CALL US AT:

Sixteen new cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.

The death toll remains at 122.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said there the new patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the County Medical Officers of Health.

The release said of these 16 cases, 3 are in Tobago.

The release said the number of persons who have tested positive at public and private facilities now stands at 6,767 while 708 remain active.

It said of the 629 persons in home self-isolation, 186 are in the care of the prison system.

The total number of recovered patients is 5,937.

A man is said to have opened fire on a patrol unit of the Western Division.

The incident took place at around 9pm at Quarry Street in Diego Martin last Friday.

Police say they were on patrol when they had cause to stop and search 2 men.

They were found to be carrying 1,080 grams of marijuana.

The legal limit is 30 grams per person.

The officers say while they were arresting the 2 men another man pulled out a gun and fired shots at them.

The man fled the scene after being shot at by the officers.

The suspect is still at large.

Mayra Alejandra James is reported missing.

The 31-year-old Venezuelan national was last seen at around 4pm yesterday leaving her work place at #14 Railway Street, Arima.

Relatives say she never reached her Woodbrook home and all calls to her cell phone went unanswered.

They say this has never happened before and they are very concerned given the recent killings of Ashanti Riley and Krystal Espinoza.

Newscenter 5 understands a missing persons report was made to the Arima and Woodbrook Police Stations.

Ms. James was last seen wearing a red tee shirt, navy blue leggings and a pair of green sneakers.

She was also carrying a black leather backpack.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms. James is being told to contact the nearest police station.

Womantra is calling on the public to desist from sharing videos and images of victims’ bodies.

Social media manager, Johanna Rae Reyes says it is insensitive to the families and can cause further trauma.

Yesterday she said her heart goes out to the family.

Ms. Rae Reyes was speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday.

One relative of the young Ashanti Riley says the society was always evil, but this brutal situation has brought it to the fore.

Seventh Day Adventist Pastor Steve Riley said this evil comes disguised in many forms.

Pastor Riley, who is the cousin of deceased Ashanti, yesterday told Newscenter 5 the reality is still sinking in.

He said while the family is emotionally traumatised they have been receiving a lot of support.

Heavy condemnation for recent acts of violence perpetrated against women, girls, and children from the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs.

The office says all men; women, boys and girls have the fundamental right to live a life free from all forms of violence.

It is also reminding the public that domestic violence, child abuse, rape and other forms of violence are punishable crimes.

The police are now probing the recent killings of 2 women, 18-year-old Ashanti Riley and Krystal Primus-Espinoza.

But they have also shocked organisations and individuals, and triggered appeals for an end to the violence.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said there is evil in the society.

Ashanti Riley was last seen entering a taxi in Santa Cruz.

The Prime Minister said there are taxi operators who should not be in the business of service.

Police are said to be searching for a 3^rd suspect in connection with the murder of young Ms. Riley.

Ashanti Riley left her Sunshine Avenue, San Juan home to visit her grandmother in Cocorite when she disappeared.

Mrs. Primus-Espinoza was found dead near Balandra, less than 24 hours after she was reported missing.

She was 36-years-old.

The search is on for a 66-year-old man is reported missing at sea.

Up to yesterday the Coast Guard was searching for Mr. Francis Hoolasie.

Mr. Hoolasie is from Nelson Street, Longdenville.

It is said he disappeared in the waters of Williams Bay, Chaguaramas last Thursday.

It is reported that Mr. Williams was with a 32-year-old friend at the time he disappeared.

The friend raised an alarm when he realised he could no longer see Mr. Hoolasie in the water.

The Coast Guard was notified.

Unconfirmed results are showing Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her slate have won the elections within the United National Congress.

According to reports Mrs. Persad-Bissessar may have captured 14,873 votes while her opponent, Vasant Bharath got 2,198.

At her Siparia constituency office last night, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar was confident that victory was imminent.

On the UNC Facebook page last night, results were showing a significant lead for Mrs. Persad-Bissessar and her stars slate.

The elections for the 18 positions on the executive took place yesterday.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said up to the time she voted at the Parvati Girls Hindu College, the turnout was low compared to previous years.

When he cast his ballot at the Aranguez Community Center yesterday Vasant Bharath said there were reports of intimidation.

He also faced some angry claims that he was being irresponsible by wearing his team’s tee shirt at a polling station.

But the chairman of the UNC’s elections committee Ramesh Persad Maharaj said despite the claims of activist, Devant Maharaj, he at the time had no knowledge of such situations.

There could be some contention in the House of Representatives this afternoon, when government tries to amend the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act 2015.

The Opposition is gearing up for a fight, saying the move by the government is questionable.

But Finance Minister Colm Imbert says it is important that the Bill is amended speedily.

Last night on a political platform in Debe, leader of the Opposition, Kamla Persad Bissessar said the bid by the government is flawed.

She said there is an attempt to change some words, which could lead to corruption and cover-ups.

But Minister Imbert says the matter has been outstanding for too long and the government is caught between a rock and a hard place every time there is an attempt to finalize the public procurement regime.

He says discussing it again will further delay the implementation.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar is insisting government has bad intentions.

The Opposition has been insisting on the implementation of the regime.

Under the UNC the legislation was fraught with difficulties.