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A call by the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association for an urgent meeting with Acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob.

President Allan Ferguson says there is urgent need for the police to crack down on rogue operators in the industry.

This follows an incident over the weekend in which 23-year-old Casey De Silva was electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal TSTT cables from overhead lines in Barrackpore.

The incident is reported to have occurred at Rochard Douglas Road at around 2am on Saturday.

Mr. Ferguson says his association did not know Mr. De Silva.

He says there are persons operating as scrap iron dealers without a license, which is against the law.

Mr. Ferguson explains that the pandemic has seen a drastic increase in persons running illegal yards.

He sends a warning to such operators saying his association is going after them.

Mr. Ferguson is also calling on the Attorney General to aid in amending the law to improve the operations of the Scrap Iron Dealers Industry.

He was speaking at a news conference at Signature Hall, Chaguaramas, yesterday. 

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said, he has been spied upon, and as a public official there is no word as privacy. 

Augustine was asked to comment on the recent confirmation from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, of spy software purchased to assist in the fight against crime.

Mr. Augustine said, the matter is one of a balancing act, as the rights of citizens must be protected, and at the same time the improvement of technology, to treat with criminals. 

Last week Prime Minister Rowley confirmed the purchase after Opposition claims of it being used to spy on citizens and opponents of the government.

Opposition, Member of Parliament Dr. Roodal Moonilal has confirmed U.S. Law Enforcement while in an American airport stopped him.

He says the incident occurred earlier this year.

Dr. Moonilal says he was questioned by the 2 officers who stopped him, and their mission appeared to be one which sought information about Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

Dr. Moonilal last night also waded into the State’s engagement of foreign officers to go after opponents of the government.

According to Dr. Moonilal the British officials are being used by the government contrary to law and the independence of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

An elderly woman with multiple comorbidities has died as a result of the coronavirus.

Her death brings the death toll in the country to 3,780.

In the month of April so far there have been 30 deaths.

Yesterday the Ministry of Health said there were 90 new COVID-19 cases, 3 of them in Tobago.

Between April 1^st and the 10^th there were 2,472 new cases of the virus.

The total number of active cases now stands at 6,236.

One hundred and forty-seven positive patients are hospitalised.

Six thousand and forty-one people are in home self-isolation.

Attorney and Member of Parliament for Barataria/San Juan, Saddam Hussein says from all indications government is up to no good and is spying on its opponents and others.

The Opposition, United National Congress MP is insisting government may be breaching the Interception of Communication law.

At a news conference yesterday, he revisited the law, which was passed in 2010.

The Opposition MP said the use of police officers to spy on people is also wrong.

Last Monday, Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar said people, including politicians and the media the Keith Rowley government is illegally monitoring workers.

The next night, Prime Minister Rowley confirmed his government purchased the spy ware.

He said it is being used in the fight against crime.

MP Hussein is questioning the real motives of the government.

He assured the UNC has no problem with such interceptions, in the interest of national security, but he said people’s rights must be protected.

The Family Planning Association is insisting sexual reproductive health care remains critical to the development of young people and the society.

President of the association, Professor Rose Marie Belle Antoine, says in spite of limited resources and global challenges the struggle to protect women and girls must continue.

Professor Belle Antoine says statistics are still showing that young people are engaging in “At Risk” sexual behaviour and need to be protected.

She laments what she sees as attempts locally and internationally to roll back gains made in the area of sexual reproductive health care.

The FPATT President says even climate change is a threat.

Professor Belle Antoine was delivering FPATT’s report to the nation last week.

She listed among the achievements of the 65-year-old association, initiatives that look after the interests of migrants in Trinidad and Tobago.

RebuildTT is not in agreement with the Childrens’ Authority.

The organisation is concerned about the authority’s statement saying from the outset it appears to have no sound rationale for its end corporal punishment call.

RebuildTT says the authority is equating corporal punishment with abuse.

It says the warped rum shop logic of the authority’s media release is therefore telling society that parents, in the course of disciplining their children, cannot spank them.

The registered non-governmental organisation says spanking is not abuse and does not cross the line until children are maimed or marked as a result.

In a release, RebuildTT says the authority needs to focus on protecting children who are truly being abused.

It says when children are shown love by their parents and are spanked as a result of indiscipline; there can be no harm to them.

RebuildTT says the authority is pushing a liberal agenda, which will lead to further indiscipline among children.

On the heels of the death of 15-year-old Alliyah Alexander, the Children’s Authority is stepping up efforts to get rid of corporal punishment.

Alliyah died after a reported beating with a belt by a male relative at his house 1 week ago.

The authority says parents and guardians must find other ways of disciplining their children.

It says hammers and dog chains are being used to discipline children in this country and this must stop.

Yesterday the Assessment Manager of the Children’s Authority, Vandana Siew Sankar-Ali said corporal punishment at home appears to be on the increase.

She said 15-23% of reports coming into the authority are physical abuse related.

The psychologist said even using a belt, considered to be light punishment, could go the wrong way.

The authority says the recent deaths of children, emphasize the need for families and society at large to challenge the traditional norms, which influence the way children, are cared for and treated.

The authority wants an end to corporal punishment.