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Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is claiming persons linked to the opposition United National Congress are trying to interfere with the rulings of judges on matters before them.

Last night Dr. Rowley told of efforts by persons to get the judges to hold their hands on delivering rulings before the August 10^th General Election.

Dr. Rowley called no names but he had a question for the Law Association.

The Prime Minister was at a meeting of his Peoples National Movement in Chaguanas east, where he said the attempts are only for people on the side of the UNC.

He reminded his audience that justice is supposed to be blind therefore it sees no individual or position, just the matters which are to be adjudicated on.

Six days before the poll, one political party says the Elections and Boundaries Commission has made a serious error in the printing of its symbol.

The Progressives say the symbol on the ballot paper is incorrect.

Political Leader, Nicolai Edwards says the EBC is yet to explain the error.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 this morning, Mr. Edwards expressed concern and said the situation can confuse people, particularly in the San Fernando west constituency.

But the Corporate Communications Manager at the EBC Bobbie Lee Rogers told Newscenter 5 this morning; it is too late for anything to be done.

She said Mr. Edwards and his party had two opportunities to recognise the error and now that window is closed.

Mr. Edwards is the party’s candidate in San Fernando west.

He is going up against the Peoples National Movement’s Faris Al Rawi, the United National Congress’ Sean Sobers, Progressive Empowerment Party’s Benison Jagesar and the National Party’s Valmickie Ramsingh.

The Minister of National Security explains why no returning national has as yet been quarantined in Tobago. 

Within recent weeks there have been calls from Tobagonians abroad to be allowed to return to Tobago where they can be quarantined instead of doing so in Trinidad. 

On the Eye on Dependency programme on i95.5fm last Sunday, Minister Stuart Young explained there are challenges associated with such a move. 

Nevertheless Minister Young said he remains open to Tobagonians quarantining in Tobago in the future. 

Minister Young also said repatriation flights from the United States should commence this week. 

Teachers are being advised by their representing union to stay at home until the reopening of school in September.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association is specifically talking to its members who are preparing Standard 5 students for the Secondary Entrance Assessment.

TTUTA President Antonia De Freitas has held discussions with the Education Ministry yesterday where concerns over face-to-face classes, given the rise in COVID-19 cases, were ventilated.

She says following the talks the Ministry was adamant that the SEA will be held on August 20^th and preparation classes will continue.

Mrs. De. Freitas says holding virtual classes is an option.

Mrs. De Freitas says its better to be safe than sorry.

A total of 11 schools have so far been closed for sanitization, following possible COVID-19 exposures.

Schools from the south, east, central and north are listed closed because of the COVID threat.

The County Medical Officers in several districts have advised principals of the schools to close and some have recommended quarantine at home for 14 days.

Ten new cases of the coronavirus are recorded in Trinidad and Tobago overnight.

The total number of infections now stands at 192.

One hundred and thirty-five people have recovered and are no longer in State care.

In its latest bulletin the Ministry of Health says 7 of the new cases are contacts of recently positive patients.

The origin of the other 3 cases is being investigated.

The 10 new cases come hours after Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh dismissed talk that the virus is raging.

The number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the University of the West Indies for testing, is 8,766.

Political Analyst Indira Rampersad says the election poll conducted by Nigel Henry does not reflect the nuances of constituencies.

She says while the poll puts the ruling People’s National Movement in the lead by 5% it is only the view of some people.

She tells Newscenter 5, a poll should be done in the swing constituencies, where the vote really counts.

Dr. Rampersad said the undecided voters are a critical group.

She also noted that respondents do not always tell the truth.

Yesterday Deputy Political Leader of the PNM Fitzgerald Hinds said he was shocked by the results and believes the party should be ahead by at least 25%.

Police are probing 2 murders, 1 in Biche and the other in Blanchisseuse.

The deceased have since been identified as Sherma Francis and Barry Boxhill.

Fifty-four-year-old Ms. Francis was killed in a drive by shooting near the Charuma Recreational Ground last Saturday night.

Reports say shortly after midnight she was liming with a group of friends when a vehicle passed by.

Shots were fired from within and Ms. Francis was hit in the abdomen.

She was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing emergency treatment.

Eyewitnesses told police there was an argument involving a group of men and some of the people with whom Ms. Francis was liming.

They told investigators the men left, promising to return.

In the second incident, the decomposing body of Barry Boxhill was found down a precipice in Blanchisseuse.

That incident occurred on Saturday.

Police say a passer-by detected a stench and, upon investigating, saw Mr. Boxhill’s body down the precipice in an area known as Christophene Field.

He had a bullet wound to the head.

The discovery was made around 4 p.m.

Police were contacted and officers of the Northern Division and the Homicide Bureau responded.

With the assistance of personnel from the Defense Force, police were able to remove the body.

Mr. Boxhill lived at Bon Air Gardens, Arouca.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has been tested for the coronavirus.

His result has come back negative.

The test was conducted over the weekend days after the Commissioner held a meeting with someone who was a secondary contact of another person suspected of being positive.

Two police officers are now confirmed positive for the virus.

According to Commissioner Griffith, the police service has been the frontline State agency since the COVID pandemic worsened in March this year.

He says this shows how susceptible the TTPS is due to interactions with the public.

Commissioner Griffith says since the closure of the borders men and women of the service have been out there ensuring that members of the public adhere to the rules.

In a release the Commissioner said this morning, officers have continued with their anti crime measures and have been successful, especially during the lockdown period.

He referred to the weekend seizure of 15 firearms and a wide assortment of ammunition at different locations.

The Commissioner said the interactions expose officers to persons with the virus.

He said his officers have been told to be very careful now that there are no longer just imported cases.

He said in the past 10 days the TTPS had temporarily close the Police Administration Building, the old police headquarters, Riverside Plaza, and the Moruga and Barrackpore stations.

They were closed for sanitisation after persons tested positive for COVID-19.

Prison Commissioner Dennis Pulchan says there will be no transfer of officers at this time.

This morning Commissioner Pulchan told Newscenter 5 given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases across the country that is not a practical move.

On Friday, President of the Prison Officers Association Cerron Richards expressed concern for what he described as mass transfers scheduled.

Today Mr. Pulchan says he does not understand Mr. Richards’ position.

He also noted this morning that 1 officer was infected; measures to stop the spread have been increased.

Attempts to contact the Prison Officers Association this morning were unsuccessful.