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Earlier in the day Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said he finds disturbing the State’s failure to mount a defense in a matter which saw 9 former murder accused claiming malicious prosecution.

The 9 men are to receive 2 million dollars each.

The men laid the claims against the State years after they were found not guilty of kidnapping and killing businesswoman Vindra Naipaul Coolman.

The State failed to file a defense in the matter.

The Attorney General is to respond via a news conference today.

Dr. Rowley said he was surprised to learn of the development.

The Acting Attorney General Stuart Young has said an investigation into the Master’s Award has been launched.

Dr. Rowley finds the development very worrying.

One of the prosecutors in the kidnapping and murder trial, Israel Khan, yesterday said something stinks.

He said the development is a scandalous state of affairs and somebody has to be held responsible.

Yesterday the leader of the Opposition called for the firing of former Attorney General Faris Al Rawi

It was under Mr. Al Rawi’s watch the State failed to  file a defence to the claims.

Kamla Persad Bissessar also wants the Director of Public Prosecutions and Acting Police Commissioner to launch investigations into the conduct of Mr. Al Rawi and his successor Reginald Amour.

She said members of the public are entitled to be outraged, angry and upset over the payments they must now make to the 9 former accused.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is said to have collapsed during an event in Port of Spain.

Reports are saying Dr. Rowley was attending a pan event at the Queens Park Oval last night when he appeared to have fainted.

At the time of the incident Dr. Rowley and other VIPs were under a tent.

After he collapsed Dr. Rowley was quickly taken out of the compound.

He did not return to the event.

Several government ministers were present at the event, including Camille Robinson Regis and Symon De Nobriga.

There is no official word from the Office of the Prime Minister on the incident.

Meanwhile outside the venue… a verbal clash between an ex-Caroni worker who is also a Pundit, supporters of the UNC leader and a prominent attorney.

The incident occurred while the media was interviewing Pundit Donny Samlal.

According to reports Pundit Samlal was at the UNC’s National Congress in Couva seeking signatures for a petition which calls for the removal of the party leader.

The UNC leadership rejected the petition, which had garnered 175 signatures.

Mr. Samlal contended that Mrs. Persad-Bissessar campaigned on the promise that voluntary separation of employee packages of ex-Caroni workers would be settled during her tenure as Prime Minister between 2010 and 2015, but did not deliver on her promise.

He noted that, to date, thousands were awaiting their packages while many had died.

Mr. Samlal said he and others were blocked several times and bullied off the stage as they tried to file the Motion of No Confidence.

However this did not sit well with supporters of Opposition Leader and he was interrupted by a group of Persad-Bissessar’s supporters who chanted, “Kamla must stay”.

One supporter shouted cut in front of Pundit Samlal to speak to the media while another supporter proceeded to push Mr. Samlal out of the way, which attorney Larry Lalla objected to.

A heated exchange ensued between Mr. Samlal, Mr. Lalla and Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s supporters.

UNC supporters drove Mr. Samlal away all the while pointing hands in Mr. Lalla’s face.

Pundit Samlal was unable to continue the media interview.

Leader of the Opposition, United National Congress, assures she is in good health and is ready to return to government.

Over the past week Kamla Persad Bissessar again faced some challenges within her United National Congress.

Motions calling for her removal and election reform circulated, one of them in the names of former Ministers Dr. Fuad Khan and Ramona Ramdial.

Yesterday at the UNC’s Congress Mrs. Persad Bissessar insisted there is nothing to fear.

She sought to point fingers in the direction of the man she wants to replace as Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

Before she addressed hundreds of party faithfuls, Mrs. Persad Bissessar got endorsements from all speakers who took to the podium.

Among them Members Of Parliament, including Senators and executives of the party.

Without calling names Mrs. Persad Bissessar alleged that there are people within the party who are not in agreement with the colours and ethnicities that exist.

She called on those who wish to continue being UNC to come forward and build.

She promised that she will not allow party members to be insulted and at the same time the former Prime Minister apologised to those she may have hurt.

Acting Commissioner of Police Earla Christopher says the last weekend was indeed an unwelcomed one.

However she says, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will not give up or give in.

She says the TTPS continues to work assiduously to investigate the recent murders, pursuing several strong leads.

The acting top cop says the prevalence of illegal guns in communities is a central focus of the service and she is directing strategies, targeting the influx of firearms.

Acting Commissioner Christopher says the TTPS is not daunted by the unfortunate and disturbing spate of violence over this weekend.

In fact she says, the service will continue to intensify efforts to crackdown on gangs to break the hold of the gang culture and criminality that leaves a trail of death and despair within communities.

Eleven killings are added to the country’s murder toll.

The deaths occurred over the weekend.

The latest victim is identified as Sherwyn Bernard.

He was at his mini mart in Sangre Grande yesterday afternoon when he was shot.

The business place is located at the corner of the Toco Main Road and Sahadeen Trace, Vega De Oropouche in Sangre Grande.

Police say up to last evening they had no motive for the killing which occurred at around 4:30pm.

Yesterday morning there was another killing, this time in Barataria.

Nkosi Lewis was walking along Grenado Street off Sawmill Avenue when he was shot several times about the body.

He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Between last Friday night and yesterday afternoon 10 others were killed.

Among them Shakeel Ferdinand and Shaheed Jaboolal.

They were shot while in the car park of the Roxbury Bar off the Southern Main Road in Cunupia.

On Saturday evening 2 men and a woman were shot and killed in Carapo.

The 2 men are brothers Curtis Dobson and Justin Paul.

The woman’s name is given as Shalini Shivanan.

She was said to be the girlfriend of Mr. Paul.

Then there was a triple killing in Cunupia

They are identified as Kevin Ramjattan, Javon Ince and Sean Thomas.

One week after she is elected President of the Republic Christine Kangaloo calls on the country to give her a chance.

Her appointment has been strongly criticised by some, including Opposition members, who doubt she can be independent having served in several positions under the ruling Peoples National Movement.

After receiving her Instrument of Election from the Speaker of the House Ms. Kangaloo sought to set the record straight.

She confirmed she had been a member of the PNM and served as a Minister over the years.

The President elect recalled her appointment and service to country are not unique.

Christine Kangaloo officially takes up office in March.

She replaces Paula Mae Weekes who did not wish for a 2^nd term as President.

The decomposed body of a man is discovered in a mud volcano in Cedros.

According to police reports, the corpse was found yesterday afternoon.

Police made the find at around 3:15pm after receiving a tip-off from an anonymous person about several bodies in the mud volcano

Officers went to the area, which leads to the volcano and after walking for some time came upon a deceased. 

Police say the body, which appeared to be about 6 feet, was at the center of the volcano, lying face down.

Investigators say the deceased was only visible at the torso and elbow while the remaining parts of the body were sunk in the mud.

Police also say the body was clad in a pair of long jeans and a top

An identity is yet to be made but police suspect it could be someone who was reported missing earlier this month.