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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There is uncertainty over the participation of the Patriotic Front in the August 10^th General Election.

Yesterday, leader of the party Mikela Panday said a decision has to be taken and an announcement made.

She promised that reveal yesterday afternoon.

Ms. Panday said fielding 41 candidates is a major task.

Ms. Panday assured that whatever the decision, her Patriotic Front is in for the long haul.

She confirmed that the Patriotic Front has had coalition talks with some parties, but the United National Congress is not among them.

Two weeks ago Ms. Panday launched her party’s bid for 2020,  naming her father as the campaign manager.