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A spate of murders and violent attacks in Trinidad and Tobago over the past couple of weeks are raising concerns.

The murder toll is now being put at 317 so far this year.

Among the latest murder victims is 32-year-old Keshan Ramlogan.

It is believed he was lured to his death when he and his boss answered a Facebook advertisement for a car.

Mr. Ramlogan was shot dead on Pinto Road, Arima on Tuesday this week.

Reports are now saying Mr. Ramlogan and his boss went to Righteous Lane, Pinto Road to enquire about the car.

The 2 men were shot and robbed of $12,000 dollars.

Mr. Ramlogan died at the scene while his boss was wounded.

According to the reports the 2 men were involved in the business of buying used cars to repair and re-sell.

A relative is reported as saying the 2 saw the Facebook post and followed it.

They thought they were going to the area to purchase a B-15 car for $15,000 dollars.

However it is said when they got to the area they were attacked by 4 men.

Other situations recently have seen the killings of Triston Robinson, Jamal “Poppy” Goodridge and Nizam Ali Cadette.

Pantrinbago President Beverly Ramsey Moore is not at all fazed by persons demanding executive elections be called now.

She says the polls have been delayed due to COVID-19 and members will have to wait.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Mrs. Ramsey Moore said she remains undeterred in her mission to restore and rebuild the organisation and the community.

She said despite the noise from those against her, she would push forward.

This follows calls from members for the elections to be called.

Three men received first and secondary degree burns during a fire aboard a vessel at a ship repair yard in Port of Spain.

Maritime Preservation Limited owns the vessel.

A fourth man has been treated for smoke inhalation.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon at around 12:40.

According to the Fire Chief Arnold Bristo eyewitnesses say there was an explosion on board the ship.

The Fire Chief told TV6 news the value of the vessel is 3 million dollars and the cost of the damage is $30,000 dollars.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The PSC controversy takes another twist with a stinging attack on the President by Opposition Senator David Nakhid.

His statements came via a post on his Facebook page.

Now the Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Camille Robinson Regis wants Mr. Nakhid gone.

Mrs. Robinson Regis is also alarmed at the silence of Senator Nakhid’s political leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar on his comments.

While Mrs. Persad Bissessar is yet to formally respond to the President, she is accusing her of showing poor judgment in her attempt to appoint Attorney Earnest Koylass to the PSC.

In a release Kamla Persad Bissessar says based on her Excellency’s nomination it is abundantly clear that the President has no intention of maintaining the critical independence of the commissions. 

She says a quick Google search revealed significant ties to high-ranking members of the ruling People’s National Movement.

She says, in the weeks leading up to the 2020 General Election, Mr. Koylass hosted a cocktail reception for the now Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Mr. Koylass’s law firm also employed the current PNM Senator Randal Mitchell. 

The Opposition leader says Mr. Koylass has a right to choose his political associations, but by no stretch of the imagination can he be considered free of political conflicts of interest. 

She says they will not support the nomination of Mr. Koylass to the PSC. 

Mrs. Persad Bissessar says her Excellency is either willfully seeking to obstruct the functioning of an independent commission through blatant political partisan appointments, or she is now taking instructions directly from the Rowley government. 

She says to protect the dignity of her esteemed office; her Excellency must accept the part she has played in the sorry episode and immediately resign.

Yesterday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley described Mrs. Persad-Bissessar as disrespectful and desperate saying she mistakenly criticised the President for nominating Mr. Koylass.

Dr. Rowley said there was no need for that kind of behaviour.

He said Mrs. Persad Bissessar genuinely believes that bacchanal, janjhat and disrespectful confusion is a sign of good and necessary leadership.

The Prime Minister said she seizes every opportunity to create scandal and denigration of even innocent people.

According to the Prime Minister this type of behaviour drives many decent people away from getting involved in public service.

President Paula Mae Weekes has begun the process of filling the vacancies on the police commission.

Two weeks after all commissioners resigned her Excellency has named 2 nominees.

They are retired Justice of Appeal Judith Jones and Accountant and Organisation Development Consultant Maxine Attong.

A release from the office of the President yesterday said her Excellency Paula Mae Weekes made the nominations after consultations with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar.

The consultations were held via letters dated and delivered on Thursday October 7^th.

The President’s office said it has received a response from the Prime Minister but not from the leader of the Opposition.

The notifications have been delivered to the clerk of the House of Representatives for debate and confirmation.

All members of the last PSC resigned, including Chairman Bliss Seepersad after a raging controversy over the appointment of a Police Commissioner.

Fire demonstrations in a southern community of Barrackpore are to be investigated by the police.

Just after dawn yesterday residents of Barrackpore set fire to debris and began their protest in about parts of the community.

Now the Works and Transport Ministry are warning them that they could be charged for damaging government property during their protests.

The residents are lamenting the state of the roads and an unreliable supply of water.

Their action blocked roads and people had difficulty getting in and out of Barrackpore.

The residents said times are hard and their living is made even more difficult by these inadequacies.

They sent a warning to the government.

MP for the area Michelle Benjamin was at the protest sites.

The Works and Transport Ministry did respond yesterday, telling of a $375,000 dollar tag on the damage caused by the protest.

The Ministry said the action taken affected 7 areas along Barrackpore connector roads.

The Ministry said the funding could have been utilised for other critical road works in the community.

It said the police will investigate the matter taken and all appropriate legal action will be taken.

The Water And Sewerage Authority also responded saying improved service should come by the end of this week.

Controversy continues to circle a purported Indemnity Agreement between Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson.

Opposition MP Saddam Hussein raised the issue again in the Parliament.

The Barataria/San Juan MP asked Mr. Al-Rawi if monies would be paid to Mr. Nelson from the budgetary funds allocated to the office of the Attorney General.

Mr. Al-Rawi did not answer the question directly.

However he accused the Opposition of engaging in pre-trial publicity in a bid to have former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan walk free from criminal proceedings against him in the courts.

Mr. Hussien again called on the Attorney General to answer.

The tiff took place yesterday during the Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee, which considered the allocation of $336.7 million to the office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

President Paula Mae Weekes is again being told to break her silence on the Police Service Commission scandal.

Opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar is again saying there was political interference in the PSC’s nomination of a Police Commissioner, and the President was reached.

She is again claiming Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is the person who stalled the process by influencing the President.

Prime Minister Rowley has already sought to steer clear of the issue, saying he would not be drawn into it.

But Mrs. Persad Bissessar last night said the President, by her silence is damaging her office.

At the virtual meeting of the United National Congress last evening, Oropouche east MP, Dr. Roodal Moonilal also called out the President.

He reminded the President that he endorsed her election to the highest office in the land.

He feels the President is presiding over a constitutional crisis in the country and she needs to speak.

Police are now probing a double homicide in Tunapuna.

One of the victims is Vaughn Charles while the other is yet to be identified.

They were killed in a drive by shooting in Monte Grande at around 7:30 last night.

Reports say Mr. Charles was part of a group liming at the corners of Streatham Lodge Road and O’keefe Street, when a white Nissan Almera pulled up alongside them and the occupants opened fire.

Six people were shot including Mr. Charles.

Nathaniel Wilson, Nathan Gibbs and 2 others identified by their alias “Spoon” and “Vello” and a man, who was walking along the roadway, were hit.

They were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where Mr. Charles died while undergoing emergency treatment.

The passer by who is yet to be identified died a short while later at hospital.

And the man shot and killed in Arima has been identified as Shaquille Pereira.

The 25-year-old was also killed during a drive by shooting.

That incident took place at By-Pass Road, Arima in the vicinity of River Lime Ranch around 11:45 yesterday morning.

Reports say Mr. Pereira was standing along the roadway when a van pulled up.

It is said an armed assailant alighted and opened fire on him hitting him several times.

Mr. Pereira attempted to run but collapsed a short distance away.

The police were contacted.

Officers of the Arima Municipal Police rushed him to the Arima Hospital where he died while undergoing emergency treatment.

Investigations are ongoing.