.

Performing the surgery was noted urologist, Dr Lall Sawh, who had to be summoned from a birthday retreat in Tobago. The surgery, known as trans-urethran resection and coagulation of the prostate, was performed by non-evasive means, with an endoscopic tube inserted through the penis and into the prostate gland. Dr Sawh said the entire procedure took approximately half hour with Minister Saith being administered a general anaesthetic. He confirmed that the operation was a success with Dr Saith being able to return to work by the middle of next week. “Dr Saith is fully awake and alert and is experiencing no pain or other discomfort,” Dr Sawh said.

According to Dr Sawh, the 67-year old Minister, who had never been treated for complications relating to the prostate gland, observed the bleeding sometime on Friday night. “He immediately telephoned me, and I changed plans and returned to Trinidad,” Dr Sawh said, adding that Saith had suffered significant blood loss during the night. Dr Sawh noted that former President, ANR Robinson, had also been treated for the same condition and had undergone a full recovery.

Police officers investigating the stabbing death of 14-year-old Tranquillity Government Secondary School student George “Junior” Langford have secured a warrant for the arrest of a 20-year woman in connection with the murder.

The warrant was secured on Friday, and yesterday, investigators said that they were trying to obtain an address where the suspect may be hiding out. Police have secured three statements identifying the suspect in the murder. Investigators said yesterday that the suspect has gone into hiding. Sunday Newsday learned that in all three statements, the eyewitnesses claimed that on Wednesday night, Langford had solicited the services of the murder suspect and told her that he had $80. Reports revealed that she refused and Langford later spoke with another prostitute. As he was crossing the roadway at the corner of Roberts and Alfredo Streets, Woodbrook, he reportedly verbally abused the murder suspect and she reportedly cursed him. He then rushed across to where she was standing and slapped her. She attempted to slap Langford and then allegedly pulled out an icepick and stabbed him on the left side of his heart. He collapsed and died and the murder suspect ran away.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert yesterday ordained six new deacons at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He said the event showed that the momentum for vocational recruitment will pick up and visibility of the church would be made evident.

Addressing the deacons — transitional deacons aiming to eventually become priests — Gilbert said that many people were “frightened to death” of making a commitment which would last their whole life. But he recalled Pope John Paul once advising those undertaking a vocation to listen to the Holy Spirit, pursue holiness and keep God as their priority. “Holiness is very specific — an honest attempt to live our lives according to God.” Disclosing that millions of people loved the Lord and had committed themselves to ministry, Gilbert urged: “Don’t be afraid to make this commitment, to surrender yourselves to the Lord…If you do, I guarantee you will have a full life and a fulfilling life, and will touch the lives of many people, many who you have not even met yet.” He warned the deacons that although presence and service were at the heart of ministry, they also had a duty to sustain their Christian life by daily prayer. “Transitional deacons as of today will accept the responsibility to pray every day for the church.”

Gilbert spelt out four requirements for ministry. He said those ministering should act out of love (rather than duty), be patient, respond to the needs of their people, and be willing to shift gears emotionally, say from a joyous wedding in the morning to a sad funeral in the evening. He advised: “It is not what you feel but the people who you are serving.” In a warning to anyone who likes to be centre-stage, he said: “But the church tradition says ‘serve’ selflessly and generously. If you are looking for adulation, for praise, for acceptance, for joy, there is still time to leave. “In the Roman Catholic tradition, meaning comes in only one way — surrendering to God. Any other agenda will eventually work against you.” Those ordained were: Wilfred John, Derek Anton, Brother Alan Mohammed, Brother Dwight Black, Brother Gerard Tang Choon, and Christian Chambers.  As the Archbishop presented a copy of the Bible to each deacon, he advised: “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practise what you teach.”

Police are searching for a suspect who chopped a 31-year-old off-duty policeman several times on his hand on Friday night.

The policeman was attacked several hours after another policeman, PC Larry Legende, was stabbed by a retired soldier outside a Tableland bar early on Friday morning.  Up to late yesterday the ex-soldier had not yet been found. In the latest stabbing, police reports stated that at around 9.25 pm, PC Glen Steele, attached to the Mon Repos Police Station, was proceeding south along the San Fernando By-Pass when he stopped at the traffic lights at the Pleasantville intersection.

Reports stated that a man brandishing a cutlass appraoched his car and started chopping it. The policeman came out of his car and was attacked by the man who chopped him repeatedly on his left hand. Steele called out for help and ran from his assailant. The suspect got scared and ran away in the opposite direction. Steele is warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Mon Repos police are continuing investigations.

PLANS to be married this month were postponed after a couple was attacked and robbed by five bandits who burnt down their home, on Friday night, at Reservoir Hill,  Point Fortin. 

Clint Jacob, 31, a chef, and his fiancee, Joanne Beaumont, 25, were terrorised for almost an hour by the bandits  who ordered them to hand over US money. During the robbery,  Jacob was beaten about his body with a cutlass and chopped on his head and buttocks. Eventually the bandits left without the money but took with them the couple’s entertainment centre, television set, video and other items. While the couple was making a report at the Point Fortin Police Station, it is believed that the bandits returned and set the house on fire.

Investigators said they believed that the bandits burnt the house to get rid of any evidence they had left behind. Jacob and Beaumont were taken to the Point Fortin hospital where they were treated and discharged. The couple had been renting the wooden/concrete house since last September. The owner, Ruby Jules, estimated the value of the house to be at $200,000.

Speaking from his mother’s home at Techier Village yesterday, Jacob said he believed the bandits burnt down the house, believing that they (he and Beaumont) were still in it. Jacob told Sunday Newsday that sometime after 11 pm, he and Beaumont were awakened by three masked men, who were standing over his bed. He said two other masked men came in shortly after. Two were armed with a gun and one with a cutlass. Jacob said the bandits kept asking him for US currency but he told them that they did not have any. He said his hands were bound behind his back with pieces of cloth from a torn sheet. Jacob said he was hit on his head with a gun butt and dragged to another room where a sheet was placed over his head.

While he was being interrogated about the money, Jacob said the bandits were beating him on his back and hands with the  cutlass. He was also chopped on his head and buttocks.
Jacob said the bandits proceeded to ransack the house and stole a quantity of electronic items. When the bandits eventually left, Beaumont, whose hands were tied, chewed on the cloth until she was able to free herself. Jacob believed that the bandits gained entry through a vent in the toilet area. Jacob and his girlfriend had planned to move to another place after their wedding this month. “But for now the wedding has been put off until we could go through everything,” Jacob said. Point Fortin police are continuing investigations.

ST JAMES shows, through the evolution of its past, that it is entirely possible to live to the simultaneous beats of the drums of many different types.

So declared Prime Minister Patrick Manning in an address at the opening of We Beat St James Live 2003 at the St James Park and Amphitheatre, last Friday night.“We would do well to remember that the streams of our civilisation include many more rivers than the Ganges and the Nile,” said Manning. “Indeed, we would do well to remember the Thames, the Seine, the Tigris and the Euphrates, this last out of present concern. For we lay claim to ancestry which includes them all. I say, therefore, let the drums beat, for they beat for all of us.”A presentation of the St James Community Improvement Committee (CIC), the We Beat festival, a 9-day cultural extravaganza, is paying tribute this year to dancer extraordinaire, Julia Edwards.

The opening programme, titled “Merging of the Cultures,” featured dance performances by Sat and Mondira Balkaransingh, Flamenco Solo Flamenco, Chinese Arts Group, Noble Douglas Dance Company, Malick Folk Performers, and the Julia Edwards Dance Company. Additional entertainment was supplied by the Nada Sangama Steel Orchestra; ace musicians Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Pelham Goddard; and calypsonians Scrunter (Owen Reyes Johnson) and Baron (Timothy Watkins). Show host was radio personality Phil Simmons. Seated on a decorated platform, borne by six sturdy young men, Edwards was brought on stage to a standing ovation from patrons present to accept gifts of hampers donated by Carib Brewery, National Flour Mills (NFM) and Angostura Limited; a commemorative plaque from the Trinidad and Tobago Crafts and Arts Producers Association; and a plaque and financial reward, courtesy the CIC. The acknowledged “First Lady of Limbo” arrived at the venue as the featured attraction in a colourful and lively parade along a strip of the Western Main Road, that featured vibrant Tassa and African drumming, energetic folk dancers, proud banner bearers and graceful stilt walkers.

In previous We Beat celebrations, homage was paid to Anthony Williams, pan tuner and innovator associated with Pan Am North Stars Steel Orchestra, and Norman Darway for his contribution towards the development of sports, especially weightlifting and bodybuilding. Minister of Culture and Tourism Pennelope Beckles, in an address, observed that paying homage to community elders (persons who have given their lives to community service and the promotion of artistic and cultural traditions) was the hallmark of the We Beat festival. “The city and people of St James have contributed significantly to the cultural life of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. “The First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago Arts, the late Beryl Mc Burnie, opened up her home on Panka Street, St James, for the establishment of a Theatre Workshop which became a centre for creative exchange of ideas for our young and fledgling artistes, as well as a performance space. Even though We Beat is only three years old, it has already established itself as one of the signature festivals on the national calendar.”

In the varied cultural showcase on the evening’s playbill, the performance of Flamenco Solo Flamenco stood out. The group’s repertoire afforded a look at the dance, song and music of Spain through guitar playing and rhythmic punctuation by handclaps and a wide variety of choreographic expressions that included all the essential elements of Flamenco. We Beat St James Live 2003 continues nightly at the Amphitheatre until Saturday June 7.