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The Budget has been passed in the Upper House.

Again the opposition bench in the Senate did not help its passage.

Twenty-two Senators from the government and opposition benches yesterday afternoon gave the nod to the package.

Opposition Senators abstained, as their colleagues did in the Lower House.

In winding up the debate, Finance Minister Colm Imbert dismissed the contributions of the opposition Senators.

But he explained why taxes have been placed on apples and grapes.

Minister Imbert assured the increase will be minimal.

Further he sought to explain the justification for the imposition of tax on these food items.

Earlier during the Budget debate, opposition Senator Anil Roberts asserted that the government is carrying out the wishes of the International Monetary Fund.

The Senator also said the entire 2021 Fiscal Package reflects I.M.F measures and directives.

He warned foreign exchange would be targeted soon.

Senator Roberts said government is stringing the population along but warned that there is disaster ahead. 

A Cuban man has been charged with the murder of Venezuelan Johandrys Espinoza.

Ms. Espinoza was found dead at her Flagstaff, St. James home last Thursday night.

An autopsy says she was strangled and was also 3 months pregnant.

The accused is to appear in court today.

Ms. Espinoza was living in Trinidad and Tobago after fleeing Margarita, Venezuela 3 years ago.

Neighbours who claimed there was a domestic situation on the premises last Thursday night called police to Flagstaff.

When officers got to the scene they found Ms. Espinoza’s body.

Yesterday the police got word from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to lay a charge of murder against the Cuban national.

An executive member of the party rubbishes claims that the political leader of the United National Congress was forced to set a date for Internal Elections.

Speculation that Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar was pressured began to surface as she announced the election date at a UNC meeting on Monday evening.

Yesterday Chairman of the party, Peter Khanai said Mrs. Persad-Bissessar was in no way forced to call the date.

He said the election was called when constitutionally due.

However, political activist and member of the UNC, Devant Maharaj is saying otherwise.

He also believes the election would be stolen unless certain critical issues are addressed.

Since leading her party to a defeat in the August 10^th General Election, there have been calls for Mrs. Persad-Bissessar to step down.

She has rejected such calls and has already indicated her intention to contest the polls when they are held.

There has been a campaign mounted by some, including Mr. Maharaj, aimed at getting her out of office.

Police have again moved in on the headquarters of the controversial Drugs Sou Sou in La Horquetta.

Yesterday at around 11am, the Katheleen Warner Drive, La Horquetta hub of the controversial sou sou was searched.

Officers blocked off the area after presenting a search warrant.

The officers who carried out the operation include those from the Financial Investigations Bureau, the Special Operations Response Team and the Northern Division and Professional Standards Bureau.

It is reported the search went on for about 4 hours and yet again larges sums of cash were found on the premises.

The officers reportedly took receipt books, hard drives and other documents away.

The last time officers seized millions of dollars at the house.

Yesterday in a release the owner of the initiative soldier Kerron Clarke issued a statement saying he was shocked and alarmed by the latest action.

The statement said the DSS head is surprised that the headquarters would be subjected to another search warrant after the conversation he had with the Commissioner of Police.

According to the release, Mr. Clarke said yesterday’s action occurred despite reassurances from the Commissioner that neither he nor the company (DSS) are the focus of a police investigation.

At a political meeting 2 weeks ago, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said this Drug Sou Sou and the way it was handled by the police are not good for the security of the nation.

Dr. Rowley called the situation a threat to national security.

It is reported 2 of the officers from Barbados are already in the country to begin the probe.

Five charges of sexual penetration of a minor are slapped against a 49-year-old father.

The man is accused of having sex with a female relative who was and is a minor.

The girl told police the man sexually assaulted her since she was 11-years-old.

She is now 16.

The man was to appear in court yesterday.

He was held last weekend by police and is said to have attempted suicide.

He was treated at hospital before being charged.

In a statement the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service says upon learning of the report made to the police, the suspect attempted to commit suicide by ingesting a combination of malathion, power steering and brake fluids.

The man was rushed to the Point Fortin area hospital and subsequently transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where he received treatment and was seen by the hospital psychiatrist.

The TTPS says last Sunday the accused was discharged from the institution and taken into police custody.

It says, WPC Myers arrested the suspect on Monday, when he was charged.

The Barkeepers and Operators Association wants to have talks with the government, following a decision to continue the restrictions on its members.

Head of the association, Theron Mohan believes the partial reopening measures, announced by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley last Saturday, show a lack of proper planning.

Mr. Mohan says while he is pleased bar operators on beaches will benefit from the partial reopening, it is a difficult environment to control.

The Prime Minister and his government made some adjustments to the COVID-19 restrictions, but they kept bars and restaurants operating pick up services only.

In dining and drinking are to be delayed for at least another 2 weeks.

Dr. Rowley said avoiding gatherings of any kind is critical at this time.

He called for patience.

An autopsy says Venezuelan Johandrys Espinoza was 3 months pregnant at the time of her murder.

An autopsy yesterday confirmed Ms. Espinoza was strangled.

She was found dead at her home in Flagstaff, St. James last Thursday.

A 38-year-old man is now in police custody connected to her death.

The man is said to have given a statement to the police investigating the killing.

Police officers found Ms. Espinoza’s body while responding to a report of domestic violence at the address.

Reports say the main suspect has confessed to the police.

Ms. Espinoza was originally from Margarita, Venezuela, but was living here for the last 3 years.

She worked as a housekeeper.

Five thousand rejected applications for grants and assistance from the government.

The Social Development Minister Donna Cox says there have been blatant attempts by some to defraud the State.

Senator Cox yesterday said the Ministry rejected 5,000 applications because those making the requests were either non-nationals, students, or had incomes exceeding the qualifying limit.

The Minister said such applications clogged up the system and affected the speed at which bona fide requests are handled.

Senator also highlighted some of the money spent on the poor and needy.

She noted that despite the criticism, evidence would show that no one was left behind.

Senator Cox made it clear that government took care of every citizen who needed help without reducing the old age pension and other social safety networks.