“Crime doesn’t pay,” said Derrick Aberdeen whose son Keston Aberdeen was killed along with Ken Ramlal.

“I just have to say to the youths out there, refrain from crime.” Derrick Aberdeen said yesterday he has no idea what his son was doing in Laventille. He (Keston) and Ramlal are said to be from La Brea.

At the Forensics Science Centre in St James, the grieving father told Newsday that his son had two matters before the court, one for car theft and another for robbery. He said he never confronted Keston about claims that he was involved in illegal activities.

“What he was doing was his business. I heard about those things but I never saw it and I never asked him about it. I don’t even want to know who killed my son, I just want to know what he was doing all the way up in Port of Spain.” He said he does not believe anything will come out of the investigation into his son’s killing.

Ramlal’s relatives said they just wanted to mourn in peace.

“I don’t have much to say on the matter,” said one relative.

“All I can say is that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The family is in a mess over this. We are in total shock.” Police have not yet been able to ascertain a motive for the killings.

It was shortly before 5.30 pm when residents of St Rose and Belgrade streets heard gunshots.

When they checked, they found Aberdeen and Ramlal dead in a blue Mazda 323 car.

According to reports, at about 11.30 pm, Sgt Persad and officers of the Central Division were on patrol at Dash Trace, Enterprise when they saw a vehicle.

The car was being driven by the 16-year-old and when officers stopped the vehicle one of the occupants attempted to flee but was cornered. The vehicle was searched and the items allegedly found.

Officers then searched the Longdenville, Enterprise homes of the four suspects and at one of the homes a 21-yearold man was allegedly found with a quantity of marijuana.

The five were taken into custody and are expected to be charged with several offences

Speaking in the Senate, he said these additional resources include members of the Rapid Response Unit, Inter-Agency Task Force and Guard and Emergency Branch.

He said this has resulted in an increased number of mobile and foot patrols in the area.

Dillon also disclosed that the managerial capacity of the Central Division of the Police Service has been strengthened “with the creation of the portfolio of Assistant Commissioner of Police (CoP) Central, an executive officer at the rank of Assistant CoP being assigned the responsibility to oversee the entire division.”

He explained that in this new arena, “the Central Division will receive more focused attention as it will be grouped with one other division, as opposed to the original arrangement of being one of the three divisions.”

He continued, “Officers attached to stations in the Central Division are well equipped with the requisite protective gear including bulletproof vests, firearms and vehicles to enable them to perform their duties effectively.”

Asked by Opposition Senator Wade Mark whether armoured personnel carriers would be acquired for the security forces given what is being reported as sophisticated equipment being used by criminals in central Trinidad, Dillon replied that law enforcement officers are “well equipped to treat with any eventuality at this time.”

Earlier in the sitting, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon said TT remains attractive to investors despite the challenges posed by crime. She cited political stability, easy access to the Americas and low-cost energy as some of the reasons why businesses continued to invest in TT.

“I could not believe what I was hearing until I heard it from the rest of my family,” said a relative who wished not to be named.

Richardson was last seen alive by his parents on Monday morning.

Newsday was told that he had gone to his workplace in Arima to collect his pay check. When he returned, he spoke with family members then left. Richardson was shot dead at about 8.50 am just off Nelson Street.

When police arrived on the scene they found Richardson in a pool of blood in a track. He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Relatives described Richardson as a hard-working and helpful young man who would do anything for his family especially the person who relatives believe has something to do with his death.

“If he (Kadeem) had a plate of food, he would eat half and give half to him. If the boy comes to our house, he and Kadeem would drink from the same bottle. They grew up like brothers.” Relatives explained that Richardson lived at Factory Road, Diego Martin, but moved to Laventille years ago.

He then left Laventille, which is said to be controlled by one gang, and moved to Duncan Street which is said to be controlled by another. No arrest has yet been made

The students were then robbed of their money however they were able to alert other students who called a teacher and the principal.

Officers of the Freeport Police Station were notified and they went to the school and detained the three suspects.

The parents of the three students were contacted and statements were being recorded yesterday.

A report on the matter has been sent to the school’s supervisor for the area and the Ministry of Education.

Notice of the letter having been sent was relayed to Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar by Bakr’s lead counsel Wayne Sturge when the matter came up for hearing in the Port of Spain Eight Magistrates Court yesterday.

In the letter, dated April 4, 2017, Sturge reminded DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, of his power to intervene and discontinue prosecutions.

Sturge also reminded Gaspard of his (Gaspard’s) own appearance at the enquiry at which he offered suggestions to the commissioners for the taking of Bakr’s testimony after the Muslimeen leader, through his attorney, expressed his reluctance to appear, citing pre-trial publicity at his sedition trial.

Sturge, in his letter to Gaspard, referred him to a similar decision he took in the Clico and HCU commission of inquiry and of his previous decision to prosecute Bakr for failing to appear before the 1990 commission.

Sturge gave Gaspard 14 days in which to intervene in the magisterial proceedings against Bakr.

At yesterday’s sitting, Bakr was expected to open his defence after Ayers-Caesar, on March 24, ruled that he had a case to answer.

The matter was adjourned to April 19.

The complaint was brought by the secretary to the Commission of Enquiry after Bakr failed to heed a summons to appear before the enquiry in September 2013.

Representing the commission are attorneys Senior Counsel Israel Khan and Larry Lalla while Sturge and Criston J Williams appear for Bakr.

“We had cogent, compelling intelligence before us that something bad was to happen and we had to act,” Richardson said as he gave evidence in a false imprisonment claim brought by Boney against the State.

Justice Vasheist Kokaram is the judge hearing the matter in the Port of Spain High Court. Boney, who is on remand for gang-related charges, was present yesterday.

He was one of some 17 people, including a police sergeant, who were arrested in connection with a threat to assassinate the then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three members of Cabinet as well as create public disorder and panic.

The men’s plan was supposed to have been executed on November 24.

Boney was released without being charged after being in custody for some five days.

“This was an assassination plot,” Richardson said. “It was a big deal.” According to Richardson who led the investigations, police acted immediately to detain “all the players” to pre-empt the plot.

“I still had the view that if we did not take pre-emptive action we would have had a situation injurious to good order,” he said.

“Thank God we acted in the way we did.” Richardson also partly revealed that the security agencies received intelligence that a person from the “Far East” was expected to arrive in Trinidad as part of the plot.

He said when he received the report on the alleged plot two weeks before November 21, 2011, he was instructed by Persad-Bissessar to conduct a full-scale investigation and within days people were detained, interviewed and useful information obtained.

Richardson said Boney’s name was on the list of suspects and surveillance and discreet inquiries were conducted by police.

He also defended the continued detention of Boney and the others after the 24-hour period under the Emergency Powers Regulations expired. “Intelligence kept coming.” Richardson said investigators had asked for more time to investigate and interview Boney and the others. He also said they received information that Boney was a gang member and denied that it was wrong to say police had no intention to charge him for anything.

He also denied a suggestion by Boney’s attorney that the only reason for his arrest was that the authorities wanted him to give them information they thought he had on criminal activity.

“That was never the reason,” Richardson responded.

Richardson also disclosed that the late Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal was advising him and his team of investigators, although he admitted that the advice of the DPP was not sought by them.

He also said he briefed the national security minister and opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley on the alleged plot.

Attorneys Coreen Findley and Rachel Thurab are representing the Attorney Genera

This was the order of High Court Judge Justice Joan Charles yesterday in the San Fernando High Court after Davika Bhimull-Bisnath agreed to reduce the height of the fence which had prompted Santi Bhimull to file a lawsuit in November last year.

Bhimull contended that the fence disrupted her view, prevented her from getting sunlight and blocked her airspace at San Francique Road, Penal.

She argued that as neighbours, a fence between residential properties must not exceed more than seven feet in height if permission from the Minister of Planning has not been obtained. Bhimull-Bisnath, however, justified her construction of the fence claiming that Bhimull’s family members often bathed naked in their yard. She even tendered photographs to support her claim.

Earlier this year, the Town and Country Planning Division wrote to Bhimull-Bisnath and invited her to apply for permission to construct a wall of such height.

When the matter came up before Charles, attorney Stephen Boodram instructed by Jeevan Rampersad representing Bhimull, made submissions.

Attorneys representing Bhimull-Bisnath also replied. In the end, Charles ruled that by consent, the parties arrived at a compromised position in full and final settlement of the claim and counterclaim

This assurance was given yesterday by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young during a conversation with reporters at the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Tower in Port-of-Spain.

Young accompanied Rowley to his meetings in Houston.

Young also disclosed that BHP Billiton recently discovered new reserves of natural gas in deep-water acreages off east Trinidad.

He said Government is working to resolve the gas supply issue with Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd (MTHL) which led to the closure of two of that company’s five plants at the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate. “Certain formula is being worked on with respect to gas and diversion of gas that we are hoping will allow them to restart their plants,” he said, adding the final decision will be MTHL’s.

Stressing that the National Gas Company (NGC) will remain the aggregator of natural gas, Young said the Government has no intention of opening up the market to allow up-streamers to provide gas directly to down-streamers as this would kill NGC. He also reiterated that poor policy decisions by the former People’s Partnership (PP) government contributed to the gas shortage and has resulted in NGC having to deal with $3 billion in claims from certain entities.

Describing last week’s trip to Houston as “very successful” and the conclusion of “months and months of discussions” with energy multinational companies based there, Young said, “We managed, we think, to continue to give buoyancy to the industry for the next few years and in fact to attract investment beyond 2019.” He said one of the things which was successfully negotiated with BP and Shell “is a continued supply of gas up to 2019, to keep us at the levels that we are at now.” He said these companies also agreed that any increase or finds of gas or increased efficiencies on their part will see them selling “to NGC to assist the downstream industry.” Young said, “From that aspect, we’ve gotten more gas going until 2019.” Noting the Juniper project will be on stream in the third quarter of 2017 and will maintain the country’s gas production at its current levels, he said, “When you are in a situation like this, any more scuffs of gas is going to assist.” He said, “What we have been speaking to them about is an allocation of more gas to the downstream (industry).” Young said the Government has been meeting with the downstream companies over time and “telling them if they can come up with any methods they think they can suggest to also assist, we would be willing to listen to that.” On the Angelin Project which will supplement Juniper, he said the PP had “come off the gas” regarding discussions to move that project and “that is what led to a delay with Angelin.” He also said certain fiscal policies by the PP resulted in TT being deprived of much needed energy revenues.

On discussions with Exxon Mobil, which is active in Guyana’s emerging energy sector, Young said, “The Prime Minister had prefaced that with meetings with President (David) Granger in Guyana. TT is about to sign a new MOU on energy with the Government of Guyana but, we are really looking to play a supporting role to the government of Guyana going forward.” He also said Exxon was invited to TT to see the infrastructure that is available here.

“They were interested in our deep-water harbours. They have been utilising our service companies and providers. We want to see how we can build it,” Young said.

The minister said there was no discussion about Exxon acquiring or becoming involved in Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre refinery.

He also said the Gas Master Plan which stalled under the PP is being worked on and will be laid in Parliament this month.

Once laid it would be sent to the Energy Joint Select Committee of Parliament for scrutiny.

Taking the floor to contribute to the debate on the Andean Development Corporation Bill, Khan said, “So I feel good. Not so good and so brave as my good friend Mr Panday who said, if he sees me fighting a lion, he will be sorry for the lion.” To laughter, he said, “At this point in my life, I am not looking for any fight with no lion. The occasional fight with (Opposition) Senator (Wade) Mark will suffice.” Apart from thanking all the members of the Senate for their sentiments on his recovery, he thanked the thousands of ordinary citizens who sent messages, expressed their concerns and prayed for him.

“Sometimes as politicians we feel vilified,” he said, “but this experience has taught me that there are a lot of ordinary citizens out there who genuinely care about their leaders. To them all, I thank them sincerely.” Speaking briefly about his illness, he said that while on vacation in Thailand in December last year, he fell ill. “Gravely ill. As a matter of fact, I was hospitalised for 12 days in what turned out to be a cardiac event,” he said.

On his return to Trinidad and Tobago, he said, he had additional testing and immediate bypass surgery on January 8.

Thanking is medical team in Thailand and Trinidad, he said, “After about three months I am here standing by the grace of God.” He said, “I must say that the Thai medical system was first class, and so too was my treatment here in Trinidad.” He thanked his wife and children for their support and being close to him during surgery and recovery.

Thanking Government and Cabinet, he made special mention of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for his support, understanding, care, and concern.

Not sure if he should say this, Khan said, though, he was given clearance to resume duties since March 20, when he told him, he quoted Rowley as saying, “No way. Take two extra weeks. I want to be sure that you are rested and fit to take office.” He also thanked acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Colm Imbert who gave support to his wife while she was in Thailand, and for taking over his energy portfolio even though Imbert’s ministry is challenging. Imbert also acted for him as chairman of the People’s National Movement.

He also recognised Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon who acted as Leader of Government Business while he was on leave.