CasandraThompson-Forbes
Two days shy of her sixth birthday, Zakiah Lorde has died.
Little Zakiah was pronounced dead at the Intensive Care Unit of the Scarborough General Hospital shortly after 4 pm yesterday.
She was warded at the hospital three days prior to her death, after a branch from a tree allegedly cut by employees of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) fell and hit her in her head. She was preparing to go to school at the time.
Zakiah suffered several fractures, as well as severe head injuries, resulting in bleeding and swelling in her brain.
Doctors fought to have her stabilised in an effort to transfer her to Trinidad for further treatment, but her injuries were too severe to facilitate air travel.
Scores of friends and relatives, including her mother, Rykiel Clarke, and her grandmother Denise Irvine were inconsolable at the hospital.
Her mother had to be restrained, while grandmother Denise had to be treated for an elevated blood pressure.
On Friday, family members, along with members of the public, held a daylight candle light vigil at the Scarborough General Hospital, as they prayed, sang, and worshipped, hoping for a miracle and her speedy recovery.
Zakiah was a pupil of the Black Rock Government Primary School.
The Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment under the THA has launched an investigation into the matter.
The Division has also promised to initiate an immediate review of its safety procedures and protocols in an effort to mitigate against these types of incidents.
A release sent last week stated that management has been in contact with the family and will continue to provide support during this difficult period. Arrangements are being made to provide counselling for the employees involved in the incident.
Man killed in St James
Anna-Lisa Paul
A Diego Martin man is dead after being shot during a lime at Upper Bournes Road, St James, yesterday morning.
According to officers of the St James Police Station, the incident occurred around 3 am while Isaac Bynoe, 33, of La Puerta, Diego Martin, was liming with friends at a popular establishment.
It was reported that an armed man approached the group and an argument ensued. The man pulled out a gun and began firing at the group before running off. Bynoe was pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, Brandon Superville was shot in the legs during the incident.
He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for treatment and remained warded up to late yesterday.
Police have been unable to determine a motive for the shooting.
Officers led by Snr Supt Sankar visited the scene.
Cops interrogating suspect in shooting of bank employee
SASCHA WILSON
Police were up to yesterday interrogating the suspect held in connection with last Tuesday's shooting of Scotiabank employee Rostan Mahabir. Police confirmed that no charges had been laid against him up to late yesterday.
Snr Supt Zamsheed Mohammed said during a walkabout on High Street, San Fernando, on Friday that the suspect was arrested around 2.30 pm on Friday at a house in Fyzabad during an operation coordinated by the South Western Division police. Mahabir, a premiere
relationship officer, was shot in the abdomen shortly before 8 am as he was about to enter his workplace on the corner of Penitence and High Streets. The gunman grabbed his computer bag and ran down
Penitence Street. Mahabir, 28, was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to repair serious internal injuries. He remains warded in a stable condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where his condition is being closely monitored. Investigators are yet to obtain a statement from Mahabir who is being kept sedated. Investigations are continuing.