CALL US AT:

The Police Service Commission is said to have given the go ahead to proceed with a simpler way of appointing a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Reports last weekend said Commissioner Gary Griffith is seeking another 3-year term.

His first term ends in August this year.

The Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Camille Robinson-Regis is reported today as saying, the legal notice giving effect to the process is to be debated in the Parliament today.

Mrs. Robinson-Regis has confirmed via a letter that the Selection Process Order 2021 is a statutory instrument, which is subject to the negative procedure in Parliament.

She says the name of this procedure describes the form of scrutiny the instrument receives from Parliament.

The Leader of Government Business says this means there is no debate required in either House to bring it into effect.

She says the instrument becomes law on the date of publication.

Warning to criminals attacking fishermen on the high seas from National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.

And Minister Hinds is also describing as false, claims that the government is not seeking to address the attacks on fishermen.

Over the past weeks several fishermen have been ambushed, beaten and thrown overboard their own vessels while at sea.

Fisherman Andrew Volman was killed in the latest attack in La Brea.

Yesterday Minister Hinds said he met with fisher folk to discuss the issue.

Head of the Carli-Bay Fisherfolk Association Imtiaz Khan commended the Minister for his intervention.

However, he said there are fishermen who are still afraid to go out to sea and is hoping the new measures are implemented soon.

Minister Hinds assured that the situation is under control.

He said he intends to take these criminals down.

Also at the meeting were the MP for the area and officials of the Riverine and Coastal Patrol.

The murder of Brian Forde in Morvant is engaging the attention of the police.

Thirty-four-year-old Mr. Forde was gunned down at his

2^nd Caledonia home yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours say they heard gunshots from Mr. Forde’s house at around 12:05pm.

They say they went to the house and found Mr. Forde lying in a pool of blood in the corridor.

They contacted the police.

Mr. Forde was rushed to hospital by officers but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations are ongoing.

Four more people have died as a result of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health says the deceased are 1 elderly man, 2 elderly women and 1 middle aged man, all with co-morbidities

This brings to 699 the total number of people who have died from the virus in this country.

In its latest update yesterday, the Ministry also said there were 350 new infections.

It said the new cases are from samples taken during the period June 13^th  –June 16^th.

The Ministry said 465 COVID patients are at hospital, 210 in State quarantine, 124 at step down facilities and 7,864 in home self-isolation.

The Ministry said as of 4pm yesterday, 171,198 people were vaccinated with their first dose while 30,115 have been fully vaccinated.

A man is killed by his female companion in San Fernando.

The victim is identified as Reon Rogers.

Reports say the incident took place at Building C, Orchind Gardens in Pleasantville last night.

Newcenter 5 understands neighbors reported hearing a heated argument coming from the apartment.

A scuffle ensued between the 2 and the woman is believed to have strangled Mr. Rogers during the ordeal.

Police say the woman later made her way to the South Homicide Office where she surrendered.

Officers went to the home and found the man’s body in the apartment.

Investigations are continuing.

The Head of Epidemiology, Dr. Avery Hinds has good news.

He says the numbers of new COVID-19 infections are on the decrease.

Dr. Hinds made the statement while using graphs at the COVID-19 briefing this morning.

The medical professional described this as encouraging news.

Dr. Hinds further noted that the month of June is also showing a decrease in new cases.

Dr. Hinds noted that comorbidities  among the males are little higher than females.

Dr. Carla Maria Alexander is warning persons not to become complacent after becoming fully immunized.

Dr. Alexander, who is a lecturer Immunology, Para-Clinical Sciences Faculty of Medicine UWI, inoculation, does not mean one should be careless.

Dr. Alexander also pointed out full vaccination means protection for those who are unable to get the jab.

According to the Ministry of Health’s website the 2^nd dose of AstraZeneca is estimated to be administered between June 7^th and July 9^th.

The Ministry of Health advises the public that all COVID-19 vaccination appointments, which were originally carded for Saturday 19^th June and Sunday 20^th June, will be rescheduled.

It says the Regional Health Authorities will contact those persons with vaccination appointments for the days indicated above, to provide new appointment dates and times. 

The Ministry says all persons who had appointments on these days will be given new appointments in a timely fashion.

It says as is customary, the Ministry will continue to update the public on COVID-19 vaccination rollout developments.