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National cyclist charged

A 32-year-old man who represented this country at the Commonwealth and Olympic games has been charged with possession of an illegal firearm, ammunition and marijuana.

The accused was taken into custody last Saturday afternoon after police officers allegedly found the items on him.

The alleged discovery was made during a road check exercise near the Debe Roundabout on the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

Officers say the illegal firearm was loaded with 4 rounds of ammunition.

They claim there were 62.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.

It is said 22 other drivers were also charged for driving in excess of the speed limit.

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Brian Manning assures VAT refunds will be paid to business operators

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Brian Manning

The Opposition United National Congress says it is past time for government to pay businesses owed VAT refunds.

The party says it is creating cash flow issues for manufacturers.

But the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Brian Manning, says the monies will be paid soon.

At its weekly press conference yesterday the Opposition questioned why the funds have not been paid.

Senator Damian Lyder raised the matter.

He said it was a dark move on the State’s part.

But speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday Mr. Manning said there is a schedule and monies will be paid.

He explained what delayed the payments.

The UNC said it was not alone in its concern.

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Paula Mae Weekes appalled by racial behaviour on social media

Former President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Former President of the Republic Paula Mae Weekes says racial abuse is rampant on local social media.

She finds it frightening.

Ms. Weekes says when her term began she took an interest in social media.

In an interview with Garth St. Clair of Eye On Dependency the former President said she was shocked by what she saw.

Ms. Weekes said it is dangerous for the country.

She told Mr. St. Clair it is frightening.

Last week Monday her Excellency Christine Kangaloo was sworn in as the successor of Ms. Weekes.

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Teenage boy gunned down in Valencia

Police are now investigating the killing of 14-year-old Kyle Paul.

The boy was gunned down at a football march in Valencia last Saturday evening.

Two others were wounded during the shooting.

Kyle was a 3rd form student of the Coryal High School.

It is reported at around 8pm Kyle was playing football with friends at KP Lands Valencia Savannah.

A silver hatchback vehicle pulled up a short distance away and several men alighted.

Reports say the men fired several shots indiscriminately.

Kyle and others ran for cover but 3 people were hit.

Eyewitnesses say Kyle became trapped in a cricket net.

He was cornered and shot in the upper body and legs.

The gunmen returned to the hatchback and left the scene.

Kyle died at the scene and up to yesterday one of the wounded males was listed in a critical condition at hospital.

Officers of Region-2 Homicide Bureau of Investigations are leading the probe.

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Bush fires over a 48-hr period due to extremely dry conditions across Barbados

Bush fires across Barbados over a 48-hour period due to extremely dry conditions.

Over the weekend there was consideration about upgrading the island’s alert protocols to include fire as a hazard.

Director of the Department of Emergency Management, Kerry Hinds says the fires forced the closure of a number of schools last Friday.

She says there are conditions, which make breathing an uncomfortable ordeal for asthmatics and others with respiratory issues.

Ms. Hinds says operations of the current common alerting protocol for hazards can be expanded to assist communities and Barbadians in harm’s way.

Fire officials were busy for over 2 days responding to grass fires across the country.

One of the larger areas scorched was at Bannatyne, Christ Church.

The blaze was extinguished and posed no danger to nearby homes.

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ICE apprehends Caribbean nationals in nationwide enforcement and removal operation

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency apprehends Caribbean nationals, among 220 removable non-citizens during a nationwide enforcement effort.

The operation took place on Friday.

Via a statement the ICE says officers from its enforcement and removal operations says nationals from Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago were arrested in the immigration sweep between March 4th and March 13th.

According to the statement officials identified the non-citizens as having been convicted of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and burglary.

In addition the persons detained had prior convictions of unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence; or as those who were released from incarceration on parole or placed on community probation under supervision.

The ICE says those arrested included a 20-year-old citizen of Cuba in Miami, convicted in July 2022 by the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Miami of felony murder in the 2nd degree/deadly weapon/aggravated battery attempt.

The release also notes that a 40-year-old citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, who lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, was also arrested.

The Trinidadian, the ICE says, was convicted in November 2022 by the US District Court in the southern district of New York of felony conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, felony narcotics-sell/distribute/dispense.

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Director of Public Prosecutions urged to break his silence and defend himself

Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard

The Opposition United National Congress is calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions to defend his office.

The party says the Office of the DPP is under attack because of the collapse of the corruption case against UNC officials who included former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and his wife Oma.

The Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Chief Justice have criticised the DPP and his office over the past days.

Barataria -San Juan MP Saddam Hussein told a news conference he believes the Attorney General Reginald Amour needs to apologise to prosecutors for saying they are underperforming.

Mr. Hussein said he is surprised by the utterances of Chief Justice Ivor Archie who generally blamed the DPP Roger Gaspard for the shortage of staff at his office.

He sees Justice Archie’s statement as unsolicited and an attack against the DPP.

MP Hussein said the issue is a political fight between Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, Attorney General Amour and DPP Gaspard.

He does not see why the Chief Justice would intervene.

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Man described by police as a known drug dealer is shot and killed in his bed

A man is shot and killed in Aranguez.

He has been identified as Dinesh Ragbir.

He was 32-years-old.

Reports say the incident took place at Freddy Street around 11pm last night.

Newscenter 5 understands Mr. Ragbir was asleep at his home when armed men stormed in and opened fire.

The assailants then escaped.

Relatives and neighbors went to the house and found Mr. Ragbir suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police were called to the scene.

The Emergency Health Services arrived and pronounced Mr. Ragbir dead.

Police described Mr. Ragbir as a well known drug, firearm, and larceny offender.

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Christine Kangaloo takes the Oath of Office

President Elect, Christine Kangaloo

Trinidad and Tobago gets its second female President this morning.

Christine Kangaloo will take the Oath of Office becoming the 7th Head of State.

The Inauguration Ceremony takes place at the Queen’s Park Savannah grandstand, in Port of Spain.

The Office of the President says some 500 invitations have been sent out.

The Electoral College elected the former Senate President on January 20th.

Her nomination and election were rejected by the Opposition United National Congress, which said her political alignment to the ruling Peoples National Movement, should have disqualified her holding the office.

The UNC yesterday insisted there is no mandate for its MP’s or Senators to boycott the President’s Inauguration.

Chief whip David Lee noted that there have been reports, which tell of a planned boycott by the UNC.

He said at the opposition’s last parliamentary caucus on February 24th, it was unanimously agreed that Opposition Parliamentarians wishing to attend the event could do so.

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R.I.C public consultation abruptly ends after descending into chaos

The Regulated Industries Commission aborts a public consultation in Chaguanas after chaos erupts.

Fingers are being pointed at Opposition Officials.

The meeting on Wednesday night was to be the final one as the RIC lays the groundwork for electricity rate hikes.

Several Opposition MPs were present at the consultation, among them Rudranath Indarsingh.

MP Indarsingh explained that he and his fellow MPs attempted to get RIC Chairman, Dawn Callender, to continue the proceedings but they were dismissed.

The UNC MPs were adamant that they did not disrupt the proceedings and the RIC should have expected robust and caustic inputs.

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