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The National Carnival Commission says it has no money to boost virtual carnival events.

NCC head Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters maintains there will be no Carnival this year and therefore the government has allocated no funds to the staging of the national event.

Mr. Peters also says the NCC is not in any position to financially support Carnival interest groups wishing to stage virtual events or otherwise.

He was speaking on the Morning Show on i95.5fm yesterday.

Mr. Peters said some Carnival stakeholders have approached the NCC requesting millions of dollars.

He said he is not at all sold on a virtual Carnival, as it will not benefit anyone else but the promoter.

Mr. Peters said the NCC has proposed an antecedent look this year where archives on the history of Carnival would be used.

He said the government has accepted this proposal.

The Oilfield Workers Trade Union gives the Trinidad Cement Limited a one-week deadline to respond to the dismissal of workers.

Chief Labour Relations Officer, Lyndon Mendoza led the members in protest at the company’s south office yesterday.

He said what the company is doing is wrong and it will not be allowed.

According to Mr. Mendoza the government has given financial assistance to the manufacturing sector so there is no need to retrench staff.

He said the workers are angry and frustrated and are prepared to fight.

More positive cases are reported at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

The Registered Nurses Association says patients and members of staff have contracted the virus and there are growing concerns at the institution.

President of the association, Idi Stuart yesterday said 1 patient who tested positive died at the hospital.

Mr. Stuart said there is concern not just for the lives of nurses and other staff at the hospital but patients who may not be able to fight off the deadly virus.

He said this is recommended by the Center for Disease Control in the United States.

According to Mr. Stuart now is a good time to reduce the patient population at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

He feels patients can be sent to other hospitals and facilities, which are part of the parallel health care system.

Gun related killings in the east and the west of Trinidad and Tobago.

In Dabadie in the east, the victim has been identified only as Damien.

Reports say the incident occurred near the Dabadie public cemetery just after midnight last night.

Residents heard several explosions and contacted the police.

When officers arrived they found the man bleeding from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to a near by Arima Health Facility where he died.

And a Franklyn De Frietas is fatally shot by an off duty police officer at Lady Chancellor Hill.

At around 7:10 last night the officer was jogging when a car with 3 men pulled up alongside him.

It is said Mr. De Frietas was the driver of the car.

He reportedly opened fire on the officer who pulled his gun and shot Mr. De Frietas and another occupant of the vehicle.

Mr. De Frietas was pronounced dead at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

The wounded man is warded under police guard.

He was held while seeking medical attention at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

A police constable is to be charged with the sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman.

Police say on January 6^th the woman was walking in Pine Ridge, Arouca when a vehicle pulled up alongside her.

The driver is said to have opened the front passenger door, pointed a gun at the woman and ordered her to get inside.

The woman said she got into the car.

She claimed she was taken to a lonely road in Arouca where she was assaulted.

The officer is reported to have dropped her off at Singh Street in Arima.

A passerby saw the woman and after speaking with her called for an ambulance.

She was taken to the Mt. Hope Women’s Hospital where she was examined.

Officers of the Arouca CID took a statement from her.

The next morning the 35-year-old constable was arrested at his home in Arouca.

Yesterday, head of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Inspector Gideon Dickson, told us while he cannot go into details, justice will be handed down where it is due.

Meanwhile, head of the Police Complaints Authority, David West said upon its completion, the TTPS probe into the incident will be reviewed by his team.

The police officer was detained at his home at the ­NUGFW Housing Development, off Lopinot Road, Arouca.

Reports say up to yesterday the officer was being questioned.

The Professional Standards Bureau of the police service is also probing the alleged incident.

The Minister of National Security is being asked to confirm or deny reports that people are arriving in the country without approved exemptions.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar last night said she has been told the exemption system of the government is not working well.

She is also questioning the powers being used by National Security Minister Stuart Young, to grant or reject requests for exemptions.

At a political meeting of her United National Congress last evening, Mrs. Persad Bissessar is accusing the government of abusing its powers and dismissing genuine requests from nationals to return home.