President, Paula-Mae Weekes says the Republican Constitution created new and important offices including that of President, Director of Public Prosecutions and Ombudsman.
She says the country became autonomous in every way, but for the final court of appeal which remains the Privy Council.
President Weekes says these accomplishments cemented Trinidad and Tobago’s identity as a sovereign, adult nation.
As the country celebrates 44 years as a Republic citizens are told there is much to be proud of.
National Security Minister, Stuart Young says he is proud of the work done in this country.
The Minister boasts of a free press and great democracy.
Mr. Young also said this country’s democracy is thriving.
And Energy Minister, Franklyn Khan said this country’s Energy Sector has come a long way.
He said the industry is now very transparent.
Mr. Khan also said he was saddened that citizens are unable to celebrate due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
They were speaking at the weekly Post Cabinet news briefing on Wednesday.
Students in Trinidad and Tobago are now questioning grades from this year’s CXC examinations.
And the Minister of Education Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has intervened.
She says she has had a conversation with the Caribbean Examinations Council over a petition from within the region calling for a review of the 2020 scores.
The Minister says it is
regrettable that pupils are being caused added stress during a time of a
pandemic.
She says many persons can and will sign an online petition once they disagree
with an assigned grade.
Students from Trinidad and Tobago have joined others in the region questioning their CAPE and CXC results, which were released earlier this week.
Many say there have been inconsistencies.
In Guyana there are similar concerns.
The Minister of Education there, Priya Manickchand said CXC has some questions to answer.
Speaking with reporters yesterday the Minister said there are too many reported inconsistencies for comfort.
Both Education Ministers say they are awaiting responses from the Barbados based Caribbean Examinations Council.
Rescuers in Australia say at least a third of 270 whales stranded off Tasmania have died and more are feared to be dying.
However, crews were able to save 25 of the animals on Tuesday and are aiming to escort more back into the sea.
The Pilot Whales were discovered in shallow waters off the west coast of the island on Monday.
It’s unknown what drew the whales to the shore.
Marine biologists say the rescue mission will likely take days.
Whale beaching’s are common in the region, but one of this size has not been seen in over a decade.
Tasmania last recorded a mass stranding in 2009 involving around 200 whales.
Rescuers from the Tasmanian Marine Conservation Program arrived late on Monday and found 3 groups of whales across Macquarie Heads – a remote tip of the island with limited vessel and road access.
About 200 of the mammals had washed up on a sandbar near a boat ramp, while 30 others were found several hundred meters away.
Another 30 were found further inland along Ocean Beach.
Mass COVID-19 tests have been conducted among inmates at the Lusignan Prison in Guyana.
The tests confirmed over 80 cases.
Prison Director Gladwyn Samuel says the positive cases were confirmed over the last weekend.
Prison authorities have been busy trying to respond to the number of cases.
A decision has been taken to have the COVID-19 positive inmates housed at a secured facility outside of Georgetown.
The prisoners are under heavy guard.
The move came after a riot at the prison on Saturday.
During the unrest 2 prisoners were killed and several injured.
The incident forced officers to fire their weapons at inmates who had rushed to the gates in a bid to escape.
The prisoners had earlier expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the facility was being run.
They were not pleased with the prison authorities handling of COVID-19 infections.
The Ministers of Health and Home Affairs were at the time visiting the prison when the incident occurred.
The Ministers had to be rushed out of the compound.
One woman and 2 men have been charged for with kidnapping 9-month-old Sophia Rivas.
The child was taken from her parents’ Chaguanas home 1 week ago.
A 19-year-old of Longdenville Old Road, Chaguanas, a 58-year-old and a 24-year-old both of Mcinroy Street, Curepe, were jointly charged with kidnapping for ransom based on advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions.
One of the men was also charged with negotiating a ransom.
Two other suspects were released following investigations.
On the morning of the incident, a report was received from the child’s mother, a Venezuelan national, that while at her home on Longdenville Old Road, Longdenville, Chaguanas, the child was taken by a woman without her permission.
Sometime later, she received a telephone call from the suspect demanding $20,000TT in cash for the safe release of her daughter.
Later at around 10:50 pm, acting on intelligence, officers proceeded to Mcinroy Street, Curepe, where they found and safely extracted the baby.
Don’t blame us for COVID-19 infections…that is the position of Barkeepers and Operators Association.
The association, which represents them, says the labeling is hurting an already strained industry.
Yesterday interim President Theron Mohan said most of the operators have been adhering to the guidelines set out by the authorities.
He said very few are in breach so to tag bars, as a main source is unfair and damaging.
Last weekend Head of the Epidemiological Unit at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Avery Hinds said there was a spike in cases after the announced closure of beaches and rivers last month.
On the Morning Show on i95.5fm yesterday, Mr. Mohan said on that particular weekend, bars were empty and the beaches and rivers were packed.
He said there is no way many of these bars can survive another lockdown.
Mr. Mohan said the government has to begin a discussion with the operators and barkeepers to ensure that the industry does not collapse.
The Prison Officers Association says every step is being taken to protect officers and inmates from contracting the coronavirus.
But the association is not surprised to learn that 254 officers are in quarantine.
The association’s General Secretary, Lester Walcott said yesterday it was only a matter of time.
Mr. Walcott said strategies established are in effect.
Commissioner Pulchan also said on Sunday 5 inmates contracted the virus.
The political leader of the United National Congress hits back at the critics within her party, who have been calling on her to step down.
Mrs. Persad Bissessar last night said she will not be forced out and will hold internal elections when they are due.
According to Mrs. Persad Bissessar her critics want her out and do not really care about democracy in the party.
She vowed to stay put.
Mrs. Persad Bissessar was speaking at a virtual party update last night.
Chief Justice Ivor Archie is expected to appear in court today to defend allegations leveled against him by former Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers Caesar.
The Chief Justice is to be cross-examined by lead attorney for Mrs. Ayers Caesar, Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
The former Chief Magistrate is claiming she was forced to tender her resignation 2 weeks after being appointed to the position.
Justice Archie is expected to be questioned virtually from his home.
One of the attorneys for the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, Deborah Peake is reported as saying the Chief Justice is now in quarantine at home and will be in isolation for another week.
She made the statement during the first day of the judicial review claim being heard by Justice David Harris.
Mrs. Ayers Ceasar was the first witness to be called.
She was cross-examined by another of the JLSC’s attorneys Senior Counsel Russel Martineau.
She was questioned for near 4 hours.
LATEST ON
Tweets by @i955fmTWITTER
FACEBOOK
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error