Pierre, who was reported missing on January 20 last year, was found in a gravel pit in Vega de Oropouche on February 29, 2016. A post-mortem concluded that he had been shot.

On Wednesday, instructions were received by the police from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC, to charge James with murder. PC Travis Chatar of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region II, laid the charge.

Pierre lived at Manzanilla Main Road, Manzanilla while the accused lived at Rampersad Trace, Vega de Oropouche, Sangre Grande.

The matter was postponed to March 29.

Yesterday, the Penal woman, Davika Bhimull-Bisnath, pleaded in defence which she filed in the High Court, that the reason why she constructed such a high fence was because her neighbour’s family members often bathe naked in their yard. She further stated that whilst the fence is high and blocks off the neighbour, Santie Bhimull, she and her family cannot continue to see female members showering and walking around naked in plain view. Bhimull-Bisnath even tendered photographs in her defence, of people bathing in the nude and which have been attached as exhibits to the defence she filed in the High Court, San Fernando.

The issue of the 20- foot tall fence between the two homes at San Francique, Penal, shot into the limelight in November last year when neighbour Santie, 58, filed a lawsuit in the High Court against Bhimull-Bisnath whose house is next door to hers at San Francique Village, Penal.

She contended that the law allows her and her family the right to enjoy viewing, sunlight and airspace from her home, but the Bhimull-Bisnath fence is too high. The woman further contended in her lawsuit filed by attorney Stephen Boodram, that each morning she has to endure the sight of the fence alongside her house which separates her boundary from Bhimull-Bisnath’s residence next door. The case is unprecendented in the history of Trinidad and Tobago, for never has anyone sued against not being able to enjoy viewing, sunlight and airspace from their homes.

Claiming that she has been so badly affected, Santie also filed a complaint with the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) in which she complained that regulations regarding the height a fence should be constructed between residential homes had been violated.

The woman outlined the predicament of having to endure each morning for several months, the sight of the fence alongside her house which she stated, prevents air from flowing into her home.

In December last year following Santie’s lawsuit, the TCPD decided to take action against construction of the 20-foot high galvanise fence between the properties and warned Bhimull-Bisnath that permission to build a fence of such a height, must first be sought.

The TCPD’s letter invited Bhimull-Bisnath to apply for permission to construct such a wall and it would be considered by the Minister of Planning and Development.

Bhimull-Bisnath stated that she is willing to remove the 20-foot fence in order to comply with the TCPD’s regulations, but on condition that the claimant’s family are restrained from showering and walking about naked in their yard.

Failure to pay the fine will see each of the offenders serve six months hard labour for the offence.

They appeared before a magistrate in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A total of 45 persons were arrested for drunk driving in Penal, Siparia, Santa Flora, Point Fortin and Cedros. Yesterday, 25 drunk drivers appeared in the Point Fortin Court while another 20 appeared in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court.

The men were held between Carnival Saturday and Tuesday in traffic exercises spearheaded by Sgt Gosine and his team of the South Western Division DUI Unit.

Police said 200 persons participated in a voluntary breathalyser testing during the period.

Police also seized 96.5 kilograms of marijuana during one of the exercises. According to a report, at about12.20 pm on Carnival Monday, police officers intercepted a sliver Nissan Wingroad travelling along the Southern Main Road in Cap de Ville, Point Fortin.

The two male occupants abandoned the vehicle and escaped, police reported.

However on Wednesday, the officers with the help of footage from surveillance cameras identified the suspects and subsequently arrested and charged them with the offence.

They were expected to appear before a magistrate yesterday.

In a statement to the media yesterday, the Met Office said “Currently, wave heights are reaching 3.0 metres in open waters and up to 1.0 metre in sheltered areas. These above normal marine conditions are attributed to relatively strong winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere, which have strengthened further over the last 24 hours and continue to agitate the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

“Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Models forecast these elevated low level winds to persist for at least the next three to four days and as such, sea conditions are expected to continue to be disturbed during this period.

Over the next 24 hours, wave heights in open waters, especially north and east coasts, are forecast to average up to 3.0 metres, however, individual waves particularly along the northeast coast Tobago may reach in excess of 3.0 metres at times.” The Met Office also advised that choppy seas will be experienced in sheltered areas, but particularly in Tobago.

Conditions may worsen during high tide.

Sea bathers, small craft operators and other marine interests are urged to be vigilant.

His open-mouthed, tongueless snare fooled no one, but he was a main attraction at the zoo.

He may have seemed to be laid back, his huge body basking in the sun, but that 800-plus body could move with lightning speed.

President of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, Gupte Lutchmedial, said while a necropsy had been ordered for the crocodile, who had arrived from the Toronto Metro Zoo in 1975, he may have been older than originally thought.

Crocky was thought to have been ten years old when he was brought.

However, Lutchmedial said under advisement from other colleagues, Crocky could be closer to 70 years old and may have died from old age.

It was reported that Crocky had become slower and was not eating well for over a week.

“After we consulted with other colleagues, it was decided that Crocky died from natural causes so we did not need for veterinarian to come in. He had no wounds or anything on his body and nobody would try to challenge Crocky,” Lutchmedial said.

He said Crocky was sent off by members of staff, including his keepers, Arnold Jupiter and Mark Laurence. He was laid to rest in an underground crypt lined with plastic and plywood.

Lutchmedial said they would attempt to acquire another crocodile to fill Crocky’s space in the near future.

Nneka Luke, Gener- al Manager of FilmTT, said the call is an opportunity for the company to invest directly in active film projects in a targeted and sustainable way.

“We are looking for applications from experienced film practitioners who have clear goals for their projects, and can articulate how FilmTT’s small investment can lead to the advancement of their projects,” she said in the statement.

She added that since FilmTT does not have the resources to invest in script development or in productions, it was aiming to make these small direct investments “to help open up opportunities for our filmmakers, and to demonstrate our commitment to the sustainable development of the sector.” The call is open to film makers who are nationals or permanent residents of Trinidad and Tobago above eighteen years of age and applications may be submitted by individuals or groups who must have at least three film credits for three different productions.

It is also open to all genres of film projects.

According to Luke, “If our small investment can allow a film producer to attend an important film market to find a sales agent or to sell a slate, or a director to take part in an important lab or workshop to develop skills or connect to international funding sources, then our aim is to build a sustainable film and audio visual sector in Trinidad and Tobago; one that contributes significantly to national wealth.”

“Having researched the genesis of this long-standing institution, the ECA felt a strong synergy with the St Mary’s Home, having itself just celebrated 57 years of existence,” said Joycelyn Francois, the Chief Executive Officer of the ECA “and we are certainly honoured to play our part in furthering the cause of such a noble, stable and purposeful cause.” The ECA selected the St. Mary’s Home as the beneficiary of its recently held Charity Brunch, themed Expressions of Love.

Each year the ECA selects a local charitable organisation as the beneficiary of the brunch. The St.

Mary’s Children’s Home has been in existence for almost 160 years, having been founded as a refuge for orphaned children of East Indian indentured labourers in 1857.

Since then, the home has endured many socio- economic changes to remain a beacon of hope for many abused, abandoned and otherwise disadvantaged children in Trinidad and Tobago.

They have achieved this by providing two main types of care: resident care and transitional services, both of which have made significant inroads into improving the social situation and future state of many children.

A statement from the Ministry of Planning and Development says the CSO administers the annual Survey of Departing Visitors (SODV) for the ten days after Carnival Tuesday to monitor the expenditure patterns of visitors for the Carnival period in both Trinidad and Tobago.

Last year’s Visitor Arrivals and Expenditure for the Carnival period 2016 was based on administrative data received from the Immigration Division of the Ministry of National Security as well as data collected by the CSO in the Survey of Departing Visitors during the Carnival period, 2016.

Visitor arrivals for the Carnival period 2016 were monitored from January 22 to February 9, 2016.

The Carnival period included the 17 days before the Carnival celebration as well as Carnival Monday and Tuesday. The total visitor arrivals for the Carnival period to Trinidad and Tobago in 2016 was 35,483 people with 17,925 of those arrivals taking place in the week immediately preceding Carnival Monday and Tuesday (February 1 to 7). According to the statistics, the largest number of visitors during this week was recorded on Carnival Thursday (February 4) with 3,267 visitors.

From January 22 to February 9, 2016, the total visitor arrivals to Trinidad was 33,471 and to Tobago was 2,012.

To determine the spending patterns of visitors for the Carnival period the CSO administered the Survey of Departing Visitors (SODV) for the ten days after Carnival Tuesday (February 10 to 19, 2016).

It surveyed a total of 2,903 persons for the SODV and found that there was an average expenditure per visitor of approximately TT$9,597.00 over the period. When this average visitor expenditure is factored into the total visitor arrivals of 35,483 persons, the estimated visitor expenditure for the Carnival period for Trinidad and Tobago was estimated at TT $340,530,351. However, the statement notes that this figure is only representative of visitor expenditure and not necessarily total contribution of Carnival to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Trinidad and Tobago. magic spells redmercuri.com witch reddy about spells

The massive infrastructure required for events such as Machel Monday on February 20 and Soca Monarch finals held on February 24 took some time to dismantle, but the team at the Stadium has been able to pull off the feat ahead of schedule, according to a Ministry of Sport press release.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, said the task was a monumental one that he was confident the team could handle.

Smith said, “We are always mindful of the need to restore the facility, especially the playing surfaces to their original state after the Carnival season, which is a busy one for all involved. I therefore commend the stadium management and staff for the quick turnaround time, making the track and field (area) ready by Ash Wednesday, so that the national football team can continue training on their home ground ahead of the World Cup qualifier.” The national men’s football team face Panama on March 24 and Mexico on March 28 in World Cup qualifying. Both matches will be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Hasely Crawford Stadium which serves as a hub for a variety of activities, both sporting and cultural.

No reason has been forthcoming as to the reason for their delay in being shipped to Barbados.

But the trio is expected to leave today for the races to be run tomorrow at the Garrison Savannah.

The TT trio, Conquest Bespoke and Trini Navigator who will challenge for the Gold Cup and Magical Victory who is in the Tanglewood, wll be part of history, when the Barbados Turf Club host a record 12-race card which includes the 36th edition of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup. This information was revealed at a press conference held in the Incitatus Lounge at the BTC’s office where jockey Jalon Samuel pulled post position No. 5 for Dorsett, owned by Trinidadian btrothers Allan and Steve Madoo, who won the 2016 running of the race.

In the GoldCup Conquest Bespoke will be ridden by Trinidadian jockey Prayven Badrie while Trini Navigator is to be ridden by Barbadia R Lachman.

But seven-time Sovereign Award winner Patrick Husbands will be astride Magical Victory in the Tanglewood The prstigious 1800 metres Gold Cup is scheduled to go to post at 4:55 pm.