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The body of a man is found in a cemetery in St. James.

Up to news time, the body has not yet been identified.

Reports say, the discovery was made at the western cemetery at around 9 o’clock this morning.

The body was found face down.

Police were notified, and officers of the Woodbrook police station responded.

It is said, the body bore bullet wounds.

According to the police a firearm was also found near the body.

The corpse was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St. James, where an autopsy is expected to be performed pending a positive identification.

Investigations are now ongoing.

Glowing tributes at the funeral for former chief justice, and the first president of the Caribbean court of justice, Michael De La Bastide.

The service was held this morning at the church of assumption in Maraval.

CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders described Mr. De La Bastide as, an advocate for the court in the region.

He said, as president of the CCJ Mr. De La Bastide worked tirelessly.

He said, Mr. De La Bastide advocated for the CCJ to be the final court of appeal, in the caribbean.

The archbishop of Port of Spain Jason Gordon knocked the justice system saying, it is failing the country.

However, he said a lack of mercy has failed the nation even more.

The archbishop told the gathered, if Mr. De La Bastide’s life made an impact on them, they must also allow his end to have a similar effect.

He said, while Mr. De La Bastide pursued justice, he also pursued mercy and the people can learn from him.

Mr. De La Bastide passed away on March 30^th , after ailing for some time.

Reports say, all schools resumed operations on the first day of the new term.

Although the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association says, classes continue to take place under sub-standard conditions.

Yesterday, President Martin Lum Kin said, while he received no reports of any school remaining closed, he lamented some institutions continued to be plagued with infrastructural and OSH issues.

He added Poole R.C and St. Therese R.C share the same compound for classes at this time.

Mr. Lum Kin told Newscentre five, the issues go beyond the building structures, and teaching staff has been forced to improvise at their own risk.

TTUTA is calling on the Ministry of Education to immediately meet with the association, to address the many issues facing the nation’s schools.

Mr. Lum Kin was speaking with us yesterday, via voice note.

The head of a four-year-old girl is severed in Arouca.

A suspect is held.

The child is identified as Amarah Lalitte.

Reports say, the incident took place at Fifth Street at around 2 o’clock this morning.

News Centre five understands, a female relative went to the police station to make a report.

She claimed, she was being assaulted by a male relative.

It is said; when officers arrived on the scene they made the horrific discovery, of the child’s body motion less on the ground

Her head was severed.

A male relative who is said to be mentally ill was later discovered nearby.

A sharp object believed to have been used in the killing, was found.

Police are said to be still at the scene, and investigations are ongoing.

And several police units are probing an incident where a 13-year-old girl, playing with an air rifle shot her eight-year-old sister.

The incident is reported to have taken place at the children’s home in, Cunupia last Sunday.

Police say, the younger sister was struck on the forehead with a projectile from the air rifle.

She was hospitalized and said to be in a stable condition.

Police were told that the air rifle belongs to an uncle of the children.

Officers of the child protection unit, Chaguanas and Cunupia CIDs are investigating.

It’s back to school today for thousands of students and their teachers.

The Easter holidays have ended and this is now the final term of the 2023-2024 school year.

Before the closure over 19 thousand students wrote the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA).

By the end of this term the results will be made known.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, Martin Lum Kin is concerned about the situation at the Aranguez North Secondary School.

He says, for three years now block-c on the compound of the schools has been condemned because of electrical problems.

According to Mr. Lum Kin, classes such as chemistry and physics have been affected because they are housed in block-c.

The TTUTA president says, there are also plumbing problems at block-e.

Mr. Lum Kin has complained of other issues at the school.

Investigations are continuing into a suspected arson attack, which has claimed the life of 25 year old, Tyrone Foster in Couva.

It is believed a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the HDC family home at Anand Yankaran Extension, Exchange Lots, yesterday morning.

While Mr. Foster died, at the house three other people were injured in the blaze.

Tyrone foster’s uncle, Lester and his mother, Lorna Foster, and a friend of the family, were all taken to hospital for treatment for burns.

It is said, Lester Foster suffered burns, to 90 percent of his body.

The dead man’s mother and girlfriend Layla Ranjitsingh, were also injured.

A neighbour, Rocky Daniel relayed the terrible ordeal.

Mr. Daniel described Tyrone as a friend.

He said he was saddened by the loss.  

Meanwhile, in a media release the Trinidad and Tobago housing development corporation says it understands the fire started at approximately 2:30am.

Residents were alerted to the fire and the fire service, which arrived on the scene attempted to rescue all of the victims.

The HDC says, it will conduct checks to determine the extent of damage to the building, including water damage to the adjacent units.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development Camille Robinson-Regis thanked the fire service for its swift response.

The HDC says, it awaits further information following an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

A commitment from officers attached to the TTPS gang unit, to stem gang violence.

The pledge comes even as the police service admits that, it continues to be a challenge.

Head of the, North Central Division, Senior Supt. Richard Smith says, the war is as a result of turf and even music, particularly “Trinibad”.

He says, they have become more brazen with their criminality, with the many daylight shootings and murders.

However, senior Supt. Smith says, the TTPS’ gang unit, has been and continues to actively engage the gang members.

He says; repeat offenders and people with outstanding warrants, are also being targeted through various anti-crime exercises.

However, senior supt. Smith says, when they are held and taken before the courts they are given bail.

He says, the criminals realize there is not much consequence when they commit crimes.

The heads of the nine police divisions, were sitting before a joint select committee of the parliament on national security last week.

The main suspect in the fatal accident involving a kiss delivery truck, has been released from police custody.

The man surrendered to the police after the deadly crash on the, Solomon Hochoy Highway last Thursday.

The man said to be an officer in the army, was released without charges pending further investigations.

Fifty-five year old Neil Ballai was killed in the crash.

Mr. Ballai was from, Eccles Trace Spring Village Valsayn.

Yesterday, central division police also said, the investigations are ongoing and a file is being prepared to be sent to the, office of the director of public prosecutions for advice.

On the morning of March 28^th the officer was driving his black Ioniq motor car, when it struck the back of the kiss truck being driven by Mr. Ballai.

The crash caused the kiss truck to veer off the roadway, and landed on its side in a ditch.

Mr. Billai died at the scene.

Another passenger, who was in the kiss truck, was injured and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The army officer was later seen fleeing the scene of the accident, and only surrendered to police later that evening.

There is a story today, which quotes family members pleading from Mr. Ballai’s body to be handed over to them.

They say, the funeral for Mr. Ballai is being delayed pending an autopsy.

According to relatives, the run-around is causing his family more trauma.