标签: Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • Jet ski operator released in fatal accident case

    Jet ski operator released in fatal accident case

    A fatal jet ski collision that claimed the life of a 7-year-old vacationer on Tobago’s Pigeon Point has sparked urgent calls for sweeping industry regulation, after the detained operator linked to the tragedy was released from custody as police investigators work to wrap up their case.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tobago) Rishi Singh confirmed this week that the 32-year-old operator, a resident of Canaan Feeder Road, Tobago, was released last Saturday, with ongoing inquiries into the April 8 incident still proceeding. When reached for comment by local news outlet the Express, the operator declined to speak publicly on the case.

    The victim, Angelica Saydee Jogie, a primary school student from San Fernando’s TML Primary School, was enjoying a family beach trip when the tragedy unfolded. Angelica was in a marked, roped-off swimming zone shortly before 5 p.m. when an out-of-control jet ski breached the safety barrier and crashed into her, her father, and her uncle. The young girl was rushed to Scarborough General Hospital, but medical staff were unable to save her, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

    In the wake of the incident, fellow jet ski operators across Tobago have rallied around the released man, publicly affirming his reputation as an experienced and safety-focused industry professional, while joining public calls for urgent government action to formalize and enforce rules for the jet ski sector.

    Angelica’s mother, Salisha Jogie, has demanded full accountability for her daughter’s death, and is calling for a complete ban on jet ski operations along Tobago’s popular public beaches. Her demand has been echoed by Reginald Mac Lean, head of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, who branded unregulated personal watercraft “ticking time bombs” that put beachgoers at constant risk.

    Angelica’s funeral was held last Saturday in Barrackpore, just five days ahead of what would have been her eighth birthday. During the service, Jogie recounted the horrifying final moments of the family’s vacation, before the collision cut short her daughter’s life.

    Police authorities confirmed this week that investigative work is in its final stages, with legal documentation currently being prepared to submit to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard. Once reviewed, the DPP will determine whether criminal charges will be filed against the operator in connection with Angelica’s death. Senior Superintendent of Police Rodhil Kirk noted that the investigation is nearing completion.

  • Over 100 guns may have been stolen; waiting on assessment’

    Over 100 guns may have been stolen; waiting on assessment’

    A violent brazen attack on a Trinidad and Tobago police station has left one law enforcement officer dead and triggered a major investigation into a massive firearms heist, with authorities warning the number of stolen weapons could be far higher than initial recoveries suggest.

    On Sunday, attackers stormed the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, located at King’s Wharf along Lady Hailes Avenue, where they killed Acting Corporal Anuska Eversley in a brutal assault that included beating, stabbing, and strangling. The raiders targeted the station’s secure armoury, making off with a yet undetermined number of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

    So far, law enforcement teams have recovered 38 stolen firearms following the robbery. But senior police officials confirmed this week that the recovered cache may represent less than half of the total weapons taken during the breach. An official audit is currently underway to pin down the exact number of missing weapons and ammunition, with early estimates putting the total stolen firearms at more than 100, alongside roughly 4,000 rounds of loose ammunition.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Surrendra Sagramsingh explained in a media interview that the San Fernando station plays an unusual, critical role in regional weapons storage: it hosts one of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS)’s most secure storage bunkers, and holds firearms not only for its own officers but also for multiple other regional police stations that borrow or store weapons there. This layered storage setup has complicated efforts to count the missing stock quickly.

    “I can confirm that the figure of around 102 stolen weapons is plausible, it could be that number or even a little higher, but we have to complete our audit to be certain,” Sagramsingh said. “We’re cross-referencing all official records, because we have weapons that are permanently assigned to this station, and others that are on loan from or to other units. This station is one of our key hubs for surplus weapons storage to support operations across the region, so we have to trace every weapon that was held here, including those that were lent out to other departments recently, to get an accurate count.”

    TTPS Commissioner Allister Guevarro confirmed Thursday that the full scope of the theft is still being mapped, and announced that the service is already rolling out urgent systemic reforms in response to the devastating security breach. “Immediate reforms are being introduced to strengthen firearm storage protocols across all our facilities and ensure strict adherence to all relevant policies and standing orders moving forward,” Guevarro stated, adding that the service is prioritizing closing gaps that allowed the attack to happen.

  • Police officer caught on video beating woman

    Police officer caught on video beating woman

    A viral 23-second video that has spread rapidly across social media platforms has triggered an official police probe into allegations that a serving Trinidad and Tobago Police Service corporal assaulted a woman at her private residence in Tobago West. According to senior law enforcement officials, the recording first came into police possession last Saturday, immediately prompting the opening of a formal investigation into the disturbing incident.

    The footage, which has shocked local communities after being shared widely online, captures the uniformed officer repeatedly striking the woman. Visual evidence shows the victim attempting to protect herself from the blows, which land across her head and face, including a clear slap caught on camera. Both parties left the location of the altercation after the incident, which is confirmed to have taken place on April 12 at the woman’s home in the Tobago West district.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Rishi Singh, in an official interview with local outlet the Express, confirmed that investigators are moving forward with the case, but clarified that progress in the probe is partially contingent on cooperation from the victim. “A final resolution to this incident is not solely within the control of the police,” Singh explained. “The victim must first formally submit a statement to investigators to move the process forward. We have also informed her that she can access specialized support from the TTPS’ dedicated Victims and Support unit if she needs assistance.”

    The Express also reached out to Ishmael Pitt, the head of the Police Social and Welfare Association, the representative body for police officers in the region, for comment on the allegations. Pitt confirmed that he had reviewed the viral footage firsthand, and openly acknowledged that the video documents an apparent assault against the woman.

    Pitt made clear that the police union supports full compliance with local laws and a transparent, impartial investigation into the incident. “There are clear legal frameworks in place to address this kind of conduct, and we as an organization abide by all existing laws and service rules,” Pitt stated. “We stand fully behind any official investigation and whatever outcome it reaches. This matter must be handled exclusively through the proper legal channels, there is no place for extrajudicial action here.”

    Pitt further emphasized that violent assault of this nature will not be tolerated within the ranks of the police service. “There are established rules and binding laws that govern the conduct of all officers, and I have full confidence that the investigation will be carried out thoroughly,” he added. “Any person found responsible for misconduct must be held accountable for their actions. This kind of behavior cannot be condoned under any circumstances.”

  • Beaten, stabbed and strangled

    Beaten, stabbed and strangled

    In an official press briefing held at the Edward Street Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Tuesday, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Commissioner Allister Guevarro released key updated findings from the autopsy of slain municipal police Corporal Anuska Eversley, confirming the cause of her death and outlining the ongoing investigation into the shocking station killing and arms heist.

    Guevarro confirmed that the full autopsy, completed earlier that day, determined Eversley died by strangulation, with additional evidence of both blunt force trauma from a beating and sharp force injuries from stabbing found on her body. The initial public speculation that Eversley had suffered a gunshot wound has been fully ruled out by forensic pathologists, he added, with no trace of bullet wounds found during the post-mortem examination.

    Eversley’s body was discovered at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station in the early hours of last Sunday, at approximately 4:40 a.m. Guevarro described the brutal killing and the subsequent theft of firearms and ammunition from the station as an unprecedented event that has sent shockwaves across the nation, and emphasized the TTPS views the arms theft as an issue of the highest concern.

    As of the press briefing, six men between the ages of 16 and 33 remain in police custody as persons of interest. Three other detainees—two women and one man—who were taken into custody shortly after the incident were released as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of events. Guevarro noted that further adjustments to the list of detainees are expected as the probe advances.

    When asked to confirm the total number of stolen weapons and ammunition, Guevarro declined to give an official final figure, as a full audit of the station’s armory is still ongoing. He told reporters he expects the audit to wrap up within 48 hours. Prior unofficial statements to local media outlet *Express* had put the number of stolen firearms at more than 60, with an estimated 4,000 rounds of ammunition taken. So far, Guevarro confirmed, 38 weapons have been recovered by investigators: one MPX submachine gun, one shotgun, one revolver, and 35 pistols. Investigators have also retrieved 929 rounds of ammunition, including 900 9mm rounds, 10 .38 caliber rounds, and 10 shotgun shells.

    Investigators are currently working to confirm how many people were involved in the incident. Guevarro stated that evidence so far points to three people being present at the station the night of the killing, including Eversley herself. Teams are reviewing closed-circuit camera footage to determine whether a fourth suspect was present at the scene. Interviews with Eversley’s colleagues at the municipal police station are also ongoing, as investigators probe for any potential accomplices and assess how the attack was able to be carried out inside the facility.

    In the wake of the killing and theft, the TTPS is rolling out sweeping systemic reforms across the country’s entire municipal police network. Guevarro explained that the new measures are designed to close critical security gaps that allowed the incident to occur, with immediate reforms focused on strengthening protocols for firearm storage and mandating strict compliance with existing department policies and standing orders.

    Guevarro reiterated a key point for public clarity: the incident is not being classified as a targeted attack against law enforcement. He stressed that this type of violent, fatal attack inside a police station coupled with a mass arms theft is completely unprecedented in Trinidad’s history.

  • Six detained, 22 stolen guns recovered in San Fernando Police Station attack

    Six detained, 22 stolen guns recovered in San Fernando Police Station attack

    A major joint law enforcement operation in Trinidad and Tobago has resulted in six people being taken into custody, with two serving municipal police officers among the detainees, in connection with two linked criminal cases: the fatal killing of local resident Anuska Eversley and a daring theft of firearms from a police compound in the city of San Fernando.

    Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) officials confirmed the breakdown of the suspects: two female civilians, two male civilians, and the two uniformed officers who are currently suspended pending investigation. The arrests were carried out in a series of coordinated overnight raids, developed through actionable intelligence and carried out by multiple specialized TTPS units. Participating teams included the San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department, the Special Branch national security unit, and the TTPS Special Investigations Unit, which handles high-profile and complex cases.

    In a major breakthrough for the investigation, law enforcement has recovered the vast majority of the stolen weapon cache. Recovered items include 10 M&P pistols, 10 Glock 19 pistols, one Browning pistol, one Smith & Wesson pistol, and 612 rounds of 9mm ammunition, all described by police as a substantial portion of the total stolen arsenal.

    TTPS Commissioner Allister Guevarro personally joined operational teams on the ground in the early hours of the operation, as the investigation reached a critical turning point. In an official statement released to the public, the TTPS noted that the probe remains active and is currently at a sensitive investigative stage. The service has given a public assurance that every available resource is being deployed to hold all responsible parties accountable for the linked crimes, and to see the investigation through to a successful conclusion.

  • Stolen guns could fuel surge in violent crime

    Stolen guns could fuel surge in violent crime

    A brazen attack on the San Fernando Municipal Police Station that left on-duty officer Woman Police Constable Anuska Eversley dead and an arsenal of 56 firearms and thousands of ammunition rounds missing has triggered urgent warnings from top security experts, who say the stolen weapons are likely already in the possession of criminal networks and could spark a major surge in violent street and organized crime across the country.

    The incident, which unfolded at a facility designed to be one of the most secure state-controlled sites in the region, has prompted searing criticism of existing national security protocols, particularly as the attack took place while the nation was already under a state of emergency that grants law enforcement expanded arrest and investigative powers.

    Security consultant Dr. Garvin Heerah, in an interview with local newspaper *Express* following the attack and death of Eversley, called the incident a deeply troubling indicator of how rapidly organized criminal groups have grown in boldness, capability, and ambition. Unlike past criminal activity that largely operated on the margins of state control, Heerah emphasized that this attack marks a dangerous new phase: criminal networks are now willing to directly target state security infrastructure, kill active law enforcement officers, and seize military-grade weaponry to expand their own operational power.

    “The killing of a police officer in this context is not merely an attack on an individual public servant, it is a direct assault on the sovereign authority of the state,” Heerah explained. He added that the breach represents one of the most sensitive and urgent national security threats the country has faced in recent years, while also exposing critical flaws in the multi-layered security systems that are supposed to protect law enforcement facilities across the nation.

    Police stations and municipal law enforcement bases are required to be secured through a combination of physical barriers, procedural checks, and technological monitoring, making a breach of this scale particularly alarming. Heerah noted that the attack points to systemic vulnerabilities that demand immediate, comprehensive assessment and remediation at every similar law enforcement installation across the country.

    Beyond the systemic failure, the loss of such a large cache of weapons creates an immediate public safety crisis. Heerah warned that the stolen firearms, now circulating among criminal elements, carry a drastically elevated risk of widespread violent crime, including gang-related reprisal attacks, escalating inter-gang conflict, and expanded large-scale organized criminal operations.

    To address the crisis, Heerah has called on Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro to launch a full-scale, multi-agency investigation and response. He stressed that coordinated collaboration between intelligence units, investigative divisions, forensic services, and specialized tactical teams will be critical to unraveling the attack. Heerah also noted that advanced technological tools, including surveillance analytics, digital forensics, communications tracking, and cross-agency data integration, will be essential to identifying the perpetrators, reconstructing the sequence of the attack, and recovering the stolen arsenal before it can be deployed in future criminal activity.

    Heerah framed the incident as a critical wake-up call for national security leaders, urging an immediate overhaul of security protocols at all state security installations across the island. “Immediate reviews of access control systems, armoury management procedures, personnel vetting, surveillance coverage, and rapid response mechanisms must be undertaken as urgent precautionary measures,” he said.

    Leading criminologist Dr. Renee Cummings echoed these concerns, going a step further to argue that the attack amounts to a damning indictment of the country’s protective services, especially given the ongoing state of emergency that grants police maximum legal authority to prevent such incidents.

    Cummings posed a sharp rhetorical question: “How does a failure of this magnitude occur during a period of maximum authority?” She explained that even with expanded police powers, basic security controls failed across every critical domain: armoury security, site surveillance, command oversight, and on-duty personnel protection.

    She emphasized that the attack took place inside a facility that was supposed to operate as a hardened, impenetrable fortress, designed to withstand criminal attempts at intrusion. “When the State cannot secure the controlled environment of its own installation or safeguard an on-duty officer within it, its capacity to deliver public safety at scale is not credible,” Cummings said. “If the State cannot guarantee the controlled safety of one officer within its own walls, on what basis can it claim to secure the safety of an entire nation?”

  • …Family’s anguish after cop murdered

    …Family’s anguish after cop murdered

    In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, a senseless act of violence at a southern Trinidad and Tobago police station left a decorated 15-year veteran officer dead and triggered a massive manhunt after more than 60 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were stolen from the facility’s secure strong room.

    Thirty-eight-year-old Anuska Eversley, an acting corporal with the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS), was found fatally shot in the neck by a colleague just after 4:40 a.m. at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, located on King’s Wharf along Lady Hailes Avenue. The fellow officer, returning to the station’s charge room after an absence, discovered the space dark, the strong room ajar, and blood seeping from Eversley’s dormitory quarters, where her half-clothed body lay on a mattress. She had last been seen alive just before 11 p.m. Saturday while on duty.

    The brutal killing has sent waves of grief and shock through the officer’s family, her colleagues, and the Trinidad and Tobago public. Grieving relatives gathered at the cordoned-off crime scene Sunday morning, weeping openly as one heartbroken relative cried out, “WHY Father, why?” in anguish over the loss.

    Within hours of the discovery, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro confirmed that a serving police officer had been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the attack, and all officers who were on shift with Eversley the night of the killing would be required to provide formal statements as part of the investigation. Addressing reporters at a press briefing at the Southern Division headquarters in San Fernando, Guevarra called the incident an immediate top priority for law enforcement, and spoke candidly about the heartbreak that would come from one of their own being involved.

    “I would be very disheartened that an officer, sworn to protect the rights of citizens and uphold the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, could do something so heinous to one of his officers,” he said.

    Initial official inventories of the stolen arsenal confirm attackers made off with 52 Glock pistols, six shotguns, four MPX-style rifles, and more than 4,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition. A multi-agency investigative response has been launched, involving homicide detectives from Homicide Region III, tactical teams from the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Multi-Option Police Section, the Southern Division Task Force, and air and coastal support units. Crime scene investigators have already begun processing the site, collecting forensic evidence and conducting fingerprint analysis, and the station remains on lockdown as the probe progresses.

    Commissioner Guevarro told reporters Sunday that investigators have not uncovered any evidence to suggest the attack was a coordinated targeted strike on law enforcement by an external criminal group, adding that no further details would be released while the investigation is active. When asked about the massive security breach that allowed the weapons to be stolen from the station’s secure storage, Guevarro said all gaps would be uncovered during the investigation and the incident would serve as a learning moment to improve future security protocols.

    Assistant Commissioner of Municipal Police Surrendra Sagramsingh clarified that approximately seven officers were scheduled for the overnight shift from Saturday to Sunday, though several were deployed to outlying substations, leaving roughly five officers on-site at the San Fernando main station. He confirmed that Eversley was not alone on the premises when she was killed, contradicting early unconfirmed reports that she had been working the overnight shift by herself.

    Addressing public anxiety over the stolen weapons cache and the brazen attack on a police facility, Guevarro moved quickly to reassure the public that the incident is an isolated one, and that there is no cause for undue panic. He emphasized that existing emergency powers granted under the current state of emergency are sufficient for law enforcement to respond effectively, and that there are no plans to implement new curfews or expand emergency measures at this time.

    “Let them know that of the resolve of the law enforcement, not just the TTPS or the municipal police,” Guevarro said, speaking directly to the perpetrators. “We will not sit idly by and allow this sweet country of Trinidad and Tobago to be overrun by any criminality behaviour. We have less than 500 serious criminals in this country holding 1.4 million persons to ransom; we will not allow that to happen, rest assured.”

    Guevarro extended official condolences to Eversley’s family, friends, and colleagues, noting that the 15-year veteran left her home Saturday night to serve the public, and ultimately made the ultimate sacrifice for her community. “She lost her life while on duty. She had parents and she had children. I urge us all to take cognisance of the fact that police officers make the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

    As of Sunday evening, investigations remain ongoing, with law enforcement working to recover all stolen firearms and bring all those responsible for Eversley’s killing to justice.

  • Alexander: Full confidence  in TTPS to probe WPC killing

    Alexander: Full confidence in TTPS to probe WPC killing

    A shocking brazen attack inside a Trinidad and Tobago police station has left one veteran officer dead and triggered a major national security manhunt after dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were stolen from the facility’s secured armory. The incident unfolded Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station on Lady Hailes Avenue, where a colleague discovered the body of 42-year-old Corporal Anuska Eversley, a mother of three, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. An initial inventory by law enforcement confirmed that 62 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition were missing from the station’s stored cache, prompting the highest level of response from the country’s national security agencies.

    Hours after the grim discovery, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander addressed reporters at the Southern Division Headquarters in San Fernando, where he publicly reaffirmed his unwavering confidence in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to lead a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. When pressed on whether the government had discussed implementing a nationwide curfew to curb escalating violence following the attack, Alexander confirmed no such proposal had been put forward for consideration, noting that Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago had already received a preliminary briefing on the incident and would receive updates as the investigation progresses.

    Alexander pushed back against growing public criticism that the current administration is failing to get a handle on rising violent crime, arguing that years of unaddressed criminal activity cannot be reversed overnight. “Criminality is something that grows from strength to strength. So we must now intercept it, treat with it, dismantle it, and then you will see the benefits of it. It is not a ‘now process’—it is an ongoing process,” he told reporters. When asked about a social media post from Wendell Eversley, a relative of the slain officer, calling for his dismissal, Alexander said he had not yet seen the post and would not comment until he could review the content directly.

    In a separate statement released to media Sunday, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge announced the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) had immediately moved to an elevated operational posture to support the TTPS and Municipal Police Service in the ongoing investigation and manhunt. Sturge urged the public to remain calm and avoid unsubstantiated rumors, noting that intelligence assets have been deployed across the country and continuous monitoring is underway to respond to any emerging threats. “All necessary resources are being applied to secure the environment and advance the investigation,” Sturge said, adding that the defence ministry is coordinating closely with police leadership and the broader national security network to deliver a unified, disciplined response.

    Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen echoed calls for patience, urging members of the public and media to refrain from speculation that could undermine the ongoing investigation. In an official statement, Ameen said she is awaiting a full briefing from the Assistant Commissioner responsible for Municipal Police before offering further comment, and extended deep condolences to Eversley’s family, loved ones, and fellow officers. The Ministry of Local Government confirmed the tragedy in an official release, noting that Eversley was killed while on active duty, and that investigators are working systematically to map out the full sequence of events. “This tragic incident serves as a solemn reminder of the risks undertaken daily by members of the Municipal Police Service in their commitment to public safety and national service,” the release read. The ministry pledged to release additional details to the public as soon as they are cleared by investigators.

    The high-profile attack has reignited long-simmering public debate over government efforts to combat organized crime and improve security at law enforcement facilities across the twin-island nation, with investigators now working against the clock to recover the stolen cache of weapons before they can be trafficked into illegal street networks.

  • Slain WPC was dedicated mother, efficient worker

    Slain WPC was dedicated mother, efficient worker

    A 10-year veteran of Trinidad and Tobago’s municipal police force and a devoted mother of three has been lost to a fatal on-duty shooting that has shaken the southern city of San Fernando and sparked urgent calls for political accountability over rising violent crime.

    Forty-two-year-old Anuska Eversley, an acting corporal based at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, died early Sunday after being shot in the neck while on duty. A resident of Edinburgh 500, she leaves behind three children aged 18, 15 and 7. The shooting was also followed by the theft of multiple firearms and rounds of ammunition from the station’s secure strong room.

    Eversley’s death carries an extra layer of tragedy: it came exactly three years after her brother was gunned down in a separate violent attack. On the same date in 2021, Daniel Eversley, known by the nickname “Ghost”, was killed in a shooting at a car wash in Forres Park, Claxton Bay.

    San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris, who has known Eversley professionally for years, shared intimate memories that painted a portrait of a woman fully committed to both her career and her family. Two years ago, Parris said, Eversley reached out to him to calm her daughter’s pre-exam anxiety ahead of the national Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA). That small interaction forged a parental bond between them.

    “After that incident, whenever we met, we talked as parents, about our children,” Parris recalled in an interview with the Express. “That’s how I knew she was such a dedicated mother.”

    Across his 16 years working with the San Fernando City Corporation, Parris added, Eversley earned a reputation as an exceptionally efficient, reliable member of the municipal police force. In an official statement of condolence released Monday, Parris framed her death as an incalculable loss for the entire community.

    “This is a devastating loss for our city. I have known acting Corporal Eversley for many years, and I remember her as a dedicated and committed officer who served with quiet strength, professionalism, and pride. Her passing has left a profound void within the Municipal Police and the wider San Fernando community,” the statement read.

    Parris has called on Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander and Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro to launch a prompt, full investigation into what he described as a “tragic and disturbing event.” Senior law enforcement colleagues echoed Parris’ praise, with one senior officer noting Eversley consistently performed her duties to the best of her ability and was widely respected across the force.

    Wendell Eversley, the victim’s uncle and a prominent local activist who survived being held hostage during the 1990 coup attempt in Port of Spain, has publicly called for the immediate dismissal of both the Minister of Homeland Security and the Minister of Defence over the killing. He called the attack on a police station “an indictment on the State,” noting it is the most severe incident targeting a police facility in the country since the 1990 coup bombing of the Port of Spain Police Headquarters.

    Pointing to the stolen cache of guns and ammunition removed from the station’s strong room after the attack, Wendell Eversley raised alarming questions about national security. “Are we going to see another 1990? Look around and see. Are we all safe in this country?” he asked. He also questioned the government’s repeated promises to curb violent crime, noting that criminals appear to be gaining ground amid the current wave of violence.

    With the ruling United National Congress approaching its first anniversary in power, Wendell Eversley questioned what the party could possibly celebrate after a sustained period of rising murder rates. “Inviting the public to come out. To come out and celebrate what? Celebrate blood flowing on the streets? Celebrating murders upon murders?” he said. In a social media video posted Monday, he added that the nation could no longer accept a daily reality of bloodshed. “It is time for the minister of Homeland Security and the minister of Defence to be fired. It is a sad day for Trinidad and Tobago, and mainly the State,” he said.

    The Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS) also released an official statement confirming Eversley first enlisted in the municipal police force on July 1, 2008, and had been assigned to the San Fernando unit in her most recent posting.

    “The TTMPS and its partner agencies extend sincere condolences to her relatives, friends and colleagues,” the release said.

  • Emergency at Sea

    Emergency at Sea

    A life-threatening medical emergency at sea ended with a successful rescue last Thursday, after a team of off-duty medical providers and Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force members stepped in to save an elderly female passenger on the fast ferry MV Buccoo Reef. The incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m., roughly one hour into the vessel’s scheduled voyage from Port of Spain to Scarborough, when the woman suddenly began experiencing severe chest pain before losing consciousness. What followed was a coordinated, race-against-time effort that has since sparked calls for mandatory first aid training for all ferry crew members.

    When the emergency was first announced over the ferry’s public address system, no crew members immediately stepped forward to assist. Akiela Chance, a Defence Force officer traveling on the ferry, was the first to respond to the passenger’s side. As she recounted to the *Express* on Saturday, “I was the female soldier present, and I was the first person to step in and assist the elderly lady while others stood by. I approached her and asked what the issue was and whether she had any known medical conditions. I was told she was experiencing chest pain.”

    Chance worked with another passenger to carefully move the seated woman to the floor, adjusted her clothing to ease her breathing while preserving her privacy, and immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). She then instructed other bystanders to repeat the call for any medical professionals on board. A medical kit was retrieved, and 15 minutes later, Dr. Emillie Alpheus, an accident and emergency registrar at Scarborough General Hospital, arrived at the scene. Coast Guard Petty Officer Noko Baird soon joined to assist with continuing compressions before Alpheus took over lead resuscitation efforts.

    Upon reaching the patient, Alpheus found the woman already unresponsive with no detectable pulse, and immediately requested an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) — a piece of life-saving equipment she was surprised to find the ferry actually carried. As Alpheus waited for the device and began chest compressions alone, a second physician, an American vacationing on the ferry who was certified in Basic Life Support, offered to take turns performing compressions, which are physically draining to administer continuously.

    The team split roles: the visiting physician led chest compressions while Alpheus managed the patient’s airway, following the standard 30 compressions to two rescue breaths protocol. When the AED arrived, they delivered a defibrillation shock to the patient’s heart, then immediately resumed CPR. Mid-cycle, Alpheus detected the patient pushing against the airway device, and after completing the compression cycle, confirmed the woman had achieved Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) — meaning her heart had restarted. The elderly woman soon regained consciousness.

    Following the successful revival, the captain turned the ferry back to Port of Spain, with Coast Guard vessels escorting the vessel to port. Ambulance crews were already on standby at the terminal, and immediately transferred the patient to a nearby hospital for ongoing care. As of the latest update, the woman remains hospitalized but is recovering steadily.

    Alpheus, who shared that this was the second life-saving CPR effort she has led in two years, expressed gratitude for the positive outcome in an interview with the *Express*. “I just glad it was a good outcome. I am thankful for all who was around that was able to help and lend a holding hand — the other physician who was on vacation, the patient care assistant and the other members of staff from the Buccoo Reef. I am grateful that we were able to help this family. I got word from her relatives that she is doing well and from the doctors over there that she is doing better. So thankful for that and praises to God,” she said.

    In an official statement issued the day of the incident, the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) confirmed the medical emergency, activated emergency protocols, and confirmed that ambulance crews met the vessel on its return to port. The authority declined to comment on the patient’s specific medical condition per privacy guidelines.

    A video of the rescue circulating on social media originally misstated the details of the incident, but the woman who recorded the video corrected the account in a public comment, clarifying that the woman suffered a potential cardiac event rather than a simple fainting spell, and that two off-duty doctors led the rescue rather than crew. She also noted that untrained crew members appeared disoriented during the emergency, writing, “They need to train boat crew in first aid. Everyone was moving like headless chicken. But God is good.”

    Chance echoed that call for reform, telling the *Express* that all ferry crew members should receive formal, up-to-date first aid and emergency response training to be prepared for similar incidents at sea. Members of the public have also shared widespread wishes for the patient’s full recovery following the viral spread of the rescue video.