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Procedural hearings of the Commission of Enquiry into the circumstances leading to and surrounding the deaths of 4 divers are scheduled for September 7^th and 8^th. 

The 4 drowned at Paria Trading Co. Ltd in Pointe-a-Pierre on February 25^th this year.

A statement from the commission, says the procedural hearing will be open to members of the public and to the media.

Among its objectives are to identify the precise facts and circumstances which led up to and resulted in the loss of life, examine all the decisions and actions taken after it became clear that the 5 divers went missing.

It will also identify, whether by act or omission, any identified or unidentified party directly or indirectly caused loss of life; and examine all other material circumstances that led up to and surrounding the incident that led to the deaths of 4 LMCS divers, continuing up to the recovery of their bodies.

The divers  – Yusuf Henry, Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar and Kazim Hosein were caught in a 30-inch diameter pipeline At Paria Fuel’s Berth No. 6. 

The lone survivor was Christopher Boodram. 

The Opposition United National Congress is again blaming the government for the crime situation in the country.

Opposition Senator David Nakhid says the approaches of The Keith Rowley led administration have been ineffective.

He made the statement after reading recent headlines that told of among others the shooting of 2 young boys in Never Dirty, Morvant.

Addressing the party’s media conference yesterday Mr. Nakhid said it is due to bad policy.

The Senator said what is needed is intervention.

A Sunday Express report said if the recent spike in criminal activities is not addressed the year may end with 585 murders, the highest tally to date.

Police are investigating the killing of a man said to be a gang leader.

On Saturday night Jason “Pompey” Purcell was shot outside an apartment on Nelson Street in Port of Spain.

Reports say he was shot 12 times.

Police were called after residents heard the shots.

When officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force Strike Squad went to the scene Mr. Purcell was found bleeding heavily.

He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr. Purcell’s killing has taken the toll to 372 so far this year.

Residents in Cap De Ville stage a noisy demonstration calling for the roads to be fixed.

From as early as 5:30am this morning the residents blocked roads and set fire to debris.

MP for the area Kennedy Richards was at the site and called for them to cease and desist the action.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning Mr. Richards said he understands the plight of the residents.

Mr. Richards also spoke on the issue of flooding in the area, which saw the Vance River over flow, its banks.

Mr. Richards also said the issues have the attention of the authorities and are being engaged.

Senior health officials are lamenting the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized.

The number is put at over 200.

Principal Medical Officer In Charge Of Institutions, Dr. Maryam Abdul Richards made the disclosure at the COVID-19 media briefing yesterday.

She said as at 8am the capacity within the Parallel Health Care System stood at 41% with the majority listed as critical and severe.

She said there continues to be a high percentage of unvaccinated people requiring medical care.

Dr. Abdul Richards said this is not a good trend.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said 4 people have died of the virus.

They all had multiple co-morbidities.

The Minister of Education tells protesting student nurses they will be paid.

Yesterday COSTATT student nurses protested outside the headquarters of the Education Ministry.

The students said say they have not been paid their $1200.00 stipends for the last 5 years.

The 300 affected students fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education.

In a Whatsapp response Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby Dolly said payments of stipends started this week, with 385 nurses paid for the period January 2021-September 2021.

Minister Gadsby-Dolly said payment for October 2021 -June 2022 is currently being processed for 400 nurses and it is expected that these payments should start this week.

The Minister also noted that processing of payments began as soon as the required information was received from the students through COSTAATT.

However the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association slams the Ministry saying this is not a good look for them.

President Idi Stewart told Newscenter 5 yesterday, this has been a long-standing issue with all students attached to the Ministry of Education.  

He believes there is more to the stipend issue than meets the eye.

The union leader called the situation unfortunate as student nurses perform major tasks at the nation’s hospital.

On Tuesday COSTAATT officials said the Education Ministry was provided with all the information on payment of stipends to student nurses and assurances for payment were given.

The 8-year-old boy shot during an attack on a group liming in Mon Repos Morvant, is said to be in critical condition at hospital.

Yesterday his mother was reported as saying he was unconscious and the bullet remained lodged in the left side of the back of his head.

She said doctors are cautious about performing any procedure for fear that the child could react badly and could even die.

The mother said for most of yesterday his oxygen level was very low.

Another 11-year-old boy was also shot in the right leg during the gun related attack on Tuesday.

Two men were killed in the attack, 49-year-old Eusibo Roberts and his 38-year-old neighbour Carlton ‘Plaits’ Wharwoood.

It is reported that at around 6:30pm on Tuesday, 3 men alighted a vehicle near the corner of Laventille Extension Road and Mon Repos Road Morvant and fired several shots at a group of men.

Both Mr. Roberts and Mr. Wharwood were part of that group.

It is said after he was hit Mr. Roberts collapsed and one of the gunmen stood over him and fired more shots, killing him on the spot.

A 26-year-old woman is killed while liming with a friend in Arima.

The incident happened at about 10pm last night.

Police reports say Rianna Mohammed was at Bolo Trace, Hoyte Avenue, Arima with a 37-year-old able-bodied seaman when they were shot.

Officers say Ms. Mohammed, of Mc Inroy Street, Curepe, collapsed and died on the spot.

The man, who lives at Chatham Village, Chatham, was grazed in the neck.

Police are yet to establish a motive for the killing.

Ms. Mohammed is the second woman killed this week.

On Monday night Rosanne Granger was with her boyfriend Acori “Bless” Mason, sitting in a car at Jubilee Street, Aranguez Branch Road, at around 10.20 pm when they were attacked.

Both died at the scene.