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Public Services Association leader Watson Duke says the Prime Minister’s decision to leave COVID-19 restrictions in place is hampering his members.

Mr. Duke tells Newscenter 5, public officers feel ostracized by the government.

He says people should not turn a blind eye to what is happening.

The union president is concerned that pay cuts could soon follow.

Last Saturday Dr. Keith Rowley announced that the existing regulations remain in place, as the country must respond to the virus cautiously and responsibly.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has made no changes to the restrictions imposed, to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Last Saturday, Dr. Rowley said from all indications and advice from the health authorities, everything remains as is.

Dr. Rowley said the country has to respond to the virus carefully.

However the owner of CJ’s Muscle and Fitness Gym Clinton Sammy believes the ongoing restrictions are crippling businesses.

Mr. Sammy is pleading with Dr. Rowley to reopen the sector and give gyms a fighting chance.

Six children are among 13 Venezuelans believed to have crossed the waters to this country illegally.

The group was found hiding near the Erin Fishing Facility on Saturday night.

Police say the children are ages 10, 7, 6, 5, 3 and 3 months old.

Six adult females and 1 male accompanied them.

The officers responded to information that a pirogue had dropped off several Venezuelan nationals.

Officers attached to the Erin and Santa Flora Police Station went to the fishing facility.

They say a search was conducted and the 13 people were found hiding behind a pirogue.

Police say their clothing was soaked and they were carrying large bags.

The 13 were taken to the Siparia Health Facility where they were examined and ordered to be quarantined.

A former head of the Defense Force Major General Ralph Brown is disputing claims made by the Commissioner that the officer seen in the video clip is not from the police service.

According to the Express newspaper the retired major general says the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force Military uniform is one, which is quite distinctive, and what was shown in the video recording is not military attire.

Major Brown was responding to questions from the Express about the procedure used by the military, when choosing soldiers to assist the police service, in exercises and the uniform of these soldiers.

According to Major Brown, when soldiers are on patrol on duty with police officers they must wear military uniforms.

He says they must wear the official parent TTDF issued kits and this consists of a beret, boots and army camouflage.

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith is insisting the officer seen stuffing his uniform with an envelope, believed to contain money, is not a member of the service.

The officer was at the time part of a raid on an apartment in La Horquetta, where a reported 22 million dollars in cash was found.

The raid was on the headquarters of a pyramid scheme operated by a company called DSS.

Over the weekend the video clip showing the officer’s action inside the house was shared via social media.

Yesterday on the Take Two Sunday afternoon show on i95.5fm, Commissioner Griffith could not say for certain if a warrant was executed by his officers.

Several hours after the raid and the detention of some people found in the house, the 22 million dollars was returned to DSS.

A soldier named Kerron Clarke is operating the pyramid scheme.

Police were up to last evening searching for businesswoman Mary Ali.

She was snatched while walking through the car park of the Cost Cutters Supermarket on George Street in Sangre Grande on Wednesday morning.

The 67-year-old Ms. Ali is from Juteram Street, Sangre Grande.

It is reported that while walking with 2 security guards at around 7:30am, 2 masked men with guns approached.

They grabbed Ms. Ali and threw her into a vehicle parked nearby.

The grey Mitsubishi Ceda sped off and the security officers called for help.

CCTV footage from the supermarket and nearby buildings have been reviewed.

Up to late last evening she was still missing.