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The Police Social and Welfare Association says outstanding back pay for 379 Special Reserve Officers will be paid later this month.

President of the association Gideon Dickson on the association’s program on Tuesday made the announcement. 

Speaking on i95.5fm Mr. Dickson admitted that some meals and cola allowances are still outstanding but back pay for the SRP’s who did not receive their funds is on its way.

Mr. Dickson noted that these officers have been waiting for a very long time.

He assured them that he has been given a guarantee by the Finance Division of the police service that the payments will be made.

Last year the SRP’s highlighted a number of issues which include late payment of salaries, non-payment of back pay, lack of medical insurance and ridicule by the public and regular police officers.

A 45-year-old man charged with arson is granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

A statement from the police service says Kyle Richards, of Hubert Ranch Street, Vistabella, appeared before the Siparia Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The unemployed Mr. Richards was arrested following a report of arson in the district on Monday.

According to the TTPS, on Saturday, the victim reported to police that a man who has relations with his daughter was allegedly seen leaving her room after it was set ablaze.

The victim, with assistance of his neighbours, managed to extinguish the fire.

An enquiry was launched but the suspect surrendered to police at the Oropouche Police Station later that day.

Mr. Richards was immediately arrested and charged with arson.

President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Ancel Roget is saying a lot more now about the yet to be sealed Petrotrin deal with the government.

Yesterday Mr. Roget said all was not well with the negotiations to take over the operations and management of Petrotrin.

While the deal appeared close to completion, last weekend and again earlier this week the Energy Minister and his boss Dr. Keith Rowley expressed caution.

Ancel Roget is not buying what he sees as the flip-flopping of the government.

The OWTU’s Patriotic Energies and Technologies Company Limited is ready to take over the operations of the State oil refinery, but it looks like there will be no signing on the dotted lines before next Monday’s General Election.

Mr. Roget feels this is just what the United National Congress wants.

Energy Minister Franklyn Khan has said the government wont be bullied into signing the deal because it is a sensitive process.

Mr. Roget feels politics and votes are in the mix.

He said the deal is being deliberately interfered with. 

The Judiciary closes the 3^rd floor of the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain.

Via a statement the Judiciary says the floor was closed for deep sanitising yesterday after a member of staff, who is a secondary COVID-19 contact, was exposed to other staff at the Court of Appeal.

According to the release, the 3^rd floor of the building houses the Appeal Court Registries, the 2 Appeal Courts, the library, some judges’ chambers, including the Chief Justice’s and his conference room where virtual hearings of appeals are held.

The Judiciary said the 3^rd floor of the building, including the Appeal Court Registry and the library will remain closed, and the public will be informed as soon as further information is available.

It added that virtual hearings and electronic filing remain available for the Court of Appeal.

Last Friday, the Siparia District Court was closed until further notice as a precautionary measure as one of its staff members could have been exposed to a primary COVID-19 contact.

At the time, the Judiciary said the staff member had not been confirmed as a positive case, but the usual precautions called for the closure of the building for sanitization.

In-person hearings and activities at the building were stopped but virtual hearings continued.

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago is partly being connected to bars and parties.

Technical Director at the Epidemiology Division of the Ministry of Health Dr. Avery Hinds yesterday said 2 or 3 bars are super spreaders.

At a news conference yesterday Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley also said monitoring of bars and restaurants will be stepped up.

He said the country’s protection from irresponsible people at bars means the police must enforce the laws.

Dr. Rowley said suspension of Secondary Entrance Assessment classes at primary schools has now taken out of the system the biggest risks to the population.

Dr. Hinds also said there was a spread of the virus at schools hence the decision to suspend the classes.

Dr. Rowley and his government are holding firm to the August 20^th date for the examination.

But the Prime Minister was not pleased with the stay at home instruction given to teachers by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association.

On Tuesday the teachers union advised its members conducting SEA classes to stay at home after COVID scares at several schools.

The President of the Joint Trade Union Movement Ancel Roget uses the n-word to describe some editors at newspapers in the country.

Mr. Roget was being critical of the way the media have treated issues in the trade union movement, when he used the term, twice.

JTUM called a news conference yesterday to demand the government settles some outstanding negotiations before next Monday’s General Election.

Mr. Roget insisted the labour movement has not been showing bias in the way it has handled matters under the current Peoples National Movement administration.

According to Mr. Roget, United National Congress supporters are similar to their counterparts in the PNM, when it comes to hearing the concerns of labour.

Several trade union representatives under the umbrella of JTUM presented a list of issues, which remain unresolved in the labour movement.

The Media Association’s President, Dr. Sheila Rampersad said it is an example of infantile leadership to attack a free press, which has represented the voice of workers over the many years.

Dr. Rampersad says this is silly season not open season on journalists.

In La Brea, on a platform of the Peoples National Movement, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says his government remains committed to the Energy Sector.

Last night he slammed the previous government’s handling of what is a critical sector for the country.

He said the claims of the United National Congress that the Energy Sector has collapsed under his stewardship, cannot be taken seriously.

Dr. Rowley recalled that as Prime Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet appointed Energy Committee, Kamla Persad Bissessar was absent from 20 meetings.

He said the leader of the UNC is not a good morning person hence her absence from last Sunday’s National Day of Prayer.

Dr. Rowley then issued words of caution to voters who will go to the polls next week.

The Prime Minister said PNM governments have always brought development to communities like La Brea and others cannot be trusted with a the rich resources.

Nafeeza Mohammed tells the Prime Minister he needs to get some help for his political treatment of women.

Ms. Mohammed last night took issue with a statement reportedly made by Dr. Keith Rowley in Chaguanas east on Monday.

According to the former Executive Member of the Peoples National Movement, said Dr. Rowley insulted her by claiming she begged for the job as a Senior Legal Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Ms. Mohammed was speaking during an intervention on a program of the opposition United National Congress last evening.

She said Dr. Rowley and Camille Robinson Regis have surprised her by some of their public utterances.

The former PNM Executive Member and Senator, last night endorsed the UNC’s candidate in Barataria/San Juan, Saddam Hussein.

There is a possibility that teachers may not go out to work until the new school term begins.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association is suggesting that all schools be closed the S.E.A. preparations go online.

President Antonia De-Freitas says the suggestions were made at a meeting with the Ministry of Education earlier this week.

She says recent COVID scares at primary schools and the increasing number of cases in the country is enough to keep students and teachers home.

Mrs. De Freitas is further advising that some degree of caution be used.

As of yesterday, a total of 11 schools were closed for sanitization, following possible COVID-19 exposures.