Mystery Shipwreck Leaking Oil in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is currently dealing with a significant oil spill from a mystery ship that ran aground last week.

The country’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, stated on Sunday that the spill is yet to be brought under control and described the situation as a “national emergency.”

The unidentified vessel capsized last Wednesday, February 7, without sending a distress signal, no known crew members, and no clear indication of ownership. The incident has resulted in a significant oil spill that has impacted nearly 10 miles of coastline.

Prime Minister Rowley has said that cleanup and restoration efforts can only begin once the spill is under control. However, despite their efforts, divers have been unsuccessful in stopping the leak.

Hundreds of volunteers are working to manage the spread of the oil.

The spill’s impact has reached the village of Lambeau, located on the southeast coast of Tobago Island, where residents have been advised to wear masks or relocate temporarily.

The mysterious vessel, bearing the name “Gulfstream,” is suspected to have been involved in illicit activities, according to Rowley.

Despite the ongoing investigation and cleanup efforts, much about the ship remains unknown, including its origins and contents. Divers have been working to find additional markings to help identify the overturned vessel. Officials suspect it may have been under tow.

The country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has provided equipment aid the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) in response to the oil spill. The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) has providing additional provisions for the response, including Tyvek suits, hazmat bins, and shovels, which will be crucial for clean-up and containment efforts.

The disaster unfortunately coincides with the peak of Carnival, a critical season for the country’s tourism industry.

https://gcaptain.com/mystery-shipwreck-leaking-oil-in-trinidad-and-tobago/

‘Smallville’ actor Allison Mack released from prison for role as ‘slave master’ in Nxivm sex cult

“Smallville” actress Allison Mack has been released from federal prison after serving less than two years behind bars for her role as a “slave master” in the upstate Nxivm sex cult.

Mack, 40, was sprung from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California outside of San Francisco Monday, Bureau of Prison records show.

The TV actress was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2021 after pleading guilty for her role in helping to brainwash women into becoming sex slaves for Nxivm leader Keith Raniere.

Mack — who surrendered in September 2021 — was presumably released 14 months early for good behavior. She must still serve another three years of supervised release.

The star avoided a much heftier sentence that could have been as high as 14 to 17 1/2 years by cooperating with prosecutors and pleading guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to commit extortion and forced labor in April 2019.

And while Mack — Raniere’s right-hand woman — had been prepared to testify against the Svengali-like cult guru, she was never called to the witness stand.

But she and other cooperators helped secure a conviction against Raniere, 62, who was ultimately sentenced to 120 years behind bars for masterminding the twisted creed called DOS — which stands for Dominus Obsequious Sororium — or “master over slave women.”

The group’s victims were subjected to branding and starvation and forced to have sex with Raniere and to carry out tasks for the leaders. The women endured the treatment in part because the leaders kept “collateral” like nude photos of them.

Another Nxivm member, Seagram’s liquor heiress Clare Bronfman, is still serving a six-year-and-seven-month sentence after also taking a guilty plea.

Mack’s ex-wife, “Battlestar Galactica” actress Nicki Clyne, was also a part of Raniere’s inner-circle and was in a 10-year relationship with him. She was not charged in the case.

Mack’s lawyers did not return a request for comment Wednesday.

https://nypost.com/2023/07/05/actor-allison-mack-released-from-prison-for-role-in-sex-trafficking-case-tied-to-cult-like-group-nxivm/