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Come Wednesday government will attempt to obtain an extension of the State Of Emergency, which expires on the 29^th of this month.

The Keith Rowley administration wants a 3-month extension, which takes the SOE to November.

Parliament will be convened from its recess next Wednesday to approve the motion, which is to be moved by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

The country has been under a State Of Emergency since May 15^th when President Paula-Mae Weekes declared it.

On May 24^th, a motion was brought to the parliament to extend the SOE for 3 months.

That was passed with a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives only.

The Express Newspaper quotes Attorney General Faris Al Rawi as saying the Cabinet met yesterday and decided to extend the SOE.

Already leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad Bissessar is not pleased.

She wants scientific data to be provided to the people, which would support the extension.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar is concerned about the impact of the SOE on an already struggling economy.

She says her side has to caucus on the matter.

She says once again the government is falling down on the job, and acting in a vikey-vie, ad hoc, way.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar feels the effects on the eco­no­my must be taken into consideration.

Come tomorrow government will be seeking to vaccinate the nation’s children ages 12 to 18.

The program begins at 8am but Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh reminds parents that they must give the green light for their children to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

The Minister adds that once inoculated, this will assist in maintaining social distancing.

At yesterday’s COVID-19 media update Minister Deyalsingh outlined the sites to be utilised.

The Minister also outlined the locations in central and south Trinidad.

Minister Deyalsingh further noted that areas in Tobago would be announced soon.

But Opposition Leader is accusing the government of bias in its arrangements. 

Kamla Persad Bissessar is not pleased with the selection of vaccination sites, which would facilitate children.

At her party’s virtual report last evening, Mrs. Persad Bissessar said the government is discriminating in setting up the sites.

She believes there is a lack of equity in the process. 

Once again Mrs. Persad Bissessar is claiming the government is making a mess of vaccine deployment.

She wants the Prime Minister to intervene.

The leader of the United National Congress said making the sites accessible would make it easier for people who may have their doubts about the vaccines to get inoculated.

Meanwhile some uncertainty today over the status of Police Commissioner Griffith.

The top cop’s contract expires today.

There is no official word yet as to whether he will act in the post until the parliament approves the recommended nominee.

Mr. Griffith took office on August 18^th 2018.            

The Police Service Commission has been screening candidates for the position.

Commissioner Griffith has said he would seek another 3-year term.

The process says when the PSC completes its screening it will send to the President of the Republic, a merit list of the candidates who scored the highest in the evaluation.

The President will then send a notification to the parliament naming the choice of the PSC.

Parliament resumes in September after the August recess.

The Head of the Legal Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Christian Chandler has gone on leave.

In a release Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, says Mr. Chandler, proceeded on leave pending the determination of an investigation into the report of an incident on August 5^th.

The Commissioner says investigations into an incident at sea are currently being carried out by officers of the Western Division.

The matter arose following a report in which a woman claims that she was held against her will onboard the vessel belonging to Mr. Chandler.

The woman reportedly told police she was terrified for her life and of being sexually assaulted.

She is said to have telephoned the wife of a coast guard captain who quickly responded to the distress call and intercepted the 45-foot vessel.

After a brief standoff, officers of the coast guard are said to have boarded the vessel and detained 14 people.

The coast guard says its officers confiscated several firearms and searched the vessel but nothing illegal was found.

There is a 3^rd case of the COVID-19 Delta Variant in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Health says the patient is a recently returned national to Trinidad and Tobago from the Turks and Caicos Island, transiting through Florida.

The Ministry says the patient provided a negative PCR test, which was taken 72 hours before arrival.

As per the health protocols for unvaccinated adults, the patient was put into quarantine upon arrival.

Later the passenger tested positive for the Delta Variant of the virus.

The patient has been isolated in a State run step down facility.

The Health Ministry says the presence of the variant was confirmed by gene sequencing done at the University of the West Indies.

Last week there were 2 cases of the variant recorded.

The discovery was made upon their arrival in Trinidad and Tobago.

The home construction sector re- opens today along with the retail industry.

According to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh risk and reward must be taken into consideration.

Speaking on the Morning Edition program today, he said after much deliberation the Prime Minister decided it was in the best interest of all to restart the sector.

The Minister said vaccination is very important to getting the economy back on track.

He again warned the public against listening to self-proclaimed experts.

Minister Deyalsingh stressed that COVID-19 is a matter of life and death.

A group of pastors says the politicians like the Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley are trying to divide the church.

One pastor, Apostle Mark Mohammed of TT Response says the church should not be in this position but they must stand united.

At a virtual news conference on Saturday the group of pastors made their position clear.

Apostle Mohammed said the politicians are attempting to divide and conquer.

And Bishop Dr. Victor Gill also said the vaccines are a blatant untruth.

The pastors were responding specifically to Dr. Rowley’s condemnation religious leaders urging their members to refuse the jab.

Conflicting opinions from religious leaders on the Prime Minister’s call for clerics to desist from advising their followers against taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

 Dr. Keith Rowley said it was unfair to the population.

However yesterday Head of the Redemption Worship Centre Bishop Keith Ramdass tells Newscenter 5 it was up to the individual.

He says no pastor can tell persons whether or not to take the jab…

He says the church is neither for nor against inoculation.

However he tells us, the severity of the COVID variants must be taken into consideration.