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Former Opposition Senator says the criminal elements have won the war on crime.

According to Sean Sobers, the number of murders over the long holiday weekend at a time of religious observance can only be described as disheartening.

He says the population is scared. 

Mr. Sobers referred to a speech by then Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley on crime.

He says Dr. Rowley should follow his own advice and demit office.

According to TTPS figures there have been 495 murders to date compared with 340 for the same period last year.

The TTPS says in October 2021 there were 50 homicides compared with 53 this year.

A man and a woman are shot and killed in St. James during the early hours of this morning.

They are identified as Corey Clarke and Samantha Patrick.

Reports say the incident took place at Dundonald Hill, Aboud Circular, around midnight.

Newscenter 5 understands the couple was asleep with their 7-month-old baby when gunmen stormed the house.

The gunmen opened fire on the couple before escaping.

The baby was not hurt.

Residents in the area called the police.

Lawmen took the couple to hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Investigations are continuing.

A warning of looming danger from the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association due to a shortage of midwives.

President of the union Idi Stuart says the low patient to nurse ratio is a recipe for disaster.

Mr. Stuart describes the shortage as dangerous and says there continues to be inadequate specialty staff on maternity wards.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday, Mr. Stuart outlined several contributing factors to the decreasing number of midwives.  

Mr. Stuart is urging government to beef up training and incentives for midwives before it is too late.

He said despite the difficulties with the low number of birthing staff, the country is fortunate not to have experienced life threatening accidents or fatalities.    

Two men are shot dead by police during separate incidents at Indian Walk and Beetham Gardens.

The incidents occurred between Sunday night and on Monday but were only made public by the TTPS late yesterday.

In the latest incident–the man, of Beetham Gardens, who was shot by police yesterday morning, has been identified as Voss Singh.

The 33-year-old, of Phase 5, Beetham Gardens, was shot several times following an alleged confrontation with police.

Officers of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) were said to be on mobile patrol around 12.20am, when they allegedly spotted several men armed with high-powered rifles.

The officers claimed the men began running in different directions when they saw the police vehicles.

As the police pursued one of the suspects into a house, the officers claimed the man pointed a gun at them and acting in accordance with the TTPS’s use of force policy, they returned fire, hitting Singh several times.

As Mr. Singh fell to the ground, the officers went to him.

Conscious but bleeding heavily, the officers took him to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he died while undergoing emergency treatment.

Officers later recovered one AR-15 rifle, fitted with a magazine, at the scene.

And in the first incident around 8.15 pm on October 16^th officers of the southern division received information that a man, armed with a firearm, was seen at Carew Street, Fort George Road, Indian Walk, Moruga.

On arrival, officers reportedly saw Myron Robley, 28, standing at the side of the road with a gun in his hand.

As he saw the officers, it was alleged that Robley fired in their direction.

One police officer returned fire, hitting Robley in the abdomen.

He was taken to the Princes Town Health Facility where he later died.

They said they recovered a pistol with an extended magazine and one live round of 9mm ammunition and two 9mm spent shells at the scene.

Investigations are continuing into both incidents.

The society of St. Vincent De Paul assures residents at the Finbar Ryan Geriatric Home are well cared for.

The defence follows social media posts, which suggested that residents at the home are being made to eat inadequate diets and the sick and infirmed are being left to fend for themselves.

On the Morning Edition program today President of the society Nigel Phillip refuted the allegations.

However Mr. Phillip admitted to several challenges plaguing the institution.

Further Mr. Phillip vehemently denied that the home is negligent.

Mr. Phillip acknowledged the national network of 65 independently run SVP conferences and their dedicated and committed members, whom he said are tirelessly, and quietly, serving Trinidad and Tobago.

He issued a call to the public for financial or other support to assist the home in providing care for the elderly.

The Opposition, United National Congress accuses the ruling Peoples National Movement of meddling and interference in independent bodies.

Member of Parliament for Chaguanas west Dinesh Rambally says it is what has lead to the judicial impasse in the Ramlogan/Ramdeen matter.

The case has stalled as State witness Vincent Nelson is unable to testify at this time.

Mr. Rambally said the State interfered.

He said former AG Faris Al Rawi was wrong.

They were speaking at a press conference of the United National Congress yesterday.

And Political Leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdullah sees it is an unacceptable development.

He said no one is ever held for white-collar crime and that’s not good.

Mr. Abdullah also denounced the increase in the age of retirement.

Police are still searching for a 53-year-old woman in connection with the stabbing death of a Gasparillo construction worker.

Police reported that at about 8pm on Saturday, officers were on patrol when they responded to a report of a wounding at Houssa Trace, Bonne Aventure Road in Gasparillo.

They later met residents who told them that 29-year-old Randy “Brent” Joseph, was stabbed in the chest by a woman he knew.

Police were also told the woman had accused Mr. Joseph of pelting her house with stones earlier that day.

He was stabbed twice in the chest by the woman who then ran off.

Joseph died minutes later.

Reports say the suspect became hostile with Mr. Joseph and his family about 2 months ago when a cellphone belonging to her went missing.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Erla Christopher vows that no stone would be left unturned to bring criminals to justice in killing of Jamal Modest.

Nine-year-old Jamal was said to be watching a game of football in a field near his home when he was fatally shot on Saturday night.

The child was pronounced dead at the Chaguanas Health Facility.

In extending heartfelt condolences to the family, the acting top cop gave the assurance that no effort will be speared in bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

She added, that over the years the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has invested resources in the Enterprise area and will continue to work and partner with members of the community.

Additionally the Acting Commissioner said the TTPS would render assistance to the distraught family during this traumatic time through our Victim and Witness Support Unit.

As TTPS homicide detectives work feverishly on the ground conducting inquiries, Ms. Christopher is appealing for cooperation.

She is calling on anyone who has information that could assist, please come forward, help us, so justice can be served, to give some semblance of closure and relief to a grieving family.

According to police reports around 8.20pm on Saturday 15^th October 2022, several shots were fired from a white panel van in the vicinity of the basketball court at the African Grounds, Enterprise.

Jamal was struck by the gunfire and was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility by relatives to seek medical attention where he succumbed to his injuries.

The white panel van was reportedly stolen at gunpoint earlier that day.

Investigations are continuing into both incidents