CALL US AT:

Teachers have been instructed by the representing Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association to boycott school today.

It is the union’s way of rejecting the chief personnel officer’s four percent wage increase offer.

The new school term begins today but teachers may not be in attendance.

Last week TTUTA President Antonia De Freitas said her members were told to stay away from classes today.

A release yesterday reiterated the union’s position.

TTUTA said it expects thousands of its members to heed the call and boycott the opening of the new term.

But in Tobago the Division of Education is telling parents and guardians to send their children to school today.

Assistant Secretary for Education and former TTUTA representative in Tobago, Orlando Kerr yesterday said today is a normal school day despite the planned boycott.

And the Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly issued a video message yesterday welcomed all stakeholders to the new school year.

She also told of her Ministry’s plans for the sector this year.

She is calling on parents to help the Ministry when it comes to disciplining their children.

Two more people have died as a result of the coronavirus.

This brings the total number of deaths to 4,134.

The deceased are one elderly male and one middle-aged male.

One person had multiple comorbidities and one had a known comorbidity.

In its latest update the Ministry of Health says there are 154 new infections, bringing the total active positive cases to 6,206.

It says 239 persons are at hospital in relation to COVID-19.

Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh has been admitted to hospital.

A release from the Ministry of Health says Mr. Deyalsingh was admitted to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex last night after experiencing flu like symptoms.

It says a diagnosis of COVID-19 has been ruled out.

The release further states that the Minister was then transferred to the Arima General Hospital for further management and observation.

He remains in a stable condition. 

Also, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon is at home in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

At a media conference yesterday the Prime Minister apologised for her absence during talks with the visiting Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

In July, Dr. Rowley caught the virus for a second time, and on both occasions worked while in isolation.

President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Ancel Roget is threatening to sue Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

The threat comes after Dr. Rowley blamed Mr. Roget and the United National Congress for yesterday’s protest by the scrap ironworkers in Claxton Bay.

At a news conference yesterday Mr. Roget distanced himself from the action taken by the workers.

The government has implemented a 6-month ban on the export of all scrap iron, a decision the industry has rejected.

The police service says arrests are imminent following yesterday’s protest on the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway.

From as early as 4am yesterday scrap ironworkers protested near the Claxton Bay Flyover resulting in gridlock traffic.

The Amalgamated Workers Union accepts the Chief Personnel Officer’s offer of a 4% wage increase.

Union President General Michael Prentice says while the amount is not what his members anticipated; it is better than the current salaries in the economic climate.  

He says a decision had to be made in the best interest of those he represents.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday he said there was consultation with members.

He said his union has been saying for the last 5 years that the economy is bad and nothing has changed.

Mr. Prentice said the negotiating atmosphere has become toxic to the benefit of no one.

Mr. Prentice said time will prove him right or wrong.

Police are probing the killing of Devaughn Pamponette in Arima.

He was 36 years old.

Another man who was also shot remains in critical condition at the hospital.

Reports say that the incident occurred at a house at Bellamy Street around 9.45pm on Saturday night.

Newscenter 5 understands Mr. Pamponette and the other man were sitting when gunshots were heard.

Residents took them to the Arima District Health Facility to seek medical attention.

However, Mr. Pamponette died while receiving treatment.

Crime scene investigators retrieved thirteen 9-MM shells from the crime scene.

Fire officials in Tobago are to return to the scene of a blaze that gutted a house in Scarborough

A mother and daughter are now homeless.

Reports say the family lost everything.

The two storey building was valued at $600,000 with items valued at $90,000.