作者： admin

The tranquil community of Cedros, Granville, has been shattered by the brutal murder of 28-year-old Rashme Deoajit, a beloved local cricketer found slain in her Tat Trace residence on Tuesday afternoon. The victim was discovered by her brother with fatal stab wounds and her throat slit, in what investigators describe as a deeply personal crime.

According to homicide reports, the primary suspect is a male acquaintance whom Deoajit had generously allowed to stay at her home despite his impoverished circumstances. The investigation reveals that on Monday evening, Deoajit, her brother, and the suspect had been socializing with alcohol at her residence before moving to a friend’s nearby home around 6 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing Deoajit and the suspect engaged in a heated argument approximately two hours later, after which they departed together.

The tragedy unfolded the following day when Deoajit’s brother became concerned after receiving no response to his calls at her locked home. Forcing entry through a window, he made the horrific discovery of his sister’s blood-soaked body in her bedroom, prompting immediate alarm among family members who contacted authorities.

Deoajit’s grieving father, Sookraj Deoajit, emotionally recounted his daughter’s compassionate nature, revealing she had taken in the suspect—a friend of her cousin—simply because he had nowhere else to go. ‘She was soft-hearted,’ he wept, using his affectionate nickname ‘Pumpkin’ for his daughter. The father confirmed there was no romantic relationship between them, with the suspect merely performing household chores while Deoajit worked as a sales merchandiser.

The family’s devastation is compounded by the loss of a talented athlete who represented Cedros Secondary School and numerous cricket clubs nationwide, earning widespread respect for her sportsmanship. Her mother, Savita Deoajit, joined calls for justice, urging authorities to address escalating violent crime while remembering recent beach outings with her daughter.

In response to the tragedy, the bereaved father has demanded the reinstatement of capital punishment for murder convictions, arguing that taxpayer funds should not support incarcerated violent offenders while crimes continue unchecked. The case has drawn disturbing parallels to other recent murders of young women, highlighting growing community concerns about safety and judicial effectiveness.

A violent abduction has shaken the community of Aranjuez as 21-year-old Cody Narine, son of a local doubles vendor, remains captive following his kidnapping by armed assailants. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Tyrico Bay on Trinidad’s North Coast, where seven armed men reportedly seized the young man.

According to family sources, Narine had left his John-Dulam Street residence on Tuesday evening, informing relatives of his intended destination without providing specific reasons for the trip. The abduction took place approximately at 1 a.m., with subsequent confirmation coming via a ransom demand of US$50,000 communicated directly to the family.

The Express visited the Narine family residence, where visible signs of their food business ‘Donkee + Audie’s Doubles’ marked the property. Family members maintained a guarded silence, though one relative confirmed the ransom demand while others gathered in quiet concern beneath the house. Neighbors described Cody as a familiar presence in the community and praised the family’s culinary business.

This kidnapping marks Trinidad’s first ransom abduction for 2026, following the high-profile December kidnapping of businessman Derrick Tardieu and his wife Claribel. In that previous case, kidnappers initially demanded US$2.5 million before reducing their request to TT$100,000, with both victims eventually released after ransom payments.

The Anti-Kidnapping Unit has launched a full investigation into Narine’s abduction, deploying specialized resources to secure his safe return while addressing the concerning pattern of ransom-driven criminal activity in the region.

A comprehensive parliamentary investigation has revealed severe systemic failures in Trinidad and Tobago’s traffic management system, with Wrightson Road in Port of Spain emerging as a critical pain point. The Joint Select Committee’s final hearing on traffic efficiency uncovered multiple dimensions of the transportation crisis affecting major corridors across the nation.

The inquiry identified several problematic zones including Chaguaramas, the southbound lane of Uriah Butler Highway, and various districts in South Trinidad and Chaguanas. Committee member Phillip Alexander highlighted the daily gridlock on Wrightson Road between 3-6 PM, demanding accountability from the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) regarding its impact on traffic flow.

Alexander proposed strategic interventions including staggered port operating hours, scheduled heavy vehicle movements, and enhanced collaboration with business stakeholders. He specifically recommended restricting trucks over five tonnes during peak periods and implementing gate closures at strategic times.

Port of Port of Spain acting CEO Candice Baptiste defended the facility’s operations, revealing that 92% of truck movements occur outside peak hours with an average throughput of 17 trucks hourly. Baptiste cautioned against rigid scheduling, emphasizing the port’s role as an interconnected ecosystem that cannot control cargo reception timelines. She warned that restrictive measures might impose additional costs on businesses and logistics providers.

Transport Ministry engineers presented a broader perspective, identifying Chaguaramas port operations and seasonal festival traffic as compounding factors. Chief Engineer Anande Piggott described Chaguanas as a particularly complex case where commercial growth has dramatically outpaced road infrastructure development. The proliferation of unauthorized taxi stands emerged as a persistent challenge, with relocation efforts often disadvantaging vulnerable commuters and students.

Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke attributed the crisis to deficient development planning, noting that road infrastructure has failed to keep pace with commercial expansion and vehicle population growth. He emphasized that strengthened law enforcement, including rigorous driver licensing and vehicle inspections, could significantly alleviate congestion.

Officials acknowledged institutional challenges including staffing shortages that hamper inter-agency coordination. The ministry emphasized ongoing efforts to modernize transportation infrastructure through police collaboration and public consultation processes. Chief Traffic Warden Neville Sankar revealed critical manpower deficiencies, noting complete absence of traffic wardens in Tobago and insufficient coverage in Trinidad.

The committee concluded that solving Trinidad’s traffic woes requires multi-faceted approaches addressing infrastructure deficits, enforcement mechanisms, and behavioral changes among motorists.