CALL US AT:

Arson is suspected in a fire at a house in Carenage.

On Sunday a mattress believed to be containing $8,500 in cash was destroyed by fire.

A woman who had a past relationship with the owner of the house was seen on the premises.

Reports say a 56-year-old man who left some of his life savings hidden under his mattress returned to his upper Haig Street home after running errands to discover the bed had been burnt to ash.

Newscentre 5 understands the man, left his home at 7am Sunday and returned at 1:50pm to find the doors to his home open and the smell of smoke.

Neighbours informed the victim that a woman who he had a past relationship with was seen at the house during the day.

The smell led him to the back of the house where he discovered a pile of ash.

His mattress, which contained $8,500 in cash, was burnt and destroyed.

Additionally, a bed frame, vinyl, a television set, and other items were destroyed.

The woman a being sought for questioning.

CPL Williams is investigating.

Kamla Persad Bissessar says there are people in her United National Congress who want to promote class and caste above loyalty.

The UNC leader vows to protect the membership of the party from such thinking and elements.

 At a meeting of her star team for the December 6^th Internal Election last evening, Mrs. Persad Bissessar pointed fingers at those who are criticising her leadership.

She called on members and supporters to reject such persons.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said the party has to be united and strong, and it must not fall in the hands of her opponents.

She accused Vasant Bharath and his Unity Is Strength slate of only wanting power and position, but not willing to work for it.

She recalled the many instances when she was disappointed with decisions taken by those who once led the party.

She said despite such challenges she has remained true to the UNC and never threw mud at her colleagues.

Nine more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The latest update from the Ministry of Health says this figure represents tests carried out last Sunday.

The total number of persons tested positive since March is 6,669.

The total number of active cases is now at 778.

The Ministry said yesterday to date, 5,771 persons have recovered from the virus, while the total death count remained at 120.

And Epidemiologist Dr. Avery Hinds says cluster and community spread of the coronavirus continue to be issues affecting Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Hinds told the media yesterday easing restrictions on mask wearing will not be part of the new normal in the forseeable future.

He said the positive case figures now stands at 30 per day because of these restrictions and guidelines.

Meanwhile one local medical expert says that no steps were missed in creating a vaccine for coronavirus.

Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology Dr. Christine Carrington yesterday explained the speed at which COVID-19 vaccines have developed.

She said it is because focus was heavily placed on treating this rapidly spreading pandemic.

Dr. Carrington also assured there was no need to worry about the quality of the vaccine.

She said the proper process was followed.

Dr. Carrington was speaking at the COVID-19 media briefing yesterday.

Several adult men have been charged with sexual offences involving children.

Some were to appear in courts yesterday.

Among those accused is a 43-year-old man charged with a series of sexual offences against 2 female minors.

Police say the suspect, who resides in Diego Martin, west of Port of Spain, has been charged with 13 counts of sexual penetration of a minor; 4 counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child; 2 counts of grooming a minor and 1 count of possession of child pornography.

Investigations revealed that the girls involved are 11 and 13-years-old.

In another incident, a 25 year-old PH taxi driver, is also charged with sexual touching of a minor.

Police say the charge arose out of an incident involving the girl who was travelling in a vehicle with the suspect.

And the police are also reporting that 2 men have been charged for having sex with girls ages 5, 13 and 15.

The men, ages 25 and 37, were charged in 2 separate incidents last Sunday.

Meanwhile…police have charged a 59-year-old man from San Juan, with sexually touching a minor.

The Child Protection Unit of the police service charged the man last weekend after a 13-year-old girl claimed that the man, whom she knows, sexually assaulted her.

The man was said to be working at the home of the girl’s grandmother.

The girl told her grandmother about what had happened and a report was made to the police.

The man was then arrested and charged.

There are 2 more COVID linked deaths in the country, and the infection tally in Tobago has gone up.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said the latest fatalities are an elderly male and female with pre-existing conditions.

The total number of COVID deaths now stands at 120.

The Ministry also said there has been 30 new cases of the virus.

The 30 new positive cases are the results from samples taken between November 26^th and the 28^th.

The country’s active cases can now be put at 795 people since the first infection was confirmed in March.

Since then there have been 6,660 positive cases.

Forty-two patients are in hospitals and 694 are in home self-isolation.

One hundred and seventy-five of them are in the care of the prison system.

Five thousand seven hundred and forty-five patients have recovered from the virus, 12 of them were community cases.

Meanwhile there are now 7 active COVID-19 cases in Tobago.

This after the island records 3 more positives.

A release from Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development says the number of samples submitted to the Tobago Regional Health Authority and other local sites to test for COVID-19 now stands at 1839.

Of those it says 113 tested positive.

The island has seen 2 COVID-19 related deaths.

Ako Wilson was shot and killed by 2 men at Golconda Settlement.

It is reported yesterday morning 2 men got out of a vehicle and fired several shots at Mr. Wilson.

He was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died.

Police say efforts to get information from residents in the area were not successful.

Officers are now looking at CCTV footage from nearby, as they investigate the killing.

The position by the National Carnival Commission that there will be no Virtual Carnival is said to be unfortunate.

Activist Rubadiri Victor says his vision was to have all stakeholders contribute to an event branding Trinidad and Tobago as the ‘Home of Carnival’.

However he says talks with the National Carnival Commission on the prospects did not go well.

Mr. Victor yesterday said that there would be some private efforts.

He is working with Jules Sobion of Caesars Army to promote the possibility of more virtual events.