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6 charges laid against Fuad Abu Bakr

Fuad Abu Bakr Political leader of

Six charges are laid against Fuad Abu Bakr, among them using violent language and breaching the public health ordinance regulations.

Mr. Abu Bakr was arrested near Riverside Plaza in East Port of Spain on Tuesday morning, while demonstrations were launched in several communities.

After spending 24 hours at the Besson Street Police Station, the charges were laid yesterday.

Four of the six charges are linked to his alleged involvement in another demonstration at the Queens Park Savannah on June 8th.

Mr. Abu Bakr is the political leader of the New National Vision.

However his attorney Khashif Gibson says he is yet to be charged and his client cannot access bail.

Speaking with Newscentre 5 before the charges were laid yesterday, Mr. Abu Bakr’s attorney Khashif Gibson said the conditions under which his client is being held are not ideal.

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Opposition Leader expresses concern over violent unrest

Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bisessar

In a statement yesterday Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bisessar expressed concerns about the violent unrest.

She called for peace and calm while there is an investigation into the fatal police shootings in Morvant last Saturday.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said she has noted those she calls rogue individuals who assaulted and disrespected police officers.

She lamented that businesses were forced to close early while public servants at the Ministry of the Attorney General had to dodge bullets.

She said thousands of innocent citizens were caught in the dangerous crossfire and there was gridlock on the roads.

The Opposition Leader also recognised the death of Onella Greaves along the Beetham Highway.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar feels all of what happened is the direct consequence of what she referred to as the failed Rowley government’s cruel, punitive and destructive policies, which have impoverished and pauperized citizens in the past five years.

She said naturally, the people from the most neglected, vulnerable communities—un-ironically the PNM’s long-standing urban strongholds—have suffered the most.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said for too long, they have been trapped in never-ending cycles of poverty, neglect and alleged abuse at the behest of the State.

She has questioned the absence of the Prime Minister on the issue.

Dr. Keith Rowley is expected to hold a media briefing later today, and it is expected he will deal with the matter.

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Minister of National Security says to the House that police shootings would be thoroughly probed

National Security Minister, Stuart Young

At the Red House where there was a heavily police presence, the tensed 24 hours in and around the capital, was raised during a sitting of the parliament.

Minister of National Security Stuart Young was asked about the situation by Opposition MP, Rodney Charles.

Minister Young told the House the police shootings in Morvant will be thoroughly probed.

MP Rodney Charles asked the Minister about funding for the Police Complaints Authority, which is one of the agencies probing the incidents.

Minister Young was not specific but noted that mediators and Members of Parliament in affected areas will at some point meet with disgruntled persons. 

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Attempts to stage more demonstrations shut down by police

Attempts to stage more demonstrations in and around Port of Spain have been shut down by police.

For most of yesterday officers, heavily armored tried dousing the flames of dissent.

They say groups were forming in Beetham Gardens, along the highway, Sea Lots and in the heart of the capital.

In the Sea Lots area, police demanded those gathering there to disperse.

Police say yesterday afternoon 2 groups of people were seen along the Beetham Highway but their reported plans were shut down.

There were others heading to Frederick Street when they were stopped by the police from the Guard and Emergency Branch.

With orders from the police the groups dispersed.

The protesters have been saying the trigger for the demonstrations were the police killings of Joel Jacobs, Noel Diamond and Israel Clinton in 2nd Caledonia Morvant, last Saturday.

The protesters have been calling for the officers involved to be suspended while investigations continue.

However Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith yesterday said that was not going to happen, at least not now.

The Commissioner said it would not be practical to take disciplinary action now.

For the next 24 hours the police remain on red alert.

And Community Activist, Jamal Shabazz says contrary to what is being said, the protesters do not want to disrupt the country.

He says the protesters are all PNM supporters.

He admits the manner in which the protesters are conducting themselves may not be right they just want justice.

He was speaking on TV6’s Morning Edition program yesterday.

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Antigua & Barbuda won’t be represented at Caribbean Community Leaders conference because of LIAT

Antigua and Barbuda will not be represented at tomorrow’s special conference of Caribbean Community Leaders where Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley is to hand over the chairmanship of the 15-member regional grouping.

According to CMC report the Antigua and Barbuda’s decision is linked to efforts to liquidate the financially strapped regional airline, LIAT, which is headquartered in St. John’s.

The shareholder governments of LIAT are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

On his Facebook page yesterday Prime Minister Browne said there are some regional leaders who see LIAT, as a “predator” and they are determined to keep their knees on its neck to prevent its regeneration.

But the outgoing CARICOM Chairman, Mia Mottley says governments of the region are plotting a new course to stimulate intra-regional travel.’

Ms. Mottley said yesterday the plan includes a review of taxes blamed for the high cost of intra regional travel.

But Prime Minister Browne wrote that there is insularity hidden in intellectual subterfuge in the region.

He said if is allowed to continue unabated, the CARICOM and organisation of eastern Caribbean states integration institutions shall wither and die”.

He later said there is a conspiracy by a few regional leaders to stymie the resurgence of LIAT, as a new entity to provide air connectivity for the Caribbean people and to move tourists within the region.

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PCA launches investigation into police shootings

Police Complaints Authority’s Director,David West

The Police Complaints Authority has launched a probe into the fatal shooting of Ornella Greaves.

Thirty-year-old Ms. Greaves was shot during protest on the Beetham Highway on Tuesday.

In a statement this morning the PCA said pursuant to Section 26 of the Police Complaints Authority Act Chap. 15:05, it has initiated an investigation into the incident.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 earlier today, PCA Director David West says it has not been determined if police officers at the scene were involved.

Mr. West also assures the probe into the fatal police shootings of 3 men in 2nd Caledonia last Saturday is ongoing.

He is asking for patience as the PCA conducts its probe into the incident, which is believed to have caused violent protests in parts of the country over the past 2 days.

Mr. West said as an independent oversight body, the PCA is committed to ensuring that no police officer acts above the rule of law.

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Abu Bakr calls for peace

Fuad Abu Bakr Political leader of the New National Vision

Imam Yasin Abu Bakr calls for peace.

He says fighting with the police is not the way to go.

His son Fuad Abu Bakr was arrested yesterday and taken to the Besson Street Police Station.

71 others were also detained.

At a news conference yesterday the Imam urged protesters not to get into a firefight with the police.

Attorney Kashif Gibson is representing the younger Abu Bakr and was also at the press conference.

Also present was Attorney Criston J Williams who has called for an independent investigation into the killing of the 3 men.

He represents the estates of 2 of the deceased.

Addressing the media he said his next step will be taking the matter to the courts.

He said after years of police killings there has been no justice or consequence.

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Pregnant woman, lone fatality after confrontations between police and protesters yesterday

Thirty-year-old Onella Greaves has become the lone fatality after hours of confrontations between the police and protesters in some parts of the country, mainly in and around Port of Spain.

The dead woman was 4 months pregnant.

The mother of 5 was reportedly shot, as she stood off the eastbound lane of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway near 9th Street, Beetham Gardens yesterday morning.

It is said she left her Beetham Gardens home to record the protests on the highway.

It is not clear if criminal elements or the police shot her.

Ms. Greaves died while being treated for her wounds at hospital.

The father of 4 of Ms. Greaves children, Darren Joseph was devastated when he spoke with the media in Beetham Gardens last evening.

Mr. Joseph then turned his focus on the Commissioner of Police.

Police say investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and an autopsy is expected today.

Commissioner Gary Griffith said last evening 72 people were arrested and his officers were successful in putting down attempts to destabalise the country.

It is believed the protests were connected to the police killings of 3 men in Morvant last Saturday.

Israel Clinton, Joel Jacobs and Noel Diamond were shot dead by officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch.

Relatives and residents in Second Caledonia say the officers murdered them.

Commissioner Griffith said yesterday the investigations into the shootings have started and they will be thorough.

He said the actions yesterday were coordinated by criminal elements.

Commissioner Griffith called for calm and dialogue, saying the police is not the enemy.

National Security Minister Stuart Young also claimed the incidents were the work of criminals and others wanting to cause anarchy.

The Minister also told the media he is not of the opinion that the relatives of the men killed by the police were part of the demonstrations yesterday.

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Murder in Claxton Bay

An overnight murder in Claxton Bay.

The victim is identified as Stacy Adanna Dick

The 36-year-old woman was discovered by police at a bus shed near her Christian Drive, Plaisance Park home last night.

Investigators believe Ms. Dick was killed during a domestic dispute.

It is said she was seen in a heated argument earlier that night with a male relative.

Police officers of the St. Margaret’s Police Station say they received reports from residents about screams coming from the Southern Main Road at around 10 o’clock last night.

Police responded and later found Ms. Dick unresponsive, lying in a crouched position, at the back of a bus shed.

Investigators say her clothes were stained with blood from wounds to her left side.

Police say she had in one of her hands a knife.

Officers suspect she was stabbed and was able to grab the knife and held onto it to defend herself in case her attacker returned.

A bottle of white oak rum, a red bandana, a bunch of keys, and a silver bracelet were also found at the scene.

Cpl. Forbes is continuing investigations.

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Planned protest by nurses put off

A planned protest by nurses today has been put off.

The representing Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association was expected to lead its members in a demonstration in the capital this morning.

Several issues were to be highlighted.

But President Idi Stuart says the march has been cancelled due to yesterday’s heated demonstrations in and around Port of Spain.

Mr. Stuart is also calling nurses who work at health centers in communities, which saw protests yesterday, to stay at home.

He says as a result health centers in certain areas will be affected.

According to Mr. Stuart during the incidents yesterday, workers at the George Street Health Centre, had to barricade themselves inside the building while gunshots were being fired outside.

He says police had to rescue his members.

Mr. Stuart apologised to persons who may be seeking assistance at the facilities, but says his members cannot work under such dangerous conditions.

He was speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning.

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