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Reports of fallen trees and electrical wires, roofs blown off and blocked roads in several parts of the country.

A bad weather system overnight is responsible for these situations.

During the early hours of this morning, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management said it has gotten the trouble reports on areas in the east, central, south Trinidad and in Tobago.

Jerry David of the Ministry of Rural Development tells us there are many reports of incidents.

In Diego Martin, Chaguanas, Freeport, San Fernando, Preysal, Sangre Grande, Carapichaima and Cunupia, roofs on houses were blown off.

Fallen trees and downed power lines have occurred in areas including Laventille Road and Las Lomas #2.

He said crews attached to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management are out in the field assessing the damage.

He says there have been power outages in some parts and fallen trees blocking roadways.

The ODPM says it continues to monitor the alerts issued by the MET Service.

The National Infrastructure Development Company Limited says it is probing what caused the Carnival Runner to take in water. 

The water taxi began taking in water on Sunday but the problem was only discovered on Monday.

The vessel was 1 of the 4 passenger vessels operating between the cities of Port of Spain and San Fernando.

NIDCO has assured that transportation will not be affected, as the compromised vessel was not in use and therefore will not hinder operations.

NIDCO yesterday said the water taxi has been stabilised.

Newscenter 5 understands professional divers were on-site yesterday carrying out an underwater inspection to determine the cause of the incident.

It said once investigations are completed, a further update will be provided.

The Carnival Runner was built in 2010.

Twelve police officers have now died as a result of the coronavirus.

Acting Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said yesterday the service will continue to keep crime down and his officers are prepared for the long haul.

However, Mr. Griffith said crime levels are down and he hailed the work of his officers.

The statement from the Acting Commissioner was part of his Independence Day message to the nation posted on social media yesterday.

Meanwhile, 6 more patients have died of the coronavirus.

They are 1 elderly male, 1 elderly woman, 2 middle-aged men and 2 middle-aged women.

They all had comorbidities.

Their deaths bring the toll to 1,291.

There were also 241 new infections taking the active caseload to 4,404.

The Ministry of Health says there are 284 people at hospital, 102 at step-down facilities, 134 in State quarantine and 3,777 in home self-isolation.

Leader of the Opposition sees trouble ahead for unvaccinated students, who will have to do their classes online.

Kamla Persad Bissessar says the government’s decision is not a good one and should be reconsidered.

She agrees with the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, which expressed concerns about the plan by the government.

At her party’s virtual report to the nation on Monday night, Mrs. Persad Bissessar also called on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to consult and consider adjusting the curfew hours.

Dr. Rowley last weekend said the hours of the curfew will stay as is, in order to achieve the goal of reducing the number of COVID-19 infections.

Dr. Rowley said the curfew and State of Emergency are the price the country has to pay for ensuring the safety and protection of all.

The Education Minister is again urging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated.

Only students who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed back into classrooms for face-to-face classes from October 1^st.

This is the date the government hopes to bring out secondary school pupils in forms four, five and six.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley made the announcement last week even as he expressed frustration with the low number of eligible school­children who have been vaccinated to date.

Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby -Dolly, made the fresh appeal while speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the Leslie Mahase Building at Hillview College on Monday.

Dr. Gadsby Dolly told parents to do the right thing

The Education Minister said the safety of the nation’s children is of paramount importance.

The Pfizer vaccine is available for children between the ages of 12 and 18.

There is another call to the population to get vaccinated.

This time it is coming from Archbishop Jason Gordon.

The Catholic Cleric yesterday lamented the rising COVID infections and the dangers they present.

He said the unvaccinated are losing their lives to the virus and it is time to heed the call to get immunized.

He also chastised people for falling for the advice of so-called social media experts on COVID-19.

Archbishop Gordon indicated that many people who have been against the vaccines or vaccinations are no longer alive because the virus killed them.

The Archbishop said there is a big difference between faith and stupidity.

He urged parishioners to trust the science and ask god for help in dealing with the virus.

Four women are the country’s latest COVID-19 fatalities.

All but one of them had comorbidities.

The Ministry of Health says the patients were 3 middle-aged women with comorbidities and 1 middle-aged woman without comorbidities.

The death toll in the country is now 1,278.

In its latest update yesterday the Ministry of Health also said there were 185 new cases of the virus bringing the active caseload to 4,592.

A war of words develops between the Acting Police Commissioner and his predecessor following accusations surrounding the issuing of Firearm Users Licenses.

Stephen Williams says Gary Griffith listens to no one and does not understand his role as head of the police service.

On Monday Acting Commissioner Gary Griffith took issue with Mr. Williams’ objection to individual being allowed to own multiple weapons.

But on The Morning Show on i95.5fm yesterday, Stephen Williams questioned where Mr. Griffith would have gotten the number he used.

He insisted a person possessing multiple legal weapons is unacceptable.

Mr. Williams also explained that no one is entitled to own a gun in this country.

The retired Commissioner said he should have spoken out over the last 3 years, but did not wish to be in a public battle with anyone.

However in response, the acting top cop questions the timing of Mr. Williams’ statements.

Mr. Griffith says he has decided to speak out just as a new Commissioner is to be selected.

According to Mr. Griffith, the former Commissioner was not concerned when criminals had thousands of illegal weapons but he has a voice when law-abiding citizens want to protect themselves.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday, the acting top cop said under Mr. Williams the police service was stagnant.

In an opinion poll commissioned by the Police Service Commission earlier this year Mr. Griffith received an 80% approval rating.

He received scores 75% or higher in the areas of leading by example, being accessible, personal integrity and command presence.

Three hundred and fifteen pregnant women have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Director of Women’s Health at the Ministry of Health Dr. Adesh Sirjusingh said yesterday some have had to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit.

He gave the figures while responding to the recent approval of Pfizer’s 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has said the vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

Dr. Sirjusingh is urging expectant mothers to get inoculated in order to protect themselves.

He said pregnant women are experiencing new complications associated with the virus.

The medical expert again called on people in this vulnerable group to do the right thing.

He also said it is safe to breastfeed after getting inoculated.