The man of Lendore Village, Chaguanas, was before Justice Hayden St Clair Douglas charged with having sex with a minor under the age of 14 .

The incident allegedly took place at his home on October 20, 2006 when he was 17 and the girl was 13 .

After deliberating for almost four hours on Friday, the jury returned with seven jurors voting in favour of acquittal while two found him guilty .

The alleged victim claimed that she was invited over by the accused who then raped her. She did not report the incident to her family or police until February 2007 after she realised she was pregnant .

The State presented DNA evidence which proved the man was the father of her child .

The man’s lawyers Sean Cazabon and Shane Kingston challenged the alleged victim’s claims that she was attacked by him .

In his defence, he admitted having sex with the girl but said they were in a relationship and he believed she was older since she told him she was 16 .

The case was prosecuted by Trevor Jones.

Other live band performances included Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons with the Asylum Band and Machel Montano and his band.

With thousands of patrons in attendance each night, the band also performed sets with Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy, Denise Belfon, Peter Ram and Lyrikal.

The highlight, however, came on night three with the All Stars as opening acts for Jamaican reggae superstar Beres Hammond and his band.

It was a highly-anticipated Caribbean music experience which ended the Carnival mega-concert series on a high note for organisers and patrons, according to a media release.

Event organiser Trevor Davis, expressed his admiration for the longest- standing music band in the Caribbean.

“Roy Cape All Stars were basically our resident band for three consecutive nights at the Bahamas Junkanoo mega-concerts and their professionalism just showed all the way.

They backed many of the artistes, and no matter the music catalogue, the performances were flawless.

We’re already looking forward to having the All Stars back in Bahamas for Carnival 2018 with the other soca artistes,” Davis said in the release..

“After three years, I definitely think Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is on the right track. This is still a new experience for our locals, so to see them and our visitors having such a wonderful time tells us that we have something unique and special about our culture in the Bahamas that the world can see and be a part of.” Hosted by the Bahamas National Festivals Commission (BNFC), Junkanoo Carnival has grown in popularity over the last three years. In addition to the concerts series, there is also a Parade of the Bands in downtown Nassau that sees thousands of masqueraders and spectators annually.

As the Season of Brass Global Tour continues, Roy Cape All Stars will fly to Florida for Orlando carnival at the end of May, then Bermuda in June for Heroes Weekend, with Antigua and Toronto carnivals also on the tour radar.

She gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 12.22 am. George and her husband Solomon Phillip agreed to name the baby Amelia who, although born prematurely, is in good health. Stephanie Farrow, 28, became a mother for the third time when she gave birth at 3.08 am. She said her husband Andy Phillips and her two children were excited about the new baby.

“They keep calling and asking about the child,” she said.

First time mother Vanessa Jagroop, 22, was surrounded by her four sisters and her parents at the hospital yesterday. She named her baby boy Aleem. Jagroop and her husband Imtiaz Ali chose the name before he was born. She said she made three trips to the hospital.

Aleem was initially due on May 5.

And Tesha Mascal, 40, of Moruga was graced by the presence of a baby girl at 7.24 am. This being Mascal’s fifth child, she said she is happy that everything went well.

The 20-year-old Champs Fleurs resident gave birth to a girl at 12.01 am at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope .

Cradling her sleeping daughter Moana Justine, Peters said she started getting labour pains on Friday morning but it wasn’t until Saturday night that she checked into the hospital .

Asked about the delivery, Peters told reporters it was “terrible because there was a lot of pain. But I’m thankful for the blessing of my child.” Moana, named after the lead female character in the Disney movie of the same name, weighed 6.3 pounds at birth and is the second child for her father, 24-year-old Shaka Cruickshank .

A smiling Cruickshank told reporters, “I’m excited to have a daughter. I have a seven-year-old son.” The family was also visited by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who jokingly asked Peters if he could take her baby girl home because their two children are all grown up but his wife still loves having babies around .

The new mom asked, “Just for the day?” to which the minister joked, “No, forever.” As everyone burst into laughter, Peters told Deyalsingh Moana’s father wouldn’t allow that .

Deyalsingh also asked Peters about her treatment by staff .

“The treatment was very nice .

Everybody has a different experience but my experience was nice. It was lovely and I thank all the staff for that.” On the other end of the East West Corridor, 32-year-old Mellissia Celestine of Barataria gave birth to a boy at the Maternity Ward of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital at 1.20 am .

Weighing just over seven pounds, Andel Ameer Celestine slept in his mother’s arms while she was being interviewed yesterday morning .

This is her third child; Celestine has an older son and daughter; one is 14, the other is 12 .

Deyalsingh also asked the mother if she had experienced poor treatment that is sometimes talked about in reference to the public health sector .

“That is old talk,” Celestine said with a smile .

According to police, at about 10.30 pm, Akino Suya was standing in line waiting to make a purchase when three men entered and shot him twice before running off. However, one of the men returned and fired a third shot at Suya.

Screaming customers and employees scampered for safety.

One customer who witnessed the killing told police he had just paid for his meal when he saw Suya enter the building followed shortly after by his assailants.

“This was like something out of a movie,” he told Newsday.

“At first I thought someone was shooting a movie but then I realised that it was all real when I saw (Suya) slump to the ground.” He said he quickly exited the establishment leaving behind his meal.

Officers of the Las Lomas police post responded to reports of a shooting and the area was cordoned off.

The body was viewed by a district medical officer who ordered that it be removed to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, where a post mortem is expected to be conducted today.

The outlet was closed for the rest of the night while police conducted interviews and processed the scene.

Police sources told Newsday that Suya, formerly of Building Five in Maloney, was a suspected gang member who recently began hiding out at Harracksingh Trace, Madras, Cunupia.

Ramroop raises requirements for preventing the transformation of large scale events into large scale disasters. Mitigation measures must accompany the building or renovation of any stadium and for the planning for any anticipated massive crowd.

Ramroop advocated systems for the safe evacuation of buildings and venues. He said a command centre with a good communication system and protective services staff who enforce protocols and law can save more lives than 100 safety officers with a poor communication system. Hospitals should be able to cater for a surge capacity of an extra 20 percent of their normal capacity, he calculated, and have field response teams able to initially stabilise victims at the incident site, so as to prevent a crush at the hospital.

These requirements should go beyond the limited meaning of Ramroop’s traditional definition of large scale events and should entail preparedness for the rainy and hurricane seasons which we dismiss until reality hits us in the face.

Indeed, now that the rains are upon us and the Atlantic readies to spawn its seasonal turbulence, we must ask whether the standard operating procedures to mitigate any adverse consequences and enable us to better weather any storm have been shared with all respondents.

We have grown quite accustomed to watching disasters – natural and man-made – unfurl with devastating effects on their locale. Most times we view them as a passing story without sparing much thought that it can happen here.

The head of the Seismic Research Centre keeps reminding us that we are due for “the big one” any time, but we are indifferent to her words until the next violent shake, relegating our exchanges only to who felt it and when and where and what they were doing at the time. Earthquakes we cannot predict, but we have a better handle on the type of weather that can occur at particular times of every year.

Our witness in Trinidad and Tobago to the characteristic Caribbean hurricane is mostly that of feeder bands with just enough rain to trigger inundation of homes and plains with flash flooding thankfully most times without irreparable damage.

But despite the ominous signs of what can happen from a larger event, we do not go much beyond quarrelling over spill-off issues like the lack of dredging and the presence of clogged waterways from the waste we carelessly dump everywhere.

All of therefore Ramroop’s letter and its warnings assume added significance because he knows that rain and hurricanes can also be large scale events and we must prepare for them with the same diligence as we do for the traditional.

He was speaking with the media during the Police Service annual sports day on Saturday at the Police Training Academy, St James.

At least 39 people have been killed during a month and a half of protests by citizens and opposition forces against the government of President Nicol?s Maduro. The country has also been plagued by severe shortages of medical supplies and food, the latter of which Trinidad and Tobago provided assistance in 2016 by having locally manufactured goods sent to the country.

On Saturday, Dillon reported that there has not been a “substantial increase” of Venezuelans for this period. He pointed out that throughout history there has always been movement of Venezuelans and Trinidadians across the border. “And I am from Point Fortin and I can tell you I know Venezuelans coming across.” He said, however, that they have seen Venezuelans coming to purchase goods, especially food items, to take back to Venezuela.

Asked about Venezuelans remaining in the country illegally Dillon responded that there are some Venezuelans who enter the country and remain “but not a substantial amount.” He added that they have been able to track them as well and they have the figures, but reiterated that it was not large.

A group of Venezuelans in Trinidad have expressed solidarity with the protesters in Venezuela and held demonstrations at the Venezuelan Embassy and the Queen’s Park Savannah to denounce Maduro as a “dictator”. Last week the Joint Trade Union Movement visited the Venezuelan Embassy to express solidarity with Maduro and his government and blamed the suffering of the people on opposition forces.

Rambharat spoke about his “deep and personal interest in food safety” last Wednesday while addressing participants in a High Level Executive Meeting hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation at Kapok Hotel, Port-of-Spain.

Rambharat recalled that during his first month in office; September 2015, he wrote to his aforementioned colleagues, “indicating to them that it was very clear that this ministry (Agriculture) has a vested interest in matters of food safety and nutrition.” Regarding his follow up request that they work together on “pressing issues” such as food laundering and food fraud, Rambharat said “consumers have the right to know what they are eating (and therefore) there is a responsibility on all of us to tell our consumers what they are dealing with.” According to the Agriculture Ministry, the objective of this meeting was to present to senior Government officials with a synopsis of partners’ programmes conducted in 2016, to help address negative trends associated with food safety and non-communicable diseases.

They also aimed to reach agreement on proceeding with planned initiatives for 2017 – 2018.

Discussion were centred on the finalisation and approval of the Food Safety Policy; Operationalisation of the Risk-based Manual on Food Safety; Implementation of Food Safety Communication Behavioural Impact (COMBI) Plans; and Implementation of a Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) programme.

In addition, the officials were challenged by Minister Rambharat to: 1) Bridge the gap between these workshops and the “vital work we do with what is happening out there and what the citizens of this country have to deal with”; 2) Move from the technical work that has been done to implementation; and 3) Recognise their responsibility to “communicate with the citizens of this country, drawing their attention to risks, opportunities, cautions and precautions.”

He served as an Opposition Senator in 2001, and then began a nine year ministerial career under former prime minister Patrick Manning.

Dumas was minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister (2001 to 2002), minister of public utilities (2002 to 2003), minister of local government (2003 to 2007) and minister of labour (2007 to 2010). In 2007 he was elected Tobago East MP.

In an interview on I95.5FM yesterday, Dumas’ ex wife said he was suffering from a faulty heart valve for which he recently had surgery from which his family hoped he would recuperate.

She described him as “kind and generous and always willing to help others.” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in a media release, offered his condolences.

“Mr Dumas’ service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago signified his innate sense of patriotism which was his driving force throughout his public service career,” Rowley said.

Former minister of education and minister of local government, Hazel Manning and wife of former prime minister, the late Patrick Manning, offered her condolences to Dumas’ family.

“He was a very good colleague,” she said. “When I followed him in the Ministry of Local Government, he gave quite a lot of advice. I followed in some of his programmes. We worked closely.” Manning added, “I knew he was ill. I kept track. I kept talking to others who would tell me what was happening. I chatted with him earlier this year.

Everything was good at that time. Unfortunately he is gone.”

GOPEE-SCOON: EASY TO GET ALONG WITH

Another former Cabinet colleague, Trade Minister Paula Gope Scoon, told Newsday Dumas was “very easy to get along with.” She said, “He was very conscientious, always looking after the interest of the man in the street.

A loyal son of Tobago, God rest his soul.” Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Tobago East MP Ayanna Webster-Roy told Newsday Dumas was her campaign manager in the 2015 general election.

“Tobago has lost a brilliant mind. He was quite the intellect, a charismatic individual and a very committed PNM member.

He was my father’s friend, often in our house socialising. I knew Rennie as just the average man, the friendly man, the jovial man, who was always laughing and having a drink with my father at home and reminiscing about their teaching careers.” Minister of Public Administration, Maxie Cuffie, also on I95.5 FM said Dumas had made a very good contribution on Tobago issues and had championed the full integration of Trinidad and Tobago, while Tobago House of Assembly chief secretary, Kelvin Charles, said Dumas had made an invaluable contribution to both party and country.

A Ministry of Public Administration statement mourned his passing. Dumas is survived by his companion Annalean Innis and eight children.

“A towering figure, whose height earned him the nickname ‘Stretch’, Dumas was a true son of the Tobago soil. He received his secondary education at Bishop’s High School in Tobago, and regardless of where his educational and professional travels took him, he always returned to his beloved Plymouth.

“He was relentless in his pursuit of an enhanced quality of life for his fellow Tobagonians and always contributed to the discussion on the issue of greater autonomy for Tobago. His last foray into the political arena was his challenge to become the political leader of the PNM in Tobago in 2016.” Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein, in a statement, hailed Dumas for his dedicated service and good governance.

“He brought his intellect, expertise and resourcefulness to every endeavour and his great service and contribution to the development of this nation that he so loved, will be remembered by his colleagues and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. I am grateful to stand in his wake at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, knowing that he has in great measure paved a way forward, especially in the area of local government reform.

LEGAL TROUBLES

Dumas, however, also faced his fair share of problems having been found guilty in April 2013 of on two counts of common assault at the Scarborough Magistrates Court. He was accused striking Roger Simon, also known as “Abdul Jabar”, in his face on June 1, 2011 with his (Dumas’) licensed firearm knocking out several of Simon’s teeth.

On the charge of common assault Dumas was fined $3,500 or nine months hard labour, and on the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, he was fined $15,000 or two years in jail.

Dumas appealed and the Court of Appeal set aside the conviction and ordered a new trial as the allegations against him were quite serious and justice required it.

On Facebook yesterday, those offering condolences included former Laventille West MP NiLeung Hypolite, former SWMCOL head Ray Brathwaite, and Sigler Jack, chairman of the Diego Martin West PNM constituency of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Dumas was born in Plymouth, Tobago and attended Bishop’s High School and the University of the West Indies , St Augustine.

He worked as a school teacher, as TTUTA’s Tobago representative, as coordinator of the THA’s strategic oversight unit, and as a business analyst.

A statement yesterday in the name of several family members said funeral arrangements will soon be announced. They thanked all those who provided support and comfort through his illness.

“His loss comes as a shock to us all as his will to live was strong.

But we take comfort in the fact that he is now in the safe arms of God. To those who called visited, messaged, enquired, contributed or said a prayer, we say a heartfelt thank you as without your support we would not have made it this far.” They thanked the doctors and nurses of the High Dependency Unit, Mount Hope Hospital for the dignity and respect he was given.

“Rennie, aka Stretch, was loved and respected by many and our sincere hope is that his memory continues to live on in all of us.”

Replacing the spirited guitars of the Gypsy Kings in Moorea, the Steel Ensemble offered a flamenco dance of pan and brass at the May 6 event. The brass notes were manly and striding, but were soon caressed by soft and swaying pan tones, groovy and feminine .

Pan, plus brass, joined in the Indian Classical Ensemble’s lively and unique rendition of the 1980 Bollywood disco-styled hit Aap Jaisa Koi, among others. Even in Takeda’s Lullaby, a 1969 Japanese song of a young girl watching the mountains and yearning for her faraway family, pan held its own, as confident and adaptable .

When the Steel Ensemble took centre stage, pan comfortably drifted back in time 300 years ago to so elegantly play Handell’s Water Music, Hornpipe, of 1717 .

Opera star Andrea Bocelli’s Con Te Partido was beautifully handled by pan en masse, with solo vocalist Sadie Baxter, conducted by Jessel Murray .

The Steel Ensemble also offered the carefree saunter of Morning Dance by Jay Beckenstein, Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, Ben E King’s Stand By Me, and two local pan compositions namely Mark Loquan’s Pan Kingdom and Pan Groove composed by UWI student Raine Rivas .

Pan’s parent, the African drum, also took centre-stage .

The Drumming Ensemble provided a powerful backing to the impassioned rendition of Ella Andall’s Missing Generation by vocalists Rondez Lewis and Christelle London, with Keisha Codrington on tenor pan and Alexander Evans on guitar. Then the 12 drummers let loose with their own passionate and pounding composition, Drumology. All in all an amazing musical journey around the world showing pan’s versatility in all climes