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Relatives and colleagues of Garvin Ramoutar are in shock after his death while on the job at Trinidad Cement Limited in Claxton Bay.

Reports say Mr. Ramoutar was yesterday morning operating a Belt Hopper machine when he got caught and was dragged onto the belt.

Branch President of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Kevin Arjoon says 39-year-old Mr. Ramoutar was crushed to death.

Mr. Ramoutar was the father of 3.

He lived at Whiteland Williamsville.

Reports say Mr. Ramoutar, a casual worker, was on the over night shift on Tuesday when he met his untimely death.

Mr. Arjoon confirms all protocols were followed after the fatal accident.

He said yesterday colleagues of Mr. Ramoutar are distraught.

Assurances today that the online games of the National Lotteries Control Board are intact and their integrity is without questions.

The assurances follow a situation, which occurred during the live draw of a Play Whe game earlier this week.

The Online Gaming Agents Association of Trinidad and Tobago was yesterday concerned over what it called the suspicious outcome of the draw.

Association President Dean Persad said Tuesday’s 4pm draw could be is questioned as the numbers surfaced before the it was concluded.

The Mega Draw deals with the white balls and the red ball increases the winnings of the person who picked the correct mark.

Mr. Persad said the situation has caused an uproar and doubts among both players and agents.

He said this is not good for the NLCB.

Mr. Persad who represents 1300 online agents says he has already written to NLCB.

In a response Chairman of the NLCB board Eustace Nancis says it was human error and TTT has claimed responsibility.

Mr. Nancis is quoted as saying that there are sometimes pre-draw trials.

But he stressed that what was broadcast on television was a live event.

He noted that any mistake made prior and goes on air, it could be a problem, sometimes they may have pre-draw trials but it’s live.

He further said that he was awaiting a report on the matter.

Mr. Nancis also provided a copy of a message he received from TTT stating that TTT Limited would like to advise the public that on November 15^th, 2022, a machine error at TTT affected the 4pm Play Whe draw # 22596.

The message read that this was an error and does not affect the integrity of the NLCB draw.

TTT Limited apologises to the NLCB and the gaming public saying it has taken all actions to prevent any recurrence of such event.

Political Leader of the ruling People’s National Movement Dr. Keith Rowley scoffs at a legal challenge mounted by his opponent in the race for leadership of the party.

He says he is ready to face the court at any time.

But his challenger former PNM Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira wants him to pay attention to the contents of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed in the High Court on Monday names Mrs. Nunez-Tesheira, along with 2 other claimants.

They are the candidates for the Chairmanship Ken Butcher and candidate for Elections Officer Bishop Victor Phillip.

They are seeking an order from the court that the elections be postponed for 21 days.

Dr. Rowley fronts a team called the PNM Leaders in Service

On Monday night he said he fears no challenge.

But Mrs. Nunez Teshiera feels the team of Dr. Rowley should not be too quick to dismiss the challenge.

Mrs. Nunez-Teshiera is hoping the court hearing will be expedited.

Meanwhile Dr. Rowley is insisting the PNM continues to be a democratic party with democratic processes.

The party’s women’s arm held the meeting at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Maracas Valley.

Voting in the PNM Internal Elections is scheduled to take place on November 26^th, 27^th and December 4^th.

This is the first time that elections are being held on 2 days, other than the Convention Day.

It is going to take a little longer for the country to get a confirmed Commissioner of Police.

The Police Service Commission extends the period for the recruitment and selection of a Commissioner.

In July the Commission said the process would have been completed by the end of the year.

In a statement yesterday, the Commission said it needs more time.

It said it commenced the process of vetting all candidates as required under law and governing process for the establishment of an Order of Merit list for the post.

However, it said additional time has become necessary to ensure for a proper and in-depth security vetting of candidates.

The Commission said this would require an additional month to complete that process.

As such it has extended the date for the completion of the selection process for a Police Commissioner to January 31^st 2023.

Government concedes there is very little it can do to deal with the cost of food in the country.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark yesterday raised a matter on the adjournment calling on the government to say what it will do about the rising cost of living.

He said the times call for action.

In the Upper House Mr. Mark said his call was on behalf of the working class.

In response government Senator Paula Gopee Scoon said the problem is due to external forces.

Mrs. Gopee Scoon would list some of the factors affecting the cost of food.

The Opposition also called for more items to be made VAT free.

Teachers at the San Juan North Secondary have agreed to return to work, but only in some parts of the building

On October 4^th, a 13-year-old student was hit on his head by a piece of a concrete slab, which fell from one of the structures.

Since then, teachers have expressed concerns over the conditions at the school and refused to teach in classrooms located on blocks where there are safety concerns.

Yesterday, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association Martin Lum Kin confirmed officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Authority have made some findings.

Mr. Lum Kin said as a result of the assurances made by OSHA, some classes could resume.

Four days after the incident involving the student, the Ministry via a release said while the emergency repairs were ongoing, the school had not been shut down.

It said the areas under repair had been isolated and students were attending school on rotation.

The Ministry added that the San Juan North Secondary School is one of more than 300 schools, which are over 40 years old, and is one of 26 schools, which have been approved by the Cabinet for major infrastructural repair.

This work it said was carded to begin this month.

A man succumbs to wounds he received from a pellet gun.

Nicholas Sylvester died last Saturday but reports of his death are only now being made public.

According to police reports, Mr. Sylvester was shot with a pellet gun last Friday.

The details surrounding the event are unclear but police have confirmed that the shooter was a relative. Investigations have been launched into the incident.   

Several incidents of gun violence overnight a firefighter is among several people reportedly shot and killed and wounded.

The incidents occurred in Sangre Grande, Dabadie, Tunapuna and Arima.

The firefighter is identified as Simone Ramsaroop.

Initial reports say she was shot at New Settlement last evening.

Two other persons were wounded.

At St. Vincent Street in Tunapuna reports say 2 people were shot.

No confirmation yet on their condition.

And 2 people were also shot last night in Dabadie, also no confirmation of their situation.

And earlier 40-year-old Stephan Garrick and Shane Clarke were at Pamberi Pan Yard in San Juan when they were shot.

Mr. Garrick was killed and Mr. Clarke was shot in his lower limbs and back.

Another identified, as Mario Clarke was also shot in that incident.

They were taken to hospital.

There are reports of fatal work accident at Trinidad Cement Limited in Mayo, Claxton Bay.

Newscenter 5 has been informed that a casual employee working on the over night shift was accidentally dragged onto the 1.5 Belt.

He was crushed.

Reports are saying the tragedy occurred at around 4am today.

Trade union officials are on the scene but they are yet to comment on the matter.

Checks with the police have confirmed that a fatal incident did occur at the plant.

The identity of the victim is being with held at this time and Newscenter 5 will have more for you on this story as details unfold.