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Several issues and situations, which occurred under the watch of, former police commissioner Gary Griffith, are now being probed.

The national security minister Fitzgerald Hinds made the revelation yesterday, at a news conference by the ministry.

He said, it appears Mr. Griffith who now leads a political party, may have questions to answer for his handling of the deaths of two men, in police custody over three years ago.

Joel Balcon and Andrew Morris were suspects in the kidnapping, rape and death of Andrea Bharatt.

Three years ago, a police media release said, Mr. Balcon was injured when he tried to escape police custody and was taken to the hospital, where he remained up to his death.

At a news conference yesterday, the minister said, the men linked to the kidnapping, rape and murder of Andrea Bharratt, died under the watch of then commissioner Griffith.

Minister hinds read from a report published at that time.

Last week, Mr. Griffith, during a radio interview, referred to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s claims about the incident, calling them untruths.

The Caricom and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Brown, told the news conference because of the doubts, which surrounded the deaths of the two men, the U.S. was ready to act against Trinidad and Tobago.

The men died at the hands of members of sort, which was subsequently disbanded.

Two men have drowned during the long holiday weekend.

The first victim drowned at a beach in Toco and the other yesterday at, Salybia Bay.

He has been identified as Roland D. Ramkissoon.

It is reported Mr. Ramkissoon was about 50 feet from the shore, when he got into difficulty.

Efforts were made to save Mr. Ramkissoon but without success.

President of the lifeguards association, Carl Hernandez has expressed his condolences to the families of the men.

Mr Hernandez said, yesterday there have been eight drowning, at public beaches so far this year.

He lamented the national security ministry has failed to meet its obligations, and its responsibilities to the lifeguards and the public.

An eighteen-year-old man from enterprise Chaguanas, is among five people killed over the holiday weekend.

He is Jahiem Lewis.

Residents of Crissie Trace, heard the gunshots last Sunday at around 10 pm.

Mr. Lewis was found bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken to hospital where he died.

Other murder victims include father and son Imtiaz and Imraz Mohammed.

They were fatally stabbed in Oropune Gardens last Saturday.

A 17-year-old family member was also stabbed and up to yesterday, was listed in a critical condition at hospital.

The other two victims of violence on the weekend are Hilton Smith and Quanzy Mc Cain.

The murder toll now stands at 143.

Opposition senator David Nakhid is ejected from the upper house, as it addresses the issue of the interception of personal devices of members of the public.

Yesterday the minister of national security said, while it is allowed under law his office is not responsible for such operations.

Responding to opposition Senator Wade Mark, minister Fitzgerald Hinds listed the officers given authority under law, to conduct such surveillance.

The minister was asked questions in relation to the research and analytic unit.

Then another opposition member, Jayanti Lutchmedial, asked the minister if the R.A.U. was involved in the recent developments at the strategic services agency.

But, senator Lutchmedial’s colleague, David Nakhid, interrupted the minister’s response.

After Mr. Nakhid was asked to leave the chamber, minister Hinds repeated his answer to the question.

Minister Hinds said, there was nothing further he could say on the matter.

He was responding during the urgent question segment, of the upper house.

Pine Settlement, Sangre Grande is the scene of a shooting incident.

According to reports the victim is Nicholas Maxime.

It is said, 37 year old Mr. Maxime was standing in his yard at around 3:30 pm, when a man wearing a grey hoodie approached him.

The stranger reportedly shot Mr. Maxime several times, about the body.

The assailant then fled the scene.

Mr. Maxime was rushed to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Up to news time this morning he was said to be warded.

His condition remains unknown.

A slamming for the police commissioner from justice Frank Seepersad, over the delay in considering an application for a firearm users license.

A Tobago businessman made the application.

Justice Seepersad yesterday said, it is simply outrageous that a sitting police commissioner would say, she has a lot of work to do, hence the seven-year delay.

In a stinging attack, the judge said, aspirants of high office should not allow its allure to distract them from the obligations, that such offices impose.

He said, it is imperative that those aspirants are fit for purpose, equipped and capable of addressing with sound judgment and alacrity, the many obligations, which the offices impose.

The judge made the comments while declaring that, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher’s failure and continuous delay, in deciding whether to grant or deny an F.U.L. application by a Tobago businessman

The businessman is, Pheon Solomon

He brought the judicial review claim, having not received the F.U.L close to seven years after he first applied.

Among the arguments put forward by the attorneys representing the police commissioner, was that the volume of work she had before her.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert says, there are two main concerns about property tax one of them is the nonsensical evaluations.

The other is the rental assessment, on some properties in middle to upper class area in the country.

The finance minister had no problem telling the senate yesterday, he found his rental assessment was a bit too high.

The minister said, 65 percent or 130 thousand of the two hundred thousand properties assessed, attracted a property tax amount of eleven hundred dollars or less. 

He said, most of the money allocated to local government goes towards, wages and salaries and additional funds are hard to come by.

Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales, does not believe the country’s reservoirs are in a state of crisis.

This despite it being said, that the country is experiencing the worst drought in recent memory.

Mr. Gonzales was speaking yesterday, following the commissioning of the bad hill, Plymouth pipeline development project.

On March 5, the Water and Sewerage Authority announced, new water supply restrictions as well as a hose ban, which went into effect until June.

The minister said, the reservoirs are not in a state of crisis, they are at a level where it is very consistent with the dry conditions.

Adding the met office continues to provide the necessary support, and the necessary information.

He said, the reservoirs are not in a state of crisis, but again, with continued conservation practices, the country would go through the dry season without having to reach a crisis position.

Minister Gonzales said, most of them are within their long-term average and he cannot point to any reservoir that is in the red zone as yet.

The country’s four reservoirs are, Hillsborough, Caroni-Arena, Hollis and Navet.

Questioned about the effectiveness of WASA’s conservation measures, he said by and large, the country has responded positively and people are doing what they’re supposed to do.

An assurance that the remaining funds air marked for, a Spiritual Baptists Cathedral will be released soon.

The pledge was made by Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley at the Spiritual Baptists Shouter Liberation Day 2024, and celebrations on the weekend.

The event was held at the People’s National Movement Headquarters at Balisier house.

Dr. Rowley also called on the spiritual shouter Baptist community, to help end the threat of crime and violence in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Rowley said, as one of the best examples of overcoming challenges, spiritual Baptists could call on citizens to take some personal responsibility, to make a change and to encourage youths to appreciate opportunities available to them.