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The second storey of a house in west Trinidad is completely destroyed by fire.  

According to reports the home located at LP #24 Nile Street, Cocorite and was owned by Cheryl Marshall.

The building went up in flames at around 10am yesterday.  

Sixty-three-year-old Ms. Marshall told the fire service she was in the living room watching television when she heard a loud noise. 

A short time later the living room was engulfed in flames and smoke.

Ms. Marshall received minor burns to her left arm but had the presence of mind to grab her 5-year-old grandson and run from the blazing house.   

Her sister, 60-year-old Ann-Marie Joseph who resides downstairs, escaped unharmed.  

The entire upstairs area and its contents were destroyed.

Damage has been estimated at approximately $300,000.

Investigations are now underway into what caused the blaze.

There is a call for this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment to be postponed.

The appeal comes from the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association.

Its head, Antonia De Freitas says given the ongoing increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths, the exam, which is carded for June 10^th, should be postponed.

Ms. De Freitas believes the date is too soon.

She says the date is worrying, as teachers have not yet been vaccinated.

Ms. De Freitas says dialogue with the Education Ministry on the matter is crucial.

The TTUTA head was speaking with Newscentre 5 earlier.

There are reports that several workers at the Extra Foods in Grand Bazaar are COVID-19 positive and are still being told to turn up for duty.

Newscenter 5 understands managers are among those infected.

When contacted this morning, a manager, identified as Andrew Austin promised to officially respond.

Up to news time there was no reply.

Mr. Austin did not confirm nor deny the reports.

However he said the supermarket has taken several measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus among staff members and customers.

He did complain that customers were not complying with the measures in place.

And Head of the Supermarkets Association Rajiv Diptee says his members are proactive when it comes to minimising staff contact. 

Speaking with Newscentre 5 this morning Mr. Diptee explained it not always easy but systems are in place to deal with infections at workplaces.

Mr. Diptee said supermarkets are essential but workers are not being treated as such.

The association added that it remains heartbroken that it was not allowed to bring in vaccinations for its members and workers.

A 20-year-old man is stabbed to death in Valencia.

The deceased has been identified as Christopher Olivierre also known as Jojo.

Mr. Oliverre was killed during an altercation with another man.

Reports say at around 6:35 last evening, Mr. Oliverre was walking along Paradise Lane when he got into an altercation with a 19-year-old man.

The suspect is said to have pulled out a knife and dealt Mr. Oliverre several stab wounds to his chest.

Another man, Jason Oliverre was also stabbed during the incident.

They were both taken to hospital where Christopher Oliverre died.

The suspect fled the scene but later surrendered to police at the Valencia Police Station.

Enquiries are continuing.

Taxi operators are again calling for a clamp down on private cars working their routes.

Vice president of the Belmont Taxi Drivers Association Martin Badal says the government has instructed all public transport to reduce capacity to 50%.

However, he says the PH drivers appear to be doing what they want.

He wants police to ensure the regulations are followed.

Mr. Badal warns that it’s a matter of life and death.

When contacted on the matter yesterday senior members of the TTPS said associations with concerns can make a report and the matter will be addressed.

Government boasts of its Foreign Exchange Policy saying over 10 billion US dollars have been sold within a 5-year period.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert made the revelation during the questions for oral answer in the Senate yesterday.

Minister Imbert also pointed out that all sectors were taken care of including small and medium business enterprises.

The Finance Minister noted that the EXIM Bank facility has increased by 100 million US dollars