I955 FM
  • WATCH
    LIVE
  • CALL US AT:

    OFF AIR : 1-868-628-4955 (Front Desk)

    ON AIR : 1-868-622-3937 (Live On Air )

Government extension of Local Government Term being deemed illegal

Political Leader of the Trinidad & Tobago Democratic Front, Anthony Williams

Government’s extension of the Local Government Term is said to be illegal.

This from newly formed political party, the Trinidad and Tobago Democratic Front.

Yesterday Political Leader of the Point Fortin based party Anthony Williams said the move is wrong.

Speaking with Newscenter 5, Mr. Williams said the sitting officials are at this time unelected but serving.

The party at a press conference addressed the issue yesterday.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

UNC activist poses legal challenge to local government extension

Leader of the United National Congress Kamla Persad Bissessar

A pre-action protocol letter has been sent to the State challenging a decision to extend the life of local bodies and representatives.

The Keith Rowley government is now being told to reverse its decision to seek legislative amendment by next Monday.

The move by the government allows for the postponement of elections in the various boroughs and corporations.

The letter was sent in the name of activist and blogger Ravi Balgobin Maharaj.

Leader of the United National Congress Kamla Persad Bissessar last night confirmed legal action has started.

She applauded Mr. Maharaj.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar told the Monday night forum of her party, the government is playing with the country’s democracy.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Rowley is defending the extension of the life of local government bodies.

He tells the Express Newspaper the UNC knew of the pending change because it was part of the Local Government Reform Legislation.

Dr. Rowley says the legislation was the subject of discussion at a Joint Select Committee and was debated in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Both Houses passed the legislation.

Dr. Rowley says the Opposition has chosen to remain ignorant and non-participant in a matter of such importance.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

police probe 2 weekend murders

The police are probing two weekend killings.

One of them occurred in Malick Barataria and the other in Valencia.

Thirty three-year-old Visham ‘Dollars’ Seenath was shot several times as he stood near his upper 6th Avenue home yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours are said to have rushed Mr. Seenath to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he died while being treated.

Minutes after that shooting another incident in Valencia saw the killing of a man who up to last night was not identified.

The man’s bullet riddled body was found off Sunset Drive at around 5:45pm.

The corpse is now at the mortuary in Sangre Grande.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

WASA asks customers in Tobago to be patient

The Water And Sewerage Authority wants customers affected by issues at the Hillsborough west and Highlands Road Water Treatment Plants in Tobago to be patient. 

For much of the rainy season this year, there have been frequent disruptions in the water supply in the districts, with the most recent occurring over the past week.

Senior manager, project implementation at WASA’s Tobago division, Andrew Daniel is blaming human activity for the situation.

As a result, Mr. Daniel said the authority would be embarking on a certain course of action to help ease the situation. 

He pledged to work towards an improvement in WASA’s communication with the public going forward.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

Government not considering SOE or curfews Minister says strategies are underway

State security heads have assured they will be doing more to stem the tide of violence in the country.

Yesterday they met with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the National Security Council for several hours.

The meeting came after the murder tally crossed 500 over the weekend.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds last night said it was not an emergency meeting.

He also insisted there was no discussion on the establishment of a State of Emergency and curfews in hot spots.

The Minister said those in charge of the various police divisions are vowing to do more to appease a traumatised public.

But Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad Bissessar is not impressed by the outcome of the meeting.

Mrs. Persad-Bissessar slammed the National Security Minister saying he is bereft of ideas.

The Opposition Leader was speaking at her Monday night forum meeting last evening. 

Before the talks yesterday Acting Police Commissioner Macdonald Jacob admitted the increasing number of killings troubles him and gun related crimes.

The country is expected to see more police patrols from today.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

MET office discontinues “Riverine Flood Alert Green Level”

The Meteorological Service has discontinued the “Riverine Flood Alert Green Level”.

In an update yesterday the TTMS said water levels in the major watercourses continued on a downward trend and no longer posed a threat to surrounding communities.

The met office said expected rainfall today should not overwhelm these watercourses to cause over-spilling of their banks.  

It said though some affected areas are still flooded, gradual runoff is anticipated.

It is advising persons to assess their environment for safety concerns.

The MET office is also advising persons to avoid wading through residual floodwater and to remain vigilant.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

Calls for a disaster center in Toco / Sangre Grande after the area is lashed by flooding and landslides

Councilor for Toco-Sangre Grande Terry Rondon

There are similar challenges in the east.

Councilor for Toco-Sangre Grande Terry Rondon yesterday appealed for help following floods and landslides over the weekend.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 Mr. Rondon described the situation as a disaster.

He also said the Paria Main Road in Matelot collapsed into the sea on Sunday night and that a vehicle capsized.

Mr. Rondon said there is dire need for a disaster center in the district as it took more than 5 hours to get the vehicle out.

Mr. Rondon said a team from the Ministry of Works and Transport conducted assessments.

There were also reports of flooding in the Penal along the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road and Real Spring in Valsayn.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

Several areas remain under water today as residents struggle to clean up

Several parts of the country are today seeing floods and marooned residents following the last weekend of heavy rains.

Residents in central, south and in the east are badly affected.

In Valsayn north and south many are trapped in their flooded homes.

MP for St. Augustine Khadijah Ammen says it has taken an emotional toll of the Burgesses.

MP Ameen tells Newscenter 5 she has been pleading with government for help but to no avail.

 There are reports of similar situations in Kelly Village and Warrenville.

And what have been described as unusually heavy winds yesterday destroyed the home of Suresh Roopnarine in Rousilac.

Reports say the two-storey partly wooden house at Dubin Trace was ripped apart by the heavy winds yesterday.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

AG blanks Law Association on request for comment on Vincent Nelson Kings Counsel

Attorney General, Reginald Armour

The Attorney General says he will not speak publicly on the Vincent Nelson Indemnity Agreement issue.

Reginald Armour says he is surprised that the Law Association would want him to do so in the first place.

He insists the matter is sub-judice.

The association’s council last week discussed the controversial matter.

In the end it called on the Attorney General to break his silence and issue a full and unambiguous statement on several matters coming out of the indemnity deal between former Attorney General Faris Al Rawi and Vincent Nelson.

Mr. Armour, a former President of the association, did vocalise another concern of his a narrative building in the public domain which appears designed by some he said to pre-empt the Director of Public Prosecutions from reinstating the discontinued prosecution against Mr. Ramlogan and Mr. Ramdeen when his witness becomes available.

He also reminded the association that as AG, his office was the defendant in Nelson’s civil claim for $100 million for an alleged breach of the indemnity agreement and the association’s own position on the sub-judice rule, on October 19, 2021, when it sought to chastise the Prime Minister for statements he made involving the civil claim over the bail-for-murder law.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment

Senior Pastor Clive Dottin is calling on government to reverse the recruitment drive

Senior Pastor Clive Dottin

Senior Pastor Clive Dottin is calling on government to reverse the recruitment drive, which he says seems to be trending in the criminal direction.

Pastor Dottin believes gangs are winning the recruitment drive.

On The Afternoon Drive program on i95.5fm with Darian Marcelle on Tuesday, Seventh Day Adventist Pastor Clive Dottin said better needs to be done.

He told the program the nature of crime has been getting worse.

Four persons were killed in that incident in Diego Martin last Sunday.

Posted in Local News, News, Top News | Leave a comment