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The Bail Amendment Bill fails in the Upper House.

The Bill was defeated yesterday by 1 vote.

Government sought to have a continuation of the 2019 Bail Bill in which there would be no bail for 120 days to repeat offenders. 

The committee of a whole without amendments considered the 3 clauses.

But, when it came to the division, Opposition and some members of the independent benches voted no.

One independent abstained while Anthony Viera was not present in the Senate.

The Attorney General then asked for the Bill to be read a 3^rd time and passed.

However when it went to the division, government failed to get the nod.

Earlier Senator Jyanti Lutchmedial described the Bail Amendment Bill, as a mockery of the constitution and the law.

Senator Lutchmedial predicted a slue of appeals, as bail is a core function of the Judiciary and not the Parliament.

In his response National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds described the Bill as a remedy to treat with repeat offenders including murderers, kidnappers rapists and others.

He accused the Opposition of being emotional and partisan when it comes to crime.

He questioned why the Opposition would not support such a measure.

Minister Hinds said the country is in perilous times.

Three persons, detained after last Saturday’s police-involved fatal shooting, are released pending further investigation.

A release from the TTPS says they were interviewed and statements recorded during the course of Saturday and Tuesday by lead investigator, AG Senior Superintendent of Police Port-of-Spain division, Neil Brandon-John.

According to police reports, at 3am on Saturday officers of the Western Division, responding to a report of motor vehicle larceny, attempted to intercept a white Aqua motor vehicle with 6 occupants in the Port-of-Spain district.

During the chase, the vehicle proceeded to turn south along Chacon Street but crashed into a wall in the vicinity of a commercial bank along Independence Square.

Officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch who also joined the pursuit allegedly came under fire from the occupants of the vehicle and in keeping with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s use of force policy returned fire in the direction of the occupants.

Three of the occupants, 16-year-old Isaiah Roberts, of Laventille, 17-year-old Leonardo Brandon Williams, of Beetham Gardens, and 22-year-old Fabian Richards, of El Socorro, were hit and died on the scene, while a fourth was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police say a Smith and Wesson Pistol was found in the vehicle.

Enquiries are ongoing.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority says over 255 persons respond to its HIV testing drive.

The ERHA says it conducted tests for the virus during the HIV Awareness Campaign held in observance of regional HIV testing day.

It says during the period June 1-30, it collaborated with key stakeholders to host activities to provide easy access to testing for vulnerable groups.

Among them the HIV and AIDS Coordinating Unit, Ministry of Sports & Community Development; office of the Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande; CEPEP and community groups.

The authority says by increasing HIV testing, Trinidad and Tobago is accelerating action to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2030.

Diagnose 95% of HIV- positive individuals, provide anti-retro-viral therapy for 95% of those diagnosed and achieve viral suppressions for 95% of those treated by 2030.

The ERHA says it conducted 25 open day testing sessions at key locations on scheduled dates.

Seventy-one HIV self-testing kits were also distributed thereby increasing the number of persons who are now aware of their status. 

The public’s assistance is being sought in finding missing person, 68-year-old, Ulric Kirton.

Mr. Kirton hails from Leander Lane, Corinth Hills, San Fernando, and was last seen at 11am on July 2^nd, wearing a pair of white jeans, a blue t-shirt, and a pair of green shoes.

A TTPS release says Mr. Kirton was reported missing to the Ste. Madeline Police Station on Monday.

He is of African descent, 6 feet, tall, slim built with a brown complexion.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ulric Kirton is asked to call the Ste. Madeline Police Station at 653-1023 or 800-TIPS.

Debate on the Bail Amendment Bill continues in the Senate today.

And the Opposition Leader puts the government on notice; there will be no support from the Opposition bench.

In the Senate the legislation got no support from the Opposition or the independent bench.

All but one Independent Senator rejected the Bill.

At the Monday night forum, Political Leader of the United National Congress Kamla Persad Bissessar said the Bill would be rejected again.

She called on the independent bench to do the same.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said the government promises a reduction in crime with the passage of the Bill but the legislation is in place now and yet crime continues to escalate.

The Bill goes back to the Upper House this morning.

Attorney General Reginald Armour is saddened by the behaviour of the Opposition in the House of Representatives.

He made the comment as he wound up debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Criminal Proceedings) Bill, 2021

The Bill was passed in the Lower House yesterday.

It sought to “amend the Interpretation Act, Chap. 3:01, the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chap. 4:01, the Offences Against The Person Act, Chap. 11:08, the Criminal Procedure Act, Chap. 12:02” and related matters.

The legislation was read a third time and passed in the Parliament yesterday, following contributions by 8 government and Opposition MPs.

Mr. Armour SC who also wound up the debate moved the second reading of the Bill.

He said he was saddened by the behaviour of the Opposition members in the House who prefer to trade insults than to do the job before them.

Yesterday members of the Opposition again walked out of the House, as the Attorney General was about to table the bill.

The Opposition members took their leave but not before a verbal exchange.

The situation prompted a response from the government bench. 

Opposition Senator Damian Lyder says the police service is in a state of malfunction.

He says the escalating murder rate is proof of this.

Senator Lyder also said the criminal justice system continues to fail.

He said these are the main reasons why he and many others in the country cannot and will not support the Bill.

Senator Lyder said the homicide rate is bolting towards 600 and citizens have no confidence in the TTPS to solve crimes.

He said the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is also broken.

Mr. Lyder believes it will create additional backlog in the courts if the Bill is passed.

The debate is expected to continue today.

The police officers involved in the fatal police shooting of 4 men have been placed on desk duties.

Acting Commissioner McDonald Jacob confirms this.

He also said CCTV footage of the incident would be used as the TTPS probes the matter.

However he said the footage would not be released.

At around 3:20am Saturday, officers of the Western Division SPU 06 were in pursuit of a white Toyota conveying armed men from the Cocorite area.

The vehicle was intercepted on Independence Square and Chacon Street, Port of Spain, where an exchange of gunfire occurred.

In the end 3 suspects, 21-year-old Fabien Richards, 17-year-old Leonardo Williams and 21-year-old Isaiah Roberts were found dead, 1 critical and 2 with injuries.

Yesterday residents of Beetham Gardens and Sealots staged a fiery demonstration over the incident.

Just after 10am they lit debris and a tire storage yard between Production Drive and the Lighthouse.

The demonstrations spread to Nelson, Duncan, Queen, and Chacon Streets, Picadilly Street, Morvant and Independence Square.

The situation caused gridlock for persons heading in and out of he capital.

Police detained 8 protesters.

One of the demonstrators said those killed were children who left a party in Diego Martin.

He said the residents have had enough.

This morning there is a heavy police presence along the Beetham Highway and Sealots.