Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert said authorities have “unearthed credible information which suggests that a certain group has expressed its intention to disrupt election proceedings.”

“We know who these people are, we know what they intend to do. We intend to use all our resources to ensure that elections are free and fair,” he told a news conference late Friday at which he displayed one of the T-shirts from the New National Vision party led by Fuad Abu Bakr, son of the man accused of masterminding a 1990 Islamic coup attempt.

He said police found a Kalashnikov assault rifle and dozens of rounds of ammunition in the raid on a house in northwestern Trinidad.

But Philbert declined to directly link the plot to New National Vision or to Jamaat al Muslimeen, which is led by Abu Bakr’s father.

Fuad Abu Bakr denied involvement.

“For someone to accuse us of trying to disturb the political process at this time is absurd,” Bakr told reporters Saturday. “It is very convenient at this time to find some guns and whatever and NNV jerseys and link that to us.”

The NVV is contesting 12 of 41 constituencies in the May 24 elections but the party has not garnered much support.

Police said they arrested a boy, 15, a woman, 22, a former Coast Guard member and two other suspects in their 20s.

Jamaat al Muslimeen was accused of storming Parliament in April 1990, taking the prime minister and his Cabinet hostage in a clash that killed 24 people. The rebels were later pardoned.

The recent announcement of early elections in Trinidad, which were not constitutionally due until 2013, has sparked a flurry of political activity.

Leaders of the country’s opposition party joined forces with a breakaway faction of the ruling party.

Patrick Manning’s People’s National Movement currently holds 26 of the 41 seats in Parliament, while the United National Congress holds the remaining 15 seats.

In previous elections, Jamaat al Muslimeen has openly campaigned for the island’s two major parties, but its leader, Yasin Abu Bakr, announced that the dormant NNV would be revived for the new election.

Left: Rio de Janeiro. Right: Hong Kong.

Here’s some good news for those dreaming of adventures: February is a great time for traveling. Whether you prefer to go off to the north, south, east or west, there are many choices of activities, exciting destinations and festivals worldwide to keep us all entertained for awhile. For those of you who are in search of the sun and sea, there is always a nice warm beach somewhere in the world that is waiting to welcome you with open arms.

That’s why winter is high season for tourism in the Caribbean and Central America, and hotel rooms are not as plentiful. If you decide to head south and not already have a reservation, you might still be able to get a last-minute deal, though. If you have no success by searching online, then a travel agency will be more than happy to help. The same principle applies for cruises, which are quite popular this time of the year.

February is also the time of the Lunar New Year in much of Asia, so if you choose to head east you’re sure to see some spectacular sights. Other places in the world host their carnival season in February, with the spectacle running up to the 16^th of the month in New Orleans, culminating with the Mardi Gras. Similar party atmospheres can be found in Trinidad, Martinique, Rio de Janeiro and even Venice, Italy, among other places.

Go far enough south and the seasons are reversed, so you’ll find summer in full bloom.  That makes February an ideal time for a safari in southern Africa, a stop for tango lessons in Buenos Aires, or even a trip to explore Antarctica.

Keep in mind that since it is summer there, children are out of school, families are traveling—and local venues such as museums and other tourist attractions tend to be packed. The airplanes that will take you on your journey going south, and eventually back home, will most likely be full as well, so don’t forget to pre-reserve your airline seats.

While traveling in February, also pay attention to whether it is the dry or wet season in your destination of choice. In tropical countries, you will experience a lot of rain and higher humidity during the wet seasons, but prices will be lower. This information can be obtained by checking the tourism web site of the country you plan to visit.

If your choice of destination of choice is to the north, you are likely you are in search of snow and winter sports. Look around and you’ll find that there is someplace out there that will be a good a match for all the snow lovers of this world and the sports they practice.

The key to enjoying winter sports with less crowded slopes is to go during the middle of the week. Hotel rates will also be lower during the week. The smaller the resort, the lower the lift ticket prices, but if you prefer a big name, popular resort then try and choose one where children can ski for free. This can be a big savings if you choose to bring the whole family along for the journey.

Photos from Wikimedia Commons.