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The Member of Parliament for Moruga /Tableland Michelle Benjamin fears for the lives of some of her constituents because of what she says is a worsening landslip in the area.

The landslip, which occurred last week, left Indian Walk impassible and many homes on the verge of collapse.

Seven families have appealed to government to repair the massive landslip before their homes are destroyed.

Ms. Benjamin says residents have been forced to do stabilization work on their own.

However, Ms. Benjamin yesterday said inclement weather has prevented the work.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday, Ms. Benjamin said flooding is now an issue.

The landslip has already left the road impassible and over the weekend heavy rainfall resulted in more destruction to their properties.

Residents have been appealing to the government to fix the landslip for the past 4 years.

The court has dismissed charges against all 12 people charged with breaching the Public Health Regulations.

The 12 are said to have attended a “COVID Sex Party” in April this year at the Alicia’s Guest House in St. Anns.

The police prosecution’s failure to follow the orders of the court resulted in charges against 5 nationals and 7 Venezuelan women being thrown out.

The matter was to be heard virtually before Magistrate Sarah Desilva yesterday afternoon.

But when it was called the prosecution said it was not in a position to proceed.

Police Inspector Rajesh Lall asked the court to allow the prosecution to forward its file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions so that a State attorney could be appointed.

But defence attorneys Renuka Rambhajan and Seana Baboolal objected.

The persons charged are locals Bruce Bowen, Christopher Wilson, Dominic Suraj, Colin Ramjohn, and Marlon Hinds.

The Venezuelan women are Dana Fuentes Madurra, Luz Marina Vargas Ibarra, Mudarra Goncalez, Gresel Goncalez,  Yulangi Array, Luisneidis Marino and Mariangel Lopez Ramos.

A passenger on board a Caribbean Airlines flight has died while on his way to Trinidad and Tobago.

Last Saturday Henry Sebastian Grant was on his way back to Trinidad and Tobago as part of a repatriation flight, when he fell ill and died on board.

Efforts to resuscitate Mr. Grant on board the plane last Saturday failed.

The flight left JFK in New York for Piarco Trinidad.

The CAL flight had to be diverted to Puerto Rico so that help could be provided.

Paramedics and emergency responders boarded the flight in Puerto Rico and sought to revive Mr. Grant but it was too late.

Ninety-nine passengers on board the flight were instructed to disembark and await guidance.

The passengers were subsequently placed at a hotel near the airport until they got word from Caribbean Airlines.

CAL’s Communications Manager, Dionne Ligoure said yesterday the measures taken were in accordance with the protocols in the event of a medical emergency.

There is no official word released to the media, which tells of the cause of death.

Mr. Grant was travelling with his son.

Investigations are continuing into the killing of Cocorite couple Randy Ali and Cindy Chatar.

They were shot dead at their home on Saturday night.

Their killing baffles relatives of the couple.

Fifty-four-year-old Mr. Ali and 50-year-old Ms. Chatar were found dead in a room downstairs their Harding Place, Cocorite home on Saturday night.

Relatives were in another part of the house when they heard the gunshots.

They later found the couple dead.

They were both shot multiple times.

Mr. Ali was unemployed because of an injury to one of his hands.

Ms. Chatar was a supervisor at a food outlet at the Falls At West Mall.

And police are now investigating the killing of 49-year-old Norman Benn of Henry Road in Tunapuna.

Mr. Benn was at Rock River Road when he was chased and shot on Saturday night.

He was found with bullet wounds to the head and chest.

The 3 killings take the murder toll to 341 so far this year.

The government gets a tongue lashing for insisting public servants return to work full time.

The order from the Prime Minister was given 2 weekends ago.

But yesterday President of the Public Services Association, Watson Duke told his members, stay at home and look after their children.

The PSA President called the order by the Prime Minister irresponsible and insensitive.

Mr. Duke is promising to cover public servants who stay at home because there is no one to look after their children.

He also suggested that such workers put in writing their situation.

The PSA leader feels once the public service follows the order and threats of the Prime Minister the private sector would do the same.

Former government Minister Vasant Bharath says if elected leader he will heal the racial divide within the opposition United National Congress.

Nomination papers for the UNC’s December 6^th Internal Elections became available yesterday.

So far, only Mr. Bharath has confirmed that he will be battling incumbent Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the party’s leadership.

Mr. Bharath tells Newscenter 5 inclusion is lacking in the UNC.

Yesterday he said he plans to address this issue if successful at the polls.

Mr. Bharath pointed to the Tobago east and west seats where he said the UNC is never represented.

He further noted that the party has not been able to get a grip on the electorate as bright minds have been discarded.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been under pressure to call Internal Elections since her loss at the August 10^th General Election.   

Thirty-one-year-old Kevin Wolfe, of La Horquetta, 21-year-old Matthew Ceasar, and 29-year-old Allasafe Huggins, both of Morvant, are charged with kidnapping and assault by beating.

They appeared virtually before an Arima Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

They were remanded and are scheduled to reappear on November 26^th 2020.

The alleged incident occurred around 1.30pm on Tuesday 27^th October 2020 along Antigua Road, Wallerfield.

Three vehicles are said to have pulled alongside a man who was standing at the side of the road.

Reports say several persons got out and 2 of them were recognised by the alleged victim.

He was asked about some money he allegedly owed to the men.

When he told the men he didn’t know anything about it, he was dealt several blows about the body.

He was forced into a black NZE vehicle, which then sped off.

Officers and a police motorcyclist attached to highway patrol, responded to a report of the incident.

The vehicle was intercepted on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in Mausica.

The alleged victim was found in the vehicle and 3 suspects were arrested and taken to the Arima Police Station.

The man was taken to the Arima Hospital for medical attention.

Government Ministers come out in defense of 2 colleagues, who are said to have recused themselves from Cabinet meetings more than 80 times.

The opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar earlier this week said Attorney General Faris Al Rawi and National Security Minister, Stuart Young have had to leave Cabinet meetings because of their relatives involvement in transactions under review.

Yesterday the Finance Minister Colm Imbert said his colleague Stuart Young and his relatives did not profit from millions of dollars in loans from NCB Global Finance Ltd.

At a political meeting on Monday, Mrs. Persad Bissessar told a different story about Mr. Young.

But Minister Imbert said the opposition leader has her facts wrong.

There were similar denials on behalf of the Attorney General Faris Al Rawi.

They came from Minister Allison West yesterday.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar told the meeting on Monday the Attorney General has had to recuse himself 37 times.

However Minister West did admit Mr. Al Rawi’s relatives had interests in one property rented by the government.

Both Ministers were speaking at a media conference yesterday.