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Prime Minster Dr. Keith Rowley hails the judgement handed down in the Civil Asset Forfeiture case in Miami arising out of the Piarco Airport corruption matter.

The verdict was handed down on Wednesday.

Dr. Rowley yesterday said it was a great day for the country.

On his Facebook page he also attached pictures of the 3 daily newspapers, which all had the story on their front pages.

The case involved the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago v Birk Hillman Consultants, Inc., et al, in the Circuit Court in and for the 11^th judicial circuit.

The Miami Court awarded Trinidad and Tobago the sum of US$100 million.

The jury concluded that all 3 defendants, businessman Steve Ferguson, former Minister Brian Kuei Tung and Raul Gutierrez Jr, the former Principal of Calmaquip Engineering Corporation, which provided the specialised equipment at the airport, were liable.

Former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi spoke with TV6 news last evening.

Mr. Al-Rawi said this is an example that the system works.

Meanwhile businessman Steve Ferguson says he intends to appeal the ruling passed down by the Miami jury.

Mr. Ferguson is quoted in the Newsday as saying several elements of the case were prejudicial and confirmed that appellate attorneys have begun working on filing an appeal.

He also accused Mr. Al-Rawi of entering false statements during the trial and Mr. Kuei Tung was unable to attend a deposition owing to eye surgery and he was concerned his fellow defendant was not treated fairly.

Mr. Ferguson also asserted there are a whole host of things and other legal issues that were highly prejudicial and the jury instructions were that Mr. Kuei Tung was guilty.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley proudly says he resisted advice to demolish Hayes Court.

The historic building in Port of Spain has been fully restored and handed over to the Anglican Church.

The handing over ceremony took place yesterday

Hayes court is one of the Magnificent Sevens situated around the Queens Park Savannah.

During the feature address Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the government was advised to demolish the structure and the government, could not act on that advice and sought international help to preserve it.

The Prime Minister said the same advice was given to a now restored Mille Fleur and his government resisted.

Dr Rowley said many would not remember president’s house was left abandoned and used as a dump.

He said truckloads of garbage were removed from the site during the restoration process

And head of the Anglican Church Bishop Claude Berkley said when he came into office in 2011 he was told the cost of refurbishment was over 20 million dollars.

He said he too wondered if tearing down the structure would have been best.

He later thanked the Government; donors and members of the church for ensuring Hayes Court became what it is today.

He said the restoration of Hayes Court was launched in the year 2000.

Two social activist groups take their complaints to the director of public prosecutions.

The groups, the push back movement represented by Michael Kerr and Andy Williams, concern citizens, represented by Lennox Smith and others assembled in front of the Dpp’s office yesterday

The groups are upset over the handling of the indemnity deal between former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and convicted attorney Vincent Nelson.

Mr Kerr and Mr Smith met with Dpp Roger Gaspard S.C for about 30 minutes

The spoke with the media after the meeting

The men delivered letters to the Dpp, with the push back movement calling on him to review the indemnity deal and if necessary take action and involve the police commissioner.

Mr Smith said Dpp Gaspard did not give a response time for any updates, but welcomed another meeting for the groups to elaborate on their concerns.

Mr Vincent Nelson was the main witness against former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen, in an alleged state-briefs-for-cash scam.

Dpp Gaspard discontinued that matter after Nelson said he would no longer testify because the government reneged on promises he claimed were part of a deal he signed with Al-Rawi.

He is now suing for $96 million for this supposed breach.

Last Friday, outgoing LATT president Sophia Chote, Sc, wrote separately to both Gaspard and Attorney General Reginald Armour seeking meetings with them in an attempt, to resolve the on going issues within the Dpp’s office.

There are reports that Mr Gaspard is incline to meet with the LATT but the Attorney General is yet to confirm his position. 

Prime Minister and head of the National Security Council Dr Keith Rowley, commits to bringing back over 100 T&T nationals

The group includes women and children currently held at detention camps and jails in Syria and Iraq.

However, while officials say the government is committed to repatriating citizens, they all agree it is a matter that is of a highly technical and costly nature.

Following a two-hour meeting with Dr Rowley and the national Security Council at white hall, Port-Of-Spain, yesterday, former house speaker Nizam Mohammed explained it was highly technical

Mr Mohammed has been appointed to head a three-man committee to oversee the process alongside the locally based families of the Trinidad nationals who will go through the process.

The other members of the committee are former ambassador Patrick Edwards and local Islamic leader Kwesi Atiba.

Emerging from the meeting around 5 pm, Mr Mohammed described it as rather comprehensive.

Also present at the meeting was attorney general Reginald Armour, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne and Energy And Energy Affairs Minister Stuart Young.

Investigations continue into the murder of Narine Singh.

It is said Mr. Singh and his wife were at their Charlo Village, Rio Claro home on Sunday night, when someone shot him through a window.

Mr Singh’s wife told police that she and her husband were asleep in her apartment, on the ground floor of the house when she awakened to the sound of a louver pane being forced open, on the eastern side of the bedroom at around midnight.

The widow described her former husband as a kind individual, even to animals.

Meanwhile the shooting death of Marvin Marcano is also under investigation.

Reports say the incident took place at Rabindranath, Trace Kelly Village, at around 10 o’clock Sunday night.

Newscentre 5 understands residents reported hearing several explosions.

The police were contacted.

When officers arrived they found Mr. Marcano lying in a ditch suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Santa Cruz is the scene of the country’s latest murder.

Police have named the victim as Tom Jones.

Reports say the incident took place at Orange Field Road.

Newscenter 5 understands Mr. Jones was liming among a group of persons when a man wielding a gun and approached them and fired several shots indiscriminately.

The persons were hit several times about their bodies and taken to hospital.

However Mr. Jones died while undergoing emergency treatment.

The other wounded persons were listed in a stable condition.

Investigations are continuing.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement yesterday, the Health Ministry said Mr. Deyalsingh tested positive earlier in the day.

This is said to be his first positive test since the pandemic started over 3 years ago.  

The statement added that the Health Minister is exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms at this time and will remain at home in isolation in accordance with the National COVID-19 protocols.

Minister Deyalsingh will continue to perform his duties from home and according to the Health Ministry, updates on his condition will be provided as required.