They managed to escape but were arrested at the Port of Spain General Hospital where they had gone to seek medical attention for gunshot wounds.

According to police reports, at about 4.07 pm on Saturday Private Koreen Mercy was at Aranguez Main Road when two men entered his bar and robbed him of the cash and other valuables.

Two patrons who worked at the bar were also robbed.

However as the bandits were fleeing towards a waiting car, Mercy pulled out his personal firearm and shot the men who escaped in a car.

A report was made to the police who went in search of the men. Their search led them to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where they were found at the Accident and Emergency department awaiting treatment.

Officers were posted at the bedsides of the suspects and they are expected to be charged when they are discharged from hospital.

Dead is Diego “Sugar Daddy” Forde who only on Wednesday last turned 40. Forde, also called Blowgo and Sook, lived at Lodge Road, Claxton Bay – meters away from where the shooting occurred.

He was a scrap iron dealer.

Police reports state that shortly after 9 pm on Saturday, Forde and a group of men were liming in front the parlour where gunmen emerged from a nearby bushy area and fired several shots at them.

The men scampered for safety however Forde, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, collapsed and fell to the ground where he died. The gunmen fled the scene in the nearby bushes.

Police confirmed that one of the wounded men, identified as “Scratchie” remained at the San Fernando General Hospital up to yesterday.

Officers from both the Couva Police Station and Homicide Bureau Region III visited the scene.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Forde’s sister Dawn said that it was normal for him to go and lime by the parlour with other residents.

Dawn, who sells food at the roadside, said her brother last spoke to her at about 6 pm on Saturday.

“He bought food from me before I went out the road to sell.

My brother is a quiet, easy-going man who was always hustling. I got the news sometime after 9 pm that he was killed in a shooting. I don’t know what happened, I was not there,” Dawn said.

Forde’s father Glen, 70, noted that although the fatal shooting occurred a short distance away, he was yet to visit the scene.

“Since it happened, I haven’t left home yet.

This crime rate is escalating too much,” said the elderly man.

She was detained since Thursday last week.

Detectives investigating the stabbing murders are said to be still gathering information and are expected to submit a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions on how to proceed with the matter.

Two weeks ago, on Carnival Monday (February 28), a neighbour who went to check on Bernard and her daughter discovered their bodies in an advanced state of decomposition.

They lived at the corner of Gonzalez Street and SS Erin Road in De Gannes Village, Siparia.

Subsequent autopsies performed at the Forensic Sciences Centre revealed that they died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

They were buried after a funeral service on Tuesday at the La Divina Pastora RC Church in Siparia. Roman Catholic priest Fr Martin Sirju, who officiated at the service, offered prayers for police investigators to find the killer.

In a letter to the Editor, Rowley said the Opposition has presented a case against the Government hiring a Washington lobbyist but its speculations are misleading the public about the nature of a relationship with lobbyists and the lobbying firm hired by the Government, theGROUP DC.

He said the need to improve relationships with the US is particularly important now during a period of instability in energy prices, while also considering the country’s need for economic diversification.

Rowley said “There is nothing unusual about Trinidad and Tobago engaging a Washington lobbyist as we’ve done so as a country for decades.

Governments all over the world hire lobbyists to complement and represent their interests within the United States, notwithstanding the presence of an Embassy and ambassador within Washington.”

In her Commonwealth Day message, she says the theme of “peace-building” reaffirms the Commonwealth Charter principle that “international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all.” She said the theme is pertinent in light of increasing tensions and uncertainty in today’s world, as well as experiences right here at home. The former prime minister said Trinidad and Tobago, like so many other countries across the globe, is faced with the threat of terrorism and a comprehensive plan is needed to work with other states in the global fight against terror.

“In fact, under the government I led, Trinidad and Tobago took steps to stop our citizens from leaving their homeland to join international terrorist organisations such as ISIS, by co-sponsoring UN Resolution S/2014/688 in 2014.

By this action, Trinidad and Tobago committed to work with countries to share information, which would help our ability to conduct criminal investigations or proceedings relating to the financing and other support given to terrorists…”

Speaking at Phagwa celebrations held at the Palmiste Park, La Romaine yesterday afternoon, Maharaj said people prefer spending time on social media than actually socialising with others from their communities.

“Ten years ago we had thousands of people attending Phagwa celebrations.

Today we see hundreds coming to celebrate this religious folk festival,” Maharaj said, adding that in the early days the communities were closely knitted, but today people are occupied with consuming foreign news and entertainment.

Maharaj says the Pandava team currently has weekly training sessions for the annual Ramleela celebrations.

“Again we are looking at training students in theatre arts so that they can understand the characters of the religious epic the Ramayan.” Maharaj said it is difficult to get students to participate in religious activities.

He called on parents to involve their children in community- based programming as a means of getting them to understand their heritage and to develop in art and culture.

Speaking with Newsday after he led employees of his ministry in a clean-up operation on Chacachacare island yesterday, Rambharat said party goers have to take greater responsibility in keeping their surroundings clean.

“Some of the garbage that gathered on the island is from the ocean, but a greater part of the waste found came from party boats,” Rambharat said.

The Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) would usually take a security deposit of $5,000 from event managers seeking to use Chacachacare as a venue, and return the deposit at the end of the event. Yesterday, Rambharat said that a decision was taken by the CDA and the ministry to withhold the deposit until the CDA is sure that no trash was thrown away on the island.

Yesterday about 200 volunteers gathered as Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas to go to the island to take part in the clean-up exercise.

Rambharat said the crew collected about 200 bags of garbage. The garbage will be separated and recycled.

Newsday understands that the ministry will also assist in cleanup exercises in the Mayaro/Rio Claro, and the Sangre Grande/ Manzanilla areas.

” Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses advanced this position in remarks on behalf of the Government today on Commonwealth Day 2017. In his message, Moses said, “Myriad internal and trans-national conflicts, which engender humanitarian crises of notable proportions, serve as stark reminders that the pursuit of sustainable peace and security must remain at the forefront of global efforts.”

The minister continued, “ Indeed, recent surges in violent extremism and terrorism, coupled with ongoing crises in many countries, have demonstrated even more the interdependence of the global community and the corresponding need for each country to play its part in directly addressing challenges that threaten the peace and development of all peoples.”

Moses said it is instructive that the theme for this year’s observance of Commonwealth Day, “draws attention to the role of the Commonwealth, as a recognised actor in the international community, in supporting and advancing global peace-building efforts.” In recognising that the main thrust of peace-building is to promote sustainable peace by building capacity to prevent violence from recurring, Moses stated, “It is recognised that much of the work of the Commonwealth, advanced through its key inter-governmental agencies, member Governments, civil society networks and commonwealth associations, relate directly to the elements of peace-building undertaken in many countries.”

He said the core values and principles of the Commonwealth, which are espoused in the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles (1971), are amplified in the TT Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles (2009) and reaffirmed in the Commonwealth Charter (2013). Moses explained this demonstrates, “the belief that democracy, good governance, adherence to the rule of law and human rights are all central tenets in the conduct of the business of peaceful societies.”

Moses cited the work of the Commonwealth in supporting free and fair electoral processes; building capacity in public institutions; and promoting participatory governance by including all actors, in particular civil society, women and young people, “as a direct contribution to peace building.”

Workers contacted Newsday yesterday saying they had been reliably informed that 100 out of the 170 contract workers are to be sent home as part of the restructuring of the company.

On Saturday president of NIDCO Esther Farmer held a meeting with other directors of the board and arising out of that meeting, according to reliable sources, it was announced that the workers are to be sent home.

Last Monday, the 170 contract workers who occupied six floors at the Ministry of Works building in Port of Spain were moved to Anthony P Scott building on Don Miguel Road, San Juan. The building can only house 60 people and workers have been sitting out in the corridors with inadequate arrangements. Some of the engineers have no offices.

Workers told Newsday yesterday that they know that it is only a matter of time before they are sent home and several of them have one, two, and three year contracts. Last December, seven drivers were sent home and vehicles which were rented from Southern Sales were sent back to the company. Newsday understands that NIDCO owes Southern Sales a considerable amount of money, hence the decision to recall the vehicles.

One worker said, “We are working under inhumane conditions and now we are being told that we will soon be terminated in what they are describing as a bid to trim the fat. But we feel that the situation could have been handled in a more humane manner.” Efforts to reach Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan on the matter proved futile.

Addressing the second annual student conference for young women hosted by Junior Achievement at the Central Bank auditorium last week, Carmona said that while social media is exciting and fun, they must be aware of dangerous, irresponsible posts.

“We live in a digital age and it is a beautiful form of self-expression,” Carmona said.

“But you must be aware of the responsibilities that come with that freedom. It is now the norm for potential employers, colleges and universities to screen you, not only through the traditional interviewing process, but as well your social media presence. Your social media profile can very realistically stand between you getting that job or acceptance letter from a university, or a door being ajar or shut in your face. Be responsible and alert – once it’s in cyber space, it’s there forever, no matter how many times you press ‘delete, delete, delete’.” She urged the young women to start building the total woman in them on the path to adulthood.

She said they should go to school and strive for excellence but they also need to lead healthy lifestyles, and also engage in at least one physical sporting activity.

“Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease are ravaging our young people brought on by our penchant for eating junk food, saturated fats and hugging up the Siamese twins – salt and sugar.

Encourage your parents to eat healthy and tell them that the revolution for a better quality of life in Trinidad and Tobago begins in the kitchens and the lunch bag.” She called on them all to be child advocates to change their homes if there is strife there. She added that they could also be the mediator in their communities, their classrooms and could be game changers. “Do not underestimate your power to change the world as a 14, 15 or 16 year old. You are the change that we seek. Look at Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist, who was viciously attacked because she decided she wanted an education