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The prime minister says, the fight against violent crime cannot be won if relatives of criminals know and say nothing.

Dr. Rowley says, too many people are aware of gun toting family members but choose to stay silent.

Dr. Rowley made the statement during the sod turning ceremony for the housing development corporation in Caura, yesterday.

Dr. Rowley said, big assault rifles are being used to commit murders and they are stored at the homes.

The leader of the cabinet insists family members are aware of what is happening.

He told relatives of the gun-toting criminals, if you stay quiet then you are part of the problem.  

Dr. Rowley said, his government will continue its fight against the criminal elements, and called on those relatives to help.

Shooting incidents in Chaguanas and Diego Martin, push the murder toll upward.

In Diego Martin the victim has been identified as Matthew Khan.

Reports say, he was killed at Waterwheel Road last evening.

Newscentre five understands Mr. Khan was seated in his vehicle parked along the roadway, when a man apprehended him armed with a gun.

It is said the gunman ordered Mr. Khan out of the vehicle and shot him in the head and body.

The assailant then escaped.

Residents in the area heard the explosions and went to investigate.

The police were called to the scene and the DMO made the pronouncements.

Also in Chaguanas the victim has been identified as Sterling Riley.

He was 36 years old.

Reports say, the incident took place at Lendore Village around 9 o’clock last night.

Newscentre five understands neighbours reported hearing explosions, and called law enforcement

Officers arrived and found the bullet riddled body of Mr. Riley bleeding from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility where he was pronounced dead.

Investigations are ongoing.

The discovery of a firearm, ammunition and narcotics in the Morvant district, is now engaging the attention of police.

The Trinidad and Tobago police service says last Saturday, officers conducted an exercise at Paradise Heights, Pitch Road and St. Charles Orphan Road, Morvant.

It is said, while at Pitch Road, they searched an abandoned vehicle and discovered 120 grammes of marijuana.

Officers gathered certain information and then proceeded to St. Charles Orphan Road, where with the assistance of a police canine, they entered an empty lot of land where one black Taurus pistol with, 10 rounds of nine millimeter ammunition was discovered.

It says, the firearm and ammunition were removed and taken to forensics for processing.

The TTPS says, officers are also following other leads in the discovery of the items.

The investigation is ongoing.

The contentious property tax amendment is passed in the parliament.

It didn’t get the support of the opposition in the lower house, last evening.

In his contribution to the debate, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley defended the amendment bill, saying his peoples national movement is not afraid of losing the general election to come.

He insisted the government is doing the right thing, by its enforcement of the property tax.

Dr. Rowley said, there is division within the United National Congress over the property tax.

He referred to an article, which quotes the chairman of the Couva Tabaquite Talparo, Regional Corporation Ryan Rampersad, as giving approval to the government’s plan.

The bill was passed with 20 government members voting for it, while 15 opposition MP’s said no.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged torching of a house, belonging to a recent murder victim.

The fire is being described as arson.  

Randall Rampersad was stabbed to death, while bathing in his outdoor bathroom on Wednesday of this week.

One relative told officers his brother was laid to rest on Saturday.

However, during the early hours of yesterday morning he heard crackling sounds.

He went to investigate and discovered Mr Rampersad’s home, engulfed in flames.  

Police has since learnt that the house, which was made of teak and fully furnished, remained unoccupied since Mr. Rampersad’s death.  

Investigators were also informed that the structure was the source of a legal dispute between the deceased and a female relative.

Rampersad’s murder and the destruction of his home by fire are now under investigation.  

Less than 24 hours after the Harpe killings, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood Christopher said, a coordinated multi agency is probing the murders of 5 people in Port of Spain.

The dead are identified as police Sergeant Larry Phillip Rudolph James, Randy Greaves, Peter Noray, and Devon Jack.

Three others were wounded during the attack last Saturday.

The police commissioner said, the agency is hoping to make a breakthrough soon.

She also said, the TTPS is determined to dismantle all criminal gangs in the country.

The top cop assured the TTPS would bring an end, to what she termed the senseless violence in the country.

The others killed over the weekend are Mark Quashie, Anil Maharaj, Paul Kirk, Kester Mcallister and Indar Borris.

Property tax payments have been suspended with immediate effect until further notice, according to flyers posted at the board of Inland Revenue.

The Express Newspapers today says, a officials familiar with the situation indicated, the ministry of finance will be issuing a release explaining the matter soon.

 The highly controversial property tax took effect from, January 1^st .

Speaking in December on the Finance Bill 2023, Finance Minister Colm Imbert noted that implementation of the property tax was, “just a couple weeks away”.

A release from the finance ministry in November stated “for the record, the property tax act makes it clear property tax is only 3% of the annual rental value for residential properties, after first deducting 10% from the annual rental value.

The government from yesterday suspended collection of payment of the controversial property tax, and it’s raised hope that a proposed amendment to the property tax law, being laid in parliament this afternoon might lower the tax rate.

The iconic Keith “Jumbo” Martin has died.

The original nuts man died yesterday morning at hospital.

His passing was published on social media, for most of the morning yesterday.

Many have known jumbo for not only his delicious nuts, but also more for the way he delivered the packs at public events.

His customers marveled, at his throwing skills overheads and rows of seats.

Jumbo performed several dance moves while he sold his nuts, and energized crowds for many years.

Events promoter Randy Glasgow of Randy Glasgow Productions spoke with newscentre five and shared his experience growing up with jumbo.

Jumbo lived in Cocorite.