标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has hailed its recent Operation Trident as a resounding success, following a series of coordinated anti-crime efforts in the Southern Division over the weekend. The operation, which spanned Saturday and Sunday, led to multiple arrests, the seizure of illegal drugs, and the recovery of a firearm.

In a harrowing incident that has shaken the community of Penal, Trinidad and Tobago, a married couple, Babita Vialva, 40, and Raffeak Vialva, 51, were fatally shot during a violent home invasion in the early hours of November 17. The tragedy unfolded at their residence on Penal Rock Road, where they were accompanied by their 19-year-old daughter at the time of the attack.

According to an eyewitness, who was preparing for work at the time, an unidentified man arrived at the couple’s home around 3 am in a vehicle. The assailant forcefully entered the premises by breaking down the front door. The witness recounted hearing three distinct gunshots, prompting them to retreat upstairs for safety.

Upon investigation, relatives discovered Babita deceased in the bedroom, while Raffeak was found critically injured in the corridor. Despite efforts to save him, Raffeak succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital. The couple’s daughter, fortunately, remained unharmed and was comforted by friends and family outside the home.

Authorities are currently exploring the possibility that the attack was a botched robbery. However, family members, who chose to remain anonymous, suggested that the intruder may have left empty-handed, as there was no evidence of the home being ransacked. The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of the Vialva couple.

In a remarkable display of solidarity and compassion, approximately 150 volunteers from SEWA TT, a non-governmental organization, dedicated their Sunday to packing essential relief items for hurricane-stricken Jamaica. The event took place at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas, where volunteers meticulously filled plastic buckets with food staples, hygiene products, and other necessities. These buckets, designed to be sealable, pest-proof, and reusable, are set to be shipped to Jamaica later this week, aiming to reach those in dire need by early December.

The Bocas Lit Fest, in collaboration with Let’s Read, is set to host its popular Family Reading Circle at the St Joseph Old Road Community Centre in Port of Spain on November 22. The event, scheduled from 10 am to 12 pm, aims to cultivate a love for reading among children aged seven and under through interactive read-aloud sessions and community engagement.

Featured author Mary Cuffy, known for her Ladybug series, will lead the session by reading from her works, including ‘Lola and the Dancing Ladybugs,’ ‘Lola and the Magic Sticks,’ and ‘Lola and the Fascinating Cocoa Bean.’ Cuffy, a storyteller and lecturer at the UWI Open Campus, specializes in early childhood literacy and music, bringing her expertise to this initiative.

The Family Reading Circle is part of Bocas Lit Fest’s ongoing efforts to promote literacy and creativity among young readers. Over the past two and a half years, the organization has partnered with Let’s Read TT to host numerous such events at The Writers Centre. These sessions provide a platform for parents and caregivers to encourage reading in a communal setting, fostering empathy, imagination, and lifelong reading habits.

Community outreach remains a cornerstone of Bocas Lit Fest’s children’s programming, as demonstrated by initiatives like the nationwide Children’s Storytelling Caravan. Earlier this year, a pilot session was held at the St Helena Community Library, further expanding the program’s reach.

The upcoming event at the St Joseph Old Road Community Centre will feature Let’s Read’s extensive children’s book library, allowing families to explore literature together. By creating a supportive environment for shared reading, the program aims to enhance literacy, social cognition, and behavioral development.

For more information about future Family Reading Circles, contact melvina@bocaslitfest.com.

After nearly 11 months of uncertainty, Candacy Phillip and her family are finally seeing a glimmer of closure as efforts to retrieve the remains of her husband, Pete Phillip, have commenced. Pete, an employee of Well Services Petroleum Co Ltd, went missing after the Heritage East Soldado Field rig partially collapsed on December 22, 2022. Presumed dead by the company four days later, his body has remained unrecovered due to the unstable structure of the rig. Candacy, who gave birth to their son Javon months after the tragedy, expressed that even if only his clothing is found, it would provide the family with the closure they desperately need. ‘I’m hoping they find at least the clothes he wore during his last hours,’ she said tearfully. The recovery operation, led by a US-based marine salvage contractor, is now underway, focusing first on stabilizing the rig to ensure safety and environmental protection. Pete’s sister, Paula Baxam, remains hopeful that enough of his remains will be found to hold a proper funeral. The family has endured months of delays, including bureaucratic hurdles and safety concerns, but now awaits the outcome of this critical operation. Meanwhile, the Phillip family’s plight echoes that of others, such as Coast Guard Able Seaman Kieron Simon, whose body remains lost at sea after a counter-narcotics operation in February.