According to reports on Monday the toilets began malfunctioning, but yesterday raw sewerage began flowing from the toilets into the corridor and the cell block area of the station, forcing the decision to relocate the officers. Coupled with that, police officers were forced to shut off the air condition in the station and open windows to deal with the stench while cleaners were kept busy mopping up the corridors and removing raw filth.

Police officers on duty who were uncomfortable with the stench and the heat left the station and carried out other duties.

Those who were forced to remain at the station to deal with members of the public complained bitterly about the stench and the uncomfortable feelings they had about the situation.

Officers added that they were unable to eat their breakfast and lunch because of the stench and in some instances they were forced to use public toilet facilities, or use facilities at other stations. According to reports senior officers attempted to contact UDECOTT the contractor responsible for the station, to no avail.

A decision was then taken to utilise officers of the police service to carry out some plumbing while employees from a corporation were called out to clean the cesspit at the station.

Newsday understands that the Police Social and Welfare Association was alerted about the sewer problem which affected officers yesterday and officers were advised that the association was looking into the matte

Khan has been recuperating at his Maraval home since undergoing heart-related surgery in January.

Sources close to the minister told Newsday since the surgery, Khan has been “recuperating fine.” Newsday understands Khan spent yesterday relaxing at home and watching the Carnival festivities on television.

Khan, who is also People’s National Movement (PNM) chairman and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, is “targeting mid-March” as the period in which he hopes to return to work.

However, sources said the decision as to exactly when Khan resumes his ministerial and other responsibilities lies entirely in the hands of his medical team.

The sources added that Khan will act based on their advice. Khan fell ill while he and his wife Laura were vacationing in Thailand last December. At that time, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young quashed reports which alleged that Khan suffered a heart attack. On January 4, prior to Khan having surgery, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley expressed optimism that Khan would make a full recovery.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has been acting as Energy Minister in Khan’s absence. Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon has been handling Khan’s duties in the Senate.

Asami Nagakiya, a Japanese national who had been coming to Trinidad for about eight years to play steelpan was found murdered on Ash Wednesday last year. Police have since held two persons for questioning in relation to her murder, but they were subsequently released, due to lack of evidence.

“There is still hope,” assured the Police commissioner, “The investigations continue into the matter, we have not closed the investigation and as you would see in 2017 we were solving crimes that were committed in 2015 and 2014 because officers do not stop investigating as we get leads we continue with them and pursue them to the point of completion” Nagakiya’s murder sent shock waves through the pan community in Trinidad, and has raised the attention of members of the media, police and citizens in Japan.

In a Japanese television show featuring Kazuya Kamenashi, a Japanese idol, singer–songwriter, actor, television personality, producer, radio host, and occasional model.

The love for Trinidadian culture and lifestyle was expressed, but in light of the murder, it was a concern for the Japanese superstar whether Trinidad would be safe.

Around 3 pm, the heavens opened up and covered the area with a torrential downpour.

However this did not dampen the spirits of masqueraders with revellers from the Carnival band Mardi Gras leading the way, clad in costumes adorned with colourful beads and feathers.

Modern times gave way to nostalgia as Belmont Exotic Sailors followed close on their heels, with their traditional sailor mas presentation of “Sail the Caribbean.” They were followed by the masqueraders of Wild Mas who gave spectators a vivid demonstration in keeping with the theme of their 2017 offering, “Mas in We.” As the heavy rains began to subside, Alliance and Partners arrived to steady the ship but keep the pace of the mas moving at the square with their Carnival 2017 presentation, “At the Helm.” The costumes of the band were designed to portray waves, ships and various types of marine life that were in keeping with the oceanic them of Alliance and Partners’ Carnival offering.

pectators along either side of Ariapita Avenue took numerous selfies and photos of the passing Carnival bands.

When the rains ended just around 4 pm, a plane flew over the area with a banner trailing behind it.

The banner urged masqueraders and spectators to, “chill out this Carnival with Stag.” The tune of choice for masqueraders and spectators at Adam Smith’s Square was MX Prime’s “Full Extreme” with no other tune getting airplay during the afternoon mas.

According to Tobago police officers, the policeman was breaking up a fight that broke out at about 9.15 am on Monday.

While he was separating the fighters, a group of men pounced on him and knocked him unconscious.

Other police officers came to the policeman’s assistance, and separated the fight.

Two men were arrested for assaulting the police officer and is said to be in police custody up to press time. Head of the Tobago Division, Joanne Archie, yesterday described the situation as unfortunate.

“We take a very serious view on incidents like these and we want to urge the public that if you are thinking of obstructing an officer in the execution of his duties, that we frown on that and we take it as a serious attack on the organisation.” Archie said, “The police officers were out there to ensure the safety of people for visitors and people on the island, and to turn on a person that is trying to protect and serve is very unfortunate.”

According to reports, Dylan Torres was driving east along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, when on reaching in the vicinity of the Prisons Sports Club he lost control of his vehicle which ran off the roadway, hit a curb and split in two.

Torres was killed on impact and his body remained trapped in the vehicle.

His body was removed by fire officers and viewed by a District Medical Officer who ordered its removal to a nearby mortuary.

Officers of the Arouca Police Station visited the scene and enquiries are continuing.

The death of Torres pushed the road fatality to 11 for the year.

However, gravely missing from the AG’s recommendations are statues to disqualify from driving motorists who engage in road rage or physical violence on other drivers with whom they may have some displeasure, however perceived.

The nation recently read of a male driver accosting and beating a female driver he accused of giving him “ah bad drive,” shamefully and disrespectfully dragging her from her car and assaulting her in the presence of her mother.

A few Sundays ago, I witnessed three such disturbing incidents at different intersections between Grand Bazaar and the lighthouse, with each driver violently accosting another with a weapon.

Many drivers now carry, in their car trunk or under their seat, either long planks of wood, extended metal objects or even machetes, all meant to cause grievous bodily harm.

The very thought of a driver carrying a dangerous weapon to intimidate or cause physical harm speaks volumes of premeditated violence and should be classified an offence.

Last December while travelling north on Morne Coco Road in Petit Valley, I was shocked to witness a vehicle rapidly swerving in front of my path, blocking my right of way.

The driver hastily alighted from his vehicle in an aggressive manner and went to his car trunk from where he retrieve a large plank of wood.

He then violently rushed to my vehicle, opened the door and accused me of giving him a bad drive, convinced he was delayed by my slower pace.

It is long established if not accepted that driving is a privilege and not a right, and since our society is precipitously degenerating to the point where human beings are now abdicating respect, care and responsibility to others through violent means, it is imperative the Government stems this barbarism by disqualifying perpetrators of this evil from driving.

Drivers engaging in road rage and violence should therefore not enjoy the privilege of driving.

Trevor Hosten via email

By their continuing failure to detect and arrest people responsible for criminal acts, the Police Service is in fact responsible to a certain extent for the high levels of criminal activity, whether in or out of the bedroom.

The deterrent value of a properly resourced police force must be taken into consideration as a crime prevention strategy. In this regard, so-called “domestic crimes,” like other types of crime, can be prevented to a certain extent if the State apparatus was so constructed as to effectively detect, arrest and convict perpetrators.

Do the crime and you will certainly do the time.

This responsibility extends to the State, as the employer of the police, and thus the State, as represented by the Government and the Opposition, can indeed be held primarily responsible for the high levels of criminal activity in TT . This responsibility or culpability also extends to the high level of road traffic accidents and subsequent casualties on our nation’s roadways.

By failing to properly police the roads, to erect crash barriers along the full length of the medians of our highways, to purchase more speed guns and other detection devices, such as cameras, and by failing to arrest people for vehicular manslaughter, the State is also fundamentally responsible for the many deaths on the roads as well.

The practice of victim blaming is the typical response therefore of an impotent authority, which seeks to shirk its responsibility for the actions needed to help deter lawlessness.

In such a scenario victims are presented in some subtle or even overt way as deserving their fate, partially or fully.

The media also play into this “game” by the manner in which they choose to describe victims and report stories, eg: “He was known to the police.” The posting of social media photos of victims, especially in suggestive clothing, also conveys a subtle message: “She look for she thing, you ain’t see how she dress.” In these ways we try, with the help of the media, to “comfort” ourselves that this was a “deserving’ victim. Thus it’s not so bad that they died or was raped is what we say unconsciously or even consciously to ourselves.

Murder is murder, rape is rape.

The labelling of some crimes as “domestic” or “gang related” are simply strategies or “word games”, designed to reduce the significance of such crimes in people’s minds and thus the seriousness of these acts.

The strategy is one also that relieves the perpetrator of the act of full responsibility for his decision to commit a violent act.

As the country seeks to grapple with an ever spiralling crime rate and road traffic fatalities, we must be careful to avoid victim blaming as a strategy to comfort ourselves that those people who are being hurt, assaulted, raped, robbed and killed share responsibility for their fate.

Victim blaming is the easy way out and essentially is the path of cowardice in dealing with crime and other distressing social evils.

Michael Jattan president, Heswatt

Our country is experiencing trying times with the economy, crime, and the treatment of one another, including children; we are having some rough days.

While the solution to our problems is not simply praying, we must be careful not to minimise the power that is collective prayer.

As we pray God can give us the wisdom to do the right thing or answer our request by sending the right people into our lives with the answers to present issues.

There have been several requests for the country to pray and there is nothing wrong with this.

But while we pray we must also work for “faith without works is dead.” So as thousands look towards the Lenten season to draw closer to God by fasting, keep in mind that God answers prayer. Change in our country is not far-fetched for God is merciful and maybe as people honestly seek Him He may show His mercy.

Arnold Gopeesingh via email

The visitors from foreign appeared mesmerised, in awe of the steel pan music and the infectious happiness all around. To me, it was the most successful Panorama final evening, ever.

It seemed as if all roads led to Portof- Spain and the Queen’s Park Savannah was alive with the sound of music.

There was an intrinsic atmosphere of happiness that the people of TT could still come out and party.

Downturn in the economy? What downturn could they possibly be talking about? Everyone was dressed to impress and spending money. I checked the faces of the vendors.

Not a sour face in sight anywhere on the drag and on the savannah pitch.

Let us talk about the music.

All the finalists deserved to be there. My favourites, Exodus, All Stars, Invaders, Desperadoes, Phase II saw me not getting home until 3.30 am.

But the wait was worth it. All points should have been the same, but for presentation, with their flashing lights and hot steel pans, All Stars brought the house down. In fairness, they won Panorama 2017 because they were playing the soca/ calypso that is the most popular as it aptly describes what is happening in TT .

From Scarborough to Cedros, we are living the Full Extreme. We are existing in extremely political and challenging times but collectively we have to say, we don’t business.

Nothing, like in nothing at all, will kill off the inherent joy of being Trinbagonian.

Kudos to all concerned, the bandleaders, the players, the vendors, the well behaved general public in the staging of Panorama 2017.

LYNETTE JOSEPH Diego Martin