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Chaos in front of the Abercromby Street headquarters of the Public Services Association.

On Monday night members of the PSA staged a candle light vigil calling on President Watson Duke to go.

The display came hours after a court postponed the November 23^rd internal elections. 

The situation triggered a stand off between Mr. Duke and his team, The Game Changers and The Concerned Public Officers.

Some of the confrontation was captured on video.

On Monday justice Nadia Kangaloo ruled that there were too many discrepancies with the PSA’s voters’ list.

However on The Morning Show yesterday, Mr. Duke distanced himself from the judgment saying, his team is not at fault. 

Mr. Duke pointed to the constitution saying the General Secretary erred and he intends to take her to task.

Meanwhile, a slate contesting the upcoming election is welcoming the new date for the polls.

Yesterday head of The Concerned Public Officers group Curtis Cuffie said Mr. Duke is delaying the inevitable.

Mr. Cuffie told Newscenter 5 the time of Mr. Duke will soon be at an end.

The judge in her summary said there was duplication of names on the list.

There is a claim of police abuse of Venezuelan refugees following the sharing of a video on social media showing a violent encounter between officers and Venezuelans in Moruga.

Activist Yesenia Gonzales describes the police actions as a violation of human rights.

The video shows 3 policemen with guns, attempting to restrain 2 Venezuelan men outside of what appears to be a dilapidated shack.

Witnesses nearby can be heard describing the action as unfair.

Yesterday Ms. Gonzales told Newscenter 5 this is not an isolated incident.

She said police officers take advantage of these refugees all the time.

Ms. Gonzales said the government and the police service need to intervene.

Newscenter 5 contacted PCA head David West for comment yesterday, but he was in a meeting at the time. 

Inmates who have tested COVID-19 positive at the Maximum Security Prison are pleading with the Ministry of Health to rescue them.

A video clip has been shared online with inmates saying the accommodation for positive cases is far from ideal.

But via TV6 News last evening, the Prisons Commissioner Dennis Pulchan denied that there are additional cases of the virus in the prison.

The Commissioner also revealed that a member of the kitchen staff has been exposed to the virus, and some changes to preparation of meals have been made.

In the Senate, the opposition’s Wade Mark posed a question to the National Security Minister about the handling of COVID behind bars.

On behalf of Minister Stuart Young, the Agriculture Minister, Clarence Rambarat assured there is a system in place to deal with those inmates who are positive.

He said the North Central Regional Health Authority has been helpful as well.

Commissioner Gary Griffith says the police will not hesitate to thoroughly probe the Drug Sou Sou because it is a menace, which if left unchecked, could cripple the country.

Yesterday Commissioner Griffith spoke to what he described as the many dangers of the DSS.

Commissioner Griffith warned that the DSS could be a conduit for major crimes.

Commissioner Griffith noted that other persons are made to account for their finances and it should be the same for the DSS.

Further the top cop pointed to what he called the role of the media in its portrayal of DSS founder Kerron Clarke as a businessman.

Several investigators from abroad have joined the local police service in probing the DSS, its founder Kerron Clarke and the source of its over 22 million dollars. 

The charred remains of a man are discovered in a burnt car in St. Joseph.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.

Reports say the find was made near the WASA pump station at Farm Road in St. Joseph in Bangladesh last evening.

Newscenter 5 understands fire officers responded to a call that a Nissan Sylphy was on fire.

After the fire fighters put out the blaze they found the remains of the man.

Police were contacted.

Investigations are ongoing.

Former Education Minister Dr. Tim Gopiesingh has described as diabolical the government’s decision to significantly reduce the number of scholarships awarded annually.

Dr. Gopiesingh sees gate cutbacks as dangerous and a slap in the face of the education system.

He said last night the move by the government could not have come at a worse time for students and families.

At a virtual meeting of the United National Congress, Dr. Gopiesingh said the reduction of national scholarships from 400 to 100, may even be illegal.

Dr. Gopiesingh said no details have come from the Ministry of Education regarding criteria for the new and adjusted systems.

He said it appears to be another plot by the Rowley administration to dismantle and destroy what is beneficial to thousands of students.

And leader of the UNC Kamla Persad Bissessar said the Education Minister should be ashamed.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association has also expressed concerns about the announced cutbacks.

It was Education Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby Dolly who unveiled the adjustments to GATE and the National Scholarships last Friday.

An 82-year-old woman is found dead at a home in Arima.

The deceased is identified as Prisca Lewis.

She was from Cleaver Road, Arima.

She was found dead at the Home For The Elderly along Zirton Circular, Bon Air West, Arouca, at 10.30am last Friday.

Police were told the woman had fallen while going to the bathroom earlier that morning.

She was said to be conscious and was moved to her bedroom.

It was not until 2 hours later Ms. Lewis was found dead.

However, when police arrived they, they observed what appeared to be additional marks of violence on the woman’s body, which had not been articulated to the responding officers.

These included marks to her left leg and the left side of her chest.

As a result, out of an abundance of caution, an autopsy was ordered.

This is expected to be performed on today at the Mt. Hope Hospital.

PC Palmiste is continuing inquiries.