For the second straight edition, St Benedict’s College finished second-best to the Chase’s Academic Foundation outfit from Guyana after an enthralling penalty shootout, with the latter winning the sixth edition of the KFC Goodwill International Under-18 School Football Tournament which concluded in Guyana on December 21.
In 2024, St Benedict’s lost out on 8-7 on penalties after the teams played to a goalless draw. A year later, Benedict’s and the Chase Academy again played out a goalless stalemate in regulation- and extra-time, with the home team holding their nerves from the spot to land the 5-4 victory at the Ministry of Education Grounds, Georgetown. The tense finish sealed a repeat of KFC Goodwill titles for Chase Academy, with the “La Romaine Lions” again earning the silver medal.
In the third-place playoff, Jamaica’s Kingston College made up for a semis loss to Benedict’s with a thumping 4-1 win over Nikiere Technical School from Suriname.
In the semifinals which were played on December 19, Chase Academy made light work of Nikiere Technical as they got a thumping 5-0 win, with Benedict’s earning a 2-0 victory over Kingston College courtesy a stylish first-half brace from full-back Ruben Phillip. The left-footer got his first goal with a 23-yard free kick which squeezed through the Kingston wall to beat the goalkeeper, with the second being a thing of beauty as he arrowed a long-range shot into the net after some lovely build-up down the left in the Kingston half.
St Benedict’s College’s runner-up prizes from the 2025 KFC Goodwill International Under-18 School Football Tournament. Photo courtesy St Benedict’s College –
Chase Academy’s Bryon Wharton won the golden boot award, with Flavio LaRose winning the best goalkeeper award to repeat the feat he accomplished in 2024. The competition’s MVP Malcom Hendricks was awarded a three-month training stint with Brazilian team Club Athletico Paranaense.
In the 2023 tournament, Benedict’s lost 2-1 in the finale to Jamaica’s Clarendon College. Meanwhile, in the 2022 edition, Benedict’s finished runners-up to DC Caesar Fox Secondary School.
THE Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost) is advising customers to beware of a US visa collection fee scam.
The corporation said it has received reports of fraudulent calls and messages requesting payment of fees for the collection of passports containing US visas.
In a Facebook post on December 23, TTPost said these calls and messages are fraudulent and are in no way associated with the corporation.
TTPost warned that it does not request or collect payment for the collection of passports containing US visas and it does not charge for the delivery of courier items or Track Pak services unless officially arranged and paid for through authorised channels.
Passports containing US visas, it stated, may be collected free of charge in person at approved TTPost locations, unless delivery was specifically requested and paid for at any other selected locations at the time of application.
TTPost said, “If you are uncertain about any call, message, or correspondence claiming to be from TTPost, please verify its authenticity by contacting us directly using our official channels.”
The corporation said it is addressing this matter and “implementing measures to mitigate and prevent further fraudulent activity.”
Customers are urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to TTPost and the relevant authorities.
For further assistance or inquiries, contact TTPost’s Customer Service Department by calling 774-1065, 773-6098, 773-6104, or message via WhatsApp at (868) 774-0715 or via e-mail at customer.service@ttpost.gov.tt, or visit our website at www.ttpost.net.
MINISTRY of Transport is urging the public to be safe on the roads over the holiday season.
In a news release on December 22, the ministry said, As the nation celebrates Christmas and prepares for the New Year, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation urges everyone to help make this festive season accident-free.
Road safety, it said, starts with each person.
“Together, we can save lives and create safer roads for everyone.”
There have been 106 road deaths so far this year compared to 121 for the same period in 2024.
The ministry urged all motorists, pedestrians and road users to be vigilant on the roads.
It said, “Traffic is heavier during this time, so make every trip with safety in mind. Let us keep the festive season joyful and free of avoidable accidents.”
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour urged all road users to make safety their highest, non-negotiable priority during the Christmas and New Year holidays. He underscored that a single moment of carelessness can result in irreversible loss.
He said improving road safety requires a collective effort from government agencies, transport providers, and the public.
Zakour encouraged all road users to remain alert, obey traffic laws, and cooperate with enforcement authorities to reduce accidents and save lives.
Motorists, the release said, are urged to:
●Obey all road signs, signals, and traffic lights.
●Approach pedestrian crossings, intersections, and residential areas with caution.
●Avoid overtaking in high-risk areas.
●Refrain from distracted driving and ensure all passengers, especially children, are securely buckled.
Public transportation drivers are encouraged to:
●Operate vehicles responsibly, including along the Priority Bus Route (PBR).
●Observe all traffic signals and avoid unsafe stopping or overtaking.
●Drop off passengers only at designated areas.
●Exercise patience and discipline to safeguard the commuting public.
Pedestrians are reminded to:
●Use walkovers, marked crossings, and pedestrian signals where available.
●Cross only when safe and never between parked or moving vehicles.
●Stay alert and avoid distractions such as mobile devices while crossing.
●Closely supervise children near busy roadways.
Cyclists and motorcyclists are urged to:
●Always wear protective helmets.
●Remain visible to other road users.
●Obey all traffic laws and regulations.
The Finance Bill (2025), passed recently in parliament, had several driving and road safety measures to protect citizens including: increases for drunk driving offences, higher fines for driving without a permit, tougher penalties for reckless driving and overloading, and measures against motor vehicle insurance fraud.
AMID newly passed laws regulating the location and time of fireworks use, FireOne Fireworks is expecting an explosive Boxing Day sale. Managing director Andre Abraham said FireOne is expecting a high turnout for its buy one get one free sale at the company’s Macoya warehouse.
But Abraham said the event is not only about driving revenue.
“We don’t do this just for sales. This is how we protect citizens and the market,” he told Newsday in an interview on December 23
“This Boxing Day sale is to wipe out any bad products…when we give away something of equal value, it makes it very undesirable to buy a product outside of the FireOne universe. And because we are so meticulous about our reputation…even though we operate our business within the law of TT, we self-regulate and implement National Fire Protection Association guidelines that govern the industry in America.”
He said all Fire One’s products are inspected by the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) to ensure public safety and reduce the number of injuries caused by explosives.
“It’s not like 30 years ago where you got a product that’s overloaded with no instructions…we’re making it so attractive that you don’t even consider bamboo bursting or a scratch bomb. It’s even cheaper.”
Abraham called for those same regulations to be applied to the entire industry, both for the benefit of the company’s reputation and public safety.
He also reiterated the company’s positive views on recent amendments.
With an attached fine of $450 under the Summary Offences (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 13 of 2025), it is now an offence to discharge fireworks without a permit issued by the Commissioner of Police, except on a public holiday between 8-9 pm and on December 31 from 11.30 pm to 12.30 am of the next day.
Fireworks use within a half-mile radius of public hospitals, private hospitals, nursing homes, homes for the elderly, airports, zoos, registered animal shelters, farms, forest reserves and national parks is also now an offence.
The application must specify the type, amount, location, date and time of fireworks discharged, and is only valid for the specified usage.
The fireworks permit application fee is $100 and cannot be issued to anyone under 18.
“We’ve been, through our marketing, social media and advertising, talking to our customers for the last 20 plus years, encouraging them to be respectful, courteous and our neighbours’ keeper.”
“This law caters to the one per cent that may step out of line but the majority of our customers, the citizens of TT, are respectful, kind and considerate. All it takes is for one person to use the item at the wrong time and the wrong date and it creates so much discomfort.
“So this for us is a great thing that the government has done.”
THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris has promised to remove the US military radar at the ANR Robinson International Airport at Crown Point if his party is elected into office in the January 12 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
At a political meeting on December 22 at the Pembroke bridge in the Glamorgan/ Belle Garden electoral district, Morris said: “We are going to move that radar as soon as the PNM becomes the next administration of Tobago.”
Approval for the radar was given by central government as national security is a Sixth Schedule item and not the responsibility of the THA.
The presence of the radar in Tobago has been controversial with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on November 26 claiming the US marines were in Tobago to help build a road near the airport.
A day later, she admitted a radar was being installed on the island to help combat drug trafficking. She said she initially tried to keep the radar’s presence a secret as it was a matter of national security.
The radar, built by American aerospace and defence technology company Northrop Grumman, is a G/ATOR system is a three-dimensional, medium/long-range multi-role radar designed to detect unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, air-breathing targets, rockets, artillery, and mortars.
Morris, the PNM candidate for Darrel Spring/ Whim, has criticised Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for his stance on the radar. Augustine has said he was assured by central government that the radar would not be used by the US to help attack any nation.
He later told a media house that if he had the power, he would not put the radar in Tobago or allow the US military access to the airport.
Morris said, “Farley has stopped speaking for the people of Tobago because you see those things that are coming up from Trinidad – the ham, the lamb, the TV, the hamper, Farley has sold his voice for UNC financing and therefore Farley no longer can represent us.”
He said the PNM will stand in defence of the people of Tobago.
“I’m saying to you all of Tobago, you need to get on board, you need to realise this is no longer about red, blue or black, this is no longer about code – this is now a matter of life versus death and when you go to vote, you now have to decide if you are going to preserve your life or if you are going to vote to allow people to have a radar that will lead potentially to your death.”
He played a clip of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar dismissing Augustine’s comments about hypothetically rejecting the radar.
In her response, Persad-Bissessar said, “Well, Farley does not have his way, does he? He is entitled to his opinion; I am not of that opinion.” Morris said, “You heard how easily the prime minister dismissed Farley…as if we don’t matter. I’m not here to defend Farley and perhaps I should because Farley cannot defend himself any more, but I am here to speak on behalf of the people of Tobago – take your radar and put it in Siparia.”
He also condemned TPP’s party member and ex-THA councillor Certica Williams-Orr who at a TPP meeting on December 2 in Bon Accord urged residents to embrace the presence of the radar noting that it is a “Christmas gift” to residents in that electoral district.
He begged to differ, noting that the radar is in fact “a gift of death.”
“That military radar is a military asset used in times of military conflict and war and therefore when you have two warring parties and one is about to go after the other, the first thing they do is try to take out all the various assets and that military radar serves as an eye, as an intelligence for the United States in times of conflict, and therefore the enemy of the United States, the first thing they would want to do is take out that radar, and where is that radar located – in poor sweet Tobago.
“The day we hear conflict break out between the United States and Venezuela, bet your bottom dollar, Tobago, the next thing you would hear is boom. Not ah we would be able to tell the next story because all ah we might just be …”
THREE MEN who pleaded guilty to killing a police corporal during an armed robbery in 2019 in Arima have each been sentenced to lengthy prison terms by the High Court.
In sentencing Anthony Salina, Ackeel Mohammed and Jamal Andrews, Justice Nalini Singh said the crime fell at the higher end of robbery-murder cases.
“This was a case of profit-driven motivation,” the judge said, as she sentenced Salina and Mohammed to 18 years’ imprisonment each and Andrews to 20 years and eight months for the killing of Frank Fox, a 60-year-old police corporal, during a daylight robbery in 2019.
Fox, who was assigned to the Emergency Response Patrol Unit at the Barataria Police Station, was at a mechanic’s shop on Righteous Lane, Pinto Road, Arima, on November 23, 2019, when he was confronted by the three men.
Andrews, armed with a firearm fitted with an extended magazine, pressed the weapon to Fox’s waist and demanded his gold chain.
As Fox resisted, Salina and Mohammed joined the confrontation and stripped him of rings, a bracelet and an identification band. During the robbery, one of the assailants discovered Fox was armed and shouted a warning, “This man ha thing, this man ha thing.” Four shots were fired moments later, and the men fled, leaving Fox wounded. He later died on December 18, 2019, from complications of gunshot injuries following surgery.
All three men later pleaded guilty to murder based on the felony murder rule after plea discussions with the state, accepting that the killing occurred in the course of a robbery in which they knowingly participated.
Salina and Mohammed were also shot during the incident, and the former gave a detailed statement to police, admitting his involvement. He said he met the other two and was told they were “going to do something on Righteous Lane.” Salina was asked to accompany the other two and knew one of them had a gun. He said he did not know Fox was a police officer or that the gun would be used, but admitted to removing the officer’s jewellery. All three men were identified by Fox before he died on December 18, 2019.
In delivering the sentence, Singh fixed a starting point of 30 years’ imprisonment, citing multiple aggravating factors: the prevalence of armed robberies, the use of a loaded firearm, the profit-driven motive, the joint nature of the crime, its commission in a public place in daylight, and the foreseeability of death once a firearm was introduced.
She rejected arguments that the case warranted life imprisonment, noting there was no evidence the killing was premeditated or execution-style, but said the offence remained a grave example of violent robbery culminating in loss of life.
Salina, also called Bover, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, with full credit for just over six years already spent in pretrial custody.
Mohammed, also called Fresh, was also sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, less time already served on remand.
For Andrews, also called Jumbo, the court applied a three-year uplift because he was the armed assailant who initiated the confrontation. After deductions for good character and remorse and a one-third credit for his guilty plea, Andrews was sentenced to 20 years and eight months’ imprisonment with hard labour, also reduced by the period of pretrial custody, which will be calculated by the prison service.
All three men also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Justice Singh imposed concurrent sentences of five years and four months for the firearm offence and four years for the ammunition offence, but ruled those sentences were deemed served because of the time already spent in custody.
“The sentences strike the right balance between punishment and mercy,” Justice Singh said, adding they were consistent with guidance from the appellate court and reflected the differing levels of culpability among the offenders.
Stephen Wilson and Analisa Ramsaran represented Salina; Sallian Holdip-Francis represented Mohammed; Darryl Douglas and Laurina Ramkaran represented Andrews, while Dylan Martin and Cassie Bisram represented the state.
JUSTICE Minister Devesh Maharaj on December 22 visited the newly constructed Virtual Access Court Centres (VACC) at the Hall of Justice on Knox Street, Port of Spain, to assess progress in expanding public access to judicial services, a statement from the ministry said on December 23.
Maharaj was accompanied by Trudy Lewis, acting permanent secretary; Fran Chaitoo-Jacob, acting deputy permanent secretary; Nicholas Suban, senior project manager; and Dr Louis Percival Anthony Nurse as part of the Ministry of Justice’s ongoing efforts to modernise court operations. The visit was facilitated by Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, along with Jamie Philbert, court executive administrator, and Kimberly Prescott, acting registrar of the High Court.
The statement said the visit highlighted an inter-agency approach to reviewing operational challenges and identifying solutions aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening access to justice.
The minister and his team, along with the Chief Justice and the judiciary’s team, discussed how the centres are designed to provide a secure, accessible alternative to police stations for the conduct of virtual court hearings.
The establishment of the Virtual Access Court Centres follows concerns raised in May 2025 about virtual hearings being conducted within police stations and the resulting strain on policing operations. In response, Maharaj established a working group in July 2025 to review the conduct of virtual hearings. After that review, the Judiciary created a dedicated suite of centres at the Hall of Justice, the statement said.
Once fully operational, the centres are expected to return critical space at the Besson Street Police Station to the TT Police Service, enabling the continuation of key crime-fighting initiatives, including identification parades.
During the visit, the delegation received a comprehensive overview of the centres’ operations, including their capacity to accommodate court users and their role in reducing reliance on police stations.
Maharaj also participated in a demonstration of a virtual court hearing, where officials noted that the technology allows judicial officers to maintain full control of proceedings, manage participation, ensure orderly conduct and safeguard the integrity of the judicial process in a virtual environment.
The Virtual Access Court Centres form part of the ministry’s broader digital transformation initiative, which uses technology to enhance and expedite the delivery of judicial services while improving transparency, efficiency and responsiveness across the justice system, the statement added.
Trinidad and Tobago men’s football team centre back Kobi Henry has signed a two-year deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Real Salt Lake after an initial loan move from French Ligue 2 team Stade de Reims. The move was confirmed by Real Salt Lake on December 18.
The 21-year-old Henry was loaned to Real Salt Lake in January, but an early-season hamstring injury restricted him to just five games with the first team before he eventually played 14 matches for Salt Lake’s MLS Next Pro team, Real Monarchs. Before the hamstring injury, Henry played in two Concacaf Champions Cup matches in February against Costa Rican powerhouse CS Herediano.
The Florida-born Henry made his debut for TT in September against Curacao and the centre back was an automatic fit for coach Dwight Yorke’s squad as he proved to be a solid figure in the backline for the final round of Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification, playing all six matches. TT’s qualification bid to make a second men’s World Cup eventually fell short, but the lanky Henry was almost an immediate fan favourite. The former US youth national also showed his worth in the opposing penalty area, scoring against Bermuda in both home and away matches.
The deal is guaranteed through December 2027, with a club option also in place for the subsequent year. Henry is happy with the move and is eager to show his worth for the Utah club.
“I’m extremely excited to be signing permanently with RSL,” he said, via a Salt Lake release. “Last season on loan taught me a lot and I feel ready to make the next step. I’ve been working hard this off-season and can’t wait to help our team enjoy a successful season and show the community and all the RSL fans what I can bring.”
Salt Lake sporting director Kurt Schmid is also happy to have the big centre-half in the ranks.
“We’re pleased to bring Kobi back to Real Salt Lake. His foundational development during 2025 paid dividends late in the season, while his abilities on the backline in multiple setups will provide great competition within our roster. We look forward to Kobi’s continued growth as a professional.”
Before his loan move to Salt Lake, Henry made 21 appearances for Stade Reims B, while he also played 15 times in a loan move to FC Villefranche.
The Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) has warned that the Caricom market is currently “indispensable” to TT’s economic resilience.
In a media release on December 23, JCC president Fazir Khan said TT should reject any notion that it could prosper without the support of Caricom.
His comments follow statements by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar criticising Caricom and describing it as fractured and an “unreliable partner”. She added that TT is seeking partnerships beyond the region.
She claimed Caricom members had sided with Venezuela against the US in the latter’s war against drug trafficking and that Antiguans were “bad-mouthing” the US which resulted in further visa restrictions being placed on that country.
In a response on Facebook on December 21, Browne took umbrage with the claim of being an unreliable partner, noting Caricom was TT’s second-largest export market, behind the US.
“In 2024 alone, TT earned more than US $1.1 billion in foreign exchange from trade with Caricom, comprising approximately US $784.7 million in domestic exports and US $501.3 million in re-exports to Caricom states,” he said.
Khan agreed that TT cannot take Caricom for granted, noting the regional group accounts for roughly a tenth of all global exports and an even larger share of the country’s non‑energy exports.
“Excluding petroleum and petroleum products, exports to Caricom have been estimated at over US$560 million in a recent benchmark year, representing about one quarter of all intra‑regional exports – by far the largest share enjoyed by any member state. This is not the profile of a marginal or unreliable market; it is the profile of a vital anchor for diversification and the pivot away from energy.”
He said for the domestic construction industry, this regional demand translates into jobs for technicians, engineers, contractors and professional consultants who would otherwise be constrained by the vagaries of the local market.
He said the Caricom market is crucial to earning foreign exchange and any disruptions could result in “hundreds of millions of US dollars in potential annual export losses for TT, particularly in non‑energy sectors that are still struggling to gain a foothold in extra‑regional markets.
“At a time when the country is seeking to stabilise foreign‑exchange earnings and broaden its productive base, flirting with such losses would be economically ill-advised.”
Asked on Newsday on December 22 whether withdrawal from Caricom was being considered by herself or Cabinet, Persad-Bissessar said, “Withdrawal from Caricom has not been discussed by Cabinet.”
She said she was also not worried about any economic impact owing to the Caricom divide.
POLICE are searching for several suspects following two separate, violent robberies targeting senior citizens in Malabar and Belmont on December 22.
In the first incident, an 80-year-old American retiree was injured while defending her property at the O’Meara Industrial Estate.
Reports say around 2.45 pm, the victim and her husband were seated in their car at the Vulcan Mufflers car park when two men approached the vehicle.
The men announced a robbery and grabbed the woman’s handbag. During a brief struggle, the strap of the bag broke, cutting the victim’s finger.
The men escaped with $9,000 in cash, bank cards, and personal documents.
They fled in a white Nissan AD wagon, registration PCX 8210.
One suspect is described as a slim man of African descent in his late teens, with a large Afro. He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue three-quarter pants, and white replica Air Jordans.
The second suspect, also of African descent, is approximately five feet, seven inches tall with an unkempt beard and was wearing a red jersey, a medical mask, and similar sneakers.
Less than 20 minutes earlier in Port of Spain, a 70-year-old veteran was beaten and robbed by four men.
At about 2.30 pm, the senior citizen of Belmont, was entering his Mazda 323 on Cockerton Street when he was accosted. Two of the four men were armed with knives.
The group pulled the victim from his car and beat him before stealing $4,600 in cash, a Motorola cellphone, and his Defence Force veteran’s ID.
The suspects, described as three men of African descent and one of dougla descent, fled south along Nelson Street.
In an unrelated incident earlier that morning, a 39-year-old Valsayn man was robbed by four men posing as police officers.
Around 3.55 am, the victim was awakened by loud knocking and shouts of “Police! Open up!” While the victim was on the phone with the 999 emergency operators, the men kicked in his door.
Two of the intruders were armed with guns and wore blue and grey police camouflage. They ransacked the one-bedroom apartment and fled with $2,000. Investigations into all three matters are ongoing.
NORTHERN and eastern police divisions are investigating a series of robberies and break-ins leading into the Christmas week, including a daring daylight heist at a popular textile store and the carjacking of a Coast Guard officer.
Police are searching for a man with a distinct skin condition following a robbery at Yufe’s Ltd in Arima on the morning of December 22.
Around 11 am, two men entered the establishment and walked directly behind the counter, where a female cashier was tallying the store’s takings.
One man announced a robbery while his accomplice pulled out a handgun. The fearful cashier handed over a plastic bag containing an undisclosed sum of cash.
The first suspect is described as slim, of African descent, wearing a red jersey and a cap. He has visible tinea versicolour (white spots) on the left side of his face. His accomplice was dressed in dark clothing.
In a separate incident on December 21, a female petty officer of the TT Coast Guard was robbed of her $250,000 Hyundai Tucson.
Around 10.36 pm, the officer was getting out of her car near her home in Arima when two armed men in dark clothing accosted her. They demanded her keys and fled in the white SUV.
Arima police are also investigating the disappearance of an 18-foot shipping container from a job site at St Carlos Road, Manuel Congo.
Reports say an employee left the site around 3 pm on December 20. When he returned on December 22, he found the container missing.
In Malabar, a 37-year-old self-employed man was robbed in front of his wife and daughter at their home around midday on December 22.
Reports say the family’s front door was unlocked, and the two men walked into their home. One of the suspects is reportedly known to the victim.
The men made off with an Inco welding plant, a DeWalt chop saw, an air compressor, a Sony 32-inch smart TV, and $1,300 in cash. The men fled in a silver Mazda 3.
Meanwhile in Valencia, a 22-year-old Sunshine Snacks salesman was lured into an ambush on December 22.
The victim told police he received a call from a “new customer” directing him to Gocool Lands, Valencia Old Road. On arrival, four masked men surrounded the truck, beat the salesman about the head, and robbed him of $600 and his iPhone 13.
The bandits then used bolt cutters to break into the truck’s vault, escaping with approximately $12,000 in cash.
In Sangre Grande, burglars broke into Darryl’s Famous Food at the corner of Foster Road and Brierley Street, gaining access by cutting through the galvanised roof.
The restaurant supervisor discovered the break-in on the morning of December 22. The establishment’s safe, valued at $8,000, was damaged during the burglary. The thieves, however, were only able to steal a BLU cellphone.
Nine years after its original release, Christmas Oye, a catchy rapso parang by Jason “Fridge” Seecharan and Wade “Tim Starr” Christian, has gained new life with the recent release of its music video.
Seecharan, a singer, songwriter and former member of the popular 90s R&B group H2O Phlo and Tim Starr, media personality and rapper/singer, formally of Spotrushaz, and DJ and producer Jayron “Rawkus” Remy came together to create something to which Trinis could relate.
Remy told Newsday he had been working on some rapso Christmas riddims with musician, composer and actor Nickolai “Gyazette” Salcedo. Although they abandoned the project, he played it for Tim Starr.
Tim Starr really liked the song and played it for Seecharan as they were working on some Christmas songs.
They wrote the lyrics and Christmas Oye was born.
Media personality and rapper/singer Wade “Tim Starr” Christian. – Photo courtesy Tim Starr.
Remy, who has been producing music for 3Canal, among other artistes, said, “I’ve been doing more behind-the-scenes work. Not trying to be like some super-producers, but we’ve been working on building authentic things that we like. I want to experiment and work on things like that. And I’d never done a Christmas song before this one. And then we did it in our own way.”
He said one of the reasons they did the song was because, even before he started working on a cruise ship, Seecharan got a lot of calls to perform, especially around Christmas.
“People would always be calling Fridge for this Christmas type of gig to do covers. Fridge could sing, so he could sing anything he wanted to, so I felt it was important to have some songs in his arsenal that were original as well.
“I think that also lent itself to why we did that song. Because, even if it didn’t get radio rotation, Fridge was still able to perform in for the people.”
Singer and songwriter Jason “Fridge” Seecharan. Photo courtesy Fridge. –
Tim Starr said that, at that time, he had distributed the song to radio stations but never promoted it. He recalled artiste Shane “Rizon” Gibson loved the song and encouraged him to release it “properly.” So he told Seecharan they had to revisit Christmas Oye, even though they have several other song together.
Seecharan has been performing on cruise ships since 2020 and is not often in the country. He is currently half of the duo, Tru Vibrations The Band, on the Carnival Cruise Ship line.
He admitted his absence has been the reason for the video’s delay and the reason Tim Starr insisted they make the video this year, which they did in October, before he left the country again.
Even though they made the video, he did not expect much from it, but was delighted to be wrong.
“It’s such a short season, and so many people bring out Christmas music that everybody can’t get played. And, of course, the big-name artists will get a lot more rotation than someone less known, no matter how great it is.”
He added that, before Christmas Oye, he did not know Remy was a producer. He described the music as well-produced and different from anything else on the radio, which inspired his lyrics.
“I would have never written a song like that if it weren’t for the music. The way the music was structured was instrumental in me being able to write what I did.”
When Seecharan heard the hook of the song, he wanted to write about things people could relate to, and he had the idea of people in a bar, singing along to the song, in his head. So he wrote:
Christmas is here.
A time to love, a time to share, a time to care,
Love in the air,
Enjoying the lime,
With the sorrel, the fruitcake, the pastelle,
It’s roast pork time,
Bring the homemade wine.
Tim Starr thought about the type of people who go from house to house during the Christmas season just to eat. He pictured himself as one of them and wrote along those lines.
He added that the lyrics to his part of the song were adjusted after he recorded it. He was told it was “too much,” so he took the healthy criticism and got assistance in restructuring the verses.
As a result, one verse goes:
This one a big tune, enormous,
The Fridge, Tim Starr, DJ Rawkus,
I ain’t trying to be rude,
But we just came for the food,
Turkey and ham,
Chicken and lamb,
Ah have two beers in meh hand,
Family and friends is the plan.
That relaxed atmosphere of having a good time with family and friends was reflected in the music video, which Tim Starr shot on his phone.
DJ and producer Jayron “Rawkus” Remy. Photo courtesy Rawkus. –
He recalled several friends were not available until the next week, but Seecharan was leaving the country a few days later and he refused to postpone it another year. So a small crew showed up at Adam Smith Square in Woodbrook and he pulled out his phone.
“We kept making excuses for not getting it done so I took the responsibility. However it played out, I had to make the best of it and have a proper product at the end of it all.
“I came up with the idea to just pull out my phone and shoot this. You can see it’s just me walking around with my phone and I just vibesing with everybody.
“And I figured if people can’t make it, we will just reach out to them to send footage of them vibesing to the song and enjoying themselves in their own little space.”
As a result, there were cameos by artistes, household names, family and friends including music artistes Roland “RemBunction” Yearwood, Lujoe and the Gifted, Marcus Braveboy, Seecharan’s former H2O Phlo bandmates Junior Nelson and Keston Rosales, Marcia Miranda, Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung, Rohan “Fireball” Richards, Rossi “RKG” Gray and radio icon Allan Diaz of Sweet 100.1 FM.
Both the video and the song have been getting positive reviews and, to Remy’s surprise, there has been a resurgence of interest in Christmas Oye.
Remy said when they released the song nine years ago, it did not become a hit so he moved on. This experience made him realise that music is timeless.
“When we released the video now, we get a whole new wave of appreciation. It still sounds fresh. People saying, ‘I never hear this before. Where this come from?’ And even some of my DJ partners saying, ‘Aye, you never sent me this song,’ and I had to tell them I sent it a long time ago.
“The lesson to me is that music don’t expire. It’s just sometimes they have to get at the right time, when people ready to receive it.”
Seecharan added that what the artiste thinks will be a hit is not always the song people will connect with. It’s up to the people to judge.
Singer and songwriter Jason “Fridge” Seecharan. Photo courtesy Fridge. –
Tim Starr agreed with Remy, which was why he had been pushing Seecharan to make the video, as well as promote their older songs, for the past two years.
“Some of these things, people need to hear. We have to give these older songs some kind of justice and put it out to the people in the right way. Keeping the music to yourself and overthinking about who will and won’t like it makes no sense.”
He said, especially with social media, a song does not need to be played on the radio. He believed that if it’s on a platform, ten years from now, someone new will discover it, and people can go online to enjoy it at any time.
THE SPIRIT of Christmas was alive and infectious when the Couva Police Station Community Council (CPSCC) held its Christmas on the Promenade celebration at the Inshan Ali Promenade, Couva, on December 19.
The event brought together some 300 residents from Couva and neighbouring communities for an evening of festive cheer, musical performances and unity. Approximately 130 children received Christmas gifts as part of the celebration.
Levantamientos Parang Group perform at the Christmas celebration organised by the Couva Police Station Community Council. – Photo courtesy CPSCC
The initiative, which deepens the council’s outreach programme of activities in the central region, is a vision of CPSCC president, Bishop Ezekiel Clarke. It was successfully executed by the council’s event planning committee, headed by vice president Miguel Charles.
The programme featured uplifting messages from police leadership led by CPSCC chairman, Insp Khan, of the Couva Police, cultural and youth performances, parang and steelpan offerings, all reinforcing the council’s theme: one district, one family.
Aliyah Livingstone, student of Couva Anglican Primary School, displays her skill on the tenor pan at the Couva Police Station Community Council’s Christmas on Promenade event on Friday – Photo courtesy CPSCC
Among the performers who entertained the gathering were Levantamientos Parang Group, Couva Anglican Primary School Steel Orchestra, Dow Village Dance Group, Couva South Primary School, Ella Isaac, Siarah Mohammed, Zaria Sahadeo, Mya Charles, Brandon Khan, DJ Zion Child, Marsha Cavan and Nigel O’Connor.
Host for the evening was Bishop Clarke, aka D’ Gateman, who premiered his catchy community song, Peace and Love.
Bishop Ezekiel Clarke, President of the Couva Police Station Community Council (right) shared a light moment with Insp. Khan, Chairman of the council, at Christmas on the Promenade celebrations –
The CPSCC expressed heartfelt thanks to its sponsors and partners for making the celebration a huge success. Among them are Mr Anonymous, Ezekiel All Nations Chapel, R&R Trading, Couva Glass, Kayvanic Logistics and Transportation Servjces, Truck Tech Ltd., DJ Wax Live, CT Cover, NB Environmental Services, Face Painting by Destiny, Socially Displaced Restoration Centre, the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation and the Couva Police Station.
A LAVENTILLE FAMILY’S hope for a Christmas miracle ended in heartbreak after the body of a missing 25-year-old man was discovered floating beneath a bridge in a swampy area near the WASA facility at Beetham Gardens.
The deceased has been identified as Jamal Brandon Jessop, an MTS Security officer of Eastern Quarry, Laventille.
Jessop was reported missing by his mother, Sherry-Ann Jessop, at the Besson Street Police Station around 9.30 pm on December 20. She told police she last saw Jessop around midday the same day. He had lunch at the home they shared and left.
According to his mother, it was the first time Jessop had ever gone missing. She told police Jessop suffered from a mental illness and was receiving ongoing treatment as an outpatient at St Ann’s Hospital.
He was described as a black male of muscular build, approximately six feet tall, bald, with a short goatee and a tattoo of the word “Jessop” on his chest. At the time he was last seen, he was barefoot and wearing green MTS Security long pants.
Sherry-Ann further reported on Sunday, December 21, she received several phone calls from people known to her, claiming her son had been killed. She was told Jessop was killed sometime between 2 am and 6 am after becoming involved in an altercation with a man at Phase One, First Street, Beetham.
According to the information relayed to her, Jessop was allegedly shot during the incident, and his body was later dumped either in a swamp at Sea Lots or near the WASA pump at Clear Water along the Beetham Highway, Laventille.
The grieving mother declined to disclose the source of the information to police, citing concerns for the safety of the individuals involved.
In her desperate search for answers, Sherry-Ann Jessop also contacted Vallence Rambharat of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, who assisted police with search efforts.
The initial search began around 3 pm on December 21 and continued until midnight but was eventually suspended due to poor lighting, dense vegetation, and the difficult terrain in the area.
Search operations resumed at 8 am on December 22, with support from the Police K9 Unit, Air Support, the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, and officers from several police divisions.
The grim discovery was made later that day when a member of the search and rescue team entered the swamp and recovered Jessop’s body beneath a bridge.
Spent shell casings were reportedly found near the site. Videos circulating on social media showed Jessop’s mother and other relatives at the scene. Several clips captured the distraught woman inconsolable as search teams worked nearby.
Investigations into Jessop’s death are being led by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping and Homicide Bureau.
In another unrelated incident, police are probing a suspected homicide in the Beetham Gardens. Reports say around 12 pm on December 21, officers from the Besson Street Police Station, while on mobile patrol, responded to a report from the Command Centre of a man lying motionless on the roadway.
On arriving at Sixth Street, officers found the body of an African male, about 25 years old, lying face down along a track in a pool of blood. The victim was dressed in a white T-shirt and black three-quarter jeans and wore his hair in a cornrow hairstyle.
He had been shot in the face. Officers were unable to immediately determine his identity. Officers from the Homicide Bureau and Crime Scene Investigators also visited the scene.
During processing, investigators recovered 28 spent shell casings and five live rounds of ammunition. Enquiries are ongoing as police work to identify the victim and determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Meanwhile, in Morvant, police are investigating a wounding incident that occurred during the early hours of December 21, around 2 am. The victim, a 21-year-old man of Sixth Avenue, Malick, Barataria, was walking along Upper Sixth Avenue, Valley Drive, Malick, Barataria, on his way to visit his girlfriend.
Reports say the man was approached by two men with guns. The men opened fire, shooting the victim in his left leg. Despite his injuries, the wounded man managed to run a short distance before collapsing nearby.
He was later taken by emergency medical services to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he received treatment. Police visited the victim at the hospital, where he told officers he did not know his attackers.
Crime Scene Investigators processed and photographed the scene, recovering 14 spent nine mm shell casings, one live 7.62 round, and a blood swab.
OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s shifting narrative on TT’s support for the ongoing US military deployment in the Southern Caribbean and the establishment of a US military radar in Tobago, suggest Persad-Bissessar is increasingly behaving like a dictator rather than a leader who will subject herself to proper accountability and scrutiny by the people who elected her to office on April 28.
Beckles, who is also PNM political leader, made this comment in response to Persad-Bissessar’s disclosure for the first time that US Marines have established a support office at the ANR Robinson International Airport next to the G/ATOR radar system which they established there in November.
Developed by American aerospace and defence technology company Northrop Grumman, the G/ATOR is a three-dimensional, medium/long-range multi-role radar designed to detect unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, air-breathing targets, rockets, artillery, and mortars.
The company “primarily serves US. defense needs and its allies, solving tough problems in national security.”
Northrop Grumman’s areas of focus include developing military aircraft such as stealth bombers, defence systems (military radars) and autonomous systems (such as unmanned aerial drones).
In response to questions posed on December 21 about support vehicles and tents established around the radar at the airport, Persad-Bissessar said, “The picture is self-explanatory. There is a radar with the support office to operate it.”
In one media report, Persad-Bissessar appeared to become irritated with continuing questions about the radar. “Please stop wasting my time with this nonsense. Feel free to send any questions on sensible issues in the future. Have a wonderful evening.”
In a Facebook post on December 22, Beckles said Persad-Bissessar comments reflect a shifting narrative about the radar which continues to leave the country with more questions than answers.
“Citizens should not have to go on a hunt for information that rightfully belongs to them, especially when the issue touches national security and sovereignty. Leadership requires openness, not dismissiveness.” Beckles observed Persad-Bissessar repeated allegations about alleged drug ties to the PNM and the PNM having an obsession with the radar, in response to questions about the radar.
“When pressed to explain what appears to be a military base, the Prime Minister chose instead to attack the PNM. That response was reckless and irresponsible” Beckles has dismissed Persad-Bissessar’s drug tie claims
She said, “Even more disturbing was her suggestion that genuine questions from the public are a waste of her time and mere nonsense. That attitude reflects contempt for the very people she is meant to serve.”
Beckles added Persad-Bissessar is wrong to claim that anyone is obsessed about the radar and the reasons for its establishment.
“No Trinbagonian is obsessed but rather concerned. We are asking for clarity on a matter of national importance.” Beckles repeated,”What deepens the unease is the constantly shifting narrative. One day the story changes, the next day the tone changes.”
She said, “This inconsistency erodes trust and fuels uncertainty.”
Tobagonians, Beckles continued, should be very concerned about Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine lack of clarity about the radar.
“It is also deeply troubling that the Chief Secretary, who was promised Tobago autonomy, appears to have been left in the dark on matters that should be shared as a matter of respect and protocol.”
Augustine has publicly said he was never consulted about the radar and should be a member of the National Security Council (NSC) which is now chaired by Persad-Bissessar. Former national security minister Gary Griffith has said only cabinet ministers qualify to be NSC members and even within cabinet, only a select few are allowed to sit on the NSC.
Griffith added the heads of the protective services, such as the police commissioner and TT Defence Force chief of staff, are not NSC members. Beckles repeated her condemnation of Persad-Bissessar’s criticism of anyone questioning the radar and TT’s ongoing support for US actions in the southern Caribbean at a UNC Christmas Supper at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s on December 18.
“I have always maintained, as every prime minister before has done, that TT must respect international law and maintain proper relations with all countries, including the US.” Beckles also repeated her condemnation of Persad-Bissessar’s continuing simultaneous defence of the US and criticism of Caricom for questioning US actions in the region.
She said every prime minister from Dr Eric Williams to Stuart Young “before April 2025 has also accepted the duty of upholding and enhancing the value and importance of Caricom solidarity and contributing to our regional integration movement.”
Beckles, a former TT ambassador to the UN, added, “Our nation cannot consider itself well represented by a prime minister who demonstrates public disdain for international law, for the UN Charter, as well as such flagrant disregard for the concerns and questions of the population.” She said, “We cannot be expected to accept unlawful interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation, particularly when the safety of our country, our people, and our facilities may be placed at risk by the decisions and utterances of the prime minister.”
Beckles reminded Persad-Bissessar she is only prime minister because of the will of the people.
“She is not above questioning. She is not beyond accountability. This country does not belong to any one individual. It belongs to the people of TT and we deserve honesty, transparency and respect.”
THE TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the teacher’s union, condemned any sexual misconduct perpetrated by school teachers on their pupils, in a statement to Newsday on December 22.
TTUTA president Crystal Ashe said schools must be safe zones for children.
Under the headline “Probe into touchy teachers,” Newsday on December 18 had reported 16 allegations of sexual abuse levelled against some five teachers in the 2024 Teaching Service Commission (TSC) annual report. In the report one primary school teacher had five allegations of abuse made against him, while another primary teacher was accused of two cases of abuse and another primary teacher accused of one incident of sexual misconduct.
At secondary school, one teacher was accused of one case of sexual misconduct, while another secondary teacher was accused of four matters of sexual misconduct. For multiple offenders the report did not say if it was one victim repeatedly abused or whether one teacher had multiple victims.
None of the five teachers are in court, with the matters simply before the TSC.
TTUTA told Newsday, “With respect to the TSC’s publication of teachers accused of sexual misconduct please note that TTUTA is very concerned about this situation.
“Our schools are and should always be safe zones for all who occupy them including students.”
In the statement, TTUTA said it could not comment on any specific matters as they were being addressed by the TSC at this time.
“We know that there are mechanisms in place with respect to the law and the TSC, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education to address all such occurrences.”
TTUTA advised all TSC members to adhere to the law.
“This would include but is not limited to the efficient and effective reporting of all cases of sexual misconduct.
“Our students are our future leaders and we all should work together to keep them safe.”
A HIGH COURT judge has given the green light to a retired city assessor to challenge the San Fernando City Corporation’s failure to calculate her pension and gratuity owed to her.
Heidi Henry sued the San Fernando City Corporation for failing to calculate her pension and gratuity based on her correct salary following a 2020 decision of the High Court, which held she was entitled to be treated equally to her comparator at the Port of Spain City Corporation and receive pension and gratuity at salary range 59D.
She was granted leave by Justice Frank Seepersad to pursue her claim against the corporation, which includes an order compelling the local government body to recalculate and pay her her correct salary and pension.
The matter will next be heard on February 9, 2026. Henry also seeks an order to compel the corporation to give effect to the April 2020 ruling by Justice Kevin Ramcharan on the salary range she is to be paid.
Her lawsuit contends that the corporation’s failure to calculate her pension and gratuity at the correct salary range was unlawful.
According to Henry, Justice Ramcharan held that her right to equality of treatment by a public authority was infringed, and since his order, the corporation “failed and/or refused to facilitate the reclassification” of her post as acting city assessor. She contended that despite the clear terms of Justice Ramcharan’s order, her pension and gratuity were calculated at a lower salary range, which, her lawsuit maintains, is illegal as it “directly contravenes the court’s orders.”
Henry, who was employed at the corporation for 39 years, retired in June 2023.
She said long before her retirement, the corporation knew about Justice Ramcharan’s ruling and orders “to ensure I would receive my correct pension and gratuity.”
However, she said when she retired, she did not receive her gratuity but only a reduced interim pension of $3,500.
Her attorneys wrote to the corporation in March 2024, and were told in April 2024, her pension and gratuity were being quantified and audited. In July, her claim for assessment of damages came up before a Master of the High Court.
In September, a pre-action letter was sent to the corporation, pointing out that the substantial delay in paying her correct gratuity and pension was unlawful, irrational, in breach of procedural fairness and also in breach of her rights. The corporation responded that her pension and gratuity were calculated at the lower salary range of 41E. She said the response “clearly shows” that a decision was made to disregard Justice Ramcharan’s findings and orders.
Attorneys Kingsley Walesby and Sunil Gopaul Gosine represent Henry.
WORKS and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John said her ministry has a non-partisan approach when it comes to fixing potholes in the country.
She described the state of roads across Trinidad as a “mess.”
“Everywhere is a mess. Pick your mess. Tell everybody to pick their mess,” she said in a telephone interview with Newsday on December 22.
Her comments come amid controversy sparked by Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander, who criticised residents of Westmoorings North for complaining about potholes.
Alexander argued residents had lived with poor road conditions for a decade under former prime minister and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley.
In a video circulated on Facebook, Alexander said residents “voted for potholes” when supporting incumbent MP Hans Des Vignes in the last elections.
“They want to come on the WhatsApp thread and talk about potholes and ask, ‘Where is Mr Fix It?’ I am driving through those same potholes. I would not bother Jearlean John about those potholes because you all live with those potholes and then vote for potholes, so you know what to do: take potholes,” he said.
John told Newsday she was unaware of Alexander’s comments.
“I don’t know what Phillip said. He is free to say whatever he wants. We’re free to speak, just as you’re free to speak. We’ve a democracy: we are all free to run our mouths,” she said.
On September 23, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told Alexander to stay in his lane after he ended up in a war of words with Venezuelan officials after saying India “would nuke” them if they ever attacked TT.
John stressed no area receives special treatment regarding pothole repairs and that her ministry is actively addressing road infrastructure nationwide.
“We have potholes all over. Potholes appear after ten years? I’m simply saying we have a mess all over the country, which is attracting the attention of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. We have started to clean up some of the mess along highways and in communities.”
John added all areas are important, and her ministry’s focus is national. “I’m not putting special emphasis on anywhere. Everywhere in this country is important. We’ve been working, and things will be significantly improved across the country.”
In a follow-up video, Alexander said Persad-Bissessar would ensure all communities receive attention, regardless of political affiliation.
John, reflecting on her first months in office, said she was taking a focused and pragmatic approach.
“UNC won the last election, and we have continued on the trajectory we’re on. We are getting a handle on road and infrastructure issues. Next year, on January 22, we will roll out the revitalisation process with Udecott, which I expect will be very promising. We are very focused on getting things done.”
Outside her professional life, John shared a more personal side, discussing her plans for Christmas.
Describing her traditions as quiet and reflective, she said, “I spend Christmas quietly. My house is a very peaceful space, and we just enjoy the normal Christmas traditions.”
She emphasised the importance of family, especially her mother, and looked forward to celebrating Christmas Eve. She said her mother usually bakes and prepares the Christmas classic found in most homes.
“It will be a great Christmas Eve day… fresh bread, ham, black cake, all the traditional things. I’m really looking forward to another Christmas Eve with my mother in the kitchen. It’s a special time every year, and I truly treasure it,” she ended.
THE seemingly abrupt cancellation of TTT’s Now Morning Show on December 18 – just one day before its final scheduled episode – left many loyal viewers speculating about the reasons behind the decision.
The programme, known for spotlighting a wide range of performances, interviews and musical segments, first aired on November 1, 2022.
The show hosted by media practitioner Ainka Williams, a television and radio host, voice-over talent and writer. Williams previously worked as an entertainment news presenter at Synergy TV. She joined state-owned TTT in 2019 and also produces and co-hosts the TeamUp morning show on Next 99.9 FM.
The show was co-hosted by, DJ, event producer, music producer and sound engineer Jayron “Rawkus” Remy, who also hosts The Saturday Brunch on Talk City 91.1 FM. Remy holds a postgraduate diploma in arts and cultural enterprise management from UWI.
On December 18, Newsday spoke with a source who said both hosts remain part of the “TTT family” and were informed of the show’s cancellation in advance, though the source did not say how much notice was given.
“This is nothing new. Whenever a government changes, it’s expected,” the source said.
Newsday contacted TTT’s acting head of news Stacy-Ann Providence on the same day, but she declined to comment. Calls to TTT chairman Michael Kerr went unanswered. Kerr was appointed the station’s new chairman on October 31.
On December 21, Newsday spoke with Remy, who reflected on his time with the programme.
“Over my five years on the show, we’ve had many memorable guests and moments. A real defining moment for me was when I was entrusted to do the Spotlight interviews with politicians, union leaders, thought leaders, etc. That was when I realised I had stepped into a different zone of my career,” he said.
Remy added that one of the most valuable lessons he learned from his time on the show was the power of teamwork.
“Teamwork can make or break a show.”
Addressing the programme’s viewers, he said, “To the fans, I say thank you. Thanks for your kind words, thanks for trusting us, thanks for always saying hi, and thanks for the criticism as well.”
He hopes the show’s legacy will be one that is remembered for reflecting the diversity of the people and showcasing how much Trinidad and Tobago has to offer.
“I genuinely hope we can aspire together, work together and achieve together, as one nation.”
A 33-year-old man was shot and killed just days before Christmas in Marabella, leaving his relatives and friends in mourning.
The victim has been identified as Kreston Phillips, who was unemployed and had addresses at Battoo Boulevard and Union Road, both in Marabella.
According to police, the shooting occurred around 8 am on December 22 along Manohar Street.
Gunshots were heard, and the police were alerted.
Officers from the Southern Division Task Force were the first responders and found Phillips lying on his back along the road with gunshot wounds. Several spent shells were also discovered nearby.
Phillips was still alive when officers arrived but was barely breathing.
Police tried to speak with him, but he appeared to be unconscious.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Officers from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, were notified and have taken over the probe.
No arrests have been made so far, and investigations are continuing.
