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Protesting workers attached to Arima Hospital to receive full payment of monies owed

Protesting workers attached to the Arima Hospital are set to receive their full payment of monies owed to them.

Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Regional Health Authority Davlin Thomas confirms this

He says the decision follows extensive discussions with Finance Minister Colm Imbert last night.

Speaking on the Morning Show on i95.5fm today, Mr. Thomas said the payroll department or the NCRHA would initiate the process immediately.

He said over 39 million dollars is owed to the workers.

Mr. Thomas said the monies would be paid by the NCRHA and the State.

Meanwhile the representing Public Services Association is claiming victory.

However, Shop Steward Keston Thomas says he wants to see the agreement on paper.

Mr. Thomas says now its time to settle round two, which is having all workers made permanent.

Mr. Thomas maintains the workers deserve their just due.

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TTPS distancing itself from killing in Carapo

Trinidad & Tobago Police Service

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service distances its officers from the killing of Roger Cabie in Carapo

It says contrary to mainstream and social media reports, the fatal shooting on Monday evening did not involve the police.

Mr. Cabie was reportedly shot by 3 men while outside his home on Simon Road.

Reports have claimed that the 44-year-old Mr. Cabie was shot during a police operation.

But a release from in the TTPS denies this.

It says officers were called to scene where Mr. Cabie’s bullet riddled body was found.

Commissioner Gary Griffith says while there were reportedly witnesses at the scene, no one has come forward to produce any information, photographs, videos or even the number plates of vehicles in the area at the time.

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Political Leader calls to boycott SEA

Political Leader of the Green Party Dr. Everold Hosein

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 20th, 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.

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Health Care Workers of Arima not accepting offer by government

Health Care Workers protest in front Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex

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.

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Mayor of POS to receive petition to remove statue of Christopher Columbus

Project director of Cross Rhodes Freedom Project, Shabaka Kambon

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.

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Barrackpore woman, murdered by her husband, is laid to rest

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 14th.

The accused was unrepresented yesterday.

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

An autopsy says she was strangled.

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

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.

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24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree in California stokes more unrest in US

Robert Fuller found dead hanging from a tree in California

Amid protests against racial mistreatment and injustice across the United States, the family of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California have called for answers over his death.

On Saturday, hundreds of people marched in Palmdale following the death of Robert Fuller, who was found hanging from a tree near City Hall early on Wednesday.

During the demonstration, Los Angeles supervisor Kathryn Barger formally called for an investigation into the death by the State’s Attorney General.

Authorities initially said Fuller’s death appeared to be a suicide, but are awaiting the results of an autopsy.

Community members have questioned how they came to that determination so quickly. 

His sister Diamond Alexander said her brother was not suicidal.

She said relatives just want to know the truth.

Protesters have taken to the streets regularly in small and major cities across the US since the May 25th death of George Floyd; an unarmed black man who died after an officer in Minneapolis kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.

The four officers involved in the death have since been terminated and criminally charged. 

And on Friday night Rayshard Brooks, was shot and killed by police in Atlanta during a tussle after officers were called in as he fell asleep in a fast food drive-through restaurant lane.

This has further stoked the unrest in the country. 

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CoP says don’t blame his officers for killing in Barrackpore

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.

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Jamaica’s Prime Minister announces SOE

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a State of Public Emergency in sections of the corporate area.

He says the current state of crime in some police divisions could spiral to what he calls “chaotic ends”.

At a news conference yesterday Mr. Holness said there has been an increase in gang activities in Kingston and areas where a government initiated road project is in progress.

Police say so far this year there has been an increase of nearly 100 percent in murders in the Kingston Western Police Division, adding that 22 more persons were murdered up to June 6th when compared with the similar period last year.

Prime Minister Holness said there is a trend, which has dangerous implications.

He vowed not to allow criminals to stall the project.

The latest State of Emergency means the entire capital has been placed under the security measure.

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Principals of primary schools supporting Education Ministry’s decision to host SEA on August 20th

Education Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Garcia

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

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 20th.

But the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association President Antonia de Frietas said yesterday August 20th 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 20th 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.

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