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A drug bust on Kings Wharf in San Fernando.

Customs and excise officials are currently on the scene.

Reports say the find was made when Acting Customs Officer-2 Mohammed and others were patrolling the waters off the Pt. Fortin coastline at around 5 o’clock this morning.

The officers observed a boat with three persons on board.

Newscenter 5 understands the lawmen stopped the vessel and began a search.

They are reported to have found some fuel containers with 32 rectangular shaped packets.

Further checks were made and one of the packets was found to contain plant like material resembling marijuana.

Another one contained a powder like substance resembling cocaine.

The 3 persons were arrested and taken to the San Fernando Wharf where further enquiries are ongoing.

The Pan American Health Organisation says there is misinformation being circulated about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Regional Director Dr. Carissa Ettienne says it is one of the most serious concerns to public health at this time.

Her comments follow skepticism internationally about suspected side effects of the vaccines.

In Trinidad and Tobago there have been questions surrounding the recent deaths of 2 men, one of them the Minister of Energy, Franklyn Khan.

Both Minister Khan and Mr. Ijaz Hanniff died within days of taking the vaccine.

Health authorities have said there is no connection between their deaths and the vaccine.

Speaking at COVID-19 media briefing yesterday Dr. Ettienne insisted the vaccines are safe.

Dr. Ettienne also said her organisation is continuing to monitor vaccine usage.

Dr. Etienne also advised people to confirm information from verified sources before sharing with others.

A Venezuelan activist describes as irresponsible claims that members of her community are responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases locally.

Andreina Briceno of Lacasita Hispanic Cultural Centre says she does not believe this is true

She says Venezuelans living here are as afraid of the deadly virus as any other citizen.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning Ms. Briceno said COVID-19 should not be used to divide.

She dismissed the claim of the community being responsible for the spike. The health authorities have also dismissed a link between Venezuelan migrants and the COVID spike saying that gatherings at Easter and pandemic fatigue were also factors.

There are reports of a lack of COVID compliance at some of the vaccination sites.

However Head of the Registered Nurses Association Idi Stuart tells us, he is not aware the program was underway.

Mr. Stuart also tells of over 3000 individuals listed for this weekend, he fears the crowds may be too large.

Mr. Stuart says, he expects that proper sanitization and social distancing will be adhered to.

He warns that failure to uphold the regulations will result in the removal of his members.

The Ministry of Health yesterday announced new vaccinations locations, in St Helena, Morvant, Carenage and Tacarigua.

Head of the Taxi Drivers Network Adrian Acosta says the situation is vexing.

He says now that public servants will be on rotation again, a deeper hole is likely in the pockets of those who provide transport.

Mr. Acosta believes the plight of the taxi drivers is being ignored.

He says several requests for dialogue before decisions are made regarding transport but nothing has changed.

As of midnight last night some familiar measures were returned as the authorities try to deal with climbing numbers of infections and deaths.

Among the measures in effect, public servants have returned to a rotation system at 50 percent to reduce the number of people at government offices at any given time.

The Minister of Health said this would take tens of thousands of people off the work and transport grid.

Terrence Deyalsingh said office spread is a main contributor to the infection numbers.

Maxi Taxi drivers and operators are reeling under the pressures of COVID-19.

They believe the re-introduced measures are likely to make things worse.

President of the Maxi Taxi Drivers Association of Trinidad and Tobago Eon Hewitt says families are also feeling the effects.

Mr. Hewitt tells Newscenter 5 drivers barely survived the first round of restrictions.

He is calling on the Finance Minister to lend assistance.

He says there are bills to be paid but income is tight.

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith says his officers will enforce the re-introduced COVID-19 restrictions.

This morning Commissioner Griffith said a lot more can be done to improve adherence to the restrictions.

Yesterday Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh announced that the authorities have decided to re-impose some measures.

New National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds also said a police team will be established to ensure adherence.

At a news conference earlier Commissioner Griffith said there will be increased monitoring by his officers.

The commissioner also said he intends to pay close attention to some bars.

Three changes in portfolio in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

The minor Cabinet reshuffle follows the sudden death of Energy Minister Senator Franklyn Khan.

Prime Minister Rowley has removed Stuart Young as National Security Minister and has given him the energy portfolio.

Franklyn Khan died at his home last Saturday morning.

It is believed he died of a heart attack but there has been no official statement regarding the actual cause.

Yesterday a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said Dr. Rowley, who is in isolation as a result of having contracted the coronavirus, had advised President Paula-Mae Weekes of the changes to be made in the Cabinet.

It said in addition Minister Young would also perform the duties as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Minister Young will be replaced as National Security Minister by Fitzgerald Hinds, the Minister of Youth Development and National Service.

The Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Foster Cummings, has been appointed Minister of Youth Development and National Service.

But Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar finds the appointment of Mr. Hinds to the post of national security as laughable.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar last night said simple legislation to make reality the use of pepper spray is yet to be brought to the Parliament.

She is hoping the new National Security Minister would do better.

The leader of the Opposition was speaking during her party’s Monday night forum.

A second police officer is shot while at a police station.

On Monday night, a police constable was shot to the hand at the Gasparillo Police Station.

According to a police report at around 7pm PC Hanumansingh attached to the Gasparillo Police Station was in an enclosed room on the first floor cleaning his service pistol when it allegedly fell from his hand.

The report said that as he tried to catch it in mid-air the firearm discharged and he was shot to the left hand.

The constable was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.

ASP Joseph Jaikaran, Inspector Lewis and Sgt. Ishmael responded and investigations are continuing.

Last Saturday, a female police officer was shot when her colleague ‘cleared’ a firearm at the San Juan Police Station.

Thirty-six-year-old WPC Jaistri Singh, a Municipal Police Officer attached to the San Juan/ Laventille Corporation, was shot to the shin.

WPC Singh underwent emergency surgery and is in stable condition at hospital.

A charge of misbehavior in public office for the Head of the Special Operations Response Team in Trinidad and Tobago, Inspector Mark Hernandez.

Officers of the Professional Standards Bureau laid the charge yesterday afternoon after consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Forty-six-year-old Inspector Hernandez has to appear before a Sangre Grande Magistrate on June 1^st.

At around 2pm yesterday the inspector appeared before Justice of the Peace Betsy Ann Lambert-Peterson for the hearing of a Habeas Corpus Writ filed by his attorney last Friday.

Following his release he was confident his name would be cleared.

One of his attorneys Gerard Ramdeen called the charge sad.

In the meantime he is on $300,000 dollars bail.

The charge comes after investigations into the deaths, while in custody, of kidnapping and murder suspects Joel Balcon and Andrew Morris.

The 2 were taken into custody for questioning in relation to the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt in late January this year.

Inspector Hernandez was detained early last Wednesday.