标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A pre-dawn shooting in Penal has left three young men dead, including the 17-year-old son of deceased Port of Spain businessman Cedric “Burkie” Burke. The victims—Jordan Cudjoe Burke, Ishmael Matthews (22), and Roberto Samuel Carlos (21)—were discovered in a blood-soaked bedroom of a ground-floor apartment on the Burke family property around 2:56 a.m. Tuesday.

According to police reports, the scene revealed a brutal execution-style killing with ten spent nine-millimeter shells and twelve live rounds recovered near the bodies. Burke was found leaning against a bed base, Matthews lay on his back on the floor, and Carlos was positioned beneath the bed.

The tragedy has left families grappling for answers. A relative of Burke, who requested anonymity, recounted receiving a frantic call from Burke’s girlfriend screaming “Come fast, they shooting up the place.” She dismissed speculation that Burke was targeted because of his father’s notorious reputation, noting that other children from the family live normal lives without incident.

Burke, a Form Five student at St. Benedict’s College preparing for CSEC examinations, had recently faced legal troubles involving counterfeit money charges. His mother has been incarcerated since November on firearm possession allegations, leaving the teenager to reside with his grandmother.

At Matthews’ home, aunt Marinda Yearwood described the three victims as “the three Musketeers—always together.” She revealed Matthews was an academically gifted student who had earned nine subjects with distinction at Shiva Boys’ College but struggled to find steady employment despite numerous applications.

Yearwood expressed frustration about rampant youth unemployment and lack of opportunities, stating “The Government is not giving enough opportunities for youths coming off the block.” She acknowledged hearing rumors about the victims “doing mischief by some people” but emphasized that nothing warranted execution.

Homicide Bureau detectives from Region Three are actively investigating and have appealed for information through emergency hotlines and Crime Stoppers. The case highlights ongoing concerns about youth violence and socioeconomic challenges in Trinidadian communities.

A concerned relative of two missing teenage sisters from Princes Town is urging the government to implement stringent restrictions on minors’ access to social media platforms, citing grave dangers posed by unsupervised online activity. The appeal follows the disappearance of Celina Balliram, 15, and her sister Alena Baksh, 12, from their grandmother’s home in St. Croix last Friday.

The girls were last observed around 8:45 a.m. departing to purchase doubles from a local vendor. After their failure to return nearly two hours later, family members alerted authorities. Police descriptions detail Celina as 4’5″ with brown complexion, medium build, long black hair, brown eyes, and last seen in a blue short dress with black netting. Alena is described as 5′ tall with light brown complexion, slim build, long black hair, grey eyes, and was wearing a white crop top with a black short skirt.

In an anonymous telephone interview, the relative expressed conviction that the sisters were deliberately targeted by older males through their active Instagram profiles. ‘The Government should impose a complete ban on social media for children,’ she asserted. ‘They are exposed to predatory individuals who conceal their identities behind false profiles. These platforms enable adults to systematically target vulnerable youth.’

The relative revealed this marks the third disappearance incident for Celina, each spanning approximately two months, though notably the first for Alena. Despite attempted communication via WhatsApp, the sisters reportedly responded with hostility before blocking family contacts. Their father’s recent imprisonment for robbery and their mother’s inability to provide care have compounded familial challenges, leaving the grandmother to manage the household while simultaneously caring for her bedridden daughter and the sisters’ younger siblings, aged five and eight.

Neither sister has attended school since Carnival period. Celina was enrolled in Form Two at Princes Town West Secondary School, while Alena attended Standard Four at St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School. The relative emphasized the grandmother’s overwhelmed circumstances and appealed directly for the sisters’ safe return.

A contentious incident involving Housing Ministry Minister Phillip Alexander has ignited nationwide discourse on disability rights and legal accountability after he was photographed occupying a reserved parking space for persons with disabilities at a Maraval SuperPharm on March 15. The images, disseminated on social media by former minister Randall Mitchell, prompted immediate public criticism and official responses from advocacy groups.

Minister Alexander defended his actions by citing parking shortages caused by a nearby food court and claiming authorization from a security guard—an individual allegedly cropped from the circulated photograph. This justification was met with skepticism from disability advocates and law enforcement representatives.

Kahaya Tuckerin, principal of the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), emphasized in a Wednesday interview that reserved parking spaces must be respected regardless of circumstances. “There should always be empathy whether the security guard gave the green light to park there or not,” she stated, highlighting that disabilities may be either visible or invisible and that proper permits displayed on dashboards are required for legal access. Tuckerin reinforced the organization’s advocacy message: “We always appeal to people to ‘see the ability, not the disability.’”

The Estate Police Association (EPA) issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday expressing “serious concern” over the incident without directly naming Alexander. The association condemned the suggestion that security personnel could legally authorize parking in designated disabled spaces, calling such notions “troubling” and emphasizing that these spaces represent legal protections rather than privileges.

EPA President Deryck Richardson underscored that no public official holds authority to circumvent national laws for personal convenience. The association highlighted the precarious position of security officers who may face pressure from powerful individuals to facilitate unlawful actions, warning that officers complying with such requests risk disciplinary consequences while those issuing directives often evade accountability.

The association reminded all security personnel that their uniforms “represent the rule of law, not the will of any individual” and urged adherence to legal duties and professional standards. Public office holders were reminded that leadership requires exemplary conduct and that Trinidad and Tobago’s laws apply equally to all citizens.

Current regulations stipulate a $2,000 fine for illegal use of disabled parking spaces, though the demerit points system previously associated with this violation has been abolished by the current administration.

The Cedros cricket community gathered in solemn tribute yesterday to honor Rashme Deoajit, a prominent local cricketer whose life was tragically cut short by violence. Mourners wearing cricket uniforms raised their bats in a final salute during the emotional funeral service for the 28-year-old, who was cremated in her cricket attire at Mosquito Creek’s Shore of Peace.

Deoajit, affectionately known as “Pumpkin” among her loved ones, was discovered murdered at her Granville residence on Tuesday. Contrary to initial speculation about stab wounds, autopsy results confirmed her cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head combined with strangulation. Investigators believe the fatal attack occurred mere hours before her body was found by a family member.

Eulogist Carina Ramkissoon painted a vivid portrait of Deoajit as a multidimensional personality who embodied passion both on and off the cricket field. Beyond her athletic prowess, Deoajit served as the emotional anchor for her family, renowned for her nurturing nature and exceptional skill in preparing medicinal bush and fish teas for ailing community members. Her talents extended to culinary arts, fishing, card games, and spirited singing and dancing that often dominated gatherings.

Remarkably, Deoajit demonstrated practical versatility as well, capable of handling home repairs including roof maintenance, plumbing, and landscaping. Her distinctive humor manifested in characteristically warm greetings where she would approach loved ones to place flowers behind their ears.

Geraldine George, physical education teacher at Cedros Secondary School, highlighted Deoajit’s instrumental role in securing championship titles for the school’s girls’ cricket team between 2014 and 2016. “She was not only like a team member, she was like a sister to us and a daughter,” George stated while surrounded by grieving teammates.

The ceremony included sobering reflections on community safety from notable attendees including former MP and government minister Glenn Ramadharsingh, who emphasized the importance of recognizing warning signs in interpersonal relationships. He urged vigilance regarding behavioral red flags such as unexplained rage, jealousy, extreme sadness, or signs of mental health challenges among those with access to personal spaces.

Police reports indicate Deoajit had been socializing with a suspect at her home prior to her death, with witnesses noting subsequent arguing between the two. The tragic discovery occurred when her brother, receiving no response to repeated calls, entered through a window to find her lifeless in a bloodied bedroom.

As the community grapples with this devastating loss, Ramkissoon’s words resonated with mourners: “Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help to comfort you tomorrow.”

Across Trinidad, from the capital Port of Spain to communities in Central, South, and East regions, a silent infrastructure crisis is endangering citizens’ daily lives. Pedestrians navigate a hazardous landscape of broken pavements, gaping manholes, and non-existent walkways, creating what residents describe as an ongoing public safety emergency.

The human toll is both visible and painful. Farida Khan, 62, recounted her terrifying plunge into an uncovered manhole near her Enterprise home. “I just fell right in,” she said, describing how she stood crying for help in contaminated water filled with garbage. Her diabetic condition made the injuries particularly concerning. Adding to the danger, non-functional street lights have left the area in perpetual darkness despite repeated reports to authorities.

This pattern repeats nationwide. Months after Khan’s accident, her 67-year-old brother suffered severe injuries from a fall on the same degraded pavement, requiring multiple stitches for deep cuts to his head and legs. Richard Gokool, a vendor from Longdenville, narrowly avoided catastrophe when his bicycle pitched into an open manhole on Old Southern Main Road. “What if I had pitched in front of a vehicle?” he questioned, highlighting the absence of compensation mechanisms for infrastructure-related injuries.

The crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Elderly residents, children, and persons with disabilities face heightened risks when accessing essential services. Kerwyn Holder, who gained new perspective after a biking accident left him on crutches, emphasized that “pavements are life for the ordinary people” and directly impact living standards.

Business owners like Chantelle Edward from Montrose acknowledge their role in pavement damage but stress that solutions remain elusive despite years of complaints. “They are unsightly and dangerous,” she stated, describing how some communities have begged for basic pavements for decades.

In urban centers, the situation similarly deteriorates. Bank employees abandon high heels to avoid tripping on broken surfaces, while fast food workers describe walking in Port of Spain as “a miserable experience.” Beyond physical safety concerns, dark spaces created by faulty lighting increase opportunities for criminal activity.

From Las Lomas to Cunupia, residents emphasize this transcends political blame games. Security officer Sherry Francis leaves for work at 3:30 a.m. in dangerous darkness, while her young children cannot walk to school safely due to missing infrastructure. As one resident summarized, functional pavements represent more than concrete—they “connect us to civilization” through safe access to transportation, education, and essential services.