Trini Post

The desperate search for a missing ten-year-old girl turned to near violence in the Laventille community yesterday, when scores of irate residents clashed with heavily-armed police and soldiers. In their bid to locate Tecia Henry, a pupil of St Rose’s Girls’ Primary School, angry residents blocked the major roads with burning debris, demanding swift and more efficient action by law enforcement officials. Tecia went missing after leaving her mother’s home on Essex Street, John John, around 7.30 am on Saturday. The child was sent to K and G Mini-mart, at the lower end of John John, to purchase a phone card and other items. She never made it to the shop.

Sitting in front of the parlour, which was closed yesterday, the child’s mother Diane was visibly distraught. She tried to comfort her 12-year-old twin daughters, Tia and Tamara, who sat at their mother’s feet shedding tears for their missing sister. According to Diane, the walk from her home to the mini-mart is a mere three minutes. “When I saw a certain time I sent one of her sisters to check on her. The owner of the shop said he glimpsed her going up Crook Street,” Diane said.

Believing the mini-mart might have been closed, Diana said she thought her daughter might have gone to another shop on St Paul Street, not too far from where the child’s grandmother lived. “I called the aunt, but they said she not around. I call everybody and they say she not around.” Diane said her daughter never ran away from home. “It was school and home; nothing else.” Tecia Henry was last seen wearing a pink and grey jacket, a denim skirt, a shower cap and slippers.

By:  GEISHA KOWLESSAR of Guardian

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Information Minister Neil Parsanlal says no new powers are being granted to the President under the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2009. Parsanlal said this yesterday in his contribution to the debate on the legislation in Parliament. He was responding to an earlier claim by Princes Town North MP Subhas Panday who said too much power was being granted to the President in the bill. Panday was referring to a provision which gave the Head of State the power to pardon someone guilty of money laundering and to return illicit assets confiscated by the State.

Parsanlal said the Presidential powers of pardon were not new. He said Panday’s claim represented “a personal attack and singular attack on the incumbent President.” He later slammed the Opposition, saying it had no moral authority to comment on the matter because of the “conduct” of its leader Basdeo Panday. Parsanlal’s criticism of Panday later sparked a heated exchange of words between the two, with Panday threatening to tell the nation about certain matters about Parsanlal on Mt St Benedict. “I can tell you what happened up on the mount, why you were not ordained as a priest, so you leave me alone,” Panday shouted across the floor. House Speaker Barendra Sinanan then asked MPs to refrain from provoking each other.

But the heated exchanges did not immediately subside. Parsanlal countered: “Mr Speaker, I have been raised in a house that says one must have pity on the afflicted, the conflicted and the convicted.” But even before he could complete that statement, Panday shouted: “I know what you could raise.” Panday later had to apologise on two occasions for his conduct in the House.
Parsanlal said one of the major objectives of the bill was to deal with the crime of money laundering in T&T. He later appealed to the Opposition to lend its support to the legislation.

Gopeesingh Speaks
Opposition support for the new crime bill did not appear to be forthcoming, as Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh said there was no evidence to show that passage of the bill would result in effectively dealing with the offence of money laundering. He said the Government had failed miserably in the fight against crime. He renewed his call for National Security Minister Martin Joseph to resign over the crime situation in the country.

By: Guardian

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From as early as next week, the newly implemented ttconnect mobile service will allow T&T citizens to use their cellular phones and the SMS text messaging service to receive traffic updates as well as other important news about the Fifth Summit of the Americas. Public Administration Minister, Kennedy Swaratsingh, made the announcement last Tuesday as he delivered the feature address during the official launch of the ttconnect suite of services at the Chaguanas Service Centre located at Gaston Street, Chaguanas.

Swaratsingh said users of the ttconnect mobile service would be charged a small fee. He said that in time the service will be expanded to grant members of the public access to a wider range of Government services. “By July 2009, the public will be able to access more ttconnect services using their mobile phones such as subscribing for state news and weather bulletins,” Swaratsingh said. He said that the entire ttconnect service comprises the ttconnect service centres, ttconnect Self serve, ttconnect Online, ttconnect Hotline and the ttconnect Mobile all of which will help to improve the image of the public service and improve customer service delivery.

There are six ttconnect service centres in operation at St James, Princes Town, Chaguanas, Arima, Tunapuna and Bon Accord, Tobago, and five self serve kiosks located at the Piarco International Airport, Hi-Lo Foods Stores, Point Fortin, Trincity Mall and the Gulf City Malls in La Romaine and Tobago. Through the services, citizens may apply for a wide range of services including their first electronic birth certificate, home improvement grants, admission into the OJT, MUST and other training programmes and in the near future the issuance of provisional permits and applications for passports, and student visas.

“Such a multi-modal programme of access will help in directly addressing citizens major concerns of choice, convenience, accessibility, timeliness efficiency and satisfaction with Government’s current levels of service delivery. “For the various ministries and agencies, the decongesting of their respective departments is expected to act as motivation and assist in efforts toward the better alignment of services to customer needs,” Swaratsingh said.

By: CORI BAYNES of Guardian

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Members of the US Secret Service and local law enforcement bodies are expected to be involved in all-day meetings today to synchronise security arrangements as the Fifth Summit of the Americas draws closer. A source close to the arrangements said the meeting, which began on Thursday afternoon was supposed to continue yesterday at 11 am. However, it was postponed until today.

The meeting, which will comprise selected local law enforcement organisations, will take place on the 13th Floor of the Financial Towers in Port-of-Spain. The source said security bodies dealing specifically with explosives, including their detection and dismantling, will be part of the meeting. These include the Special Branch, Bomb Squad, Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt) and selected members of the T&T Fire Service. With the summit just mere days away, the source said “pre-sweeping” operations have intensified.

These operations involve searches of hotels in Port-of-Spain and other places of interest, particularly for bombs. Following the meeting, the Gold Commander for the summit, assistant Police Commissioner Steve Waldron, is expected to be briefed. Waldron, the source said, was being advised by former UK police commissioner, Bob Bolton. Spouses of heads of state and delegates are expected to take part in a packed agenda, including an informal retreat at Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre Club at 10 am on Saturday.

By:  GEISHA KOWLESSAR of Guardian

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The fate of Soca Warriors coach, Colombian Francisco Maturana and his technical staff which includes assistant coach/player Russell Latapy, is to be the main topic of discussion at a T&T Football Federation (TTFF) emergency technical meeting on April 9. The meeting is expected to take place at Concacaf’s Port-of-Spain office and will be chaired by T&TFF special advisor and Concacaf president, Jack Warner.
Those expected to be in attendance are members of the Soca Warriors technical staff and other executive members of the local Federation, as Maturana’s tenure as coach comes under scrutiny.

This has been occasioned by the Warriors’ embarrassing 3-0 defeat by the United States of America in their Concacaf Final Round Qualifier in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday night, leaving this country at the bottom of the six-team group on two points, the same as El Salvador. The USA tops the table with seven points followed by Costa Rica (6) Honduras (4) and Mexico (3) with seven matches still to be played by each team.

The Special Adviser when asked to comment on Wednesday night display replied : “I think it was way below expectations of a team that is aspiring to be among the qualifiers for the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year.” “My concern is that we are not getting the required results. Results are all that matter at the moment and we have to start getting the right ones from the next match”, he said.

Maturana, who has come in for earlier criticism from the local media and coaches alike, has twice taken his homeland to the World Cup Finals and will be buoyed by the fact that T&T also had one point after three matches in 2005 when Dutchman Leo Beenhakker took over the reigns from Bertille St Clair and led T&T to Germany in 2006.One local club manager who prefers to remain anonymous said that the only good thing with the team’s situation is that there are two full months before the next match against Costa Rica at home June 6. T&T is also ‘away’ to Mexico on June 10.

“Whether it’s a coaching change or wholesale changes in the team, it’s clear that something has to be done.” The local club manager who has led his club to a host of local and regional triumphs was adamant that the national coach had no idea which was his best team. He added : “I can’t imagine we are three matches into the final phase of qualification and our coaching staff still does not know their best squad yet.”

By: NIGEL SIMONN of Guardian

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CNC3’s newscast at 7 pm will now be simulcast on Gayelle the Channel. Gayelle announced on Tuesday that it was closing its newsroom, with effect from March 31, 2009, and paying severance to 16 displaced news staff. Based on a strategic alliance with CNC3 which was formalised yesterday, viewers of Gayelle will now see the CNC3 news at 7 pm in the time slot of Gayelle’s former newscast. Managing Director of the TPCL Grenfell Kissoon stated that CNC3 (a division of TPCL) was happy with the strategic alliance. The official signing ceremony took place yesterday, in the boardroom of TPCL, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain.

Among those present at the signing ceremony were TPCL’s managing director Grenfell Kissoon, executive director of Gayelle The Channel Errol Fabien, TPCL’s deputy managing director Brandon Khan, CNC3’s General Manager Cyntra Achong, CNC3’s engineering and operations manager Anthony Seegobin and Rosemarie Sant, Head of CNC3 News. Kissoon said that CNC3’s signature programme was its news, and over the past three years the station had built a reputation of news leadership through its compelling content, high quality presenters, and overall professionalism.

He expressed the view that Gayelle’s choice of CNC3 as its news provider over all other available options in the industry was testament to the quality of the CNC3 news product. He said he recognised and respected Gayelle’s strength in the production of local culture- and community-based programming and was happy to complement their offering with news programming, in which CNC3 had distinguished expertise. In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Gayelle’s head of news Paolo Kernahan said, “Dismal survey figures coming out of Flow, coupled with falling advertising revenue since January, led to the closure of the news department.”

Yesterday, Fabien said, “CNC3 news best represents and reflects T&T. The substance of its (CNC3’s) newscast fits the format of good news.” He said the continued move was the only way forward for consolidation of resources. Fabien said all other programming would remain unchanged. He also said viewers could anticipate a similar situation with radio stations. Fabien added: “I feel some radio entities will merge resources so they can continue to exist, probably even seeing some stations changing hands or divesting interests.”

By: MICHELLE LOUBON of Guardian

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An electrician employed at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba appeared in court yesterday charged with possession of $1 million worth of compressed marijuana. Seven packets of marijuana weighing 56.4 kilogrammes were brought to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court in three crocus bags. The marijuana was wrapped in plastic.

Ezekiel Joseph, 29, of Harmony Hall, Gasparillo, was not called upon to plead when he appeared before Magistrate Melville Daniel charged with possession of the drug. He is accused of having the marijuana in his possession on March 31 at Harmony Hall.

PC Marlon Mahadeo laid the charge. In her bail application yesterday, attorney Michelle Rampaul, said Joseph was an employee at the Brian Lara Stadium. She said her client had seven children and another was on the way.
Daniel denied Joseph bail and remanded him to reappear in court on April 9.

By:  ANIKA GUMBS-SANDIFORD of Guardian

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For the second time in their controversial political relationship, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday stripped UNC MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj of the UNC’s lead spokesman position in the Parliament. After a group led by Maharaj and UNC deputy leader Jack Warner were involved in a fracas outside UNC’s Rienzi Complex office two Sundays ago, Panday moved to bring Maharaj to heel—stripping him of the portfolio of Opposition chief whip which Maharaj had held since the start of the term in 2007.

Panday appointed UNC Caroni Central MP Dr Hamza Rafeeq to replace Maharaj as chief whip. It was a case of deja vu for Maharaj who was stripped of the post of Leader of Government Business in the UNC administration of 2001 after Maharaj fell out with Panday and was fired as attorney general. In 2001, Panday replaced Maharaj as attorney general with UNC MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and placed then-MP Ganga Singh in the post of Leader of Government Business.

Commenting yesterday on the rift with the Maharaj/Warner faction and the 2009 rounds of “stripping,” Panday declared: “This party must be disciplined if it is to be strong enough to remove the PNM Government—that is the only way.” Panday confirmed that he had communicated with Deputy Speaker Pennelope Beckles on Maharaj’s removal and Rafeeq’s appointment. He said he informed Tabaquite MP Maharaj of the development by letter. Asked if Maharaj, Warner and others would be expelled or suspended for the recent fracas at Rienzi Complex, Panday said those who defied rules can be brought before a disciplinary team who will “decide their fate.”

However, Maharaj who was brought back into the UNC by Panday for the 2007 general election, said of his “new” position yesterday: “This (removal) was not unexpected. As I said last week—when we had anticipated it—we’ll use the backbench as the front bench to fight for the public. The party needs me more now. I’m not leaving UNC. “But it’s the first time in the political history of the Commonwealth that a chief whip was dismissed for a second time by the same person whom he served as prime minister and as opposition leader,” he said. “But I hold no acrimony and I go to Parliament’s backbench in love and peace.”

By:  GAIL ALEXANDER of Guardian

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GEORGETOWN–England won the first one-dayer after a calamitous misreading of the rain regulations by the West Indies coach. Australian John Dyson waved his batsmen in when they were offered the light with 27 needed from 22 balls. But Stuart Broad’s vital wicket had made all the difference, and England’s total of 270-7 gave them a one-run win under Duckworth-Lewis rules.

West Indies finished on 244-7, with the excellent Broad taking 3-41 as England scraped their first win of the winter. Paul Collingwood (69) and Owais Shah (62) did the bulk of the scoring for England after they had won an important toss on a slow wicket in Guyana. England’s bowlers generally did a fine job in defending the total, although a single Steve Harmison over which Shivnarine Chanderpaul smashed for 26 at a crucial late stage nearly undid so much of the good work. As it happened, West Indies were ahead of the “par” score under the Duckworth-Lewis system when the 47th over began, and the umpires hovered over their light meters.

But after Broad had sent down a wide and two legitimate deliveries, the second of which trapped Denesh Ramdin lbw, the batsmen were offered the light, and Dyson beckoned his batsmen into the pavilion. A confusing interlude ensued before a winner was declared, as Dyson approached the match officials with his set of rules. But he appeared to have forgotten to take into account the wicket of Ramdin which turned a West Indies win into an English one. A far more straightforward conclusion appeared on the cards for much of the West Indies chase. Once Broad had removed Chris Gayle early on – lbw to a ball that straightened off the wicket – England had an obvious initiative.

And despite the best efforts of Ramnaresh Sarwan (57) and Lendl Simmons (62), the required run rate climbed to 7.22 towards the end of a marathon 125-run stand which soaked up 27 overs. Simmons certainly rode his luck at times. He should have been run out by Ravi Bopara on 36, and after he had added a further 10 Broad badly misjudged a catch in the deep. In between there were some terrific shots, including a straight six off Gareth Batty and another big hit off Dimitri Mascarenhas which almost cleared the longest boundary on the ground. But of the two, it was Sarwan who was first to fall, tamely caught at short midwicket as he mistimed a flick off Collingwood.

By:  Guardian

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Days before the resumption of hearings of the Uff Commission of Enquiry into the local construction sector, House Speaker Barendra Sinanan has ruled that Udecott must appear before the Committee of Privileges for breaches of Parliament. The Speaker’s ruling was given during yesterday’s sitting of the Lower House. It was in response to last week Friday’s matter of privilege, which was brought by Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

Gopeesingh raised the matter after Udecott’s publication of full page advertisements in two daily newspapers on March 7, responding to his statements while presenting a motion on the adjournment dealing with the level of healthcare in T&T. Gopeesingh’s original claim was made while presenting a motion on the adjournment of the House about the level of healthcare in T&T. He said then that Health Minister Jerry Narace had said previously that Udecott had now assumed responsibility for the construction of the Point Fortin Hospital.

“Imagine Udecott again, Mr Speaker? Udecott which you see in the Commission of Enquiry has been doing absolutely chaotic things and has been involved in so much corruption, non-transparency and non-accountability as far as expenditure of the local taxpayers’ money,” Gopeesingh had also said in the motion on February 27. Udecott said Gopeesingh’s remarks were “reckless and irresponsible,” and dared Gopeesingh to “repeat his spurious allegations outside the Parliamentary Chamber and to immediately report his allegations of corruption together with the relevant proof to the authorities, especially since contracts have not been awarded for this project, nor have construction works commenced.”

The Speaker said yesterday that Gopeesingh’s claim, last week, “amounted to contempt of the House and the publications attempted to intimidate him in the execution of his duties as a Member of the House.” Sinanan quoted Erskine May’s Parliamentary Procedures on the matter and then issued his ruling. “Having regard to the facts presented to me, and established parliamentary practice and procedure, I am satisfied that a prima facie, case of breach of privilege has indeed been made and accordingly I refer this matter to the Committee of Privileges for its consideration,” he said. This sparked loud desk-thumping from Opposition MPs.

Earlier, Sinanan denied St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath leave to have the demolition of squatters’ houses at St Joseph debated as a matter of urgent public importance. Parliamentary sources said the most likely sanction to be imposed if found guilty would be an apology by Udecott in an advertisement of equal size. No date for the meeting has been announced. Sinanan is chairman of the committee which includes as members, Colm Imbert, Pennelope Beckles, Stanford Callender, Christine Kangaloo, Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Gopeesingh.

By: RICHARD LORD  of Guardian

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Peter Kelly is well known to local audiences as a radio personality, actor, local comedian, football referee and economics teacher. Six years ago he retired from the national stage because of his Christian beliefs. He promised at the time that he would return to act with the Crazy Catholic in the future, since he stays away from smut and obscenities.

True to his word Peter returns as Bruce Lee in the newest play by the Crazy Catholic—Enter the Dragon—which will be held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. The play premieres on the Baptist holiday weekend, from March 26 until March 30. This is the first Chinese/Kung Fu play in T&T. Previous plays by the Crazy Catholic introduced Bollywood theatre, fairy tales and clean comedy shows to mainstream audiences locally. His last play at the Hall was Grease.

Enter the Dragon features a 25-member cast of exciting characters from Chinese folklore, including: Errol Fabien (Jet Li), Crazy Catholic (Jackie Chan), George Gonzalez (Kung Fu Panda), Dese Simon (Silver Fox), Sensational Shelly (Crouching Tigress) and Peter Kelly as Bruce Lee. Other colourful characters from popular shaolin movies included in the play are: Bolo, Drunken Master, Monk, Jim Kelly and Ninja.

The storyline includes the transformation of these four well-loved comedians—Fabien, Crazy Catholic, Gonzalez, Kelly—into the legends of Kung Fu as they try to save Trinidad and Tobago from an assembly of villains. This production is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Crazy Catholic, who started performing comedy in 1984. Two persons will be admitted on one ticket at a cost of $150 at the March 26 premiere. Showtime will be at 8.30 pm. Showtime on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be 8 pm. There will be matinee shows on March 28–30.

Special Offer:
SEA students get an additional $20 off at the Queen’s Hall Box Office and any patron who celebrates their birthday or wedding anniversary that weekend will get in free as part of the anniversary celebrations of the Crazy Catholic.

By: Guardian

It was literature professor Jesse Solomon, from a university in Orlando, Florida, who wrote Joanne “Tigress” Rowley’s stinging political commentary Yuh Ent See Wajang Yet. The composition earned Rowley second place in the Calypso Monarch competition and quarter million dollars.

The song is about the firing of PNM MP Dr Keith Rowley after he questioned the operations of the Urban Development Corporation and the Prime Minister’s subsequent description of his behaviour as “wajang.” Tigress, who also sang about other contentious happenings within the PNM Government, stressed: “You ent see wajang yet.” Tigress flew back to her Orlando home shortly after the competition Sunday night and was unpacking when Sunday Vibe spoke to her in a telephone interview on Wednesday. She had taken a day off from her job with a pharmaceutical company. “It was a big political fiasco in T&T (the Rowley affair) and we decided to go for it,” she said, explaining the inspiration behind the song.

“It was something people really wanted to hear.” The basic message in it, she said, was that “the truth is rather loud.” Tigress, one of the former United Sisters, which included Singing Sandra, said her strength was in authentic calypso. “That’s who I am, and that’s who I’ll be,” she said. Although she had been living in the USA for more than ten years, Tigress said the stigma of “foreigner” did not apply to her. She said she read T&T newspapers every day and was “very much in touch” with what was happening here.

By: YVONNE BABOOLAL  of Guardian

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Two men were murdered within a 24-hour period, bringing the total murders for the year, up to late yesterday to 114. They are Randy Prescod of Diego Martin and Salim Benoit of Malabar. On the scene yesterday residents of North West Road, Patna Village uttered comments such as: “Is just another badman dead from Patna Village. “One plate (of food) less. “Same old same old, nothing new. “Just one more less to talk about.” The statements were made as undertakers removed the body of Randy Prescod, which was found in some bushes near his home with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was shot five times.

But Prescod, 22, police said, was no stranger to them. They confirmed that Prescod was wanted by Cumuto police in connection with a robbery in the district. He was also being sought by Western Division detectives in connection with the disappearance of a man from that area, who police believe, was murdered. Shortly before midday yesterday, several loud explosions were heard coming from a hilly area. Police said when residents checked, they discovered Prescod’s body. At the murder scene, Prescod’s relatives declined to speak with reporters. A motive is yet to be established for the killing. Insps Henry Dan and Alfonso Patterson visited the scene and are continuing investigations.

Meanwhile Northern Division Homicide Bureau officers are investigating the shooting death of 27-year-old murder suspect Salim Benoit, of All Stars Crescent, Malabar, Arima who succumbed to his injuries at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on Tuesday night. Benoit, police said, was the second suspect wanted in connection with the killing of 20-year-old James Jay-Z Howard. Howard of Ackbarali Drive, Malabar, was shot dead at Melodians Crescent on March 2. Another man has already been charged with Howard’s killing. Investigators said around 2.30 pm Tuesday, Benoit was liming with his girlfriend at a basketball court, opposite the Larry Gomes Stadium, when he was shot. Police said the assailant approached from behind and shot Benoit eight times about the body.

By: AKILE SIMON  of Guardian

Youthful ignorance and a lack of national pride were what drove the person(s) to deface the paintings on The People’s Canvas, outside the Queen’s Park Oval. That’s the view of Keith Nexar, director of Advantage Advertising Ltd. The beautiful paintings that adorn the Oval’s wall, which took about one year of planning and eight months to be completed, were defaced sometime over the two days of Carnival.

There were handprints, paint and even slashes on some of the paintings, which are seen by more than 300,000 pairs of eyes every week. While Nexar described the damage as “minimal,” he said the action clearly showed that some people simply did not appreciate the “beauty of work.” He placed the blame squarely at the feet of “some youths,” as he did not believe “mature” people were responsible for defacing the works of art.

Nexar said a security guard witnessed a young boy, armed with a knife, slashing paintings on the wall as he walked along the pavement. He said, “I don’t think that some young people appreciate totally the beautiful work that has gone up there. They don’t really think at that stage. They don’t think about national pride. “But, I hope they would get some in time. I really don’t think mature people did it.”

Nexar was in high praise, however, of the corporate clients who took the decision to let the paintings remain in place at the Oval for the Carnival season. He said, “A lot of people, including foreigners, were seen taking pictures of the paintings. We are very happy about that.” Nexar said citizens could look forward to Carnival 2K10, as plans were already in train to have the entire Oval walls wrapped with even more beautiful paintings.

By: CHERISSE MOE  of Guardian

There was a complete shutdown of the Port-of-Spain Port yesterday as rumours spread throughout the country that a container with missing children had been discovered. The airwaves of radio and television stations, along with newspaper newsrooms, were buzzing with activity, as concerned people called about the rumours.

Scores of police officers, together with Customs and Excise and Port Authority police, swooped down on the port in response to radio and television reports, closing all gates and temporarily stopping all business transactions. “It was real chaos,” one businessman told the T&T Guardian.

The reports traumatised people, with one woman actually reduced to tears when she said that “her son saw the children and they were in a sad state.” A man said he was working on the port and actually saw the dead bodies in the container. Another woman said the son of a calypsonian saw the children and rushed home in tears. In the end, just as the calls came fast and furious, they disappeared with the same speed. It all started when a radio announcer reported that a container with dead bodies had been found at the city port. Then, a television station announced that it was a container with missing children, and thirdly, a report surfaced that a Cuban vessel with stowaways had been stopped by local authorities.

For hours, the T&T Guardian newsroom was flooded with calls from people from all walks of life, some high in government, and others from newspapers in the region and T&T nationals abroad. Several foreign embassies in Port-of-Spain also called the Guardian about the rumours. The main concern for many was the so-called discovery of the container with the children, which brought to the fore the reports of human trafficking in T&T over the past two years. A number of children went missing and have not been found up to today.

The police heard the rumours and quickly assembled a team which swooped down on the port. There was a report that the container with the children was about to be shipped out of the country. Although the police responded to the report, no one really knew where it came from. Then, all of a sudden, the “discovery” shifted to the Chaguaramas and Point Lisas ports. All the rumours were quickly dispelled when acting Police Commissioner James Philbert got into the act. Philbert, in a media release, said, “After a thorough check of the Port of Port-of-Spain by police officers, Port police and officers of the Customs and Excise Division, the allegations are just rumours.” Philbert also described the rumours, which circulated throughout the country, as “causing much concern among the citizens.”

The chief executive officer at the Port Authority, Christopher Mendez, denied the allegations, saying officials found “absolutely no evidence to support the information.” Mendez said security officials at the port would continue to investigate and monitor the premises in response to the report which he deemed as “very serious.” Several police vehicles with officers from units such as the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Guard and Emergency Branch and the Audio Visual Unit arrived at the compound, trying to find out “what was going on,” one policeman said.

By: Guardian