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Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds is assuring he is still on the job, despite a media report and rumors that he had been fired.

In a post on his Facebook page yesterday afternoon, Mr. Hinds did not directly address the report, but he posted photos of himself in office and stated that he had been going about his job as usual, after attending a Cabinet meeting.

He said there was a solid Cabinet engagement treating as always, with the serious business of the nation’s affairs.

Mr. hinds said as always, he admired the visionary and strong leadership of his Prime Minister; as well as the ideas and proposals of his colleagues.

But Minister Hinds and the Acting Police Commissioner Macdonald Jacob have been given a failing grade by former Opposition Senator Sean Sobers.

He said government’s priorities are not in the right place.

Mr. Sobers also feels the entire government needs to go and not just the National Security Minister.

And another public official is taking a B+ grade for her performance as Comptroller of Customs.

Yasmin Marcial told a Joint Select Committee of the Parliament she and her team have been trying.

She said the results of the work being done are coming in.

She also revealed plans are in train for the setting up of an Internal Affairs Unit at Customs.

A Belmont man has been freed on a charge of murder.

Anton Beckles spent the last 2 years in remand charged with the shooting death of his neighbour Michael Sheldon john in July 2020.

Forty-seven-year-old Mr. John was shot dead at his Belmont home after he allegedly argued with one of his neighbours.

The enquiry was first head by the Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle but was aborted and reassigned to Rehanna Hosein.

Attorney Wayne Sturge raised objection over the State’s decision to lead fresh evidence from the victim’s wife.

At the end Mr. Sturge said there was insufficient evidence linking his client to the crime.

Mr. Beckles was freed on Monday by Magistrate Hosein who upheld a “No Case Submission” by his attorneys.

The magistrate agreed that there was not enough evidence to link Mr. Beckles to the crime.

An appeal to the Ministry of Works and Transport to assist residents of Seascape Apartments in Cocorite who have been rendered homeless following a landslide.

Reports say residents of the 3-storey structure had to run out of their homes as boulders; dirt and water tanks came crashing down shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

Spokesperson for the residents Karen Phillip says it was a nightmare

She tells us some residents on the ground floor were trapped in their homes.

Ms. Phillip says the house above was split into two.

She says there are fears the structure would come crashing down at any time.

Ms. Phillip says some traumatized residents spent the night in their cars fearing the worse.

She is calling on the Ministry of Works and Transport to step in, saying the Regional Corporation cannot handle the scope of damage.

Ms. Phillip thanked fire officers from the Four Roads station whom she said responded within minutes and rescued the residents trapped in their homes.

Bamboo #2 residents give the Local Government and Works Ministers a difficult time during a visit to flood stricken parts of the community.

Many blamed the floods on government neglect and some contractors.

Angry residents jeered Ministers Faris Al Rawi and Rohan Sinanan.

Mr. Sinanan saw the devastation by boat while his colleague walked through the area.

The residents had some questions for the 2 Ministers.

Via a boat engaged to remove marooned residents TV6 yesterday toured the community.

People were captured sitting and standing on rooftops and on walls.

At a news conference later Minister Al Rawi informed the public of what was available to them by way of grants.

On the roads and highway out of Port of Spain there was gridlock.

 Minister Sinanan instructed that the Priority Bus Route be opened up.

For several hours traffic crawled.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said police officers were on patrols.

Opposition officials have been slamming the government’s response to the floods claiming neglect.

MP Roodal Moonilal even suggested a protest with a difference.

He said government has not spent allocated money on preventative measures but on huge projects, which bring no relief to people.

The Police Social and Welfare Association is taking government’s 4% wage increase offer to the Industrial Court.

President Inspector Gideon Dickson maintains his members are flatly refusing the offer placed on the table by the Chief Personnel Officer.

He says the special Tribunal will be held on February 15^th and 24^th 2023.

However, Inspector Dickson says his executive is still open for further discussions with the CPO, but it must be in the best interest of police officers.

Meanwhile, members of the TTPS and the Prison Service and the CPO sign what is being termed has an historic agreement to treat with grievances.

Inspector Dickson says the agreement introduces a grievance procedure where issues under the purview of the CPO would now be addressed in a timely manner.

He says for far too long such issues would have been thrown aside much to the frustration of police officers.

Meanwhile President of the Prison Officers Association Cerron Richards says it is an important document.

They both agreed the document was long in coming and will work in the best interest of their members.

The police are promising more resources to fight crime and the executive assures it can address the murder rate in 6 weeks time.

Top ranking officers yesterday said the service has already started initiatives aimed at reducing the number of crimes.

Several initiatives have been announced.

Among them newly trained officers, new vehicles and increased residential, commercial and road patrols.

At a news conference the Acting Police Commissioner Macdonald Jacob said after the holidays anti crime operations will recommence with the aim of a safe Carnival.

He said 6 weeks to contain murders and he does not believe it is impossible.

The Acting Commissioner said the public must know they have a role to play in dealing with the problem.

The burgeoning crime situation is being lamented in several quarters. 

Staff at a senior citizens home in St. Anns are robbed.

The incident occurred at Chateau Savane Coblentz Gardens on Tuesday afternoon.

Operators of the home prefer to remain silent on the circumstances surrounding the incident, which is said to have left residents shaken up.

Many of the residents were unaware there was a robbery.

It is said the 4 armed bandits stormed the property and demanded cash from the caregivers.

The doctor, the housekeeper and a caregiver were robbed of their cell phones and jewelry was taken from one of the victims.

Reports say the bandits were scared off when an air horn was sounded.

Police were called to the scene along with security officers.

No one was hurt.