CALL US AT:

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley describes as a foolish idea, plans by the Port of Spain City Corporation to transform the Mandela Park.

There was a $20 million dollar tag to the proposals put forward by city Mayor Joel Martinez and un-named private entities.  

The Port of Spain City Corporation’s plans were to transform Nelson Mandela Park into a modern public wellness and sports tourism hub.

Yesterday, Dr. Keith Rowley said, replacing the natural environment with artificial turf is a salesman’s foolish idea that ought not to waste the time or the resources of the Port of Spain Corporation.

Dr. Rowley said the corporation could put its time and money too much better use and spare citizens this unnecessary aggravation.

Yesterday Mayor Martinez said he thought it to be a good idea.

But the Mayor said the plan has now been shelved.

The Mayor was speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday.

There was a proposal among other things, to install a synthetic surface playing field, instead of grass.

In addition persons would have had to pay to use the park.

A group of hikers is saved from a raging river, but there is a now a fear that things could have turned out much different.

The 9 were trapped on a riverbank near Edith Falls in Chaguaramas following bad weather on Saturday.  

Fire officers were called at around 2:30pm to assist.

The hikers were rescued within 30 minutes of the trouble call.

Speaking with Newscenter 5, President of the Hikers Association of Trinidad and Tobago Micheal Jattan says it could have been worse.

Mr. Jattan says since the implementation of the new health regulations he has constantly advised hikers to abide by the law.

There has been no word on if any of the hikers were charged. 

Mr. Jattan was speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday.

One thousand and ninety-two people have died in Trinidad and Tobago as a result of the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said there have been 8 deaths.

The fatalities are 1 elderly man, 5 elderly women, 1 middle-aged man and 1 middle-aged woman.

They all had comorbidities.

So far this month there have been 15 deaths.

The Ministry of Health also said 109 new infections have also been recorded.

It said the new cases are from samples taken between July 29^th and August 1^st, bringing the total number of active cases to 5,818.

The Ministry said there are 314 people in hospital; 9 are in the Intensive Care Unit and 20 in The High Dependency Units at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility.

It said 89 are at step down facilities, 165 in State quarantine and 5,306 in home self-isolation.

The Ministry said at 4pm yesterday, 395,743 have received their first shot of the vaccine while 195,068 people have been fully vaccinated.

Four members of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment were among 25 people held at a pool party in El Socorro.

Eight women were among the group detained on Sunday night by officers of the North Eastern Division.

Police officers received intelligence, which led them to Burke Terrace where they are said to have found people at a pool party.

Reports are that there was no physical distancing and people were not wearing masks.

Some of the partygoers tried to escape but the officers pursued them.

The ages of those held are between 21 and 39-years-old.

The group of people will be charged with breaching the Public Health Ordinance Regulations and the Emergency Powers Regulations.

Police also detained 16 people for breaching the emergency regulations and other offences in Princes Town, St. Margaret, Couva, Freeport and Chaguanas.

Those held also on Sunday were between the ages of 18 and 56-years-old.

One person was held for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Four of the 16 people were held in St. Margaret.

Investigations underway into the death of Claxton Bay fisherman Deosaran Basdeo.

According to reports 57-year-old Mr. Basdeo, was gunned down while he slept on Wednesday night.

Police say Mr. Basdeo also known as blacks, was shot multiple times, and died at his house at Southern Main Road.

His wife and a 17-year-old grandson were said to be in an adjoining room, but were not harmed.

Police say at around 7.40pm a man wearing a mask and dark clothing entered the house and held up the wife and grandson at gunpoint.

The armed man robbed them of cash, jewelry, a tablet device and a cellphone.

He then walked into an adjoining room where Basdeo was asleep and shot him.

The killer ran through a door and escaped.

Officers of the Couva Police Station and Homicide Region III responded.

The Court of Appeal orders Marlon King to be tried again for the murder of 4-year-old Amy Emily Annamunthodo.

In 2012 Mr. King was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of killing little Amy.

The child’s hair was tied to a doorframe before she was punched multiple times.

She suffered fatal internal injuries.

In the Court of Appeal yesterday, judges said it is in the public’s interest for Mr. King to be retried before a jury.

The judges said he should not be allowed to walk free because of errors in law by the presiding judge during the trial in the High Court.

Former president of the Republic, Anthony Carmona presided over the high court trial.

The judges yesterday said they have considered all the relevant factors and arguments in favor of and against the ordering of a retrial.

Justice Mark Mohammed said the retrial is to be case managed and heard expeditiously.

He said the process must begin no later than August 9^th.

The killing of Amy 15 years ago shocked the country and sparked calls for justice.

The police and Ministry of Health are now probing reports that fake vaccination cards are being created and sold.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says it is a serious cause for concern and the matter will be dealt with.

Minister Deyalsingh said yesterday there are provisions in law to deal with such acts of forgery.

Minister Deyalsingh was speaking at the COVID-19 media update yesterday.

An assurance there is calm at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.

Relocation is said to be the issue that led to fiery protest within the prison yesterday.

Four inmates at the prison are said to have set fire to their mattresses as a form of protest.

The inmates at the Wayne Jackson building are said to have also locked themselves in their cells demanding a resolution to several issues.

Earlier this morning Prison Commissioner Denis Pulchan told Newscenter 5 because of the action taken by the inmates all beds have been removed from holding cells.

Commissioner Pulchan dismissed claims of a riot saying the blaze was quickly extinguished.

However he said such behavior cannot be condoned.

He said an assessment of the damage was conducted yesterday.

A Cedros fisherman slapped with a murder charge in connection with the deaths fishermen Parasram Boodoo and Navindra Garib.

The suspect is expected to appear virtually before a Couva Magistrate today.

The killings reportedly occurred sometime between July 19^th and July 23^rd.

The 37-year-old suspect of Fullerton Village was charged following advice received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday.

Forty-two-year-old Mr. Boodoo, and 30-year-old Mr. Garib, both of Carli Bay, Couva, were reported missing at sea on Tuesday 20^th July.

The men were last seen the day before, leaving the Carli Bay Fishing Depot in a white pirogue.

Mr. Boodoo’s body was found at sea off the Plipdeco Port, Point Lisas, last Wednesday, while Mr. Garib’s body was subsequently found on Friday at La Brea.

Officers of the Southwestern Division arrested the accused at his Cedros home on Tuesday 20th July.

Officers subsequently recovered a pirogue and boat engine.