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A police officer, accused of murdering a man from Laventille, is expected to learn his fate today. 

High Court Judge Hayden St Clair-Douglas is expected to deliver his verdict in the judge-alone trial of PC Anthony Sylvester who has spent over a decade on remand.

PC Sylvester is accused of murdering Sheldon Des Vignes at his home at St Barb’s Road, Laventille, on November 9^th, 2007. 

During his trial, State prosecutors alleged that PC Sylvester and a colleague were chasing a suspect, who was wearing camouflage clothing, through an alley next to Des Vignes’ home when Sylvester discharged his firearm. 

Mr. Des Vignes, who was allegedly playing cards with relatives in a shed in his family’s property, was shot in his head. 

PC Sylvester is being prosecuted under the legal principle of transferred malice, whereby a person is held responsible when their intention to harm one person inadvertently causes a second person to be hurt instead.  

Officer Sylvester testified in his defense in the trial and claimed he was acting in self-defense.

The trial before St. Clair-Douglas is Sylvester’s second, as his first ended in a hung jury, with jurors failing to come to a unanimous verdict. 

Israel Khan, SC and Ulric Skerritt are representing PC Sylvester, while Ambay Ramkellawan is appearing alongside Chinebas for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The leader of the Opposition feels even more certain that the course of action she is taking regarding the president is correct.

Kamla Persad Bissessar has filed a motion in the parliament seeking the setting up of a tribunal to consider the conduct of President Paula Mae Weekes in the Police Service Commission matter.

Last evening Mrs. Persad Bissessar said she was not entirely pleased with the President’s statement on the issue.

She said there are now even more questions to be answered.

On the Monday night forum Mrs. Persad Bissessar said the motion filed is aimed at getting transparency.

She was also not impressed with the President’s use of words in seeking to explain her handling of the PSC issue.

The Opposition Leader has written to the President suggesting the process of appointing new members to the PSC be paused.

A manhunt is launched for suspects following an explosion at Government Plaza in Port of Spain.

A statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service says officers of the Special Branch and Central Police Station are leading investigations into reports of the explosion that was heard at the Government Plaza building.

The TTPS says reports from the investigative team revealed a device that appears to be some modified firecrackers.

According to the TTPS the only confirmed damage that occurred was to the dustbin, in which the device was placed.

Yesterday Deputy Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob said officers of the Bomb Squad visited the scene.

Traffic was diverted along Richmond and Queen Jenelle Commissiong Streets, Port of Spain, while investigations were being conducted.

Further, the TTPS says report of a crack in the glass at the Attorney General’s building has not revealed any link to today’s occurrences.

It says investigations are continuing into these occurrences.

President Paula Mae Weekes seeks to dismiss several perceptions and statements made against her office, in its handling of the Police Service Commission issue.

After weeks of demands for her to break her silence, her Excellency yesterday sought to set the record straight.

She said she did not allow political interference and committed no wrong.

She said there was no violation of any provision of the constitution.

President Weekes also refuses to say who visited her office and met with her, saying it is not the practice of her office.

In a paid for full-page statement, published yesterday her Excellency addressed matters surrounding the recent developments involving the Police Service Commission.

She said awaited the courts decision on the interpretation summons brought by Ravi Balgobin Maharaj, before issuing a comprehensive statement.

The Head of State also confirmed that an order of merit list in respect to the Commissioner of Police was delivered on August 11^th.

However the president said it was withdrawn almost immediately thereafter on that date.

She said she had no list to send to the parliament.

However, Senior Council Martin Daly is not impressed by her Excellency’s handling of the situation.

He says there are constitutional issues arising.

This morning he said her handling of the Police Service Commission issue and the merit it has put a negative light on the Office of the President.

The Senior Council further states that the newly appointed Police Service Commission will have to decide whether to have nominations for top cop submitted again or if to proceed with the existing list.

The Senior Counsel said by subsequent releases he called directly on the President to account for what happened at President’s House on August 12^th, and he maintained the position that giving such an account was the right thing to do. 

Police slam as totally false a voice note circulating on social media stating that the Besson Street Police Station was under attack and that part of the city were on lock down.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning via telephone, Senor Sup. Terrence Nobbee urged members of the public to check with the TTPS communication department to ensure the information is legitimate in future.

The voice note suggested there were shots being fired, in Laventille, Picadilly, Picton, and Dan Kelly and warned persons to stay out of Port of Spain.

Senior Sup. Nobbee confirmed one man is dead, another wounded following shooting incidents in east Port of Spain yesterday.

The deceased identified as Glen Bousigac.

He died at hospital shortly after he was shot near the drag brothers on Piccadilly Street in Port of Spain last evening.

The wounded man is 27-year-old Kazim Abdul.

He was shot in the abdomen on Piccadilly Street.

It is reported that after he was shot he ran to the Besson Street Police Station.

He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Senior Sup. Nobbee said regular patrols would continue in the area.

Not long after the court’s ruling Gary Griffith responded.

He believes its all part of the “mammoth plot” against him.

Mr. Griffith said his days of service are not over.

And Opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar says with the ruling the country should be demanding the resignation of the Attorney General.

At a news conference following the announcement yesterday Mrs. Persad Bissessar said it shows the country’s constitution is strong.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said it was an attack on an independent institution.

The Opposition Leader warned against political control of the PSC.

Justice Nadia Kangaloo will rule today on whether Gary Griffith was lawfully appointed to act as Commissioner of Police.

The ruling is scheduled to be delivered at 130 this afternoon.

Social Activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj is arguing that Mr. Griffith was not appointed in accordance with Section 123-4 of the constitution.

The last Police Service Commission appointed Mr. Griffith, weeks before all members resigned.

The President has nominated 2 members to the new commission but this has to be debated and approved in the Parliament.

The commission requires 3 members and a chairman for a quorum.

The commission was to forward its recommendations for acting Commissioner to the President, who then issues it to the Parliament for approval by both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.

However, the President did not issue the list, but the commission appointed Mr. Griffith.

Mr. Balgobin Maharaj’s contention is given that Mr. Griffith was not lawfully appointed, he cannot return to duty in a position he never held.

The Acting Commissioner is expected to resume duty this week.

Mr. Griffith has brought a claim of his own against the PCS, saying it illegally suspended him from duty as Acting Commissioner “until further notice”.

Arguing the case on behalf of Ravi Balgobin Maharaj is a team of attorneys led by former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.

Senior Counsel Russell Martineau, Douglas Mendes and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj are leading the case for the PSC, the office of the Attorney General and Griffith, ­respectively.

A meeting between the Education Ministry and the association representing teachers to discuss the physical reopening of schools for vaccinated students in Forms 1-3 failed to reach an agreement.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association says its members left the talks yesterday with no way forward on the matter.

President Antonia De Freitas says teachers got no straightforward answers from Ministry officials.

In a statement following the meeting the Ministry said feedback had been received of the difficulty some schools are experiencing in delivering online classes to Forms 1-3.

And physically to Forms 4-6 students – despite the presence of connectivity infrastructure at the school, or the provision of MiFi devices and laptops to teachers.

The Ministry said it is for this reason and after analysis of the physical attendance data for Forms 4-6 students, that the government has proposed the reopening of physical school for all vaccinated secondary students of ages 12-18.

It said this would be advantageous to both teachers and students, many of whom have been outside of the classroom for the past 19 months.

The Ministry noted TTUTA’s position that the return of teachers to the physical classroom should be accompanied by a cessation of virtual or remote teaching, in order to preserve the work-life balance of teachers.

However, Ms. De Freitas said the education of children continues to hang in the balance and this is not good enough.

And TTUTA’s Tobago officer Bradon Roberts said the meeting was bitter.

The Ministry has said at this time the safest cohort of students for physical attendance at schools is the vaccinated.

The Ministry said further discussions are scheduled with the wider stakeholder body today.

Trinidad and Tobago is said to be an inherently violent society.

Criminologist Darius Figueira says the recent spike in homicides has nothing to do with the lack of appointment of a Police Commissioner.

Yesterday Mr. Figueira said the figure is quickly approaching that of 2020.

He said the nature of crime has changed and it is not linked to gangs.

Meanwhile former Head of the National Operations Center, Garvin Heera says criminals are attacking at will.

However Mr. Heera says a stronger police response is required.

He says the old phrase; “investigations are underway”, can no longer suffice.