CALL US AT:

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service says it has made a breakthrough of a home invasion in Rio Claro.

During the robbery a teen was sexually assaulted.

On Saturday officers attached to the Special Investigations Unit, in a combined effort with the Rio Claro Criminal Investigations Department and Task Force conducted extensive enquiries, under the supervision of Snr. Supt. Khan.

Police Commissioner Mac Donald Jacob gave an update on what his officers discovered.  

The TTPS came under heavy fire from for the crimes in Rio Claro.

The TTPS was criticised for its fleet management challenges, which affected the emergency response patrols.

Commissioner Jacob assures this has been rectified.

The top cop was speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning.

Scrap iron workers have again staged an early morning protest causing disruption to traffic in parts of Claxton Bay.

From as early as 4am this morning, the angry workers blocked the northbound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

The workers are protesting the 6-month ban on exports implemented by the government.

Police and fire fighters were called to the scene this morning.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning National Security Mininster Fitzgerald Hinds said so far law enforcement officers have been able to have one lane passable to the motoring public.

He said the protest appeared to be better organised this time.

The workers believe the ban will destroy the sector.

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.