CALL US AT:

Police in the southwestern division have held 29 illegal migrants.

It is reported that on Tuesday this week officers of the Emergency Response Patrol went to Chatham Bay where they saw a fishing vessel approaching the shoreline.

Police say the boat carried no registration or markings.

Officers say when the group saw them they disembarked and attempted to run into a forested area.

A search later led to the discovery of 4 adult males, 9 adult females and 16 children.

The ages range from 4 months to 46-years-old.

They are all from Tucupita, Venezuela.

The group was taken to the Siparia Health Facility to be examined in accordance with COVID-19 protocols and regulations.

All are to be quarantined.

Inmates at the Maximum Security Prison release another video as they make a case for better quarantine conditions.

The inmates say the poor conditions must be fixed, since some of them have other ailments that could prove deadly.

The latest video went viral yesterday showing 12 men reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The men also claim no food or medical attention has been made available to them.

New footage released yesterday showed what appeared to be an uprising by angry and frustrated prisoners in response to this situation.

Bins and garbage were being tossed into the corridors of the facility.

The situation was brought under control.

However General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association Lester Walcott said the situation is at boiling point.

He warned that lives are already being threatened and a national crisis may follow.

Mr. Walcott said millions were allocated to treat with the prison and to date nothing has been done.

He said the overcrowding and COVID-19 have exacerbated an already chronic problem.

Health minister Terrence Deyalsingh says hope seems to be on the horizon as 2 possible vaccines, which may combat the virus, have been completed.

At the COVID-19 press briefing yesterday Minister Deyalsingh revealed the names and characteristics of the new vaccines.

Further the Health Minister noted that distribution of the medicine would not be a problem.

Several communities, which are covered by the county of St. George, are being told they collectively account for most of the COVID-19 cases in Trinidad.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roshan Parasram, confirms this.

Dr. Parasram says St. George makes up almost 20% of active cases.

Dr. Parasram said there are 39 new cases of COVID-19 in Trinidad with 37 of those persons being housed in step down facilities.

Some 1,346,000 persons worldwide have died from COVID-19. 

One hundred and thirteen of those deaths occurred locally.

Port of Spain’s Mayor Joel Martinez says steps are being taken to fix the unsightly and appalling state of Queen Street.

On Monday Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said Queen Street is in a deplorable condition and must be addressed.

Just 3 years ago Queen Street was renamed after Miss Universe 1977 Jenelle Penny Commissiong.

Yesterday Mayor Martinez said the idea behind the renaming of the street was well intended but the current problems it requires help from different sectors.

The Mayor was part of the Spotlight on the Capital City on Monday where there were calls to revitalise Port of Spain.

A plea, from an opposition Member of Parliament, for violent crimes in central to be addressed.

MP for Couva North Ravi Ratiram tells Newscenter 5 heinous incidents are on the rise.

He says in one case the intruders threatened to sever a woman’s fingers as a warning to the family.

Mr. Ratiram says the community is under siege and he is calling for a greater police presence in the area.

The MP says he is in the process of establishing a community watch group to assist residents.

There is a view among Auxiliary Fire Officers that they have been overlooked for regular positions in the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service.

The officers are upset claiming their 15 and 20 of years service have been disregarded and they have been sidelined for absorption.

The disgruntled group described the move as unfair saying those who were absorbed were not trained.

However yesterday Deputy Fire Officer Mervin Layne told Newscenter 5 absorption is not an entitlement.

Officer Layne explained that all the vacancies were filled with the last batch of officers but persons will be added on a needs basis.

The Fire Officers Association is yet to respond to the claims.