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  • 1 year ago
The Prime Minister announced a million-dollar compensation for the families of the victims of the Paria diving tragedy

161 candidates filed nomination papers to contest the 2025 general election

and an inmate was killed in the Maximum Security Prison
Transcript
00:00Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six. I am Renessa Cutting as what
00:22made the news this past week. The Prime Minister announced a million dollar compensation for
00:28the families of the victims of the Paria diving tragedy. 161 candidates filed nomination
00:36papers to contest the 2025 general election and an inmate was killed in the maximum security
00:44prison. As per usual if it was happening it was on six. Let's get right into it. One million
00:52dollars each. This is to be paid to the families of Faisal Khoban, Rishi Nagasa, Qazim Ali jr.
00:59and Yusuf Henry who died in the Paria tragedy back in 2022. Lone survivor Christopher Budram
01:07will also receive a payment of 1 million dollars. In announcing the decision last week however Prime
01:13Minister Stuart Young distanced the move from the general election due on April 28th. So the
01:20cabinet has confirmed today that we the government will make those payments of a million dollars to
01:27each of the families of the divers who lost their lives as well as to Mr. Budram in an
01:34exgratia manner with no admission as to liability. The announcement by Prime Minister Stuart Young
01:39during the post cabinet media conference some three years after the incident in February of
01:452022 at a state-owned the Paria fuel trading limited facility that led to the deaths of four
01:51LMCS divers. One survived. We literally just came out of cabinet a few seconds so this is the first
01:59time that everybody would be hearing about it. Senior counsel and former to the general Anand Ram
02:03Logan issued a statement saying quote we welcome the belated announcement by Prime Minister Stuart
02:08Young that the government will pay the sum of 1 million dollars to our clients Mr. Christopher
02:14Budram who is the sole survivor in the Paria pipeline tragedy and the family of the late Mr.
02:20Nagasa who are represented by Freedom Law Chambers. It is unfortunate that it took a general election
02:26for the government to tap into its conscience and demonstrate some modicum of human compassion in
02:32the face of a case that has been crying out for justice for the last three years end quote. The
02:39Prime Minister earlier faced questions from the media about the timing of his announcement.
02:44Everybody's entitled to their own view it is not for the election but even me saying that that will
02:51bring no solace and change nobody's mind on it. The point is this is done do I expect this to
02:56become political the answer is yes of course I do but I know at the end of the day and I'm
03:02satisfied that the government would have done what it can albeit in my view maybe a bit late
03:09but not due to the circumstances not for want of us trying. The Prime Minister said the decision
03:14was made with the full support of cabinet. There is no compensation there is no financial
03:19compensation that can compensate for the loss of life in those circumstances you would recall we
03:26had a commission of inquiry there was full participation by the government we made sure
03:31that all of the facts were put there there was a report. Senior Counsel Ram Logan said that quote
03:36after spending fifty million dollars in legal fees on a commission of inquiry it is a crying
03:41shame that three years later the government has finally been moved by purely selfish political
03:46motives to offer these families 1 million dollars it is but too little too late end quote. There is
03:54not yet a definitive determination of who and which company was at fault so in law you call
04:02that joint tort fees there's more than one who may be at fault so I've been arguing with the
04:09lawyers myself personally saying well in a situation lad let us go ahead and settle the
04:16matter with the families because they're the ones who this continues to be painful for and
04:20afterwards the companies can fight. Senior Counsel Ram Logan said in a statement that quote if the
04:26government is serious about compensation we demand that Prime Minister Young settle these claims by
04:32immediately paying each family an ex gratia sum of five million dollars nothing less will suffice
04:38end quote. June Brown TV6 News. Prakash Ramada the attorney at law representing some of the
04:45families described the payment being offered by government as too little too late. It is a call
04:52that had been made several years ago but today the Prime Minister has announced but I say 1
05:00million after this time too little too late of course we take instructions from our clients and
05:07then we will see where we are. It is also very troubling that the figure that has come that
05:14they've come up with of 1 million dollars comes in the light of the Attorney General attempting
05:20to sue the leader of the opposition for 4 million dollars supposedly on the basis of a defamatory
05:29statement. He also questioned the timing of the decision. There is no equality there is no
05:35fairness and suddenly in the light of an election you come with this come now Trinidad and Tobago
05:42elections have consequences this is one of them we are not to be easily fooled but at the same
05:49time we are happy that this government in its last few days is seeing the light. We had a quick
05:56break we'll have more news when we return. Welcome back a viral TikTok recording appearing to feature
06:09the TPP leader and the opposition leader having interesting discussions sparked artificial
06:16intelligence claims last week. In the video the two voices are heard discussing a potential
06:21collaboration ahead of the upcoming general election. A clip from the viral social media
06:37video allegedly featuring Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and opposition leader Kamala
06:42Poussa Bissassa PNM Tobago Council political leader Ansel Dennis has described the incident
06:47as I told you so.
07:17They are actually the UNC in Tobago identifying as TPP so I have been saying this all along this is nothing new and it just further demonstrates to us that sadly we cannot trust anything this chief secretary says to us.
07:41Meanwhile minority leader Kelvin Morris told the TV6 news that the contents of the recording are both troubling and concerning.
07:50This is again as I said very very concerning very troubling that just recently we were being told
07:58categorically there's absolutely no collaboration no conversation with the UNC and here it is
08:06there's some purported audio recording that is basically exposing something that is quite
08:16different from what we were being told. Mr Morris said that the leaked voice note which is alleged
08:22to feature TPP leader Farley Augustine and opposition leader Kamala Poussa Bissassa did
08:27not surprise him. I am not I'm very surprised because we've been having credible information
08:36that the TPP is in fact the UNC representative in Tobago. Efforts to contact the TPP leader Farley
08:45Augustine for comment on the matter were unsuccessful. Just a week ago in an interview
08:50with TV6 news chief secretary and the TPP leader Farley Augustine denied any discussions with the
08:57UNC stating that the TPP stands alone will win alone and lose alone. Elizabeth Williams TV6 news.
09:06While in response opposition leader Kamala Poussa Bissassa denied having had any such discussion
09:12and accused the PNM of using deceptive tactics. She said the PNM had simply resorted to their
09:19usual tactics by accusing the UNC of the very dark methods they are guilty of using themselves.
09:26Opposition leader Kamala Poussa Bissassa is refuting allegations being leveled against
09:31her party the UNC by Prime Minister Stuart Young on Saturday. In a statement to TV6 news
09:37Poussa Bissassa called the video being referenced fake and accused the PNM not the UNC of using
09:43artificial intelligence to manufacture lies, distort the truth and spread propaganda in a
09:49desperate bid to retain power. Poussa Bissassa in a statement says quote let me be clear that
09:55clip is fake and speaks to the PNM campaign in Tobago quote they are trying to tie Farley to
10:00the UNC so they can use the racist Calcutta ship strategy that they have used for years end quote.
10:07She then urged the public not to forget that it is the PNM that has a well-documented history of
10:12putting social media influencers on government payroll and who have always relied on handouts
10:18and bribes to manipulate the population and now is pushing fake AI generated content. Drawing a
10:25parallel to the email gate scandal Poussa Bissassa said the PNM continues to rely on lies and deceit
10:31accusing them of using the same playbook of racism fear and hate every election cycle.
10:37Poussa Bissassa reminded citizens Prime Minister Young was not chosen by the people but was imposed
10:43on the nation. According to Poussa Bissassa Young is holding on to power through lies AI
10:49generated smears and a divisive campaign designed to distract the population. Cindy Raghubar Tika
10:56Singh TV6 News. And in other news a total of 161 candidates will be contesting the general election
11:05and it's a three-way race for Kuva North. Two of the third party forces contesting the election
11:12dismissed opposition claims that smaller parties are being funded by the PNM with the sole purpose
11:18of splitting votes in the general election. I hope nobody splits our votes that's what I'm
11:24concerned about but it's not a voter splitting party your vote does not belong to anybody
11:29every person owns their own vote and if there is an assumption because of maybe my race maybe my
11:39surname that there is a particular vote that is going to be split and I disagree with that fully
11:44in fact more people do not vote in this country that vote than vote and if it is the people
11:52want change and real change for this country for their constituency there is only one option and
12:01that is the patriotic front and the heart there's no splitting vote in that. Miss Pandey also
12:07explained to members of the media why she decided to file nomination papers to contest the Kuva
12:13North seat that her father Basio Pandey held from 1976 to 2010. It's very emotional
12:23but it's not just about honouring a legacy it's ushering a new era
12:31into politics and for the people and for the people of Kuva North to ensure proper representation
12:40I know it's what he would have wanted they've been neglected for a very very long time
12:45the country's been neglected for a very long time. Meantime five political parties are in the running
12:50for the Tunapuna seat one of the key marginal constituencies in the 2025 general election
12:57however incumbent MP Esmond Ford put the other candidates on notice that Tunapuna is faithful to
13:04the PNM. It's a five-way battle for Tunapuna this general election with some familiar faces
13:11and some political newbies in the mix however incumbent MP Esmond Ford says he's certain
13:17that Tunapuna is faithful to the PNM. So from Takarigwa to Maracas, from Akono to El Dorado,
13:24from Kora to Orsanville, call the street find out from the other individuals if it's a Kolo street
13:30where's Starchase, where's Starch Lane, where's El Choro, where's Akono, where's Green Hill, where's Shaker Lane
13:38the zone you may probably know the zone but I say no more as I said the campaign is about us
13:46and not them. We are confident of a PNM victory in Tunapuna
13:50Yes we are! Yes we are!
13:56Do I still need to answer? Again this is only a portion of the crowd right but again Tunapuna
14:03has always been faithful to the PNM and PNM has always been faithful to Tunapuna. Ford was
14:08speaking after filing his nomination papers at the upper El Dorado community center. Tunapuna
14:15is covered at presently where we have the various sirens, where we have the various monitors, where
14:20it's on screen in order to pick up for crime. Again if the candidate that you all are speaking
14:25about who's supposed to be popular, I think he was a policeman for many years. What has he done? What
14:30is he going to bring to the table now? We have been working in Tunapuna. Crime has been done. We
14:35have been having series of community meetings right here at this community center at Hillview
14:40College. We have had meeting in churches in order to bring to the people what we are going to do
14:45about crime. Moments earlier the UNC's Raj Alexander completed the nomination process
14:51and had emerged with promises of safety and security for all. I left a place where I was
14:59comfortable watching but not satisfied.
15:07And I know that I can and I will make a difference, make a change to ensure safety
15:14and security returns to this good nation. So Mr Alexander, is it that if the UNC wins you have
15:20been given the assurance of the national security minister post? Well my leader has spoken to me
15:27and she told me, you know back in the day when I was a police assistant and she told me something?
15:32Well she told me something. What I would like to tell you is this. We'll work together as a team
15:38to ensure the safety and security of this nation. Also filing nomination papers today was Tunapuna
15:45native the NTA's Savita Pair who's also pledging to make safety top of the agenda if elected.
15:52Well in terms of safety and security you will totally understand my political leader background
15:57right? Being one of the best COP that have passed through Trinidad and Tobago. So you know we are
16:03well equipped to be able to deal with safety and as well to be able to deal with safety in Tunapuna.
16:09Meantime the Trinidad Humanity Campaign is urging the population to give the smaller parties a
16:15fighting chance. So we have about half the electorate that does not vote and for whatever
16:21reason. So we're here to ask you to come out, exercise your civic duty, cast your vote for
16:27whoever your choice is but please listen to all your candidates, look at all the parties.
16:32Makayla Pandey's Patriotic Front is also vying for the Tunapuna seat bringing the total number
16:37of parties contesting the Tunapuna seat to five. We consistently vote parties out in Trinidad and
16:44Tobago. If you desire real change from real people vote for the heart, vote for change not exchange.
16:51Vote for the Patriotic Front. And in Tobago there was a clash between a TPP supporter and a PNM
16:58supporter even as PDP candidates clashed with the police as the filing of nomination papers
17:04took place in Tobago on Friday. A clash between a TPP supporter and a PNM supporter in Tobago
17:12while PDP candidates clashed with the police. No arrests were made but police officers had their
17:19hands filled as candidates filed their nomination papers in Tobago. All stated the actual process was
17:27smooth and they expressed confidence in their chances. It was very very smooth. We had done the
17:35process that they had a couple weeks ago the day that we came in and went through with the arrow
17:43so when we came today it was just simply about presenting the check so we had a very very very
17:48smooth process. How do you feel about your chances? I feel very confident. I feel very confident. We
17:54have been walking, interacting with the people, the feedback has been really good. Well the process
18:00was a smooth one. When you have a seasoned election agent as Mrs Williams or there's no problems.
18:08Tell me how do you feel about your chances? I am always confident. If you have known and
18:13observed me on my walks and how I carry about myself, my humility and I'm blessed by God I'm
18:19always confident. We are going up against an extensive place so how do you feel about
18:25you going up against all of these people for Tobago man? I don't worry about the persons
18:31that I'm going up against because God has ordained me for a time like this. And this is a symbol
18:36today, mark today, it goes down in the history that today Mr Curtis Douglas under the banner
18:43of the progressive democratic patriot and will represent the people of Tobago to victory and to
18:53free the people of Tobago in the parliament of Trinidad and Tobago given the chance on the 28th
18:58of April 2025. That will be the only one that is not paralyzed in terms of expression of freedom
19:05of speech, thought, all of that stuff and so make sure you cast your vote. My symbol will be the
19:10clock, so know the time and vote for Leroy George. How do you feel about your chances?
19:16I feel really nice. Tobago Easter candidates, PDP leader Watson Duke, IDA candidate Gerard
19:22Panman-Balfour and the TPP candidate David Thomas all filed their nomination papers.
19:29Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News. This is the past seven days on six. We'll be right back.
19:41Thanks for staying with us. A violent clash between rival gang members inside the maximum
19:47security prison on Saturday resulted in the fatal stabbing of one in mid with two others left
19:53hospitalized. Here's more. A full scale investigation is underway into the violent
19:59clash between warring gang affiliates at the maximum security prison in Aruka on Saturday.
20:06The altercation left one inmate dead and two others injured. DCP of intelligence and investigations
20:13Suzette Martin says those found responsible will be held accountable. According to statements
20:19issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service,
20:25the incident began during airing time when a confrontation between rival gang members
20:30quickly escalated. TV6 News understands improvised weapons were used, resulting in the fatal
20:38stabbing of one prisoner and hospitalization of two others. The prison service responded swiftly
20:45to the situation after receiving reports of unrest inside the facility, assisting officers
20:51on duty, while the T.T.P.S. also responded, lending standby support as the prison officers
20:58regained control and restored order. The statements say despite efforts to de-escalate the situation,
21:06one male inmate sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after. His identity
21:13is being withheld at this time, pending formal identification and notification of his family.
21:20Acting Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Carraspe confirmed that no staff members were injured
21:26during the incident. He assured the public that the prison has returned to normalcy and additional
21:33measures are being taken to enhance security across all facilities. Meanwhile, DCP Martin
21:39recalled the incident deeply troubling as the safety and security of the prison is a matter
21:45of national concern, saying they are working closely with the prison service to prevent any
21:50recurrence. She added that additional police officers are stationed on site and the investigation
21:57is ongoing with the prison remaining on lockdown. Cindy Raghuba Tika Singh, TV6 News.
22:05In other news, the Ministry of Health confirmed last week two additional cases of malaria in
22:10South Trinidad, bringing the total number of reported cases for 2025 to 7. These latest
22:17cases were identified in the same geographic area as the previous five. According to the Ministry,
22:24the Insect Vector Control Division has been actively monitoring the situation
22:30as part of a wider initiative aimed at controlling the spread of malaria. The Ministry emphasized
22:36that the protocols being followed align with their established prevention and control measures for
22:41the disease. While malaria is not currently endemic to Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry
22:47reports that 153 confirmed cases have been recorded between 2015 and 2024, averaging 15
22:56cases annually. The majority of these cases are attributed to imported or introduced infections.
23:04Sport is up next. Keep it here.
23:13In sport, cricket West Indies announced some sweeping changes last week at their quarterly
23:19meeting. Craig Brathwaite stepped down as test captain and Shai Hope replaced Ravman Powell as
23:26the T20 captain. This means that Hope now holds a dual role as ODI and T20 captain as the Windies
23:34embrace a new era. Cricket West Indies are calling it a new era as Shai Hope is now the ODI and T20
23:42captain and Craig Brathwaite steps down as test captain. At the CWI quarterly meeting today,
23:47Head Coach Darren Sami addressed the changes.
24:17It will be a tough, it was a tough conversation but we as leaders we don't shy away from that.
24:26Sami also takes up his job as All Formats Head Coach from tomorrow and he's hoping Brathwaite
24:32continues to play a leadership role in the team. His decision to step down comes just before
24:37Australia's three-match test tour of the Caribbean in June and July. I have no doubt
24:42that he will continue to be a leader in that dressing room moving forward. For us as a team
24:51looking at the next cycle it's gonna be tough. Meantime Brathwaite was thankful for the opportunity
24:57to lead at the West Indies. Leading the West Indies test team has been one of my greatest
25:02honors of my career. It's a responsibility that I embrace with absolute pride and determination.
25:09The journey has had its challenges but as a team we have enjoyed some memorable moments.
25:15Brathwaite's official tenure as test captain began in March 2021. He played 39 tests,
25:21won 10, lost 22 and drew seven matches at the helm of the team. Sergio Dufour, TV6 Sport.
25:28And that's a wrap on the past seven days on six. I am Renessa Cutting. If you didn't catch this
25:34segment in its entirety you can find it on our website www.tv6tnt.com and you can find all these
25:43stories and more on the TV6 mobile app. Thanks for choosing TV6 and do have a great evening.
26:04you
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