CALL US AT:

Investigations are continuing into the drowning of 26-year-old Darius Arneaud.

Mr. Arneaud drowned down the islands on Sunday.

Mr. Arneaud reportedly went for a swim off the Gasparee Islands around 2:50 pm, but did not resurface.

He was a construction worker.

Other workers contacted the Coast Guard who retrieved his body about an hour later.

Investigators suspect Mr. Arneaud suffered a seizure while swimming, as he had one earlier in the day.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on his body to determine the cause of death.

One Opposition Member of Parliament is accusing government of abandoning its citizens in Syria.

MP for Naparima, Rodney Charles says the citizens are being failed by the State.

There are reports that there are 30 children and their mothers being held at the Al Hol Refugee Camp in Syria.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday Mr. Charles said the State has abandoned them.

Mr. Charles said the situation is immoral.

Efforts to get responses from the government on the matter have so far not been successful.

A motorcyclist dies after crashing in to a drain in Freeport.

Dead is 52-year-old Deonarine Permanan of Mc Bean Couva.

Police reports say, Constable Bunsilal and WPC Baptiste responded to a report of a road traffic accident at Calcutta #1, Freeport around 7:45 pm on Sunday

According to the reports Mr. Permanan was riding his motorcycle, along the said road when he lost control and crashed into a drain.

He died at the scene.

The District Medical Officer later ordered the body removed to the Mt. Hope Hospital pending an autopsy.

Relatives of Andrea Bharatt are said to be considering a second autopsy after the first returns an inconclusive report.

However the autopsy, which was conducted, confirmed that all miss Bharatt’s organs are intact.

The 23-year-old law clerk was found down a precipice at Heights of Aripo last week, several days after she was reported missing.

Some business operators are said to have committed to paying for an independently done autopsy.

Since her disappearance, various individuals and sectors in the country hoped for her safe return.

Upon the discovery of her body, the country was plunged into mourning, and several groups have staged demonstrations, condemning miss Bharatt’s killing and violent attacks on women.

Attorney General Faris Al Rawi has been slammed on social media for a statement he made in the Parliament last week, when he called for passage of pieces of legislation brought by his government, but rejected by the Opposition.

Yesterday he sought to set the record straight.

Mr. Al Rawi was speaking during an interview of TV6 news.

On a political platform of the United National Congress also last evening, Opposition MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal said his side couldn’t be blamed for not supporting the Bail Bill.

Deputy Political Leader of the UNC Senator Jerlean John told the party’s Monday night forum, the government is good at pointing fingers, but not fixing the country’s crime problem.

But Mr. Al Rawi is insisting everything is being done to address the issue of violent crime.

He called on the nation to force the Opposition’s hand.

The government has been faulting the Opposition for its rejection of legislation.

In at least four areas of the country there are vigils, condemning the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt.

The demonstrations yesterday were held in Port of Spain, Chaguanas, Palmiste and Arima.

Last evening close to where 23-year-old Ms. Bharatt lived, friends, relatives and people who never knew the law clerk lit candles and walked along the Arima Old Road.

It was a peaceful march aimed at sending a message to the nation that the killing of women must be stopped.

In Port of Spain yesterday afternoon, scores of people joined a demonstration, again condemning the killing of women and the overall crime situation in the country.

They carried placards, many bearing the name of andrea bharatt.

Speaking with the media some of the protesters decried the violence.

MP for Chaguanas east, Vandana Mohit led a demonstration in Lange Park last evening and the residents of Palmiste also staged their own vigil.

More skeletal remains are found in the Aripo Forest

Yesterday the remains were found during searches carried out by units of the police service, hunters, fire fighters and soldiers.

It is not yet confirmed if the bones found are those of human beings.

Reports say one resident of the area yesterday took the police to where some bones were scattered down a precipice off the Aripo Road.

The remains were taken to the Arima Mortuary and are to be sent to the Forensic Science Center today.

Officers and a group of hunters began searching early yesterday morning.

Last Friday skeletal remains were found in the area.

Before that Andrea Bharatt’s body was found in the vicinity last week.

She was reported missing 2 Fridays ago.

Soldier and founder of the Drugs Sou Sou, Keron Clarke was up to last evening in police custody after a situation at his La Horquetta headquarters.

The incident involved a visit by the police on the DSS offices last Saturday.

Officers are said to have tried executing a search warrant on the building and video footage shows a physical confrontation between Mr. Clarke and some officers.

It is said during the incident Mr. Clarke suffered injuries.

His lawyer Sophia Chote says he was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Mr. Clarke was subsequently discharged from hospital and was taken back to the headquarters by the police who continued their search; several units of the police service are investigating DSS.

In September last year police found and seized 22 million dollars in cash at the La Horquetta headquarters.

The money was subsequently returned to Mr. Clarke.

Nine people detained by the police at the time were also released.

Four police officers have been suspended and 11 transferred under orders from the Police Commissioner.

On October 27^th police returned to the DSS headquarters and are said to have seized over 7 million dollars.

Commissioner Gary Griffith is again calling on the government to make pepper sprays available to women, so they can protect themselves.

On Monday evening at a community meeting in Princes Town, the Commissioner was asked by the MP Barry Padarath about his suggestion to the government on making pepper spray accessible

Yesterday Minister Young was asked about the government’s apparent delay in going with the commissioner’s suggestion.

Minister Stuart Young said the government has sought expert and legal advice on the pepper spray issue.

In Princess Town, Commissioner Griffith attempted to dismiss those who feel pepper spray could get into the wrong hands and create another problem.

He said something has to be done to help protect women who are under attack.

An offering of prayers for the safe return of Andrea Bharatt.

Leader of the First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez says he, like others hopes that the young woman will be found and be returned to her father.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday Chief Bharath-Hernandez called on the political parties to stop playing with criminals.

The Arima resident spoke of criminals being allowed to run loose in some communities.