CALL US AT:

The Principal Medical Officer Institutions, Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, principal says while the country has been able to repatriate a number of its citizens in recent days, the capacity of the parallel healthcare system to house and quarantine them is vital.

She told the Ministry of Health’s virtual news conference yesterday that within the last 7 days 240 nationals have been repatriated from Miami, New York and Barbados.

A further 280 are expected to arrive in Port of Spain this week from the same 3 jurisdictions.

Dr. Abdool Richards said the critical factor in the repatriation process is dependent on the parallel healthcare system ability to ensure that patients can be hospitalised.

The medical professional said the parallel healthcare system also provide support via quality assurance and quality control measures to the oil and gas industry.

She said it has also managed patients on offshore facilities.

The country records another COVID-19 related death.

The number of mortalities now stands at 106.

In a release yesterday afternoon, the Ministry of Health said the patient was a female with pre-existing medical conditions.

It also said 24 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 and these patients will be processed for admission at the discretion of the CMOHS.

The Ministry also noted the number of persons testing positive at public and private facilities now stands at 5535 while the number of active cases is 1303.

The release said 2 more persons have been discharged from public facilities.

The GATE program is being reviewed and in the meantime government has cut its allocation by 35 million dollars.

Minister of Finance Colm Imbert could give no more details on the future of GATE but he said it is under review.

Minister Imbert was responding to Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein during the final stages of the Standing Finance Committee Review of the 2021 Budget.

Mr. Hosein wanted to know more.

In 2019 and 2020, the government had allocated 435 million dollars to gate but that figure is now $400 million for 2021.

Minister Imbert said Parliament would get a report on the GATE review soon. 

The Parent Teachers Association reacts with surprise to an order to recall laptops given to teachers at the Chaguanas North Secondary School.

President of the PTA, parent support group Kevin Hinds tells Newscenter 5 the instruction came down yesterday.

He said parents and teachers are extremely concerned.

However he said they were later informed that the decision was halted.

According to Mr. Hinds they are waiting to see what happens next.

When contacted on the matter yesterday, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, Antonia De Freitas said she was unaware of this development.

However, she assured she would look into the situation.

Two men are shot dead by police following a robbery in central Trinidad.

Up to late last evening the identities of the men were not released.

Reports say the incident took place around 10:30 yesterday morning in Chaguanas.

Newscenter 5 understands a taxi driver parked his vehicle and went into a bar.

Two men armed with guns alighted a white AD Wagon and entered the premises.

It is reported the men robbed the man of a cellular phone and cash before fleeing the scene, via the vehicle that brought them.

The victim made a report to the Longdenville Police Post.

Officers on patrol spotted the vehicle in Pokhor Road and gave chase.

The vehicle stopped at Depot Road and the occupants are reported to have opened fire on the police.

Police returned fire hitting two of the assailants.

They were rushed to the Chaguanas Health Facility where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Officers say one Smith and Wesson .38 revolver containing 3 live rounds and three spent rounds were found on the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

President of the Public Services Association Watson Duke says a new computer system he plans to introduce ahead of internal elections is no trick.

On Wednesday head of the United Public Officers Slate, Oral Saunders said if this system is allowed it would confuse the process.

Yesterday President Watson Duke said he also had some questions about the new system, which will be discussed with the membership today.

He said he is not worried as his slate is in a class by itself.

Public servants will go to the polls in just over 4 weeks time to decide on their new executive.

The FSO Nabarima vessel stuck in Venezuelan waters is said to be stable and upright.

According to local experts who visited the tanker on Tuesday, it poses no danger to this country’s maritime environment.

There have been concerns about a possible environmental disaster if an oil spill from the Venezuelan owned Nabarima occurs.

In a report from the local team of experts assures the storage tanker is stable.

Energy Minister, Franklyn Khan said the vessel has been in the same spot for over a decade.

Mr. Khan admitted there were problems on the vessel but they have been fixed.

Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Amery Brown said the tanker belongs to Venezuela and is situated in that country’s waters.

He said Trinidad and Tobago is unable to simply extract the vessel.

As such, he said government has taken a strategic approach.

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea have been expressing concerns about the vessel and its condition.

Thirty-eight-year-old supervisor with the Water And Sewerage Authority, Allan Stoute has been shot and killed during an argument with a male relative at their Arima home.

The shooting occurred at around 7am at the Mt. Pleasant Road home of Mr. Stoute.

Reports say Mr. Stoute had just arrived home when he got in an argument with the man.

Mr. Stoute’s wife Tiffany Khan told reporters yesterday there was a physical altercation and Mr. Stoute was shot.

She said 3 of their 5 children witnessed the shooting.

Homicide detectives have since detained a suspect for questioning.

Investigations are ongoing and police officers are to look at CCTV footage.