Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Weed on sale at mini-mart: Elderly man, wife arrested*

POLICE ARRESTED a 78-year-old man and his wife, 48 for marijuana possession on Wednesday amid reports they had been selling weed to school children in Mt Lambert from their little parlour.

Police said that around 2.25 p.m. a team of officers from the North Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit went to a small mini-mart located at Circular Road, Mt Lambert.
Based on information police searched the small shop where they found 1,097 grammes of marijuana.

Upon finding the narcotics, police arrested the couple and they are expected to be charged with marijuana trafficking which remains illegal after possession of under 30 grammes per adult was decriminalised in December 2019.

19 hours ago | [YT] | 11

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Viand has vanished*

Police officers are seeking the urgent assistance of the public in locating a 16-year-old girl who has been reported missing.

The teen, identified as Viand Ramanan of San Francique, Penal, was last seen on Monday and was reported missing at the Penal Police Station on Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Police described her as being of East Indian descent, approximately five feet five inches tall, slim-built, brown in complexion, and with long hair. She was last seen wearing grey tights and a pink jersey.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Penal Police Station at 647-8888, call 800-TIPS, or contact the police at 555, 999, or 911, or at any police station.
#missing #trinidadnews #missingperson #missing411 #trinidad ##truecrime

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21 hours ago | [YT] | 11

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

School community in Tobago mourns death of former student Michael Okubosa

The Bishops’ High School in Tobago and the Division of Education, Skills and Innovation have both expressed deep sorrow following the death of Michael Okubosa, a former student of the school.

In a statement, Bishops’ High School confirmed that Okubosa was a past student from the Class of 2024. The school extended condolences to his family, friends and loved ones, while also expressing support for the Scarborough Secondary School community as they grieve the loss.

The school described the moment as a difficult one and noted that Michael’s passing has deeply affected those who knew him, adding that his memory will remain with the school community.

Meanwhile, the Division of Education, Skills and Innovation said it was deeply saddened by Okubosa’s sudden death on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The Division extended sympathies to his relatives, friends, teachers, classmates and all those impacted by his passing.

The Division also announced that its Student Support Services Unit will provide counselling and psychosocial assistance to students, teachers and staff at the affected schools, as well as within the wider school community.

Members of the public have been asked to keep Michael Okubosa’s family and all those mourning his death in their thoughts and prayers as the community comes to terms with the loss.

Okubosa collapsed and died during a basketball competition on February 5th, 2026

21 hours ago | [YT] | 11

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Ameen defends Municipal Boundaries Committee chair*

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen has again pushed back against what she described as “mischievous comments” by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles over the Government’s decision to establish a committee to review the boundaries of municipal corporations in Trinidad.

She was speaking at the post-Cabinet media conference at the Diplomatic Centre on Thursday.

Ameen rejected Beckles’ claims as misleading, saying they reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the parliamentary process, the scope of legislation governing local government and the role of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

“I want to make it very clear that the Cabinet-appointed committee to review the boundaries of municipalities is not a UNC committee. It is also not chaired by any minister. It is a Cabinet-appointed committee led by a retired and very competent former public servant, the former director of planning at the Town and Country Planning and a former acting permanent secretary in the ministry of the then local government.”

She strongly defended the chair of the committee, stressing that the review process is technocratic, not political.

“The chairperson of this committee is a technocrat with decades of professional experience and a person who does not have any political affiliation.

So this is not a political committee in any way. And I think it is really irresponsible for the leader of the Opposition to suggest otherwise and to present what is a technocratic review process as something partisan. It is not. And I think such statements really undermine public confidence, but it distorts facts.”

On November 28, 2025, the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government announced that instruments of appointment had been issued to the committee for the Review of Municipal Boundaries in Trinidad.

The committee is chaired by Stara Ramlogan and includes members Feroz Khan, Sabrina Mowlah Baksh, Christlyn Moore, Dr Assad Mohammed, Dr Allen Sammy, Vijay Gosyne, Cornelius Price, Lennox Sankersingh, Peter Kanhai and Denish Sankersingh.

Ameen said the boundaries of municipal corporations are determined by an Act of Parliament, recalling that legislation passed in 1990, and subsequently amended, replaced county councils with municipal corporations. She said this framework clearly distinguishes between municipal boundaries, which fall under Parliament, and electoral boundaries, which are the responsibility of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

“So, there is no question about the validity of such a committee. And I want to tell you, the committee is not making the changes. The committee will look at the data, they will look at growth polls, and they will look at concentrations in terms of not just population but amenities. They will look at areas that have commercial centres and schools and a concentration of other activities, and they will analyse and make recommendations. It is up to the Cabinet and then the Parliament to accept these recommendations.”

She added that the restructuring and resizing of municipal corporations has been under discussion for decades, and is not a new or partisan issue.

Ameen recalled that senior PNM figures had previously gone on record arguing that Tunapuna/Piarco, with a population nearing a quarter of a million people, should be divided into a Tunapuna borough and a Piarco region.

She also pointed to changes made under a previous PNM administration, when the Diego Martin and Siparia regional corporations were redesignated as boroughs.

“That is not the creation of a borough. A borough really has to be a centralised area of commercial and other activity, a developmental focus of the government and of the local authority. So the PNM would have failed in terms of the true creation of a borough. And what we are doing now will allow us to review and look at the data and let the committee make their recommendations.”

Ameen said there is now a clear imbalance in local government, with some municipalities serving populations as large as 250,000, while others have as few as 17,000 to 20,000 residents, creating funding and service delivery challenges.

“The disparity in funding has always been a hot topic,” she said.

She accused the Opposition of politicising an issue that requires bipartisan maturity.

“You can’t play politics with local government because local government is so close to the ground. Both PNM and UNC persons have advocated for these changes, and I don’t know if Ms Beckles consulted with her members before she made such a statement, but the changes have to be done.”

Ameen said the committee has already adopted a structured consultative approach, engaging technical officers within municipal corporations, ministries and other key stakeholders.

She added that opposition-led municipal corporations will be part of the consultation process and will have the opportunity to provide input.

Beckles, earlier this week, accused the Government of attempting to gerrymander electoral boundaries ahead of the next local government elections.

In a statement, she described the Cabinet-appointed committee as a “clear and present threat to democracy” and a “thinly veiled attempt” to interfere with the electoral process.

She argued that the initiative encroaches on the constitutional remit of the EBC and warned of political manipulation designed to entrench the ruling party.

Beckles also claimed that a committee appointed by the Cabinet and allegedly led by a government minister could not credibly claim neutrality.

“The integrity of our electoral system must be defended,” Beckles said.

Ameen rejected those assertions outright, insisting the review is lawful, long overdue and driven by data rather than politics.

23 hours ago | [YT] | 7

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Blogger, former radio host charged with sedition*

A blogger and former radio host has been charged with sedition after a post on social media allegedly invited foreign parties to target the official residence of the Prime Minister.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said Krystle Horwood appeared before Master Mohammed at the Port-of-Spain High Court yesterday, where the charge was laid summarily and she pleaded not guilty.

After hearing submissions, the court granted Horwood bail in the sum of $100,000 with a surety.

As part of the bail conditions, she must surrender her passport to the Registrar of the Court, report to a specified police station once per week and reside at her parents’ address.

The matter has been adjourned to March 6 and will be heard in the Port-of-Spain District Court.

In its statement, the Police Service reminded the public that freedom of expression carries legal responsibilities, warning that, “Posting content that encourages violence against individuals, or destabilising acts can have serious legal consequences, including arrest and prosecution.”

23 hours ago | [YT] | 2

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*3 businesses damaged in Bamboo Settlement fire*

Three businesses were affected by a fire that broke out at the Bamboo Settlement No 3, Valsayn, on Thursday evening.

Around 5 pm, Aron Roopnarine, owner of NFS Auto—a new and used foreign car parts dealership located at Bamboo Boulevard, 2nd Street—closed and secured his business before leaving for his home.

At approximately 7.15 pm, however, residents alerted Roopnarine that his warehouse was on fire.

On arriving at the scene, Roopnarine saw his business, measuring roughly 60 by 40 feet, completely engulfed in flames.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, Gary Sookdeo, said the Fire Service responded from Port-of-Spain, San Juan and Tunapuna stations.

Sookdeo said when crews arrived on the scene, the affected structures were already totally engulfed in flames.

He said the prompt response helped firefighters contain the fire and prevent further damage.

No injuries were reported.

Business owner Damien Flanders said he received a call from a friend shortly before 2 am informing him that a fire had broken out near his place of business.

When he arrived at the scene, fire officers were already there and had brought the blaze under control.

Flanders said his business was not affected by the fire; however, three businesses located in front of his property sustained damage.

The total value of damage to the properties is yet to be assessed.

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23 hours ago | [YT] | 1

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Speaker blocks move to refer PM, Padarath to Privileges Committee*

House Speaker Jagdeo Singh yesterday ruled that attempts by the Opposition to refer Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath to the Committee of Privileges do not meet the required threshold, effectively blocking the move a second time.

The ruling follows two letters submitted last week by Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales. One letter challenged statements made by the Prime Minister alleging that two Independent Senators approached a senior Government senator seeking to trade their support for the now-defeated Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill in exchange for personal favours. The second letter addressed comments by Padarath, accusing independent senators of siding with criminals over citizens by failing to support the bill.

In the letter concerning the Prime Minister’s remarks, Gonzales described the allegations as “serious, reckless and unsubstantiated.” He argued that the statements amounted to grave accusations of corruption and misconduct against members of Parliament, including Independent Senators, without particulars capable of identification, investigation or response.

“Such conduct offends long-established parliamentary practice and undermines public confidence in the integrity of Parliament as an institution,” Gonzales wrote.

Delivering his ruling during announcements in the House of Representatives, Speaker Singh said he had given the matters careful and extensive consideration, including a review of the definition and scope of parliamentary privilege, relevant statutory provisions, and international parliamentary practice.

“I have reflected deeply on what constitutes parliamentary privilege, the circumstances under which privilege attaches to a statement, and the threshold that must be met before leave is granted,” Singh said.

He noted that Standing Order 32 provides a “rolled-up, compendious consideration” of the requirements for a question of privilege.

Singh added that his decision was consistent with a ruling by Senate President Wade Mark earlier this week and concluded that the complaints did not meet the necessary threshold to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

Meanwhile, speaking outside Parliament yesterday, Padarath defended the Government’s refusal to name the independent senators accused of seeking to trade support on the ZOSO bill. He said the issue should be guided by their conscience rather than what he described as selective outrage.

“I think their conscience should be their guide in determining the way forward with respect to those issues,” Padarath said.

He argued that similar scrutiny had not been applied in previous instances where allegations were made in Parliament and warned against what he termed “manufactured outrage.”

The ZOSO bill was defeated in Parliament last month after failing to secure the required support, including votes from the independent bench. Eight out of nine independent senators voted against the bill, with one abstention.

23 hours ago | [YT] | 7

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Alexander says all evidence in Samaroo case will be released in court of law*

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says the evidence the T&T Police Service has in the fatal police shooting of Joshua Samaroo will be presented when the time comes.

He made the comment yesterday, in response to calls that the TTPS should produce all the evidence it has in the matter so the public can get a proper perspective on what really took place.

Alexander said all the evidence will eventually be released in the court of law.

Asked if he still had confidence in Guevarro, he said, “Of course.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles does not agree with calls for top cop Allister Guevarro to resign over his handling of the matter, but she is concerned about his handling of the officers and how transparent the T&T Police Service is being with the public.

Also speaking outside the Red House yesterday, she said Guevarro must give the public an assurance that he’s doing everything possible to get to the bottom of the matter.

Beckles said, “I would not say that he should step down, simply because what I believe the commissioner should do is ensure that the confidence in the police service is his responsibility to let the public know, listen, ‘I’m the Commissioner of Police, this is what I propose to do.

An incident has happened that has clearly caused a public outcry and I want to give you the assurance as a Commissioner of Police, I will do all within my power to have the kind of investigation’. That the trust issues that you have from time to time, that he will give the assurance that this is one case in which he will go, I think, over and above.”

She added, “He hasn’t said it. He has not said that, in my humble view, given the kind of statement, because if he had, I believe then some of the protests and the concerns may either be reduced, and/or people will believe this is what he’s going to do. So that’s my call.”

She also called for a thorough investigation to be done, where all evidence is released at the end of the incident.

“This clearly is an incident that has caused Trinidadians and Tobagonians to take a greater look in terms of when evidence comes, what the police says, and the role that community can play when incidents like this happen,” Beckles said.

She also advocated for body cameras for police officers.

“The truth is, in most parts of the world where you have these kinds of scenarios, you have body cameras. And in most cases, the body cameras give evidence contrary to sometimes what the police says. So, as a country, we understand that it’s something that is absolutely necessary.”

Beckles also said she believes, apart from the police, Samaroo’s family members should also receive counselling.

Efforts to contact Guevarro yesterday were unsuccessful, but he previously said he will not step down. However, he did confirm he TTPS Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) visited the family.

23 hours ago | [YT] | 3

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Relatives uneasy over police presence at Samaroo funeral*

The aunt of police shooting victim Joshua Samaroo, Camellia Samaroo, yesterday complained about the police presence at his funeral, saying it left her feeling uneasy.

Camellia Samaroo said while she understands that the police have a job to do, they caused her some discomfort seeing them at the funeral. This, she said, was compounded when police officers were seen following relatives from the original location venue at the St James Crematorium to the nearby Monsegue and Company Funeral Chapel on Church Street, St James.

Police officers at funerals for individuals killed by officers is a normal occurrence, but Camellia said she felt uncomfortable by their presence.

“It’s very painful to see a police officer or any police with guns. That is where the problem is. Once they have those guns on their chest and they’re looking at you or they’re talking to you rough, it triggers something and sometimes it feels very scary, for me, I don’t know for anybody else. If they drive behind me, I will feel scared,” she said.

She added, “They have their work to do, like I said, and if they do it in the manner that they’re supposed to, that will bring peace. They have to bring peace in the public domain right now. Because there isn’t anybody that is comfortable. I feel regardless, it’s a funeral or not, society on the whole doesn’t look like they feel comfortable, whether it’s our tragedy or normal citizens in the country. They don’t feel comfortable.”

The funeral was originally scheduled to take place at the St James Crematorium but was moved to the other after some issues at the original site. Guardian Media understands that police officers who went to the crematorium followed those who attended from the crematorium to the funeral chapel. Outside the chapel, Guardian Media counted at least five marked police vehicles passing during the service, as the media was not allowed inside.

Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, who was at the service, said she knew Samaroo’s mother, as she had attended church in Arima for years, and days before the funeral, she met with his father and promised she would attend to support the family.

Recalling what occurred during the service, Beckles said those who spoke of Samaroo recalled his Christian faith and entrepreneurial spirit, while his father called for justice not only for his son but also for all those killed by police.

“The father talked about, you know, for society to remember him. To (say) thanks that there were cameras, so you could have had an opportunity to see exactly what transpired, because at the end of the day, that is what it is.

When a death like that occurs, people want to know what really happened because of the circumstances and what should happen. I made it clear a couple days ago that I endorsed the body cameras (for police),” Beckles said.

On Thursday, friends of Samaroo and his partner Kaia Sealy, who was shot during the police-involved shooting in St Augustine on January 20 and is now paralysed from the waist down, staged a protest outside the Police Administration Building, calling for justice and the resignation or removal of Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro and Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander.

Sealy missed yesterday’s funeral, as she remains hospitalised.

On Wednesday, Alexander called on the public not to lose trust in the police service because of the video, which showed Samaroo being shot after he surrendered when his car crashed in a drain.

Meanwhile, Beckles says any legislation brought to Parliament to ensure better productivity from police officers is going to be supported by the Opposition.

“No society will be comfortable when a situation like this happens if, at the end of the day, we don’t do all that we can to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. You want to ensure that the police, the victim and everyone gets what is due to them, meaning to say that justice is due for everyone.

So just as much as you are concerned with Joshua, you also don’t want to pass judgement without the appropriate evidence.”

1 day ago | [YT] | 5

Trinidad Not A Normal Place

*Robinson-Regis, Lee clash over HDC purge of Caura clients*

Opposition MP Camille Robinson-Regis says people who met the criteria for Housing Development Corporation (HDC) townhouses in Caura, Tunapuna, and were assured they would get units, are now being removed—but Housing Minister David Lee has countered that the past People’s National Movement government was giving those units to “friends, family and financiers.”

Both squared off on the issue in the Lower House yesterday, when Robinson-Regis also called for equity and for HDC homeowners to be treated similarly to Caroni land recipients, who don’t have a large “inheritance tax” on property sale transfer.

Robinson-Regis and Lee were participating in debate on a Land Acquisition order to vest 100 acres of Caura land in the state for an HDC housing development. Land and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein said the PNM government had failed to do the order.

Robinson-Regis revealed that people who met the criteria for the Caura units at the time, had been interviewed, assessed and given an assurance they would be getting specific units.

She added, “Now, my information is that every one of those persons has been removed after being assessed and assured they would be the persons to occupy the Caura development. Governance UNC style!”

She also said that whereas the HDC units were to each cost $950,000 and $1.1 million for those inside and outside the development, her information was that the homes are now costing $1.5m and $1.7m. She also claimed the Edinburgh Towers is going to be used as the HDC’s head office and units in Chaguanas areas that were $575,000, are now $750,000.

The former Housing minister said the UNC Government’s allocation of deeds for 600 Caroni workers was painful for HDC homeowners, as there’s now a 10-year restriction on the sale/transfer of HDC property. She said the PNM government had removed such a restriction from Caroni workers on their land issue.

“The PNM’s policy was that people could have HDC houses they could pass on to relatives. Caroni workers can now sell the land immediately if they wish and the transfer fee is minimal. Why the difference with HDC homeowners? Apart from being 10 years, it’s required to pay five to ten per cent of the purchase price to transfer—an ‘Inheritance tax’ on HDC homeowners!” Robinson-Regis added.

“Why can’t HDC homeowners get the same benefit as Caroni workers, who are being trusted with their assets, but HDC homeowners seem to be penalised. All we want is equity for HDC homeowners. But we’re seeing policy by vaps: the three Housing ministers don’t know what’s going on in their own ministry,” she said.

Robinson-Regis said the PNM supported the Land Acquisition order. She said the past government was prevented from moving forward with the matter since that was Home Construction Limited (HCL) land and there was a difference between what HCL wanted for compensation and what the Valuations Commissioner stated the land was worth.

Lee, saying Robinson-Regis was talking “pure nonsense,” said he was fully aware of what is going on in HDC.

“(The PNM) were allocating those (Caura) townhouses to their friends and family,” Lee claimed.

He said the PNM never properly vested lands to HDC.

“That allowed them to be able to give their friends, family and financiers homes on a lease-to-own or rent-to-own arrangement. They would have given friends and family favouritism of getting homes in these developments at peppercorn rental rates with the notion that at some time they’d change that rent/lease to own arrangement to mortgages.

That’s why we have so many problems at HDC, we have a billion-dollar rent receivable that’s uncollectible,” Lee said.

Dismissing Robinson-Regis claim on increased costs for Caura units, Lee said he had information that she called certain people at the HDC for information.

“Whoever you called, they’re setting you up, because we haven’t changed the prices of these townhouses. They’re still $950,000 for the inner units and $1.7 million for the outer ones.”

Lee didn’t reply on the “inheritance tax.”

He said soon word would be given on design/build/financing of homes and “we’ll tell this PNM Government ... this PNM Opposition that they built 3,400 houses in 10 years and we’ll surpass that.”

1 day ago | [YT] | 6