分类： society

A Central Trinidad man convicted for his involvement in a brutal 2000 kidnapping and robbery case has commenced his prison term after the Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge against conviction and sentence. Anderson Bonaparte, who remained on bail since August 2023 during appellate proceedings, was returned to custody on December 1 to serve his revised term of just over ten years, with credit applied for time previously spent in remand.

Bonaparte faced convictions in November 2022 for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and aggravated robbery stemming from the November 2000 incident. The trial had resulted in acquittals on rape and assault-with-intent-to-rob charges after then-High Court Judge Carla Brown-Antoine upheld a no-case submission on those counts.

In his appeal, Bonaparte contended through his attorney Peter Carter that the trial judge improperly directed the jury on offense elements, effectively usurping their deliberative function. He further challenged the admission of evidence regarding co-accused Owusu Williams’ guilty plea and claimed prejudice from jury exposure to dismissed charges.

The appellate panel comprising Justices Charmaine Pemberton, Gillian Lucky, and Vasheist Kokaram rejected all grounds. While identifying a sentencing calculation error that reduced Bonaparte’s penalties for false imprisonment and aggravated robbery by one year each, the court maintained the ten-year kidnapping sentence.

Justice Pemberton utilized the ruling to delineate judicial responsibilities, emphasizing that prosecutors must respect accused persons’ rights while defense counsel should vigorously challenge state evidence without compromising systemic integrity. The court specifically commended trial judge Brown-Antoine for her comprehensive jury directions.

The case originated from the abduction of a call center employee and two coworkers awaiting transport in Chaguaramas. While the coworkers escaped, the victim was forced into Bonaparte’s hired car at weapon-point by Williams and accomplices, blindfolded, transported to Central Trinidad where she was sexually assaulted by multiple perpetrators, and abandoned in Cunupia. Bonaparte’s girlfriend subsequently alerted police, leading to the victim’s rescue.

In a distinguished ceremony held on November 18, twin sisters Kathy and Karen Norman—renowned for their influential medium band K2K Alliance and Partners—were formally inducted into the Hall of Excellence at St Joseph Convent, Port of Spain. The event, hosted biennially at the school’s chapel on Pembroke Street, celebrates exceptional alumni who have made significant contributions to society.

Established in 2001 by the school’s Past Pupils’ Association, this year’s induction was graced by Archbishop Jason Gordon, who delivered the opening prayer. Maritza Ramphal, the school’s current principal and first vice-president of the association, provided welcoming remarks, while Effuah Alleyne, president of the Past Pupils’ Association, concluded with a vote of thanks.

The Norman twins stood among twelve honorees, including Meta’s Vice President of Accessibility and Engagement Maxine Williams, Arrive Alive President Sharon Inglefield, and former SJC principal Anna Pounder. Their pen portraits highlighted extraordinary academic achievements, with each twin securing ten CSEC subjects—including art, where both received awards for their submissions titled ‘The Cycle of Life’ and ‘Life in its Complexity.’

Their early artistic development was further shaped by interviews with mas designers Peter Minshall and Wayne Berkeley, conducted as part of their School-Based Assessments. These experiences ignited their passion for costume design and creative expression. Throughout their school years, the twins consistently contributed their artistic talents to class and school projects. At the Advanced Level, Karen was recognized as the Caribbean’s most outstanding art student, and both portfolios were retained by Cambridge as exemplary references for future generations.

A medical emergency escalated into a dramatic public safety incident on Ariapita Avenue in Port of Spain Monday morning when a taxi driver suffered a sudden seizure while operating his vehicle. The 63-year-old driver lost control of his white Nissan AD wagon around 9:30 am, colliding with five vehicles in successive impacts that created chaotic scenes along the busy thoroughfare.

The situation intensified when one of the struck vehicle owners—a legally armed individual—drew his licensed firearm and pursued the errant taxi on foot. This response, while intended to intercept the seemingly reckless driver, inadvertently triggered public panic as bystanders misinterpreted the armed chase as an active shooting scenario. Multiple emergency calls reported a gunman pursuing a vehicle, prompting a tactical police response.

Heavily armed officers from the Port of Spain Task Force mobilized rapidly under the presumption of an ongoing armed incident. Upon arrival, they discovered the true nature of the emergency: the taxi had come to rest on Scott Bushe Street with both occupants assisted by civilians. Passers-by had extracted the non-responsive driver and his 51-year-old female passenger, placing them in recovery positions in a nearby preschool driveway.

The crisis highlighted both community compassion and systemic challenges. Brent Lee, a local worker certified in first aid, provided critical medical stabilization to both victims. He revealed the driver had been fasting since 3:30 that morning and experienced memory loss surrounding the incident. Lee’s intervention proved vital during the agonizing 80-minute wait for emergency medical services, with ambulines delayed at Port of Spain General Hospital.

In the aftermath, Lee advocated for widespread first aid education, sharing his personal experience with his father’s fatal heart attack. His testimony underscored the vital importance of immediate medical response capabilities within communities, emphasizing that professional help cannot always arrive promptly during critical emergencies.

A Trinidad and Tobago High Court judge has expressed profound concern over the Director of Public Prosecutions’ explanation for failing to file indictments against three police officers nearly five years after they were committed to stand trial.

Justice Frank Seepersad, presiding over a December 2 status hearing for the officers’ judicial review claim, characterized DPP Roger Gaspard’s explanation as raising “serious constitutional concerns” regarding the justice system’s handling of delayed cases.

The case involves Sgt Lester Garcia, Cpl Sheldon Peterson, and PC Dexter Edwards, who faced three counts of misbehavior in public office since their initial charges in October 2014. The officers were committed to stand trial in January 2020. Tragically, Peterson, who had been suspended pending trial, was killed during a botched robbery in 2024.

Gaspard asserted in an October 21 affidavit that the inability to proceed with indictments stems from incomplete documentation from the Arima Magistrates’ Courts. Specifically, audio recordings of the main witness’s testimony were deemed “indecipherable,” preventing prosecutors from preparing necessary transcripts and conducting a lawful evidence review.

The DPP explained that without usable recordings, his office cannot determine whether a prima facie case exists or assess whether prosecution serves the public interest—a constitutional requirement under section 90 of the Constitution. Although Gaspard instructed his staff to accept the compromised bundle in November 2023, he intended to return the matter to the magistrate for additional evidence. This plan was complicated by the subsequent appointment of presiding magistrate Indrani Cedeno as a temporary judge.

Gaspard revealed his office is currently reviewing approximately 400 capital matters for indictment, with 569 indictments pending at the Port of Spain office at the time of the officers’ committal. He cited systemic challenges, including statutory requirements and limited staffing, noting that delays of several years are not unusual in Trinidad’s justice system.

However, Justice Seepersad challenged the normalization of extended delays, stating the court “should not genuflect to that practice” given the justice system’s obligation to ensure timely trials. The judge indicated that staffing constraints described in the affidavit “may suggest systemic issues” requiring significant resourcing.

The case now raises fundamental constitutional questions about what guarantees exist for accused persons awaiting High Court trials and what constitutes a reasonable timeframe for filing indictments. Justice Seepersad is expected to deliver a ruling on February 24, 2026, which could have significant implications for Trinidad’s criminal justice procedures.

In a landmark environmental ruling, High Court Justice Robin Mohammed has nullified the Environmental Management Authority’s 2017 approval of a substantial housing development project planned for the historically significant St Augustine Nurseries in Curepe. The December 1st decision culminates a seven-year legal battle initiated by environmental advocate Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh and Trinidad Unified Farmers Association president Shiraz Khan.

The contested project involved the Housing Development Corporation’s proposal to construct twelve eight-story residential buildings totaling 504 units across seven hectares of fertile agricultural terrain near Farm Road and Southern Main Road in Valsayn. The court determined that the EMA had acted unreasonably by granting a Certificate of Environmental Clearance without mandating a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment despite the project’s scale and proximity to critical agricultural infrastructure.

Justice Mohammed’s ruling emphasized that the EMA failed to conduct sufficient due diligence, particularly regarding consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture as owner and operator of the nurseries. The court noted that the nurseries serve as vital propagation centers for plant materials essential to the nation’s agricultural sector and represent part of the historic St. Joseph Farm established in the 1930s for tropical plant conservation.

The judicial review revealed concerning gaps in the approval process, including alleged reliance on inaccurate information regarding hydrological features and the site’s relationship to the Valsayn aquifer. The court imposed a 42-day stay to allow the EMA to consider its options while ordering the authority to cover the claimants’ legal costs. The ruling mandates that any future consideration of the project must include a complete Environmental Impact Assessment addressing all relevant ecological factors.

The Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) has intensified pressure on the government to resolve long-standing wage negotiations, simultaneously criticizing the controversial commencement of adult surgeries at Couva Children’s Hospital on November 28. This development occurs despite previous objections from nursing professionals regarding staff and resource limitations at the facility.

TTRNA President Idi Stuart contends that the government’s financial capacity to refurbish and operationalize the hospital for the third time demonstrates available funds that should rightfully address nursing compensation. Wage discussions have remained stagnant since 2013, creating significant dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals.

According to Stuart, the initial operational phase has encountered substantial challenges. Specialized surgical nursing staff are being transferred from Point Fortin Hospital and San Fernando General Hospital to support the new facility, potentially compromising patient care at existing institutions. Additionally, reassigned nurses report excessive working hours without adequate breaks or meal periods.

Stuart further alleges that medical consumables are being diverted from other healthcare facilities to equip Couva Hospital, raising concerns about resource allocation across the public health system. The TTRNA has actively advised its members through social media to formally document overtime hours and seek written reassignment instructions, highlighting administrative uncertainties regarding regional health authority jurisdiction.

The hospital’s history reflects political complexities. Originally commissioned in 2015 under Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration, it was subsequently transferred to North Central Regional Health Authority management. Persad-Bissessar, now returned to power, had previously criticized the government for failing to fully operationalize the facility during her opposition period.

Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe maintains that the hospital’s operationalization aligns with the Prime Minister’s mandate, emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to a coordinated transition as additional services become available. Newsday reports that ministerial response to the TTRNA’s allegations remained unavailable at publication time.