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CCNTV6
  • 3 months ago
A bounty was placed on the head of the Minister of Defence

The US Vice President referenced T&T as a barometer for high crime

And a former Miss World TT explained why she will not be taking part in any pageants in the future
Transcript
00:00While Trinidad and Tobago is under its second state of emergency for 2025,
00:08Washington, D.C. is engaged in a security crackdown,
00:12with nearly 2,000 National Guard troops deployed across the state.
00:16U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance hailed the success of the initiative
00:20in the midst of widespread protest as he compared the murder rates in the city to that of TNTs.
00:27D.C. is already safer than it was nine days ago, but we're going to make it safer still to come.
00:33This is your city. You should feel free to come and visit here, have a meal,
00:37see all these incredible monuments, and actually enjoy yourself,
00:41and that's what we're trying to make happen.
00:43And I think that if we set a standard in Washington, D.C.,
00:46that political willpower can bring some common sense law and order back to these communities,
00:50then maybe some other communities and other cities will follow suit.
00:53So it's kind of crazy. You hear these guys outside.
00:56They appear to hate the idea that Americans can enjoy their communities,
01:00and they do the fact that D.C. a week ago had a higher murder rate than Trinidad and Tobago,
01:06which the United States State Department has said you shouldn't visit because it's unsafe.
01:11U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance referencing Trinidad and Tobago's crime situation
01:16as a metric for deadly Washington, D.C. had become.
01:21Data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police District indicate that 101 homicides have been committed
01:28in the capital of the United States to date, compared to a total of 115 for the same period in 2024.
01:37Meantime, data from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as at August 20 show that 235 homicides have been recorded,
01:45compared to 400 for the same period in 2024.
01:49A total of 187 homicides were recorded in Washington, D.C. in 2024, compared to a high of 625 murders here in TNT.
02:02The data from the District Police substantiate a decrease in crime in the city,
02:08contrary to claims made by the American president that crime in D.C. is getting worse,
02:13prompting the federal takeover of policing in the nation's capital.
02:18However, U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned the legitimacy of the data
02:22and is set to join the National Guard on patrol tonight.
02:26American news outlets are now reporting that the Justice Department has opened a probe
02:32into whether police officials in Washington, D.C. are falsifying data
02:36in order to make crime rates appear lower than they actually are.
02:41The White House officially responded to reports last week
02:45that the U.S. is deploying troops to Venezuela.
02:48And as tensions heighten between the two countries,
02:51one local political analyst weighed in on how this country should treat with the matter.
02:56I wanted to ask about the three U.S. warships that are being sent to Venezuela
03:01and there's 4,000 Marines on board.
03:03Are you looking at the possibility of boots on the ground there?
03:06What I will say with respect to Venezuela,
03:08President Trump has been very clear and consistent.
03:11He's prepared to use every element of American power
03:14to stop drugs from flooding into our country
03:16and to bring those responsible to justice.
03:19The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela.
03:22It is a narco-terror cartel.
03:24In Maduro, it is the view of this administration is not a legitimate president.
03:28He is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States
03:32for trafficking drugs into the country.
03:35Apparent confirmation from the White House
03:37that the United States is deploying troops just off Venezuela's waters,
03:42as previously reported by international media.
03:46Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has since responded
03:50by activating over 4 million militias across the country.
03:55Trinidad and Tobago has not made any statement or taken any stance
03:59in the midst of the escalating tensions,
04:02a position supported by one political analyst.
04:06Trinidad cannot just go and intervene without a request to do so
04:11from either party, from either Venezuela or the United States.
04:16And if such a request is not forthcoming,
04:20Trinidad and Tobago really should stay put
04:22and not intervene.
04:26If that request is forthcoming from either party,
04:28then they will have to consider their options.
04:31If our citizens are not held to ransom,
04:34if our citizens are not affected,
04:38if Trinidad and Tobago is not affected,
04:40then the best advice is to stay put
04:43and to see how the matter unfolds.
04:48Dr. Rampassad notes there has been long-standing tension
04:51between the two countries,
04:53during which Trinidad and Tobago has always remained neutral.
04:57If this is United States-Venezuela relations,
05:02what does Trinidad and Tobago have to do with that?
05:05At this point, did the United States access the troops?
05:09Does the United States access for any assistance?
05:13Does the United States need our assistance?
05:16This is a global tool of power.
05:18Do they need our assistance?
05:20She says if matters do escalate further,
05:23however, a number of considerations will have to be taken.
05:27There has been long-standing tension
05:30between the United States and Venezuela.
05:32There has been some disagreements
05:36between the UNC government
05:40and the Venezuelan governments in recent times,
05:43but we have to be careful about assuming things
05:48that tensions with regard to one issue
05:53is going to escalate into the other issue.
05:58It doesn't work like that.
05:59Indirectly, all countries in the Caribbean and Latin America
06:03may be impacted
06:04in the escalation of tensions
06:07between the United States and Venezuela.
06:09But then we also have to consider our relationship
06:12in other groups, for example, CARICOM.
06:16What's the position of CARICOM?
06:18We are also in the Association of Caribbean States,
06:22which include Latin America,
06:24Latin American countries.
06:25What's the position of the Association of Caribbean States?
06:29So it's whether we are going to go unilaterally
06:32and take a position.
06:34But we have to be invited, again,
06:37or impacted, should be invited or impacted
06:41before we can make a decision
06:43on what position we're going to take.
06:45I'm talking about the government when I say we.
06:47Well, Venezuela and some of its allies in the region
06:50strongly denounced U.S. Navy destroyers
06:53being deployed in the waters of Venezuela.
06:56The new UNC-led government did not issue any statement
06:59as of Newstime on Thursday about reports
07:02from U.S. media outlets such as Reuters and the LA Times
07:05that the U.S. has ordered an amphibious squadron
07:08to the region as part of the deployment
07:10of three U.S.-guided missile destroyers
07:13that will carry 4,500 service members,
07:17including 2,200 Marines,
07:20and could arrive as early as Sunday.
07:24However, on the Facebook page
07:25of Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro,
07:27a statement from the Bolivian Alliance
07:30for the Peoples of Our America
07:32People's Trade Treaty, or ALBA, TCP,
07:36denouncing U.S. Navy destroyers
07:38being deployed in the waters of Venezuela.
07:40The Express newspaper is reporting
07:42that the ALBA-TCP virtual meeting
07:44saw Honduras participating as a guest
07:47and that the meeting was hosted from Caracas
07:49and brought together heads-up state
07:51and representatives from Cuba, Venezuela,
07:54Bolivia, Nicaragua,
07:56as well as CARICOM member states
07:57Antigua and Barbuda,
07:59St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
08:00Dominica, Grenada, and St. Lucia.
08:03ALBA-TCP demanded the immediate cessation
08:05of what it called any military threat
08:08to action violating the territorial integrity
08:10and political independence
08:11of the states of Latin America
08:13and the Caribbean.
08:14CARACOM member states
08:15and Venezuela's closest Caribbean neighbor,
08:18Trinidad and Tobago,
08:19is not a member of ALBA-TCP.
08:22Trinidad and Tobago has long-standing
08:23political and economic ties
08:25with both the United States and Venezuela.
08:28The White House spokesperson has said
08:29that U.S. President Donald Trump
08:31is prepared to use every element
08:33of American power
08:34to stop drugs from flooding into the U.S.
08:37and reiterated U.S. policy
08:39that the, quote,
08:40Maduro regime
08:41is not the legitimate government
08:43of Venezuela, end quote.
08:45Comments have been attributed
08:46to Venezuela's defense minister
08:47on social media
08:48for warning to Trinidad and Tobago
08:50and Guyana
08:51against providing any support
08:53to the U.S. deployment
08:54of naval assets
08:55in international waters
08:57near Venezuela.
08:58However,
08:59there has been no official statement
09:01of confirmation
09:01from Venezuela's government.
09:04Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
09:07This is the past
09:08seven days on six.
09:17Thanks for staying with us.
09:19Two people lost their lives
09:20in an early morning accident
09:22involving a transport truck
09:23and a PTSD bus last week.
09:26The accident occurred
09:27just after eight in the morning,
09:29causing traffic to back up
09:30four miles
09:31on the southbound lane
09:32of the Uriah-Butler Highway.
09:35PTSD bus driver
09:37Mustafa Khan
09:38and SWAT officer
09:39Roxanne Philip
09:40became the country's
09:42latest accident victims
09:43when the bus,
09:44driven by Khan,
09:45collided with the back
09:46of a flatbed truck
09:47while traveling south
09:49along the Uriah-Butler Highway
09:51this morning.
09:52The rear end of the truck
09:53pierced to the front glass
09:55of the bus
09:55and sent the bus
09:56careening off the roadway
09:58into a nearby grassy ditch.
10:01The fast service
10:01was called in
10:02and officers had to use
10:03a ladder to remove
10:05the traumatized passengers.
10:08Multiple ambulances
10:09responded
10:09and an unconfirmed
10:11number of persons
10:12were transported
10:12to hospital
10:13while the driver
10:15of the truck
10:15is said to have
10:16sustained minor injuries.
10:18In a release today,
10:19the Ministry of Transport
10:20and Civil Aviation
10:21said,
10:22Minister Senator
10:24Eliza Kuru
10:25extends his deepest
10:26condolences
10:27to the families,
10:29friends and loved ones
10:30of those affected
10:31by the tragic accident.
10:33The Ministry is urging
10:34all road users
10:35to exercise
10:36the utmost care
10:37and responsibility
10:38on the country's
10:40road network.
10:41Meantime,
10:42Chief Traffic Engineer
10:43Adande Piggott
10:44is sharing
10:45the following advice.
10:47We have seen
10:48a number
10:49of incidents
10:50and accidents
10:51across the nation roads
10:53and we like
10:55all motorists
10:56to, you know,
10:58take your time,
10:59observe the road rules,
11:02observe the signage
11:03on the road,
11:04pavement markings
11:05and if you are unclear
11:07on how to use the roads,
11:08you know,
11:09go back,
11:09look at the highways codes
11:11and see how you should
11:13operate a motor vehicle
11:15even as a pedestrian.
11:17how to operate
11:18on the roadway.
11:20We all have to
11:21take this thing
11:22a little bit more seriously.
11:25It's a privilege
11:25to be on the road
11:26and we have to ensure
11:28that we protect ourselves
11:29and our families
11:30and our neighbours
11:31while you're on
11:32the road network system
11:33because road safety
11:34is everyone's business.
11:36Two days after
11:37the unfortunate incident,
11:38Roxanne Philip
11:39was laid to rest.
11:41Family and friends
11:41turned out
11:42at the Jama Masjid
11:43on Queen Street
11:44to pay their final respects
11:46to a woman
11:46they said
11:47was well respected
11:48in the community.
11:49Imam of the Jama Masjid
11:50reminded everyone
11:51that death can come
11:53at any time
11:54or any day
11:55as tomorrow
11:56is not promised.
11:58But respected listeners,
12:00we are corrected.
12:03We are taken away
12:05from this thinking
12:07that tomorrow
12:08is promised
12:09and instead
12:11we are brought
12:12upon the straight path
12:13we are made
12:14to know the truth.
12:15that every one of you
12:20will taste of death
12:21and this death
12:23that would occur
12:24it is not a death
12:25that it is known
12:26to you and I.
12:29How great it would have been
12:30if it is that
12:31we would have known
12:32the days of our death.
12:35Karima Glasgow
12:36described her mother
12:37as one of a kind.
12:39She said just like
12:40any other mother-daughter
12:41relationship
12:41they had their issues
12:43but the love
12:44and the bond
12:44they shared
12:45was unbreakable.
12:47When she came
12:48from me with her
12:48she used to lie down
12:49and talk randomly
12:50about all kind of things
12:51laughing and
12:53especially when we cooking.
12:54I feel like
12:55when we was cooking
12:56and things
12:56that was my favourite
12:57times.
12:59I don't want nothing
13:00to do with holy faith.
13:02Holy faith
13:03and just sing my prayers.
13:05Ask God
13:06to guide me
13:07and protect me
13:08now that we
13:09don't have each other.
13:10Former Miss World
13:12TNT representative
13:14Asha Abrahams
13:15made shocking
13:16allegations last week
13:17that she suffered
13:18mental and verbal abuse
13:20meted out by
13:21an unidentified
13:22pageant official.
13:24Here's more.
13:25I already
13:25went with the mindset
13:27of everything
13:28that was said to me.
13:29You're not enough.
13:30You're this.
13:31You're a liar.
13:32You said this.
13:33Your trauma's not real.
13:35Your body is a shame
13:36to the establishment
13:37that is sponsoring us.
13:38I can see the fat
13:40in your face.
13:41Shocking allegations
13:42from the former
13:43Miss World
13:44TNT representative
13:45Asha Abrahams
13:46who in a YouTube video
13:48leveled accusations
13:50of mental
13:50and emotional abuse
13:52said to be perpetrated
13:53by a Miss World
13:54TNT official.
13:56I can't agree
13:57with it
13:58especially the fact
13:59that you are profiting
14:00off my hard work
14:02off me
14:04but yet
14:05telling me
14:06that I'm not enough
14:07and I'm
14:08everything about me
14:09is wrong.
14:10Abrahams
14:11who copped
14:11the title
14:12of Miss World
14:13Caribbean
14:13at the pageant
14:14in 2024
14:15describes her
14:17experience
14:18as traumatic.
14:19I've literally
14:20been severely
14:21depressed.
14:22I've had anxiety
14:23through the roof.
14:24I've been to the
14:25point of suicidal
14:27ideation
14:27in my life
14:28when I was younger
14:29but that year
14:30and a half plus
14:31was probably
14:31the toughest
14:32time period
14:33I've ever had
14:33in my life
14:34and that says
14:35enough.
14:36She says
14:37the entire
14:38ordeal
14:38has left her
14:39as a shell
14:40of herself.
14:41I will never
14:42ever ever
14:44do another pageant
14:45so
14:46I'm sorry to
14:47disappoint anybody
14:48because I know
14:49you guys still
14:49ask me
14:50are you going to
14:51do this pageant
14:51are you going to
14:52do it
14:52I'm not
14:53and it's not
14:55I don't know
14:55how they work
14:56maybe they're
14:57completely different
14:58I don't know
14:59but
15:00from my experience
15:02I left
15:03as a shell
15:04of myself
15:04completely in debt
15:06financially
15:07having to
15:08support myself
15:10for a year
15:11and a
15:11however long
15:13year and a half
15:14plus
15:14I left
15:17feeling less
15:18confident
15:18I had to
15:19rebuild myself
15:20and literally
15:21invest in my
15:23health and mental
15:23health
15:24if this is a
15:25developmental
15:25program
15:26and about
15:27women empowerment
15:28I should not
15:28be leaving
15:29feeling less
15:30done
15:30and feeling
15:31disempowered
15:32in response
15:33the Miss World
15:34Trinidad and
15:34Tobago organization
15:35says
15:36while it respects
15:37the individual
15:38experiences
15:39and perspectives
15:40of all former
15:41title holders
15:42it wishes to
15:43reaffirm the
15:44values and
15:44principles of
15:45the Miss World
15:46title and
15:47franchise
15:47as a platform
15:49of purpose
15:49empowerment
15:50and representation
15:52it says
15:53the crown
15:54is not only
15:54a symbol of
15:55beauty
15:55but of
15:56service
15:57resilience
15:58and inspiration
15:59the local
16:00franchise says
16:01it recognizes
16:02that pageantry
16:03like any
16:04highly visible
16:05public platform
16:06may present
16:07its challenges
16:08but it remains
16:09steadfast in
16:10its belief
16:11that pageantry
16:12is a powerful
16:13means of uplifting
16:14women
16:14nurturing leadership
16:16and creating
16:17opportunities for
16:18personal and
16:19professional growth
16:20young people
16:22don't wait
16:23until things
16:23get unbearable
16:24if you need
16:25someone to talk
16:26to just reach
16:27out
16:27it was a message
16:29coming from
16:29the Ministry
16:30of Health
16:30last week
16:31which officially
16:32launched the
16:33You Matter
16:33chat line
16:34on the heels
16:35of a report
16:36which showed
16:37that one in
16:37every five
16:38young people
16:38in this country
16:39is struggling
16:40with depression
16:41it's free
16:42it's easy to use
16:44and most importantly
16:45it's completely
16:46confidential
16:47all it takes
16:49is a whatsapp
16:50to 763
16:517336
16:53it's anonymity
16:55for many people
16:56we've heard
16:57stigma
16:58and fear
16:58of exposure
16:59remain powerful
17:00barriers
17:01to seeking help
17:02the assurance
17:03however
17:04that they can
17:05speak freely
17:05without judgment
17:06without having
17:08to disclose
17:08their identity
17:09is what allows
17:10them to open up
17:11and research
17:12also shows
17:13that texting
17:14provides a unique
17:15kind of support
17:16texts indicate
17:17that they felt
17:18more confident
17:19more in control
17:20of their emotions
17:21and that sensitive
17:22difficult
17:23or deeply
17:24personal issues
17:25it was easier
17:27to text about it
17:28than to talk
17:29about it
17:29the You Matter
17:30chat line
17:31is catered
17:31to young people
17:32ages 15 to 29
17:34in light of a report
17:36which shows
17:36one in every five
17:37young people
17:38in this country
17:39are struggling
17:40with depression
17:41the STEP survey
17:43of 2024
17:44country report
17:45paints a sobering
17:47picture
17:47of the mental health
17:48challenges we face
17:49the report found
17:51that 13.6%
17:53of the population
17:54is in fact
17:55living with depression
17:56with the highest
17:57prevalence
17:58among our young
17:59adults age 18
18:00to 29
18:01at 20.1%
18:04that is
18:06one in every
18:07five young people
18:08in this country
18:09even more
18:11concerning
18:11is that
18:12over 85%
18:14of those
18:15living with depression
18:15have received
18:17no medication
18:18within the past
18:19year
18:19and nearly 80%
18:21had no
18:22psychological therapy
18:23or counselling
18:24whatsoever
18:25the situation
18:26is equally
18:27concerning
18:28across the region
18:29throughout the region
18:30media reports
18:32have highlighted
18:32increases in
18:33violence
18:34and crime
18:35and we can all
18:35attest to that
18:36this can have
18:38a negative impact
18:39on our children's
18:40mental health
18:41research studies
18:42have indicated
18:43that suicide
18:44is the third
18:45leading cause
18:45of death
18:46among 15
18:47to 29
18:47years old
18:49worldwide
18:50Trinidad and
18:51Tobago
18:51is not an
18:52exception
18:53UMATA is a
18:54collaboration
18:54with UNICEF
18:56and UE
18:56and is but one
18:58of a number
18:58of initiatives
18:59to be implemented
19:00by the Ministry
19:01of Health
19:01in an effort
19:02to better meet
19:03the mental health
19:04needs of the
19:05population
19:05we are advancing
19:07the implementation
19:07of psychiatric
19:08wards at the
19:09Arimo Hospital
19:10Point 14
19:11Hospital
19:12and Central
19:13Block of
19:13Port of Spain
19:14General Hospital
19:14with similar
19:16facilities to
19:17follow at
19:17Sandy Grandi
19:18we will also
19:20integrate mental
19:20health and
19:21psychological
19:22support into
19:23our national
19:24disaster response
19:25develop a
19:26national strategic
19:27plan for
19:27dementia
19:28and implement
19:29a mental
19:30health information
19:31system alongside
19:32a hospital based
19:33suicide surveillance
19:35system most
19:37importantly our
19:38focus will be
19:39on bringing
19:40services closer
19:41to the people
19:42community mental
19:44health teams
19:44will be established
19:46to support
19:46the decentralization
19:48and mental health
19:49crisis response
19:50teams in every
19:51regional health
19:51authority which
19:53will ensure that
19:54professional help
19:55is available in
19:56the community on
19:57a 24-7 basis
19:58sports is up
19:59next keep it
20:00here
20:00in sports team
20:09TTO pushed their
20:10historic junior
20:11Pan Am Games
20:12medal tally to
20:1311 as the
20:14women's 4 by 100
20:16relay squad
20:16sprinted to silver
20:17last week
20:18finishing just
20:19behind Jamaica
20:20in the final
20:21the podium finish
20:22gave TNT a record
20:24haul of 11 medals
20:25unfortunately
20:26that's where the good
20:27luck ended as the
20:294 by 400 men
20:30never recovered
20:31from a tumble
20:31in the final
20:32finishing in fourth
20:34position
20:35already with a record
20:37junior games
20:37haul of 10 medals
20:38TNT had a chance
20:39to add a couple
20:40more on day 13
20:41Alexi Henry
20:43Shanika Bascombe
20:44Sierra Joseph
20:45and Janae Degans
20:46were the quartet
20:46looking to add more
20:47precious metal
20:48in the women's
20:494 by 100 final
20:50and they were
20:51deliver as one
20:52of only two nations
20:53dipping below
20:5444 seconds
20:55finishing behind
20:56Jamaica
20:56who set a new
20:57junior games
20:58record of
20:5843.51 seconds
21:00disparo correcto
21:04de la última carrera
21:05de el día de hoy
21:07Jamaica
21:07volando por la pista
21:09número 7
21:09es la primera
21:11que se van a intercambiar
21:12rapidísimo
21:13el relevo de Jamaica
21:15fantástico
21:17lo que están haciendo
21:18las isleñas
21:19con la pista
21:19número 7
21:20a ver quien sale
21:21primero aquí
21:21es Jamaica
21:22Colombia
21:23en el segundo
21:24Brasil
21:24el tercero
21:25error
21:25ahí tremendo
21:26lo de Cuba
21:27hasta ahí nomás
21:28llegaron
21:29Jamaica
21:29está en el primer lugar
21:30Colombia
21:31en el segundo
21:32atención
21:34con Trinidad y Tobago
21:35por la pista
21:37número 2
21:37por fuera
21:38Jamaica
21:39Colombia
21:40Trinidad y Tobago
21:41va a ser Jamaica
21:41Trinidad y Tobago
21:42Colombia
21:43en el tercero
21:44así es
21:46la llegaba
21:49enough reason
21:51to do a little
21:51victory dance
21:52as they took
21:53TNT's medal haul
21:54to 11
21:55and counting
21:55earlier on
21:56two-time
21:57national champion
21:58Kenisha Shelbourne
21:59knocked horns
21:59in the women's triple jump
22:01but despite
22:01a new personal best
22:03of 13.18 meters
22:04on her fourth jump
22:06the 2025
22:07Karifta Games
22:07triple jump champion
22:08had to settle
22:09with a fifth place finish
22:11behind Lindsay Gonzalez
22:12of Cuba
22:13Terrence Clark
22:14TV6 Sport
22:15and that's a wrap
22:16on the past
22:17seven days on six
22:18I am Renessa Cutting
22:20if you didn't catch
22:21this segment
22:21in its entirety
22:22you can find it
22:23on our website
22:24www.tv6tnt.com
22:28and you can find
22:29all these stories
22:30and more
22:31on the TV6
22:32mobile app
22:32thanks for choosing
22:34TV6
22:34and do have
22:35a great evening
22:36video
22:38I am
22:38with a
22:38video
22:39I am
22:40going to
22:42and I am
22:42cool
22:44to hear
22:44the
22:45I am
22:46going to
22:48in my
22:49three
22:50I am
22:50going to
22:51and I am
22:52going to
22:53you
22:54I am
22:55going to
22:55especially
22:56I am
22:57going to
22:58I am
22:59going to
22:59ship
23:00to
23:00you
23:01and
23:01I am
23:02going to
23:03I am
23:04going to
23:05Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six.
23:12I am Renessa Cutting.
23:14Here's what made the news this past week.
23:17A bounty was placed on the head of the Minister of Defense.
23:21The U.S. Vice President referenced TNT as a barometer for high crime.
23:26And a former Miss World TNT explained why she will not be taking part in any pageants in the future.
23:32As per usual, if it was happening, it was on six.
23:36Let's get right into it.
23:38CCN TV6 News reported exclusively last week that a bounty of some $2.1 million
23:44had been placed on the heads of three government ministers connected to the recent URP and CPEP controversy
23:51where the government decided to suspend the programs pending a review.
23:55Senior police sources as well as underworld sources confirmed the bounties
23:59while also shedding further light on the threat against Defense Minister Wayne Stooge.
24:06The threats issued against government ministers Khadijah Ahmed, Barry Padarath and Stooge are real and credible.
24:12Over the weekend, a newspaper article confirmed that a particular report had been compiled
24:17about threats made against Minister Wayne Stooge and why he was possibly being targeted.
24:21Today, intelligence and underworld sources confirmed to TV6 News that a $700,000 bounty had been placed on each minister's head
24:30as well as the same figure for URP program manager Farooz Khan.
24:34These threats were not recent but date back to May just after the UNC came into power
24:38after winning the 2025 general elections in April,
24:42Stooge later declaring that the URP and CPEP programs would be suspended pending review and reform.
24:47Sources told TV6 News that a contractor who had ties to the resistance gang
24:52with one of his relatives fronting as a head of the Toko Sangigandi area for the gang
24:57alongside a man wanted for a 2024 murder now hiding out in Colombia
25:02was said to be the main players behind the plot.
25:05Sources told TV6 News that both the contractor from the Toko Sangigandi area
25:09alongside another Santa Cruz contractor who worked as his business partner
25:13involved in illegal quarrying and this man based in Colombia
25:17had been promised certain contracts after the election.
25:20The contractors had allegedly pumped $20 million into the election campaign of the UNC
25:25and in exchange they were expected to be equated with contracts in URP and CPEP.
25:31Since intelligence reports were compiled on the alleged threats,
25:34sources in the underworld confirmed that a Jamaican hitman was recently brought into the country
25:38to assist the other hitmen with the targeted ministers.
25:41This morning, Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander,
25:44while speaking on TV6's morning edition, alluded to the threats.
25:48This decision was not needed enough to accumulate
25:51and it didn't take all of four or five seconds.
25:55The Honorable Prime Minister, after continuous deliberation for a long time,
26:01it's almost like giving a verdict in a matter in the High Court.
26:05You see?
26:06This is the last time, but taking into consideration the safety and security of our citizens,
26:11we as a government had a decision to make.
26:14Now, persons behaving like this is the last time or there will be no more Independence Day parade,
26:20that is not the case.
26:21Meanwhile, PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzalez had asked the Defense Minister Wayne Sturge
26:26to come clean on the threat and said any threat on the life of a public official
26:30must be taken seriously.
26:32Mark Bessant, TV6 News.
26:35Minister of Justice, Divish Malraj, confirmed the threats,
26:38describing it as a grave concern for Cabinet.
26:41We are very concerned.
26:44All of us are very concerned.
26:46These are our colleagues and our minister,
26:48but there's only so much we can say at this point in time.
26:52And I trust you would understand that the matter, of course,
26:56seems to be under investigation.
26:57And the senior prison officer and the police officer were among three men detained last week
27:03under a preventative detention order as the state moves to neutralize threats against high officials.
27:10A senior prison officer was one of three persons detained under the preventative detention order
27:15that was issued in a police exercise executed yesterday.
27:18It was the same senior prison officer that the Sunday Express had alluded to
27:23during an exclusive Sunday Express article entitled
27:25Judge DPP on Murder List on July 27th this year.
27:31The 50-year-old prison officer along with a police corporal and another person
27:34were held by officers of the Special Investigations Unit
27:37after conducting the exercise across Port of Spain, Northeastern and Northern Divisions.
27:43This was the first time since the preventative detention orders were issued
27:47that two law enforcement officers were detained under the Emergency Powers Regulations 2025.
27:54The exercises were confirmed in a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service media release.
27:58However, they did not mention that two of the detainees were law enforcement.
28:02The Sunday Express article had indicated
28:03that there was a long-standing involvement of this senior prison officer
28:07who had been linked to one of the incarcerated gang bosses.
28:11The two are said to have known each other before the officer joined the prison service
28:14with allegations that he had carried out favors for the gang leader over the years.
28:19TV6 News understands that within the last few weeks,
28:22the senior prison officer had been sent on leave before his detention.
28:26Sources said the reason for his detention may be linked to gang-related activities.
28:30However, sources say he is expected to challenge his PDO before the tribunal.
28:35He is currently being detained at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitative Centre.
28:40In the media release, Commissioner of Police Alistair Guvaro commended the exercise
28:44noting that it underscores the strength of the TTPS intelligence apparatus
28:48and its capacity to act decisively against those seeking to destabilize the country.
28:55Guvaro confirmed the detention of the senior prison officer and said,
28:58quote, we will not bury our heads in the sand
29:01and deny that there are challenges in all arms of law enforcement.
29:05Yesterday, the country awoke to news that a police officer was arrested
29:08and placed on a PDO today.
29:11Today, it is a senior prison officer.
29:13Let this save us a clear warning.
29:16If you are part of the problem, tomorrow we may be coming for you, end quote.
29:21Mark Bessant, TV6 News.
29:24We are to a quick break. We'll have more news when we return.
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