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SEA students return to class

Students getting ready for the Secondary Entrance Assessment in one month’s time are returning to the classrooms today.

Just about 19,000 students are expected back at school for the first time since March.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia said yesterday all was being put in place to facilitate the return to school.

The Ministry, via a statement, said over the past few weeks, it has been distributing cleaning supplies to all primary schools to ensure the classrooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.

However the National Primary School Principals Association says some schools are yet to receive some of the items.

President Lance Mottley is also calling on parents to ensure their children are equipped with their own sanitizing materials.

Mr. Mottley this morning told parents if their children are sick do not take them to school.

And President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association Antonia De Freitas also has some concerns.

The Ministry further states that due to its recommendations, principals have reorganised the classrooms to facilitate the 6 feet physical distancing requirement.

Ms. De Freitas told Newscenter 5 yesterday supervision of pupils is also a major concern for her members.

Schools have been closed since March following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Police probe stabbing in Matura

Police are probing the circumstances surrounding the killing of Gideon King.

Mr. King was stabbed to death by a close female relative at his Toco Road, Matura home yesterday

According to reports, Mr. King and the suspected were involved in an argument when it turned physical.

It is said during the brawl the suspect picked up a knife and stabbed Mr. King in the chest.

Mr. King is said to have died on the way to hospital.

Mr. King was 40-years-old.

He was the Head Chef at Castro’s Restaurant and Bar in Arima.

The woman has since been detained by police and is said to be assisting officers with their investigations.

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Bar owners given the go ahead by high court to be heard

Bar owners have been given the go-ahead by the high court to have their bid for a change in closing time, heard.

The owners belonging to the bar keepers and operators association have been trying to get the government to rescind the 8pm closure order.

Yesterday in the San Fernando High Court, Justice Avason Quinlan Williams granted the judicial review.

The substantive matter will be heard next Monday.

Lawyers for the bar owners include Anand Ramlogan.

In all 317 bar owners filed the application for judicial review.

Yesterday the association said the Caribbean Premier League presents an opportunity to revise the 8pm closing.

The CPL is to be hosted in Trinidad and Tobago next month.

Interim president of the association, Teron Mohan says the 8pm closing time will drastically affect the earnings of his members, during a period when money can be made.

Mr. Mohan says since there are to be no spectators at the games, bars should be allowed to accommodate persons who want to view the games.

Mr. Mohan told Newscenter 5 yesterday he is hoping for a positive response from the government.

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Reports of 150 Venezuelan immigrants entered the country illegally

Reports today that up to 150 Venezuelan immigrants have come into the country illegally.

They are now being sought by the police.

It is said the immigrants came ashore at the southwestern coast on Tuesday morning.

Police have been searching for the group, and they found 8 of them.

Reports to the police said on Tuesday, 5 pirogues brought them ashore at Beach Road, Pale Seco.

It is believed the immigrants were taken away from the beach via vehicles sent to get them.

One of the vehicles was intercepted and the 8 Venezuelans, 4 men and 3 women were found inside.

There was also a child among them.

They were taken to the Siparia Police Station.

The driver of the vehicle was also detained and is expected to be charged.

The Venezuelans were then handed over to Coast Guard officers to be placed in quarantine at the Heliport in Chaguaramas.

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PM slams Opposition on promise to restart Petrotrin

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley slams Opposition promises to restart Petrotrin if elected to office.

Dr. Rowley says such a plan is doomed and it would be a dark day in the country if that happens.

Leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad Bissessar and her chief whip in the last parliament, David Lee have repeatedly said their government would reopen the refinery.

Yesterday at the Petrotrin land distribution ceremony, at the Palo Seco Government Primary School Dr. Rowley said Mrs. Persad Bissessar’s promise is not responsible.

The government is promising land for terminated Petrotrin workers.

The Prime Minister said one thousand lots of land would be given to the former employees who currently don’t own land or a home.

He said phase 2 would be made available for the rest of the former workers.

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COVID-19 cases on the rise in the Bahamas

Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Dr. Hubert Minnis

Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in the Bahamas.

Three additional cases have been recorded, 2 in Grand Bahama, and 1 in Nassau, bringing the national total to 116.

The health authorities are saying the new cases are related to recent travels and they are wondering if there is a new outbreak.

Medical Consultant in the office of the Prime Minister Dr. Mercelene Dow Regis says because of the new cases, protocols are to be changed.

And although the government has ordered that all incoming passengers present a valid negative COVID-19 test, within 7 to 10 days of their return date, some passengers in New Providence and Grand Bahama, have not been honest.

Dr. Dow Regis says this has to stop.

In Grand Bahama residents are getting increasingly concerned.

Some of them think it is time to return to lockdown mode.

Grand Bahama has seen 8 new cases in less than a week.

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Ministry of Health recalls nasal spray

The Ministry of Health has recalled a brand of nasal spray.

The Ministry has advised that a batch of Minirin RTS nasal spray, with the expiration date of August 2022, should be pulled.

According to the Ministry the product is not used in the Public Health Sector but is prescribed for adults and children with Diabetes Insipidus.

The form of diabetes is rare and occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water.

In a release yesterday the Ministry told of the recall of Batch: R14349.

Its German manufacturer Ferring Pharmaceuticals issued it.

The Ministry said the recall is as a result of a detection of bottles of the spray, containing out of specification results, for an active substance.

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Patriotic Front pulls out of General Election

Mikela Panday vows to build her 1 year old Patriotic Front party, but she says a run in this year’s General Election is not possible.

Yesterday Ms. Panday said the time is too short for her to field 41 candidates.

She also insisted the Patriotic Front is pushing a different kind of politics.

Two weeks ago Ms. Panday launched her party’s bid for the election, naming her father, former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday as Campaign Manager.

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TTPS records 19% decrease in road traffic accidents

Road Safety Coordinator of the TTPS, Brent Batson

The police service records a 19% decrease in road traffic accidents.

In a release it says 1,300 motorists were ticketed for various traffic offences since the launch of the U-turn traffic enforcement, E-ticketing system in May this year.

It says this totals $1.3 million, the expected sum to be paid to the State by drivers and front seat passengers who failed to buckle up while Commuting in a vehicle.

Yesterday Road Safety Coordinator of the TTPS Brent Batson said it was a combined effort.

Mr. Batson further added the Demerit Point System of failing to adhere to road safety regulations also contributed to the decrease.

Mr. Batson was speaking with Newscenter 5 yesterday.

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Firing of Darryl Smith was not because of sexual harassment allegations

Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley

The firing of Sports Minister Darryl Smith was not because of the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says Mr. Smith interfered with the Public Service, and created an expensive problem for the State.

At a political meeting in the Barataria/San Juan constituency last evening Dr. Rowley said Mr. Smith instructed the Permanent Secretary in his Ministry to remove the cause for the termination of a female member of staff.

The woman made claims of sexual misconduct against the then Minister.

Dr. Rowley said Mr. Smith wanted to end the tenure of the staff member because she was not good at her job.

Dr. Rowley said that created a major problem for the government and the taxpayer.

He said the Opposition sees the firing of Darryl Smith as one of the two scandals of his first term as Prime Minister.

The other issue was the Shamfa Cudjoe phone bill issue.

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