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Government is to present its 10^th consecutive national budget in the parliament today

It is finance minister Colm Imbert’s tenth budget as well.

This fiscal year 2025 will also be one that will include a general election, as August 2025 will mark the end of the five-year period since the People’s National Movement government was returned to office.

Many analysts and financial experts have in the past days said, it is hardly like this will be an election budget carrying incentives and promises.

A few days ago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley told members of the public, would have to hold the fort for a few more years due to the uncertainty of the energy industry.

Dr. Rowley said, the period between now and 2027, second quarter will be one of difficulty for the people, because the current levels at which there is production and the market situation, should cause everyone to be responsible.

The fiscal package will be presented at 1:30pm.

The search is on for the men who fired fatal shots near a pre-school in, Morvant.

Three people were killed yesterday morning.

Apart from the killings three others were wounded, including a 4-year student.

Gerald Caliste was shot and killed outside Roxanne’s Learning and Childcare Centre, just after 8am yesterday.

During the assault, three other people became collateral casualties, among them 4 year old Dimitri Berkley, 48 year old Adina Jackson and Joseph Coulen sustained bullets wounds.

Head of the North Eastern Division Senior Supt Mervyn Edwards outlined the disturbing details and sequence of events.

He linked the incident to gang activity.

Snr. Supt. Edwards told news Centre Five the TTPS and various stakeholders are now engaged in psycho-social support services for the victims and their families. 

The Snr. Supt also had some advice for the criminal element.

Senior superintendent Edwards was speaking with news Centre Five via a what’s app voice note yesterday.

 A manhunt is underway for the perpetrators.

Government Senator Laurel Lezama Lee Sing seeks to defend her character and reputation after; her husband Daren Lee Sing accused her of domestic violence.

The court has granted an interim protection order against the senator and People’s National Movement Education officer.

Via her lawyers Mrs. Lezama Lee Sing categorically denies she is capable of such a horrendous act, as accused by her husband.

The order was made last Thursday by master Alana Jameson after Mrs. Lezama Lee Sing’s husband, filed an application on September 11^th.

The father of an eight-year-old boy, who drowned during a boating trip in Chaguaramas, wants a full investigation into the incident.

Kaden Sandy’s father Jules Sandy wants answers as to how his son died.

Police say at around 7:15 pm last Sunday five occupants, including Kaden Sandy, and his mother were aboard a fishing boat called the perseverance.

At the time the vessel was located two miles off Centipede Island, Chaguaramas, and tied to it was another small vessel, which was being towed by the operator of the perseverance.

Police were told that during the journey the towrope snapped and, as a result, the vessel collided with the perseverance, which caused all five occupants, including the little boy, to fall overboard.

A nearby privately owned vessel came to their aid and four of the five were taken out of the water and transported to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) headquarters in Staubles Bay.

However the boy was not seen.

While at Staubles Bay, the four rescued people including Kaden’s mother told officers he had not been seen while they were being rescued earlier.

The boy was reportedly trapped below the overturned pirogue and is believed to have drowned.

The Coast Guard was able to retrieve his body and take it back to shore, where Kaden was pronounced dead at Staubles Bay.

The education ministry says, don’t blame the flood at the St. Georges College in Barataria, on remedial works being carried out.

The ministry yesterday issued a statement, condemning what it called the curious and baseless attempt to conflate an isolated flooding incident, on the repairs to the school’s roof, ceiling and electrical.

There was flooding at the school on Tuesday.

The ministry said, the deeper issue troubling the school is a lack of internal unity as approaches made by various bodies, to assist with infrastructural improvement, have been met with resistance.

Nevertheless teachers at the school are said to have walked out yesterday, after the ministry’s statement.

The teachers and their union are said to be incensed and accusing education minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly of coming after them with a big stick, instead of seeking to address concerns at the school.

At the school yesterday, the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association Martin Lum Kim said, members must not be put in the firing line because the ministry is inept.

Just before a planned lunchtime protest at the Barataria School, the education ministry issued its statement.

It said internal issues were preventing the school from its vision of success.

It also said, an investigation had been launched into the disappearance of 80 fans donated to the school.

As such, the ministry said, a school supervisor would now more closely monitor the school.

Police are questioning several people in connection with the robbery of the minister of health, Terrance Deyalsingh.

Reports say, two people have been detained.

On Tuesday afternoon minister Deyalsingh was in his constituency of St. Joseph, when two men put a gun to his head and made off with a bracelet he was wearing at the time.

The minister explained what happened, while on the phone shortly after the robbery.

Now, via Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence and Investigations, Suzette Martin, the police are condemning what happened.

She said, the matter would be solved.

The incident has triggered comments on social media and elsewhere.

Many say, the fact that a government minister has now become a victim of crime, this should be a wake up call.

A former minister of Social Development says, there is dire need to focus on communities across the country.

Verna St. Rose Greaves says, such action would solve many of the issues facing society.

She believes this is the answer to most if not all of the problems are focusing on communities.

Mrs. St. Rose Greaves questions, who in authority is really listening to the people.

Mrs. St. Rose Greaves says, those in authority only pay attention in times of crisis.

She referred to the murders of a father and his five-year-old daughter, in Moruga.

She also pointed to the deaths of a mother and her two children, in Tobago.

She was speaking on the 95 mandates on i95.5fm this morning.

The number of dengue fever related deaths now stands at, 16.

Up to yesterday’s date there were 1,387, lab confirmed infections.

The update comes from the Ministry of Health.

Earlier today at a news conference, Dr. Avery Hinds said, the month of July saw the largest number of new infections.

So far this month there are 424 new cases of the disease.

According to Dr. Hinds, the ministry has also taken note of the ages of persons contracting dengue fever.

It was also revealed that for the year, the Ministry of Health issued 994 notices to residents in the various areas, warning of the need to get rid of mosquito breeding sites.

An 11-year-old boy had to be taken for medical treatment after he was assaulted during a robbery, in Woodbrook.

The boy told police at around 3.15 p.m., on Monday, he was at Tragarete Road, standing in front of the Woodbrook Health Centre, when he flagged down a car to go into Port Of Spain.

He said, as he was about to get into the car, two men approached, both wearing black clothing and black ski masks.

The suspects pushed the boy to the ground, causing his head to hit the pavement.

One of the men then took, 27 dollars cash from his left pants pocket.

They then announced a hold-up, and demanded cash from the other occupants of the vehicle.

The suspects then fled the scene.