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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.

The leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr has removed his son as Public Relations Officer.

Fuad Abu Bakr says he was notified that a meeting of the organisation took the decision to remove him from the post.

Mr. Abu Bakr says change is essential for growth.

In recent times Fuad Abu Bakr has been involved in some public situations, the latest was the Black Lives Matter protest opposite the US Embassy in Port of Spain.

Before that Mr. Abu Bakr was in a conflicting situation regarding his bid to be screened by the ruling Peoples National Movement for the Port of Spain south constituency.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 earlier Mr. Abu Bakr was not convinced those were factors in the decision to remove him as P.R.O.

His father Imam Abu Bakr has also been reported as making statements, which appear to contradict his son during the screening matter.

Mr. Abu Bakr is denying that there are tensions between himself and his father.

Mr. Abu Bakr feels this change will allow him to spend more time on building his political party, the New National Vision.

The party is planning to contest the upcoming General Election.

A sitting judge receives a threat on his life and the Law Association calls it an attack on the Judiciary and the democracy.

On Wednesday this week the controversial Justice Frank Seepersad received an envelope, which carried a note and a bullet.

Apart from the 9mm bullet there was a written warning telling Justice Seepersad he should resign or the bullet would look good between his eyes.

Police say the note was written on a red triangular piece of wet paper and there was also writing around the bullet but police were unable to decipher what was written.

The envelope and its contents were handed over to AG CPL Taikan and have been taken for analysis.

The Law Association sees the threat as an attack on the Judiciary.

The man who is alleged to have set fire to the vendors’ booths at the Queens Park Savannah is expected to appear in court today.

He was charged earlier this week after the blaze destroyed 6 of the booths on Tuesday.

Estimated damage is put at $70,000.

The fire was reported at around 12:45pm.

Security officers noticed the smoke coming from the area of the booths and a bucket brigade was formed before fire fighters arrived on the scene.

The National Carnival Commission’s Chief Executive Officer Colin Lucas says there was nothing in the booths, because they were cleared some time ago.

The booths were to be dismantled weeks after carnival this year, but because of the restrictions triggered by COVID-19 the project was put on hold.

The man held in connection with the incident lives in Belmont.

Guns, ammunition and drugs have been seized during a police exercise in the northern division.

Sixteen people were also arrested.

Police say the exercise was conducted yesterday morning between 4 and 9 o’clock.

Among the 16 people held is a man wanted for murder.

According to police the items seized include an AR-15 rifle and 53 rounds of five point five six ammunition, two Taurus pistols, one Gluck 19 pistol and one-drop barrel magazine.

Sixty-four grams of cocaine and 134 grams of marijuana have also been seized.

Senior Superintendent Sheldon David and Superintendent Edwards led the exercise.