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A call for a boycott of the Secondary Entrance Assessment examination!

The call is coming from Political Leader of the Green Party Dr. Everold Hosein.

He tells Newscenter 5 the exam is harmful psychologically to young 10-year-old and 11-year-old children.

Dr. Hosein says if the government fails to scrap this traumatic exercise, then come August 20^th, parents should take matters in their own hands and boycott SEA.

Dr. Hosein says if tiny Barbados can do it, then surely Trinidad and Tobago after 60 years of self-governance can find a way.

Health Care Workers in Arima say they will not accept what is being offered by the State, regarding the payment of increments.

In the Senate on Monday, Acting Government Leader Clarence Rambharat said a quarter of what is owed to the workers would be paid.

But yesterday, the workers, via the Public Services Association, rejected the offer.

Shop Steward Keston Thomas said the workers are being badly treated by the government and the North Central Regional Health Authority.

He led the protest outside the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Mr. Thomas said the workers have been going beyond the call of duty during this COVID-19 pandemic.

In the parliament yesterday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh was optimistic about a resolution.

The Minister was asked about the status of the conflict by MP Rudrinath Indarsingh.

MP Indarsingh then asked about insurance for the workers.

It is said that 2,440 employees are affected by this contention.

The Mayor of Port of Spain is to receive a petition today, calling for the removal of the statue of Christopher Columbus in downtown Port of Spain.

Project director of Cross Rhodes Freedom Project Shabaka Kambon is expected to hand over the petition To Mayor Joel Martinez this morning.

It is reported that there are over 8,000 signatures on the petition.

The signatures were submitted online and compiled by the organisation.

But Spain’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Javier Carbajosa says removing the statue would not right the wrongs of the past.

He is, instead, urging all stakeholders to understand the importance of historical relics.

Murder victim Tricia Ramsaran Ramdass has been laid to rest following a service at her home in Barrackpore.

The funeral took place yesterday as her common law husband Ramesh Sieunarine appeared before a Princes Town Magistrate charged with her murder.

Mr. Sieunarine of Sukhan Trace, Barrackpore appeared in court yesterday.

He was not called upon to plead to the indictable charge when he made a virtual appearance before Princess Town Magistrate Misir Gosine who adjourned the matter to July 14^th.

The accused was unrepresented yesterday.

Ms. Ramsaran Ramdass was killed at her home on June 9^th.

An autopsy says she was strangled.

Her husband is said to have surrendered to police on June 10^th.

Inspector Allister Jones and Superintendent Sean Dhillpaul, both of Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 3, supervised investigations.

WPC Callender Sinclair formally charged the accused.

He is 51-years-old and is a janitor at a mall in the south.

Mr. Sieunarine also worked as a private for hire driver.

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith says don’t blame his officers for the murder of Tricia Ramsaran-Ramdass.

Commissioner Griffith says it is the criminal justice system to be blamed.

The Commissioner’s defense of the police service comes after the coalition against domestic violence was critical of the police inaction in the matter.

But the Commissioner says the suspect in the killing of Mrs. Ramsaran-Ramdass was out on a Bond to Keep the Peace for five years.

The 37-year-old Mrs. Ramsaran-Ramdass was strangled at the Barrackpore home of her lover last week.

The 51-year-old suspect was previously convicted for the unlawful killing of another woman 16 years ago.

Principals of primary schools say they are supporting the Education Ministry’s decision to host the Secondary Entrance Assessment on August 20^th.

A release from the National Primary Schools Principals Association yesterday said it would cooperate with the government’s decision.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 earlier this morning, President of the association, Lance Mottley said the body would do what is required to ensure students are in school and ready for the exam on August 20^th.

But the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association President Antonia de Frietas said yesterday August 20^th is way too soon.

Ms. de Frietas said it will be up to the general council of the teachers union to support the date.

Speaking on the Take Two Sunday program on i95.5fm yesterday Education Minister Anthony Garcia stands by the date selected.

The annual placement examination will be written by 9,771 boys and 9,563 girls.

The Ministry of Education, under advice from the Cabinet will be adhering to the newly proposed August 20^th date. In the best interest of students, the exam held on this date will allow for the form 1 intake to enter secondary school without losing the full first term of the academic year.

Former MP for Arima and present Ambassador to the United Nations, Penelope Beckles Robinson gets the nod from the Peoples National Movement to contest the seat.

The PNM’s screening committee yesterday selected Mrs. Beckles Robinson.

Her selection means the sitting Arima MP, Anthony Garcia is out of the race.

Mr. Garcia is the current Minister of Education.

Newscenter 5 understands Mrs. Beckles Robinson, Hillary Bernard and incumbent Anthony Garcia screened for the seat.

Mrs. Beckles Robinson was screened while in quarantine having returned to the country from New York yesterday.

The PNM’s screening committee also considered nominees for Lopinot Bon Air and Toco/Sangre Grande.

Robert Munroe was selected for Sangre Grande/Toco.

Mr. Munroe is a sitting Alderman in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

But after a reported six-hour screening session, the La Brea constituency is still without a PNM candidate.

The executive of the constituency was again told to find new nominees for the seat.

This is the second such instruction for the constituency.

Former government Minister Robert Le Hunte was the favorite among constituency groups but he was twice rejected.

Also rejected at the first screening was sitting MP, Nicole Olivierre.

It is reported today that the head of the screening committee, Political Leader and Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley explained why the preferred nominee, Mr. Le Hunte was not selected.

The screening committee last Saturday considered 9 nominees and all were rejected.

Six nationals on board Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship, have tested positive for the corona virus.

The six are among 306 nationals now in quarantine on board the ship, which is docked in local waters.

The new infections bring to 123 the number of positive cases in the country.

Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh said last evening the six have been taken to the Caura Hospital while the other nationals remain on board the ship.

He assured there is no threat to members of the public.

The cruise ship brought the nationals home last week.

As scores of nationals return home, the Minister said there is no need yet to be concerned about capacity.