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The Movement for Social Justice is taking the government to task over its wage offer to public sector workers.

Political Leader, David Abdullah says in every corner of this country people have been complaining about rising food prices.

He therefore sees no reason for the government’s 2% wage offer over a period of 8 years.

Mr. Abdullah and the MSJ are also calling out the Energy Minister Stuart Young for his comments during a CNN interview last week.

Mr. Abdullah was addressing a news conference hosted by his party yesterday.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley calls for patience, as there is growing dissatisfaction with his government’s wage offer to public sector workers.

On his return from Guyana yesterday, Dr. Rowley was asked to comment on labour’s rejection of the 2% offer.

Trade unions have been talking about a possible shut down.

He explained that a 4% increase would mean over $1.8 billion dollars in back pay.

Last week the Parliament approved a $3 billion dollar increase in the National Budget due to higher oil and gas prices internationally.

But according to Dr. Rowley that could change in quick time.

The 2022 hurricane season is likely to bring with it an average of 19 named storms.

Chief climatologist at the MET service Kenneth Kerr says four of them are expected to affect this country.

Mr. Kerr says between four and five storms are expected in the region with 3 becoming hurricanes.

August and September are predicted to be the most active months for the region.

Mr. Kerr was speaking at the met services’ 2022 wet and hurricane seasons national climate outlook forum yesterday.

The Cannabis Control Bill has been passed in the Senate.

Senators passed the Bill at around 1am this morning.

The next step is for the President to attach her signature.

Trinidad and Tobago embarked on 2 marijuana reform Bills, one to decriminalize low-level possession and another to legalize cannabis for medical and religious purposes.

Possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis has been decriminalized but possession of more than 30 grams and up to 60 grams would be punishable by a fixed penalty notice but would not impact an individual’s criminal record if the fine were paid.

The Act provides for the regulatory control of the handling of cannabis for certain purposes, the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Cannabis Licensing Authority and connected matters.

Reports of sexual assault on a Venezuelan national.

According to police the 22-year-old victim who resides in Arima boarded a PH taxi at around 7pm last night, in the vicinity of Scotia Bank.

The victim told police 2 other persons got into the car and were dropped off at their respective locations and she became the lone passenger.

She said at that moment the driver reclined his seat and pinned her in the back seat.

The attacker then robbed her of her valuables including her documentation papers, drove to an abandoned shack in Aripo and sexually assaulted her.

She was left at the shack.

The victim said she heard a car passing and flagged it down

Police were then contacted

The victim has described the assailant as a man of African descent, fair in complexion, slim built, and orange hair.        

Robert Sabga says he is willing to cooperate with the police as they investigate the possible existence of a pedophile ring in Trinidad and Tobago.

Via his task force report 25 years ago, Mr. Sabga spoke of the ring, which he said then, consisted of high-ranking professionals.

While he is willing to talk with the police, he will not call names.

Earlier this week the Prime Minister called on the police to find the 1997 Sabga Report and follow its contents.

On i95.5fm yesterday Mr. Sabga said going after ghosts makes no sense.

Mr. Sabga also said one of the names he is aware of still holds office.

He said back in 1997 some unlicensed children’s’ homes were funded by government and some people were receiving kickbacks.

The Prime Minister has said the recently formed task force has been unable to find a copy of the Sabga Report.

But Mr. Sabga said forty copies of the report were handed over to then Social Development Minister Manohar Ramsarran, who shared them with the Basdeo Panday Cabinet.

Mr. Sabga said the Cabinet did act on the findings and the report was not buried as is being claimed.

Bullets are fired at a vehicle near the Transit Hub City Gate in Port of Spain.

At around 4pm yesterday the driver of a silver Wingroad was heading west along South Quay when another car pulled alongside him.

The occupants of the vehicle opened fire and sped off.

The driver of the Wingroad pulled over and got out.

He was not hurt.

Police were called to the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has publicly called on the police to “take immediate steps” to find a 1997 report into children’s homes and institutions.

Dr. Rowley said yesterday the police should seek to recover the Sabga Task Force Report and the evidence of all those who were aware of what he called this frightening situation.

He wants the police to take all necessary action against those who have been implicated in or with these very shocking revelations as published.

Last Sunday, former Minister and Social Activist Verna St. Rose Greaves said nothing was done after the findings of the task force were submitted.

The Prime Minister said the national population is understandably angered by what appears to be facts where persons could have been identified as mistreating minors in their care, even committing heinous crimes against these unfortunate children.

He said such persons instead of being prosecuted to the full extent of the law have enjoyed secrecy and protection of others.

In his statement, Prime Minister Rowley said when his administration came to office in 2015, he established the Ministry of Gender and Child Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister and operationalised the Children’s Authority, expanding its scope.

He said his government was totally unaware of the contents of a Sabga Report, which is now being serialised in the media.

The Prime Minister said his government had established a committee “to enquire into the concerns about reports of abuses and other shortcomings in this national effort of caring for these children”.