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The court is still to adjudicate on the matter of 29 police officers, promoted in error.

Last year, a computer glitch was said to be responsible for the erroneous promotion of 29 officers, and the non-promotion of over 30 officers.

Police Commissioner Erla Harewood Christopher apologised for what she described as, an anomaly with promises to rectify the issue.

The matter was taken to court.

The issue was raised in the upper house yesterday, by opposition Senator Wade Mark.

National security minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, described the legal issues involved as complex.

He said, the matter was yet to be decided.

However, he informed the house that 34 officers, who were denied promotion as a result of the same glitch, were promoted.

Senator mark wanted to know more.

A number of officers have taken legal action against their Commissioner, over the issue.

Canadian Chris Hughes known as Chris “must” List is now fighting deportation from this country.

His lawyer Gerald Ramdeen says, an appeal has been filed and will be heard this morning.

Last Saturday the Canadian youtuber was held by police for a second time in a matter of days and taken to the Immigration Detention Centre in Aripo.

He was held and released earlier last week.

Speaking with Newscentre five this morning, Mr. Ramdeen said his client does not wish to be deported.

He said given that Mr. Hughes entered the country legally, there are no grounds for his deportation.

It said in part Chris Hughes’ entry for judicial purposes must be acknowledged and respected under the law, without subjecting him to immigration restrictions that apply to other categories of entrants.

It said, the bail order places no restrictions on Mr. Hughes’ ability to work.

The family says, Trinidad and Tobago law typically prohibits employment for visitors or non-citizens entering the country under visas that do not permit work.

However they say, Mr. Hughes’ entry is not for employment; it’s for fulfilling a legal obligation.

A man from new grant is expected to appear in court today charged with the double killing of brother and sister, Kervon and Shenelle Singh.

The 33-year-old suspect was charged yesterday, after detectives of the homicide bureau of region three received instructions from the office of the director of public prosecutions.

The suspect was detained by an off-duty police officer last Thursday morning, at his home on Naggee Road, Hindustan.

He was taken into custody at the tableland police station, hours after the cutlass attack on 21 year old Kervon and 16 year old Shenelle Singh .

Shenelle’s body was found on the roadway with multiple chop wounds, to the left side of her face.

There was a blood trail from her body leading to the suspect’s wooden house, approximately ten feet away from where the body of her brother, Kervon, was found.

There were also multiple chop wounds on his neck, on a couch on the porch.

The suspect allegedly eluded police capture on Wednesday night.

The siblings resided in Mayaro, and about a year ago Kervon, a security officer employed with Amalgamated Security Services Ltd, began renting an apartment on Naggee Road.

Members of staff at the St. James Medical Complex are said, to be in shock following the murder of Jamal Watts.

He was shot while on his job yesterday morning.

Reports say, gunshots rang out at around 10:30am.

Mr. Watts was said to be, on top of a ride-on mower cutting the grass on a field, at the back of the hospital.

A Hyundai Elantra stopped nearby.

A man got out of the care with a gun and opened fire on Mr. Watts.

The gunman got back into the vehicle, which sped off out of the compound.

Employees heard the shots and some ran for cover.

They later found Mr. Watts bleeding and took him to the accident and emergency section where he was pronounced dead.

Six people are killed in Champ Fleurs, Icacos and Princes Town.

In the latest incident the identity of the deceased has not yet been released.

We are told the incident took place in Champ Fleurs just after 6 o’clock, this morning.

Residents in the area say, they heard several explosions coming from an abandoned house.

The body of a man was found bleeding from gunshot wounds.

Police were called to the scene.

The man was pronounced dead.

In Icacos, details are still sketchy but we are told five people were shot on a beach this morning.

Three of them died and two are wounded.

Also in new grant a brother and sister are fatally chopped.

Their identities have not yet been released.

We are told, that the incident took place in the new grant area some time last night.

Police are said, to be investigating these latest gun crimes.

The Ministry of Education says, all schools were opened across the country.

A media release from the ministry says, 144 government and government assisted early childhood care and education centers, 57 Servol ECCE Centres, 125 secondary schools in Trinidad were prepared to welcome children in the classrooms.

The ministry says, school principals and teachers returned to their respective schools last week as they sought to finalize arrangements, and ensure a smooth transition for students on their first day.

On day, one of the new academic year yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association was not entirely pleased with a range of problems.

According to TTUTA’s President Martin Lum-Kin, the re-opening of some schools was affected.

Speaking with newscentre fve yesterday, Mr. Lum-Kin singled out the Mt. Hope Secondary School saying, the institution is being treated with scant courtesy.

A group of parents of students attending Mt. Hope Secondary School, staged a protest there are a number of structural issues plaguing the buildings on the compound.

The parents said, their pleas for the problems to be fixed have not been bearing fruit.

They claimed nothing was done at the school during the vacation period.

Interim president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association Merrell Rodney and Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association were part of the demonstration.

Mr. Rodney said, the school’s ceilings and classroom furniture are infested with woodlice, and that the occupational safety and health administration had blocked off part of the school, because it’s a health hazard.

He said, students were in danger of being electrocuted in the industrial arts block, because loose wires were exposed in those classrooms, which also had the tendency to flood.

Mr. Lum- Kin also noted, that additional reports suggest severe problems at several other schools.

With immediate effect, passengers on the water taxi service will have to present their identification documents, in order to sail on the vessels.

According to the shipping (local passenger ship safety) (amendment) regulations, 2024, the service must now provide the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard with a list of all passengers and crew before each sailing. 

The National Infrastructure Development Company Limited confirmed the change via a media release on the weekend.

The company said, this new requirement will help to ensure there is an accurate record of everyone on board, especially in emergencies.

According to the new regulations, a customer service representative will record the names of all passengers before they board. 

Passengers over 16 years old, must show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s permit, national id, or passport.

Those under 16 must travel with an adult.

Boarding will close 10 minutes before departure.

NIDCO said, to avoid delays, passengers should arrive early.

The nation’s children are at, the start of the first day of the new school year, ending two months vacation.

Many of the children are going into some schools for the first time.

Over the past days, there have been concerns from education stakeholders about the state of readiness.

Yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association President said, teachers are ready but some schools are not.

Martin Lum Kin said, there is some uncertainty.

Mister Lum Kin said, officials of the union would be closely monitoring what happens today.

There have been some assurances from the Minister of Education, Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly.

Mr. Lum Kin feels there is a money problem at the ministry.

The TTUTA president has a suggestion

In Tobago, TTUTA’s officer Brandon Roberts says, his union is ready to shut down schools if it becomes necessary.

He said, yesterday health and safety concerns are very present.

Mr. Roberts said, any breaches teachers in Tobago would be guided accordingly.

He claimed, a number of issues remain outstanding at some schools on the island.

Three persons are now in police custody in connection with several reports of, demanding money by menace.

The Trinidad and Tobago police service says, officers of the north central division detained the trio during an operation on Wednesday.

A statement from the TTPS notes that the group of suspects, a 39-year-old of Santa Cruz, a 33-year-old of St. Joseph and 26- year-old of Valsayn were detained following weeks of investigations and surveillance.

According to the TTPS officers found that the men were demanding money by menace, spanning several months and had over a dozen victims.

The TTPS says, they had collected over $200,000 in cash.

The TTPS is urging victims of this type of crime to make a report to their district police station, for an investigation to be launched.

The intelligence-led operation included officers of the cyber crime unit and the central division’s gang unit.