Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Cedros Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh who was among those monitoring the movement of the floating mass, estimated to be about two to three acres of heavily vegetated land, said it has not been spotted since Friday when it was observed to be slowly floating further and further away from land.

On Friday it was already six to seven miles outside Icacos.

Teelucksingh said when first seen in the south-western peninsula, it was at a distance of about two miles from shore. He added: “But we haven’t seen it since Friday so the place is back to normal.” The last report he said he received was Friday and at the time the mass was floating in a north westerly direction and heading towards one of the Venezuelan oil rigs. He said the rural community of Icacos has since settled back down.

The “floating island” was first spotted on Monday by fishermen off Galfa Point in Chatham.

By Thursday it had drifted to Columbus Bay off Icacos where it was visible from the shoreline .

Both the Coast Guard and the Environmental Management Authority had issued warnings to the public not to venture out to the “island”.

The latest victim is Ramdevi Singh, 76, a mother of two and grandmother of three of Imamshah Street, Chaguanas.

Singh’s husband, Martin, 79, a stroke patient, found her nude body face down on the ground of the living room with injuries to the head at about 9 am yesterday. She was in a pool of blood and had a piece of cloth around her throat.

This happened just two days after former director of the National Museum and Art Gallery, Dr Claire Broadbridge, 80, was killed at her home at Fondes Amandes Road, St Ann’s. It is believed her throat was slit.

In the case of Singh, police said there were so many injuries to the head it was difficult to say whether her killer/s slit her throat or bludgeoned her. An autopsy scheduled for today at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James, will determine the cause of death.

Singh, a retiree with Guardian Life Insurance, lived with her husband who she took care of since he cannot speak or walk properly having suffered two strokes. After the discovery yesterday, Martin fell ill and up to last evening, he was receiving medical care at the Chaguanas Health Centre. Their two adult children and grandchildren live abroad.

Police said shortly after 9 am, Martin managed to walk to the front gate of the home and alerted two passers- by about the discovery.

There were no signs of forced entry and the house was not ransacked, police said.

One man, who requested anonymity, said at about 3 am yesterday residents heard a woman screaming but made nothing of it.

It was only hours after news of the killing broke, they made the connection that it might have been Singh.

Her brother Sen Vishnu said he received a telephone call at about 9.30 am yesterday informing him that “something was happening” at his sister’s home.

When he arrived, he saw police on the scene and was told she was killed.

“My sister was a former customer service representative at Guardian Life, so based on that alone she had good people skills,” Vishnu said.

“That continued even after she retired. She was very friendly.” As to where exactly in the house her husband was at the time of her killing, relatives are yet to know.

“He struggles to walk and someone has to hold his hands when he does. He used to be a businessman. This is very distressing right now.” Up to late yesterday, police including Sgt John, Cpls Radhaykisson and Ramoutar of Homicide Bureau (Region III) and Chaguanas CID were searching for evidence.

On May 26, pharmacist and businesswoman Rahzia Pamela Sieuchand, 65, was found stabbed to death in a bedroom at her home at Lange Park, Chaguanas.

The house was ransacked.

Sieuchand, who owned and operated a pharmacy at St Helena in Piarco, was a mother and grandmother and lived alone in the house. No arrest has been made.

In this role, Mannette will oversee MDRT activities in the Caribbean.

The membership communications division is a global network of MDRT committees appointed to help promote MDRT membership around the world. The com- mittees communicate the needs and concerns of members in their respective regions, zones and countries.

They are also directly responsible for the coordination and implementation of approved MDRT projects and activities worldwide.

Mannette, a ten-year member of MDRT, is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow and executive agent of Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited, Vernon Fingal’s Branch, Port-of-Spain.

Guardian Group, in a statement issued last week, said Mannette “has 15 years of service in the insurance industry and Guardian Life and is the recipient of numerous top industry and company awards including Agent of the Year 2013 and is also the youngest member of the Guardian Life’s Chairman’s Circle; a group of the most highly consistent advisors in the company.” Founded in 1927, the MDRT, the premier association of financial professionals, is a global, independent association of more than 62,000 of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 500 companies in 69 countries and territories.

MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service.

MDRT membership is recognised internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

In responding to questions from committee members, Ferreira accused Sahadeo of questionable conduct and blamed her for creating “serious internal conflicts” within the former board. He said he went so far as to write Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley about his concerns of Sahadeo’s conduct.

Ferreira said former members were unaware of Sahadeo’s resignation as chairman on February 22. He said subsequently, “a very powerful person in the Government” told him there would be an emergency Cabinet meeting after she had resigned in February. Ferreira said that meeting resulted in the rest of the former board being removed and a new board being installed within the space of 24 hours. While it has been publicly reported that the former board members resigned, Ferreira claimed, “We were constructively dismissed.” He further alleged, “There was an incident in which incorrect minutes were sent to the Minister, initialled by the chairman.” Ferreira said he wrote to Sahadeo about this and communicated his concerns to former Works and Transport minister Fitzgerald Hinds. He also said he sent a report on his accountability as a board member to Hinds and Rowley.

Ferreira said Sahadeo requested marine consultant Captain Alfred McMillan of Magellan Maritime Services to do an investigation on the Super Fast Galicia cargo vessel, which was leased under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government. Referring to documents in his possession, Ferreira said this decision was never taken by the board. “In the report, he (McMillan) said, ‘I was requested by Christine Sahadeo’,” Ferreira said.

He said at that time, Magellan was not contracted by the Authority to do maintenance work on the fast ferries. Ferreira claimed McMillan also made recommendations for vessels “outside of the tendering process” as outlined in the State Enterprises performance manual. He could not say whether or not there was corruption in the Galicia’s procurement as it happened during the PP’s tenure.

He said the main problem with the Galicia was the lack of a proper berthing location. Ferreira said no dredging of the port had been done over the last 20 years to facilitate a vessel of that size. He said the board agreed to extend the Galicia’s contract for 18 months, provided that the dredging was done. He said the Port agreed to a $37 million proposal from a Dutch firm to do the dredging.

Ferreira said while Hinds agreed to the extension and the dredging works, Cabinet did not. He said this led to a month to month arrangement for the Galicia.

He supported Sahadeo’s position that the former board never agreed to a five-year extension for the Galicia. Sahadeo said this was apparently done by management without the board’s knowledge.

She said Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan was informed of this. Energy Minister Franklin Khan said if true, this was a matter for serious investigation and possible disciplinary action. Ferreira also disclosed he was contacted by Inter-Continental Shipping (ICS) managing director John Powell about the Galicia’s extension. ICS is the owner of the Galicia. Ferreira said he advised Powell to address his concerns to other board members.

He said the former board was subsequently advised of this.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark claimed former acting Port CEO Leon Grant accused Sahadeo of “hijacking” the port management’s attempt to extend the Galicia’s contract, in a June 7, 2016 letter to Hinds. Sahadeo said she was unaware of this letter. Ferreira said when Sahadeo decided to remove Grant as acting CEO and replace him with Charmaine Lewis, he fully supported her.

However Ferreira said Sahadeo subsequently allowed some port managers to interrupt a board meeting and voice their concerns about Lewis’ appointment. He said Lewis was removed as acting CEO nine days after her appointment.

He claimed Sahadeo interviewed Lewis at her office at the UWI, St Augustine campus where she is a lecturer. He also claimed Sahadeo spoke with the line minister independently from the board and concerns about the Galicia were her own.

In response, Sahadeo said many of the former board members were not aware of the Galicia’s unsuitability for the seabridge as “much of the vessel could not be used for cargo.” While three separate tenders were issued last year (March, August and December) for replacement vessels, Sahadeo said the board approved certain specifications for those vessels.

However she disclosed when the tenders returned, “we are asked to approve a tender with totally different specifications.” Sahadeo said while it is “easy to be nice” and let nature take its course, this proposed arrangement “would have cost this country a phenomenal amount of money.” Asked by members how this situation arose, Sahadeo attributed it to the former board’s tender committee and the port’s management. While in hindsight she believed a direct conversation with Rowley might have resolved some of these issues, Sahadeo felt she did the best she could under the circumstances. “I think I have dealt fairly and correctly so with those responsibilities,” she said.

See Pages 9A, 11A

Mieres appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle in the Port of Spain Eighth Magistrates Court, just before noon yesterday, on the conspiracy charge and a separate charge of being in unlawful possession of a yellow- crowned parrot.

The conspiracy to murder charge comes more than one year after Alexis was killed.

On July 17 last year, Alexis and two others were shot dead at his Enterprise, Chaguanas business place. Mieres, 44, of St Michael’s Village, Las Cuevas, appeared in court on crutches, wearing a light blue long sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

He was not called on to plead on the conspiracy charge and pleaded not guilty to being in possession of the parrot on August 31; the date he was arrested at his home by police.

The parrot was brought to court in a wire cage by game warden Edwards.

Mieres’ attorney Mario Merritt, in his application for bail, said his client had two pending matters for obscene language and resisting arrest arising out of an incident in 2012 and a previous conviction for which he was fined $5,000.

In objecting to bail, prosecutor Inspector Winston Dillon said the conspiracy charge was a very serious one and was allegedly committed while Mieres was on bail on the pending charges.

He also said there was likelihood of the accused interfering with witnesses if granted bail.

On the charge of the unlawful possession of the parrot, Dillon objected to bail on the grounds that it was a criminal offence and the bird was a protected species.

Mieres is to reappear in court on October 2.

Lewis was on the brink of creating history when he was unbeaten on 97 off 31 deliveries with the scores level at the start of the eighth over.

At this point, a boundary would have given Lewis the fastest hundred in CPL history and the second fastest in T20 cricket history.

With Lewis on strike, Pollard bowled a no ball to hand Patriots the win and subsequently deny Lewis the milestone as the Patriots raced to victory in only seven overs while chasing 129. The anticlimactic ending did not go down well with cricket fans throughout the region and the world with many expressing outrage with the actions of Pollard.

Lewis was disappointed but still contented after his knock. Lewis said, “It hurts (missing out on a century), but hitting 97 not out off 32 balls? I’ll take that any day.” Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who has played against Pollard in the Indian Premier League for a number of years, expressed his disappointment on Twitter. Jadeja tweeted, “Kieron Pollard Bowls No Balls To Stop Evin Lewis (97* of 32 Balls) From The Second-fastest T20 Century. Bad Sportsmanship.” Former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison, who was commentating the match said, “(Lewis) deserved a hundred and I’ve got to say, as positive and excited as I am, it’s a pretty disappointing way for Pollard to finish the game.” Even Pollard’s own Tridents teammate Tino Best “liked’ a post on Twitter criticising his captain.

But one person who defended Pollard’s move was his Tridents teammate and compatriot Nicholas Pooran. On Instagram, Pooran said, “Everyone who is criticizing this man for depriving Evin of his century I am ashamed of you all. I hope those cricket fans and cricketers who posting (expletive) about Pollard I do hope when you all are playing cricket and a guy is on 96 with one run to go I hope u guys give him his century. I am so disappointed in the cricketers and cricket fans for bashing this guy you all know yourself, and I hope you guys feel good by doing this. The saying is right “jealously kills” look at his life and what he has accomplished and then look at yours, if you guys “smart or know everything” do the math! Enjoy your life folks.”

A variety of local dishes, entertainment from TT artistes and pan music added to nationalistic atmosphere.

Live performances came from calypsonian Brown Boy (Knolly Brown) and KV Charles (Knolly Charles) who performed both popular calypsoes and reggae songs. Backed by a band led by Joey Rivers, Skatie (Carlos James) added another dimension to the celebrations as he delivered some of the best songs from some of TT ’s top calypsonians.

Resident steelband Harvard Harps wrapped up the live action.

Joel Scott, president of the school’s PTA said construction work at the school stopped for more than two years and the school is 75 per cent completed.

“No body is telling us why the work has stopped. We went to the Waterfront to deliver a letter to the Minister and we spoke with Dr Lovell Francis and they kept telling us the work on the school will restart soon.” He continued, “It is four years the girls are housed at a building in Tunapuna and five years the boys are there with the girls.

The children have to be cramped up in a small building having very little space to move around. We are talking about 300 students housed at a building on the Eastern Main Road obliquely opposite Exodus Pan Theatre.” Scott said Garcia had given the assurance that the ministry has allocated $10 million to complete the school. However, he said during the July/August vacation nothing was done or started at the school.

He said the parents and students are fed up and frustrated with the situation and also promise to continue with the protest until someone addresses the matter.

“ We the parents had to come out in our numbers to clean in front the area of the school because this is where the PTSC buses come to pick and drop off the students on a daily basis. We paint up the area where the children assemble to take the buses. The ministry did not send a CEPEP (Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme ) crew. The holding areas for the toilets are not working, and the flooring in which the toilets stand it was done in plywood and it is rotted, and a health hazard to the children.” Scott said a minority of students went on the bus yesterday to attend classes, and they are hoping more parents will come out to protest to send a strong message to those who are supposed to oversee the situation.

Pantin, who resides at Nelson Street, Port of Spain, won three titles at the Trinidad and Tobago Bodybuilders Federation National Senior Championships at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, on Saturday night.

The 34-year-old was crowned champion in the classic bodybuilding overall, classic bodybuilding B and the men’s bodybuilding 90kgs category.

The extremely muscular Pantin said he is glad he can give the community something to be proud of.

“It feels good.

You are like a diamond in the rough because not everyone is bad who comes from places like that, it still have good people.

I am glad I can give the area a positive image,” he said.

Pantin, who trains with the Central Athletics team in Chaguanas, said he gets a lot of support from the community.

“Actually a lot of guys (in the area) support me and are proud that I am doing something good.” Discussing his titles, Pantin said his strict diet was pivotal to his success.

“I think what gave me the edge was the dieting.

I diet real hard for it and I came out with a lot of confidence and believed that I could have done it.

I trained an hour every day for two months straight. Dieting includes 50 grams of carbs a day, eating proteins and a lot of vegetables, and just eating properly as much as I could.” Pantin, who had to stop partying leading up to the championships, said he had to overcome some injuries before the competition.

“I had a few injuries like torn hamstrings, knee pain, slight hip dislocation, but I worked through all that and I still fought it.” The 34-year-old thanked all his supporters who helped him prepare for the championships.

The United States grabbed a total of 13 medals inclusive of eight gold, three silver and two bronze as they defeated Canada for the nation leaving with the most medals. Canada ended with 11 medals (four gold, four silver and three bronze) while Columbia’s team came in third with 10 medals, also with four gold, four silver but two bronze. During the final day events, the 1km Men’s Time Trial saw Colombia’s Fabian Puerta securing the gold with his time of 1:01.49, followed by his compatriot Santiago Ramirez 1:02.02 in second and TT ’s Alexander in 1:03.31 in the bronze position.

Speaking to Newsday about the TT ’s performance at the Pan Am Championships, manager of the local contingent, Joel Browne, stated, “I think things went nicely as we expected the sprinters to do well in the team event as they got the Pan Am silver. We were expecting to do a little better in the Keirin, however, with Bramble’s injury and the high quality competition, Kwasi Browne’s fifth positioning was not a bad result.” Focusing on the sprint and team pursuit, he said, “Our top sprinter, Njisane Phillip, got a puncture while doing the Flying 200M, and it is a bit difficult to recover from such a setback. Both the men and women’s Pursuit teams performed above our expectations, especially the female team as it was their first time.

“All things being equal, I think all riders did their best in the competition and we certainly hope they continue to work hard, especially the newest sprint team as they have a lot of potential moving forward and have only been training together for two weeks.” Teniel Campbell placed seventh in the Women’s 500M Time Trial with her time of 36.58 seconds.

Mexico’s Jessica Salazar took gold in the event with her ride of 34.39 seconds as she was closely followed by Martha Bayona of Colombia in 34.63 seconds.

Mandy Marquardt secured the bronze for the United Stated with her time of 35.18 seconds.

TT ’s Jessica Costa placed 16th in the race. Campbell placed ninth overall in the Women’s Keirin as the event was won by Bayona of Columbia. Marquardt, representing the United States, came in second while Mexico’s Daniela Gaxiola secured the final podium spot with the bronze.

The Men’s Madison event saw United States’ team defeating Argentina to take the gold medal after accumulating 35 points. Riders Zachary Carlson and Zachary Kovalcik held off Thomas Contte and Sebastian Trillini of Argentina as they only secured 27 points. Colombia rode away with the bronze medal with 26 points provided by their cyclists Jordan Parra and Edwin Avila.

The Pan Am Championships ended on Sunday night as the continental contest, which brought together over 150 cyclists from 20 countries, gave tickets for athletes to the upcoming track cycling tournament of the XXIII Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, scheduled for next year in Barranquilla, Columbia.