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A warning to members of the public, the police will be out in full force at areas like beaches and bars that encourage large crowds.

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith says people have become relaxed with the reduced COVID-19 positive cases, and despite pleas and warnings, a large number of people still do not wear masks in public.

The Commissioner says it has come to his attention that thousands of persons converged on beaches throughout the country last weekend without masks.

The CoP also notes numerous social media posts showing many people not wearing masks in public as well as large groups congregating outside bars particularly in the St James, Woodbrook, and Carenage areas.

Within the past 2 months, 1,573 tickets were issued and 78 persons arrested for breaching the Public Health Ordinance Regulations in the 9 police divisions.

Commissioner Griffith is appealing to people, help the police if they see people in large groups.

He says the virus is still a very real threat and people must be responsible.

The police are now investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl.

The girl said she was sexually assaulted while at a guesthouse in Blanchissuese.

The alleged incident is said to have happened on November 3^rd 2020.

The girl was on vacation with her relatives.

Police has questioned a 60-year-old employee of the owners of the guesthouse.

The alleged victim told police between November 1^st and the 6^th she was on a family vacation at the guesthouse on the compound of Sport and Maritime Villas located near Chupara Bay. 

She said at around 11pm on November 3^rd, she met an employee who invited her into an unfinished apartment on the compound where he sexually assaulted her.

The girl revealed what had happened to her parents 2 days later and was taken to a medical center in Santa Cruz where she was examined.

Pundit Satyanand Maharaj is slamming the Medical Board for what he sees as its silence on the recent racist outburst by a doctor in south Trinidad.

Pundit Maharaj says the doctor must be held accountable for his action.

A viral audio clip said to be the doctor berating his employee was made public last week.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday Pundit Maharaj said the silence from those in authority is alarming.

The religious leader also said the fact the doctor felt embolden to speak about such an issue without consequence, shows how divided the society is at this time.

Pundit Maharaj described the action of the doctor as repulsive and unacceptable.

The Medical Association has condemned the contents of the conversation, which has been shared many times on social media.

The association has called on the Medical Board to investigate and take the appropriate action.

Meanwhile the Council of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago is expected to meet today on the issue

It follows calls from Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh for the board to probe the matter.

A man suspected of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy remains in a serious condition at hospital.

On Monday this week the 35-year-old man was stripped, tied to a utility pole and beaten.

Up to last evening the man was at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Police say he is expected to recover and will then be questioned.

The boy is said to be assisting police with their probe.

Residents of upper Abbe Poujade Street in Carenage are also being questioned.

It is believed some from the area beat the alleged pedophile.

An elderly woman is reported to have told police that the man sexually assaulted her grandson.

And there is condemnation of the action taken in Carenage.

Traumatologist and Clinical Therapist Haniff Benjamin says while he understands the hurt of the community there are authorities to deal with situations like this.

He says vigilante justice may thwart the legal process.

In a release on Monday the TTPS warned against vigilante justice.

There is a call for independent observers for the United National Congress Internal Election.

The polls are expected to be held on December 6^th.

And one of the contenders for the leadership of the party Vasant Bharat says he is not ruling out the possibility of going to court to ensure the integrity of the election.

The former Minister says he has already put in the court of public opinion the alleged dubious establishment of the party’s Election Committee.

He said his team does not intend to seek legal recourse and hopes it does not come to that.

But he said he is not afraid to go to court if it becomes necessary.

The Finance Minister says more than 17,000 salary relief grant applications have been rejected for various reasons.

Responding to a question from the opposition in the Lower House yesterday, Minister Colm Imbert listed several situations, which led to the rejections.

Later Barataria/San Juan Member of Parliament Saddam Hussein called on the Minister to answer some questions surrounding reported delays in delivering grants.

MP Hussein said people are suffering and his colleagues on the opposition bench are faced with the plight of constituents.

He called for a breakdown via constituencies of the grants and their distribution.

But Minister Imbert insisted constituency considerations were absent when these grants were created to help those affected by the COVID-19 measures earlier this year.

The Minister said over $186 million dollars was given to the NIS to take care of the grants promised.

Minister Imbert slammed Mr. Hussein for repeating questions already answered earlier in the sitting.