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Claims of gross negligence are leveled against Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh for his handling of the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines for the country.

This from the opposition, United National Congress.

At a press conference yesterday Member of Parliament for Caroni east, Dr. Rishi Seecharan said that Minister Deyalsingh has failed to take advantage of the country’s relationship with India.

Trinidad and Tobago has received 2000 doses of the Oxford Astrazenaca vaccine from Barbados.

The bulk of jabs for the nation are expected next month as part of the Covax facility.

Dr. Seecharan said this is not good enough.

He said many other countries spoke directly to India and are set to receive their batches.

Frontline workers in Trinidad and Tobago have begun receiving their vaccinations.

There are 4 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

In its latest update yesterday, the Ministry of Health said the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during the period February 18^th to 20^th.

It said there are 138 active cases and 12 patients are at hospital.

The Ministry said 303 people are at state quarantine facilities, 120 in home self-isolation and 2 at step down facilities.

The number of deaths remains at 139.

The Attorney General says the Evidence Amendment Bill is needed to expedite the CLICO and Piarco Airport inquiries.

The AG says it is about being able to submit evidence that amounts to volumes.

On the afternoon drive program on i95.5fm on Tuesday Mr. Al Rawi said among the amendments is the use of CCTV footage as evidence.

He also said it will be targeting white-collar crime.

Mr. Al Rawi told the hosts it is about addressing issues in the criminal justice system.

He said next, there will be the removal of preliminary enquiries.

Charges are to be laid against 2 suspects in the kidnapping and death of Andrea Bharatt.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard S.C. yesterday instructed that a 24-year-old man is to be charged with Ms. Bharatt’s murder and a 36-year-old woman is to be charged with receiving stolen items.

The man is from Malabar.

He was said to be in the vehicle when Joel Balcon took Ms. Bharatt in Arima on January 29^th.

Mr. Balcon died at hospital earlier this week from injuries he sustained while reportedly trying to escape custody.

The suspect is expected to be taken before a Magistrate today, 1 week after Ms. Bharatt’s body was found in the Heights of Aripo.

She was reported missing 1 week before.

The DPP has also instructed that a 37 year old woman be charged withthe offence of receiving stolen articles.

Miss bharatt’s kidnapping and death have triggered demonstrations in several parts of the country.

People have been demanding an end to the violence against women, and they have used the names of Andrea Bharatt and Ashanti Riley to push for change.

Up to last evening there was a vigil held in Curepe and there have been others in the past week.

There are plans for another event outside the Parliament tomorrow, the day Andrea Bharatt is to be laid to rest.

Her body is to be taken to her home in Arima where there will be a ceremony tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock.

She will then be taken to the Faith Assembly Church in Arouca where a service will be held at 11 o’clock.

Ms. Bharatt will then be cremated at the Belgroves Funeral Home in Tacarigua.

COVID-19 claims another life.

The country’s total fatality now stands at 136.

And 1 person tests positive for the virus.

The latest update from the Ministry of Health says this positive case reflects the samples taken during the period 6^th  – 8^th, February, and not the last 24 hours.

The total number of active cases is 179.

Activist Dimitri Chote says his protest following the murder of Andrea Bharatt has nothing to do with race.

Instead Mr. Chote is adamant he wants to see a better Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Chote and some of his former Hill View College schoolmates led hundreds of women, girls, men and boys in a march around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain last weekend.

Mr. Chote told Newscenter 5 yesterday the country needs to change.

Mr. Chote said the death of Ms. Bharatt just became too much to remain silent on the issue.

He said he started the action because he wanted the anger and outrage over Ms. Bharatt’s death moved off social media and into tangible, physical action that could foster change.

Police are now probing the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Tamika Griffith.

Tamika of Iere Village Princes Town was found in the living room of a relative’s apartment at Sook Trace Claxton Bay yesterday.

A male relative who is also 16-years-old is said to be assisting police with their investigations.

It is reported that Tamika and the relative were in the house during the day.

He told police he left the apartment for a while and when he returned he found Tamika on the floor bleeding from a wound to the head.

Police were called in and Tamika was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where she later died.

Investigators say they have not yet retrieved a gun believed to have been used in the killing.

Independent Senator Paul Richards calls on the government to legalize pepper spray so that women can protect themselves.

He says while it is not a quick fix to crime in this country, pepper spray can help restore a sense of safety women need.

In making his plea yesterday in the Upper House, Senator Richards said people are fed up.

Senator Richards made references to the deaths of Ashanti Riley and more recently, Andrea Bharatt.

He asked that the government give serious consideration to his plea.

In response Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said he hears the call of the Independent Senator, but he is concerned about the devices falling into the wrong hands.

Minister Rambharath also said the matter is before the Cabinet for consideration.

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has been making similar appeals to the government.

He endorses access to pepper spray saying women and others will be able to defend themselves against brutal attacks.

Investigations are continuing into the drowning of 26-year-old Darius Arneaud.

Mr. Arneaud drowned down the islands on Sunday.

Mr. Arneaud reportedly went for a swim off the Gasparee Islands around 2:50 pm, but did not resurface.

He was a construction worker.

Other workers contacted the Coast Guard who retrieved his body about an hour later.

Investigators suspect Mr. Arneaud suffered a seizure while swimming, as he had one earlier in the day.

An autopsy is expected to be performed on his body to determine the cause of death.

One Opposition Member of Parliament is accusing government of abandoning its citizens in Syria.

MP for Naparima, Rodney Charles says the citizens are being failed by the State.

There are reports that there are 30 children and their mothers being held at the Al Hol Refugee Camp in Syria.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday Mr. Charles said the State has abandoned them.

Mr. Charles said the situation is immoral.

Efforts to get responses from the government on the matter have so far not been successful.