The 42-year-old TT coach, during the post-game media conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, stressed, “We can enjoy only five minutes because the focus would be immediately on Mexico. We have to start preparing.” Mexico defeated Costa Rica 2-0 at home on Friday night, and will face the TT squad at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday.

He said he is taking nothing to chance with the Mexico game a couple of days away and is awaiting a report from a scout that attended Mexico’s game.

“I’ve got an idea what Mexico (are) all about,” said Lawrence. “I managed to send somebody out to watch the Mexico game. We’ll get a report and we’ll work on Mexico immediately.” Lawrence refused to divulge the identity of the person sent to the Mexico-Costa Rica but he pointed out, “It’s one of our coaches who works with the (TT Football Association).

It’s somebody that I trust.” He continued, “I’m not stupid, I know we’re not wealthy as a nation but there are ways to get things done. I just suggested we’ve got coaches involved in the FA, somebody who I trust, let’s send him to the Mexico game.” Kevin Molino scored in the 37th minute to guarantee full points for the hosts on Friday evening, and Lawrence lauded his forward’s performance.

“Kevin was outstanding from a point that he was one of our players that allowed us to get up the pitch,” said Lawrence. “He was always involved in everything. It’s just unfortunate that he ran out a bit of gas (but) he was brilliant.” Reflecting on the goal, the ex-TT defender said, “They (Panama) had one player (defender Roman Torres) off the pitch. I thought we just needed to take advantage of it so I tried to get them to get the ball forward as quick as possible because they were down to 10 men. Fortunately, the boys responded to it and we got the goal.” Asked about his captain Kenwyne Jones’ showing, Lawrence replied, “The captain led by example.

The captain gave me all what I wanted from him. He gave me every single thing he (could). His decision-making at times could be better but as long as he gives me (effort) I’m happy.” Another shock move in the starting line-up was Daneil Cyrus moving from his usual position as right-back to centre-back, due to the unavailability of Sheldon Bateau (suspension), Radanfah Abu Bakr and Carlyle Mitchell (injury).

“Before I left Trinidad to go abroad (to coach), that’s the position I saw him play. And I thought he was a good centre back. We tried him in training. He did well (against Panama) but he has to keep his concentration going all the way through.” About the supporters who attended Friday’s game, the TT coach urged them to not give up and urge the players forward as they seek to qualify for Russia 2018.

“I want to thank them for their efforts. We have to start believing as a nation that it can be done. It is very difficult but it can be done.

We just need to get away from the idea that when it looks like it’s going to happen we’ll jump on board.

Let’s get behind the boys now,” he declared.

Panama coach Hernan Gomez was so upset by the result that he refused all requests for interviews, by both the local and Panama journalists.

Midfielder Kevin Molino scored in the 37th minute as TT earned a battling victory.

Molino declined to be interviewed by the media after the game but a number of his teammates were pleased with the fan support as well as their performances under pressure.

One such person is striker Kenwyne Jones, who was back on the team – and as captain – after he was excluded from the squad altogether by previous coach Tom Saintfiet.

“I feel okay,” was his response when asked about his return to the squad. “That stuff don’t matter to me. At the end of the day, my mindset is about doing the best for Trinidad and Tobago and helping them to the place that we need to be.

“The goal is try and make it to Russia (hosts of the 2018 World Cup). We want to take it one game at a time and try to get there.” During the latter stages of former coach Stephen Hart’s tenure (Hart was fired in November), Jones bore the brunt of abuse from fans at the matches and on social media, for sub-par displays.

But his wholehearted effort on Friday saw him receive a standing ovation when he was replaced by Jamille Boatswain in the 84th minute.

However, Jones insisted, “No disrespect but I don’t work for the fans. I have 26 guys and staff members to work for, my family to work for, I have a role within the team to play and that’s what I go out there to do.

“However the fans feel after that, I’m not going to be held responsible but when it comes to the game, what I’ve done (vs Panama) I’ve been doing all the time. I’m taking flak for whatever reason but it doesn’t faze me. “I know what I have to do out there and that’s about it. At the end of the day, you always have the people who think they can do better so it’s not a big issue for me.”

Mitchell during an interview with Newsday said the HDC was not heartless, but was instead upholding the law.

The minister was responding to Moonilal’s statements in a media release which called on the Government to show compassion to the affected families who were now left without shelter.

Moonilal had also stated that the families were being treated as criminals as they were “thrown out on the streets”.

However, Mitchell said lawlessness would not be tolerated by the HDC and anyone seeking to encourage such is not patriotic.

“We need to be aware of such persons,” he said. Mitchell said the residents acted unlawfully and breached the trespassing sign at their own risk.

The families were evicted from a building complex at Harmony Hall, Gasparillo.

The ministry of Social Development has since intervened and reached out to the residents said Mitchell.

He noted that officials are now offering the evicted residents food card assistance and house rental grants.

He said that rental grants can be accessed for a period of up to six months.

“We are assisting these families and the ministry is now in discussion with these residents,” he said.

A mother of three told Newsday they admitted that they were wrong, but they were asking for the Government to have mercy on them.

“Yes, we are sorry, but please just give us a place to stay. We are all willing to pay the rent. If we had a place to go we would not have done this, please think about our children,” the mother said.

Adding, the mother said she was thankful that the minister was looking into their plight.

The illegal occupation of the decrepit buildings started a few years ago when persons, learning that the structures were condemned, repaired the vandalised apartments and quietly moved in.

On Monday last, HDC officials and work crews arrived with protection in the form of heavily armed police officers from the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF). The occupants were ordered to remove their belongings from the apartments and leave.

With Panama central defender Roman Torres off the field after losing his left shoe in a tangle with TT captain Kenwyne Jones, the TT attackers took full advantage with Molino taking a pass from Joevin Jones on the left, moving into vacant space centrally and slotting a right-footer to the bottom righthand corner of Jaime Cano’s net. It was Molino’s first goal and match of the current hexagonal campaign after serving a two-game suspension under former coach Stephen Hart for breaking team curfew. He did not play during the short reign of Belgian Tom Saintfiet.

The final whistle from Honduras referee Orlando Matamoros brought huge relief to newly installed TT coach Dennis Lawrence as he was embraced by his huge technical staff at the end of a tense affair.

Lawrence, making his debut as a coach in competitive international football, reverted to the core of the players who featured in the previous qualifiers under Hart.

However, with centre-back Sheldon Bateau suspended and his regular sidekick Carlyle Mitchell injured, Curtis Gonzales was partnered with Daneil Cyrus in the central defensive positions while veteran Carlos Edwards took up Cyrus’ regular spot at right-back.

Joevin Jones had the first goal-scoring opportunity, in the fifth minute, when he won a freekick outside the penalty box and took it himself, but the left-footed effort ailed a few metres overbar.

Panama had a chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute, as striker Abdiel Arroyo slipped behind the defence to meet a cross from Anibal Godoy, but his header went wide.

There was end-to-end action at that stage of the game, with Joevin Jones, who had Kenwyne Jones and Cordell Cato in the box, deciding to take on the goalie and his effort was brilliantly tipped overbar by the alert Cano.

The game went into a brief lull, but Torres’ misfortune was taken advantage of by the goal-bound Molino who lashed his shot low to the goalkeeper’s right.

Panama midfielder Edgar Barcenas had a chance to restore parity, at the stroke of halftime, after he was fouled by Khaleem Hyland but his effort was pushed wide by an alert Jan-Michael Williams.

Panama had the bulk of chances in the second half but they were let down by their lack of firepower in the final third and a well-organised TT backline.

Barcenas had an effort parried by Jan-Michael in the 53rd while his volley went sky-high three minutes later.

In a rare attacking move, Cato muscled his way through the Panama defence and fed Molino whose effort was held low to his left by Cano.

The much-maligned Kenwyne Jones did well to race on to a long clearance by Hyland but, after leaving Panama stopper Felipe Baloy for dead, he chose the wrong option and struck the side-netting.

Molino was taken off in the 80th as a precautionary measure after a muscle injury and the TT team held firm, despite concerted pressure from the Panama attackers.

Trinidad and Tobago will now turn their attention towards Tuesday’s game against Mexico, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, while Panama will be hosting the United States, also on Tuesday.

TEAMS – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jan-Michael Williams; Daneil Cyrus, Curtis Gonzales, Mekeil Williams, Carlos Edwards; Kevan George, Khaleem Hyland, Joevin Jones, Cordell Cato (Levi Garcia 64th), Kevin Molino (Hughtun Hector 80th); Kenwyne Jones (capt) (Jamille Boatswain 84th).

PANAMA: Jaime Cano; Roman Torres, Felipe Baloy (capt), Luis Ovalle, Aldolfo Machado (Michael Murillo 74th); Amilcar Henriquez, Armando Cooper, Edgar Barcenas (Gabriel Torres 64th), Alberto Medina (Luis Tejada 59th), Anibal Godoy; Abdiel Arroyo.

Pastor Dr David. Ibeleme, who officiated,. said “it is a completely. different ball game and. it is important to realise. anyone who decides. to take the life of a police. officer does not care. about the life of any other. citizen.”.

“If they are killing. police, forget that nonsense. about preserving. yourself. Your days of. preserving yourself are. over when they start to. kill police. All this nonsense. about being afraid. to talk and you ‘fraid to. dead’, this is not the time. for that. When they start. taking police lives forget. about being afraid. to dead…you are dead. already, so you might as. well start talking.”.

Among those gathered. to pay their respects. were National Security. Minister Edmund. Dillon, Acting Commissioner. of Police Stephen. Williams and Chief of. Defence Staff Rodney. Smart. All police officers. including Commissioner. Williams wore a. black armband as a sign. of mourning.

The congregation. stood as officers brought. in Joseph’s casket which. was closed and covered. with the flag of the TT. Police Service. The flag. was later handed over. to Joseph’s mother Paula. Guy, along with a photo. of her in police uniform.

In an address to the congregation,. Ag CoP Williams. said now that people. have been charged. for Joseph’s murder, justice. must be allowed to. take its course.

He also gave thanks. to the public for their. assistance in finding Joseph’s. body, noting that. families can never really. get closure when a loved. one is murdered but recovering. the body goes. a long way in that final. rites can be performed.

“Clearly the entire society. rallied around. the organisation so we. could reach to the point. of solving this crime in. the shortest period of. time.

“And I want to especially. reach out to the. Defence Force and Mr. Rodney Smart for the. extensive support we. got, especially from the. Coast Guard.”. Joseph who was last. posted at Morvant Police. Station was described. by family members. and fellow officers. alike as a young, energetic. woman.

She was reported. missing on Friday. March 10, after not. showing up for work.

Her body was found. stuffed in a bag and. dumped in the Gulf of. Paria off Sea Lots.

An autopsy later. proved inconclusive.

A man and his former. wife have been jointly. charged for PC Joseph’s. murder while the man. had an additional charge. of unlawful disposal of a. body laid against him.

Residents began blocking access to John Street and surrounding roads with burning debris some firing flares and setting off firecrackers creating a gridlock as they demanded action on the Unruly Isis gang, which they blamed for Alexis’ murder, and a spate of killings in the central Trinidad community.

There were reports of gunshots being fired in the air.

Alexis, elder brother of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, who was also murdered last year, died when two men opened fire on him with high-powered guns from a vehicle as he stood outside his home at about 6.30 pm.

A police unit parked a short distance from the street, as part of their patrol duties, responded on hearing the gunshots and called for back-up when they found Alexis’ body. By 7.15 pm, neighbours and residents began streaming out into the streets, and angered by the Alexis’ murder began setting fires.

ROADS BLOCKED A joint police-soldier patrol posted at a HDC house in the area arrived soon after and cordoned off the streets, as Fire Services were called out to put out the fires.

The old Southern Main Road, a main thoroughfare which passes through the community, was also obstructed with debris along some parts triggering a traffic jam up to outlying areas including Chin Chin Road, Cunupia from where the fires could be seen.

A driver called Newsday and reported being unable to go past Chin Chin Road and had to find an alternative route.

Commuters had to divert through Longdenville and Ragoonanan Road as police redirected the traffic.

Just two weeks ago, on March 11, two men, Terrance “Boomy” Patrick and Christian Mohammed were shot while liming at the corner of John and School Streets in Enterprise. Patrick was pronounced dead at the Chaguanas Health Centre and Mohammed succumbed to his wounds at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope the following day. A man and a woman were also shot but survived and were discharged from the Mt Hope hospital after being warded for a few days.

Police believed the March 11 shootings were reprisals for the murder of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, a community activist who was charged for extortion and kidnappings but was never convicted. He and a customer were gunned down at his car wash in Enterprise last July 17.

The gunman was killed in the cross-fire.

Three men were detained for questioning about the murders of Patrick and Mohammed and one of them was identified as a relative of Selwyn Alexis. The suspects were however released. Sylvan is the third Alexis sibling to be murdered as brothers Mervyn Alexis and Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis were also gunned down in unrelated incidents.

BUILD POLICE STATION Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams last night told Newsday he was not yet in a position to comment.

“I’m not down at Enterprise, so I’ll have to receive an update. A murder has taken place but I have to get the facts from the officers down there.” Asked if he is monitoring the situation, he said, “We have a substantial operation there, of police and soldiers, so that’s in operation. The events of this evening I’ll have to find out the details.” Pressed as to if he would give his initial impressions, Williams replied he had not yet got the feedback. “The Divisional Commander, in assessing what transpired today, will provide me with the information.” Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim, whose constituency includes Enterprise, last night reiterated his call for a police station to be built in the area, to replace what he described as an inadequate police post at Lions Gate near to where yesterday’s shooting occurred. He said, “A police station will do a lot to comfort local people, compared to just the temporary police post.” He also urged more joint police/army patrols in the area. Karim said he condemned in the strongest possible the shooting of Alexis, just as he would condemn the killing of any citizen. He said it is worrisome that crime is out of control to the extent that people are afraid to leave their homes.

LINE CROSSED Recalling a religious leader at yesterday’s funeral of WPC Nyasha Joseph lamenting her murder as a serving police officer, Karim remarked that when persons commit murder near a police post they have proverbially crossed the line, even as he lamented a murder near the Chaguanas Police Station.

He urged citizens to assist the police in their inquiries. Karim said he is working to try to establish skills-training programmes and police youth clubs in that area as an anti-crime deterrent.

He is also working with local schools, NGOs and faith based organisations, even as he recalled a recent ecumenical week of prayer to boost spirituality in the area. “We continue to pray and seek God’s intervention,” he said.

Parents too can play a big role, he said, given that many crimes are committed by young people. Asked if more should be done to try to directly stem feuding amongst gangs, he said he’d ask religious leaders to try to mediate peace.

Saying the Government must step in to take responsibility in this situation, Karim promised to work with the Ministry of National Security and any other ministry towards a settlement of this unrest.

He again condemned the killing and urged all citizens and groups to work together to address the scourge of crime in both central Trinidad and nationwide. Efforts to contact National Security Minister Edmund Dillon were unsuccessful last night.

Yesterday, a 35-year-old male. relative of Somai remained in. custody in connection with her. murder. Police are expected to. approach Director of Public Prosecutions. (DPP) Roger Gaspard. SC this weekend, for directions. on how to proceed in the matter.

On Monday at 7.30 pm, Somai. left her Petersfield, Chaguanas. home to purchase items from a. nearby shop. When she failed to. return home some hours later,. calls were made to her cell phone. but there was no answer. Relatives. carried out searches for her. and on the following day her cell. phone was found in the gallery of. her home.

A missing persons report was. lodged at the Chaguanas police. station and on Thursday at. around midday Somai’s body was. found stuffed in a garbage bag.

A plastic bag was found over her. head. The body was viewed and. ordered removed to the Forensic. Science Centre.

Yesterday, Head of Central Division. Senior Superintendent. Kenny McIntyre said when Somai. was reported missing, the. police made every effort to locate. her, but he admitted there should. have been more dialogue with. her relatives.

He expressed sympathy over. the murder of Somai and added. that officers are working around. the clock to bring closure to the. investigation.

.

Dillon made these statements in response to questions from Opposition MPs in the House of Representatives. On missing people, Dillon stated, “Investigations commence immediately on reports of these incidents.” The minister outlined the steps taken by the Police Service in investigating those reports indicating there is assistance from the Defence Force and the private sector in these efforts.

He said the latter involves electronic billboards being used to display photos of the missing individuals and urging the public to provide the police with any information on their whereabouts.

This did not satisfy Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh who scoffed, “It is clear that the standard operating procedures weren’t followed with respect to (murdered businesswoman) Sharlene Somai.” On the issue of gangs, Dillon disclosed that prior to 2014, there was no centralised reporting for information on criminal gangs.

He said the total number of people in these gangs ranges between 1,500 to 1,600. He indicated that in the period September 2011 to January, 54 youths were involved in gang activity.

He said six youths under the age of 18 were charged under the Anti-Gang Act 2011.

Dillon also said that on February 3, a letter was sent from the PSC to the successful firm selected through open tender to interview candidates for the CoP and Deputy CoP posts.

The minister added that out of ten firms which initially expressed interest, only four submitted written proposals to the Commission. He said a lack of quorum due to the terms of office of members of the PSC expiring last November, caused a delay in this exercise

Garcia made this disclosure in the House of Representatives as he dismissed a claim from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath that bullying at the school was being done by several students.

The symptoms of ODD include throwing repeated temper tantrums; excessively arguing with adults; actively refusing to comply with requests and rules; deliberately trying to annoy or upset others, or being easily annoyed by others; blaming others for your mistakes and having frequent outbursts of anger and resentment “Only one student has been identified at the school, who has exhibited this type of behaviour.

It is not widespread. It is not associated with more than one student,” Garcia said. As Opposition MPs grumbled after Garcia said the reports indicate the student has ODD, the the minister said the student is “crying out for help.” Government MPs thumped their desks as Garcia said the ministry will ensure the student, “receives the requisite assistance.” Thanking Mayaro MP Rushton Paray for his assistance in this matter, Garcia said, “We have assigned officers from our student support services to the school who are at present having discussions with the school authorities and also the parents.” On another issue, Garcia said the Waterloo High School has a school based management plan. He added, “the safety of students is the paramount responsibility of the principal.” Asked by Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim to comment on a fence at the school which had a hole in it for the past year, Garcia said he could not comment until ongoing investigations at the school are completed.

The body of missing 16-yearold Waterloo Secondary School pupil Jesse Beephan was discovered behind the school on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday said Rowley denounced the horrific attack, expressed solidarity with the international community in condemning all such acts and offered thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young expressed similar sentiments at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday. Young said, “We stand in solidarity with them and with the rest of the world in condemning the attacks on the democracy of any country in the world.” Young also announced that Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and a member of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop will represent this country at the funeral of Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott in St Lucia today. Walcott lived in Trinidad for 20 years and founded the TTW in 1959.