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The Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd, is today one step closer to bringing a group of contractors, former officials and former housing minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal.

Delivering a judgement yesterday, appellate judges Charmaine Pemberton, Peter Rajkumar, and Vasheist Kokaram, dismissed an appeal from the contractors over the refusal of former high court judge. Along with a current appellate judge James Aboud, to strike out the case against them at a preliminary stage. 

According to law, if a successful final appeal is not mounted by March 20th, the appeal court’s ruling will stand and the case will go to trial, before justice Frank Seepersad. 

In reading the decision, justice Rajkumar ruled that EMBD had properly pleaded, that it suffered actual pecuniary loss, as a result of the alleged unlawful means conspiracy between the contractors and state officials. 

He noted that although EMBD did not quantify the losses it incurred when it filed the case, it could do so when it goes to trial. 

Justice Rajkumar also rejected claims, that EMBD’s pleadings did not properly give particulars linking the contractors to the purported conspiracy, so they could mount their defences. 

The substantive lawsuit centres around 12 contracts, for the rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure granted to five contractors, before the September 2015 general election. 

Contractors TN Ramnauth, Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd (ramhit), and Kall Company Ltd (kallco). Initiated the proceedings against the state-owned special purpose company, for the sum of almost $200 million balance owed on their respective contracts.

The Downtown Owners and Merchants Association, takes a strong position against reports of some companies, failing to pay workers the new minimum wage.

Doma president Gregory Aboud says, action should be taken in the early implementation, as non-compliance with the new order is unacceptable.

Mr. Aboud also urges employees to be sure, their working hours have not been reduced in light of the increase in minimum wage, before filing a complaint.

According to complaints, although business owners risk being fined $15,000 for underpayment, several have allegedly failed to uphold the law.

The minimum wage rose from $17.50 to $20.50 on January 1^st , 2024.

A commitment from the government, to eliminate leprosy in Trinidad and Tobago by 2024.

Chief medical officer Dr. Roshan Parasram says, each year an average of 25 cases is recorded in locally.

He says, last year there was a dip with 18 cases reported.

Dr. Parasram says, while many believe leprosy is a thing of the past this is not so.

He says, in the past there was no medication to treat with the disease.

However, he says there is medication to cure and or totally eliminate the illness.

Dr. Marilyn Suite says, early signs are often seen in the skin.

She gave a breakdown of the symptoms.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago fire service says, Ms. Mitchell ignored safety warnings at the event on San Fernando hill.

Acting head of the fire service DFO Andy Hutchinson tells Newscentre five, he was at the scene on Saturday night during the rescue operation.

DFO Hutchinson says, several interviews were done and it was found that Ms. Mitchell was told not to cross the caution tape.

Officer Hutchinson admitted that while it may have taken some time to get to Ms. Mitchell, the terrain was treacherous.

Mr. Hutchinson says, there was ample warning signage and tape in designated danger zones, but he is advising that security officers do more to enforce safety at all events.     

Activist Inshan Ishmael says, his court win against Weston Rawlins in a defamation case is a victory for calypso.

Yesterday, the court found the calypsonian known as “Cro Cro” guilty of the charge brought by Mr. Ishmael.

The ruling was made in a judgment by justice Frank Seepersad, at the waterfront judicial centre in Port of Spain.

Cro cro was accused of defaming Mr. Ishmael on February 5, 2023, during an on-stage performance in which, he sang a calypso titled “another sat is outside again” that allegedly named Mr. Ishmael.

Mr. Rawlins will have to pay approximately 300 thousand dollars with cost.

Speaking with Newscentre five yesterday Mr. Ishmael was pleased.

He said, his action was in the interest of the country.

At a hearing last December, Mr. Ishmael said, there was no doubt in his mind that Mr. Rawlins had been singing about him in the calypso.

He claimed that the song, directly named, identified, and attacked him while encouraging others to attack him, both verbally, physically and to financially, to abstain from patronising his businesses.

Police continue their investigations into the death of a schoolteacher, who fell some 80 feet while at a fete on the San Fernando Hill.

Renee Mitchell was 39 years old.

Last Saturday evening she suffered multiple injuries after falling 80 feet down a cliff

It is said, Ms. Mitchell then rolled a further 60 feet off the cliff, before she came to a stop in some bushes.

Ms. Mitchell, of Corinth was found several hours later, and taken to hospital where she died.

She attended the Solset Supernova fete with her boyfriend, Peter Ribiero.

He told police she fell when she went to the side of the cliff too urinate.

An autopsy is expected this week.

She taught at the Brighton AC Primary School.

The education ministry has posted a message of condolence to her family, friends, colleagues and students.

The minister assures the student support services division has been mobilized, to provide help where needed.

Forty people will contest the semi finals of the calypso monarch competition, in Skinner Park this coming Saturday

Among those selected by judges over the past week are Mical Teja, Karene Asche, Mr. Shak, Aaron Duncan and Garth St Clair.

Trinbago unified calypsonian organisation official Sherlaine Hendrickson says, they will all compete for the first prize of half a million dollars, and a vehicle in the finals on carnival Sunday night.

Ms. Hendrickson told a news conference yesterday, those between 5^th  and 12^th  places will receive 45 thousand dollars.

Also among the semi finalists, is soca sensation Machel Montano, who returns to the competition for the first time in many years.

President of Tuco, Ainsley King said, yesterday Machel is just another contestant.

He said, the one-song finals remains and there will be no changes, so as to give everyone a chance to enter and compete.

Others in the semis include Black Sage, Ezekiel Yorke, Lady Watchman, Independent Senator Helon Francis, Kurt Allen, Queen Victoria and Efa.

BPTT Renegades leads the semi final round of the large conventional bands category, of the National Panorama Competition.

The winner of the medium bands is Tobago’s Katzen Jammers.

It was a packed Queens Park Savannah that hosted the, BPTT sponsored competition.

Dubbed the savannah party it started at 2 p.m. yesterday, and ended some 12 hours later.

House announcer Ken Simmons gave the results.

In third, was Republic Bank Exodus with a four-way tie, for fourth place, T&Tec Tropical Angel Harps, Shell Invaders Steel Orchestra, Proman Starlift Steel Orchestra and Desperadoes Steel Orchestra.

In the medium category second place went to NGC Couva Joylanders and in third place Curepe Scherzando Steel Orchestra.

The top cop responds to threats from her officers, to withholding their services during carnival due to non payment of back pay.

Police commissioner Erla Harewood Christopher, is giving the assurance that proactive measures are being taken to ensure, the smooth operation of carnival festivities.

In a release the commissioner of police, acknowledges the concerns raised by the TTPS Social Welfare Association, regarding the possibility of some police officers calling in sick for carnival duties.

Reports that Allied Security officers are still being forced to conduct cash in transit operations, with little or no protection.

This despite the company having lost officers in a heist.

The Estate Police Association claims officers attached to the firm are being forced, to use expired safety vests and other security apparatus.

On September 19th, 2022, Allied Security officers Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart were gunned down as a group of men attempted to rob the cash in transit van, at the La Romain branch of pennywise cosmetics.  

A third officer, Peola Baptiste, was the lone survivor of the three officers assigned to pick up cash at the store that day.

EPA president Deryck Richardson tells Newscentre five, Allied Security has learnt nothing from the tragedy, and continues to risk the lives of its employees.

Further, Mr. Richardson says, the security officers are being paid next to nothing while the executives of the company are living large.

He vows that the EPA will not rest until every security officer is treated as a human being.     

Mr. Richardson says, Allied Security officers have not received an increase in salaries since 2011.

He says, the company has refused to meet with the EPA on the matter, but legal options are being explored regarding this issue.