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Twenty two thousand, five hundred dollars in fines for 3 men charged with breaching the emergency powers regulations.

The men were found liming on a beach in Mayaro.

Twenty-five-year-old Tevon Ross, 27-year-old Roy Mitchell, and 37-year-old Joseph Boodoo will pay $7,500 each.

A Magistrate slapped them with the sentence when they appeared in court yesterday.

On Tuesday, police officers were on patrol and responded to information that led them to the coastline of Stone Bright Village where they observed 3 men on the beach.

Police say the men were questioned but had no reasonable explanation for being on the beach.

They were arrested and taken to Rio Claro Police Station where they were charged with the offence.

Failure to pay the fine within 6 weeks will lead to them serving a default of 6 weeks with hard labour.

The recent long queues and large crowds for COVID-19 vaccines concern the National Council of Parent Teachers Association

Public Relations Officer Shamila Raheem yesterday said Standard 5’s will be out for the Secondary Entrance Assessment in early July and this is unacceptable.

 
Ms. Raheem said the situation could see a spike in cases and this could put children at risk.

On Wednesday the Health Minister said a new system had been adopted to control the numbers.

It’s day 2 of the alphabetical system for persons to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Only persons over 60 with last names beginning with F-J will be accommodated at the various health centers.

Newscenter 5 understands persons have been lining up from early this morning to ensure they got their spot.

We are told they are being given numbers at the vaccination sites.

One man identified only as Gerald spoke with TV6 news outside the Barataria Health Center earlier.

On Wednesday thousands thought they could walk in, as advised by the Ministry of Health, and be vaccinated.

That did not happen and the Minister of Health had to apologised, announcing instead a different roll out system to vaccinate people.

Yesterday was less chaotic but it was another day of disappointment for hundreds of people wanting to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fewer people joined lines outside health centers and other facilities.

Persons with last names A-E were expected to be accommodated but many people at sites under the North Central Regional Health Authority, left unvaccinated.

It is said each vaccination site was allocated 50 doses, far less than what was demanded.

TV6 yesterday went to the Arouca and La Horquetta Health Centers where the situations were the same.

Some rejected members of the public, had several suggestions.

Meanwhile, the Tobago Division of Health is calling on members of the public to avoid panicking.

General Manager of Primary Care in the Tobago Regional Health Authority Dr. Roxanne Mitchell says some sectors on the island will be given doses.

Secretary for Health, Tracy Davidson Celestine yesterday told a news conference the island will be receiving consistent doses of both the AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines.

She said the Magdalena Hotel is an additional vaccination site.

Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 17 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic joining Suriname, Jamaica and Guyana in registering deaths and increased positive cases of the virus over the past 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago says there were also 454 new positive cases, pushing the total to 27,533 since March last year.

The authorities said yesterday there were 9,869 active cases and the new figures were for the period June 3^rd to the 8th.

According to the ministry the deaths are 11 males including 1 young male adult and 6 females.

It said all but one had co-morbidities.

It said the death toll now stands at 616 with 450 patients in hospitals across the island, 117 in state sanctioned facilities and 8,394 in home isolation.

A call for Health Minister to resign after thousands of people flooded streets leading to health centers, seeking COVID-19 vaccines.

Yesterday people joined long lines from as early as 5 o’clock in the morning, wanting to be vaccinated.

Many had to be turned away because the launch of the walk-in vaccination program could not accommodate the demand.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh “apologised”.

Hours later in the parliament, the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance.

She insisted Minister Deyalsingh should be removed.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said the Minister is a failure and should be history.

Minister Deyalsingh responded telling the leader of the Opposition she and her MPs have not been allies of the government’s fight against the pandemic.

The Minister explained the new rolled out program.

At some health facilities police had to be called out to maintain order.

Television and social media showed long lines of people waiting to get vaccinated even though the Ministry of Health had said that its first no-appointment system for COVID-19 inoculation, would cater for 2 vulnerable groups, those over 60 years and those under that age with comorbidities.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith issued a statement saying officers in several divisions had to break up crowds at some health centers and facilities.

Officers had to shut down some sites.

A bid by the Opposition to get a Commission of Inquiry into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is being dismissed by Attorney General Faris Al Rawi.

On Monday night, Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar said the government has not been as transparent as it should be when it comes to its decisions on the management of the virus.

But Mister Al Rawi yesterday said the information being sought by the Opposition is already in the public space.

Mr. Al Rawi also said taxpayers have been paying millions of dollars in lawyer fees because of challenges.

He insisted the State has been successful in responding to these legal challenges and will be demanding costs.

Long lines reported outside health centers this morning as the Ministry of Health launches its first non-appointment system for COVID vaccines.

The Sinopharm vaccine has been released to an initial 14 District Health Centers.

Two vulnerable groups, persons over 60 and persons under 60 with comorbidities are expected to receive their 1^st dose of the Sinopharm vaccine.

The Ministry says persons would get inoculated on a first come first served basis.

Reports reaching Newscenter 5 this morning say hundreds have turned up at the several facilities waiting to be inoculated.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday assured there will be increased security including the police and additional customer service representatives will be on hand at the various sites.

He said this is to ensure no clustering at the centers and that all COVID protocols are observed.

The body of a Venezuelan man is discovered in a forested area in Moruga.

He had a gunshot wound to the head.

Reports say officers on patrol in the area around 12.30pm when they saw a group of Venezuelans gathered near the La Lune Recreational Ground.

It is said when the officers inquired about their status, 1 of the men said they were beaten and robbed by 5 masked men gunmen with dreadlock hairstyles.

He told the officers someone was shot to the back of the head and took them along the La Lune coastline and pointed to a forested area where he claimed the body was located.

Police say the deceased has a marijuana tattoo below the left ear and appeared to be in his mid-30s

He is yet to be identified.