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Children wearing masks and carrying placards, showing their sadness and concern over the killing of 12-year-old Ezekiel Paria.

The children and some parents on Sunday, staged the demonstration calling for justice after the death, of the young boy last week.

The protest began at around 4:30pm, at Mapp Trace off Laventille road East Port-of-Spain.

Speaking with Newscentre five councilor for St Ann’s River North Alicia Gift, explained why there was no fiery protests, in response to the shooting death of the S.E.A. student.

Councilor for the area Alicia Gift says, while some areas embark on violent and fiery demonstrations, in response to situations in their community, disruptive protests do more harm than good.  

The standard five pupil of Eastern Boys’ Government Primary School, was hit by a stray bullet.

As he stood on the sidewalk on Laventille Road.

Police say, gunmen driving through the area opened fire on a car.

Its occupants were reportedly, targeting a man seated in a vehicle nearby.

While the assailants got their man, Ezekeil, a top-performing student became collateral damage.

Ezekiel was preparing to sit the 2024 Secondary Entrance Assessment Exam on March 21^st , 2024.

Councilor Gift said, the family is at this time receiving support from her office.

Police have arrested two men, in connection with what is now a double homicide.

Shots are fired at Moraldo Trace off Saddle Road, leaving three men dead.

It is reported, that yesterday afternoon, at around 5:10 residents heard what sounded like gunshots.

A black vehicle was later seen crashed into a wall nearby.

Another vehicle sped off, leaving the scene.

Two of the men were shot several times, inside the crashed vehicle.

The third man was found on Saddle Road.

He was already dead.

The names of the victims have been given as Jevon Peters, Kirby Victor and Antonio Trim.

Several spent shells were found at the scene.

The Environmental Management Authority has confirmed, the air quality level in the country is not healthy.

In a release from the authority yesterday, it states that, it has noted that readings taken at monitoring stations in San Fernando, Arima, Mayaro, Point Lisas and Port-of-Spain. 

Have registered levels between 111-159 on the air quality index range.

The EMA said, the increase in a particulate matter is attributed to Saharan dust.

As a result, the authority is advising people with sensitive conditions, are being cautioned to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

According to the EMA, such conditions include, respiratory ailments, and allergies.

The authority assured it has been getting accurate real time assessment, of ambient air quality at strategic points nationally.

The AQI is a number used by government agencies, to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is.

Isabella Lusaldo is slain in Cunupia.

Police reports are saying, the 26-year-old Venezuelan national was fatally stabbed yesterday afternoon. 

Reports say, the incident occurred on the southern main road in Cunupia, at around 3:30pm

It is said, there was an altercation between, Ms. Lusaldo and another woman.

During the fracas, an object was thrown at Ms. Lusaldo hitting her in the face.

Ms. Lusaldo responded, using a sharp object with which, she reportedly stabbed the woman in her shoulder.

Reports say the woman left, but returned moments later with a male companion, and they both attacked Ms. Lusaldo with a knife.

The duo is said, to have knife Ms. Lusaldo several times about her body.

Both attackers then fled the scene.

Witnesses rushed Ms. Lusaldo to hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment.

Police say, an arrest of the suspect is imminent.

Investigations are ongoing.

A number of issues faced by workers at the Port, are raised by the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union.

President general Michael Annisette says, health and safety, salary grievance, are just some of the problems the union wants management to tackle.

Yesterday over 1,000 workers at the Port, of Port-of-Spain, staged a strike causing major traffic disruptions heading into the capital.

Speaking with Newscentre five this morning, Mr. Annisette said, there is need for concrete decisions to benefit workers.

Mr. Annisette also said, the Port management has been given a deadline to fix these problems or else.

Mr. Annisette also said, Port workers were angry as they felt deceived and betrayed, because they would have given their 110 per cent.

Beyond tragic, this is how Member of Parliament for Port of Spain south Keith Scotland describes the killing, of 11-year-old Ezekiel Huggins.

In a brief comment this morning MP Scotland said, this brings into sharp focus the issue of illegal guns pervading the nation’s streets.

MP Scotland said, this is beyond unacceptable.

The tragic killing of Ezekiel, is now being investigated.

The boy was riding his bike along Laventille Road East Dry River yesterday, when a bullet struck him.

According to police reports, at around 4:30 pm Akiel Fairbin and a 15 year old were seated in his vehicle on the said street, when a vehicle pulled along side his car.

Police say, occupants of the vehicle opened fire.

Thirty-nine-year-old Mr. Fairbin was hit, but the teenage girl escaped injury.

Police now say Mr. Fairbin and the 15-year-old girl are not related to Ezekiel.

However, investigators believe Mr. Fairbin was the intended target.

People in the area took Mr. Fairbin and Ezekiel to hospital, where the child was declared dead on arrival.

He was a student of the Eastern Boys Government Primary School.

Police were given descriptions of the two vehicles.

One of the vehicles was intercepted and two people were held.

Police say, they found a nine-millimeter pistol, and a kilogramme of marijuana in the vehicle.

The father was up to late last night being treated.

His daughter was not hurt.

There have been 71 murders committed so far this year.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, calls for students at the Gloster-Lodge Moravian primary school, to sit the secondary entrance assessment at another location.

TTUTA says, the children are traumatized following the murder of Amor Howe, outside the compound.

Mr. Howe was gunned down during school hours on Monday.

Today, TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin says, there is a fear of reprisal killings and parents and teachers are very concerned.

He says, they want the children to write next month’s S.E.A elsewhere.

Mr. Lum Kin says, parents have already resorted to keeping their children at home.

He believes the education ministry failed the students in terms of, counseling following the shooting incident.

He says, education minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby Dolly did not keep her word.

Mr. Lum Kin says, his members now want a strong police presence outside the school, among other things.

Classes were in session on Monday morning, when at around 9 o’clock students and teachers scampered for safety, when gunshots rang out mere meters away.

Reports say, even when parents picked up their children, the bullet-riddled body of Mr. Howe was still along the road.

Mr. Howe lived opposite the school.

Government says, eight-year-old Syrian born Ishmael Roberts, cannot yet be legally educated in this country.  

Ishmael’s mother, a Trinidad and Tobago national was repatriated from ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.

Ishmael, returned with his mother, but he has none of the requisite documents that would allow him to enter the school system.

Opposition senator Wade Mark raised the matter in the senate yesterday.  

Education minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly sought to explain.

According to a newspaper article, Ishmael came to this country seven years ago.

He is now eight years old.   

Minister Gadsby-Dolly described the requirements for school as more than just protocol.   

She referenced children of Venezuelan migrant.

In closing minister Gadsby-Dolly pointed to the Children’s Authority and the Ministry of National Security as the entities responsible, for the regularization of foreign national status.  

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says, there have been more than 800 breaches of protection or restraining orders.

Minister Hinds says, the violations occurred following the amendment of the domestic violence act in 2020.

In the senate yesterday, he said in the same vein over 400 people were held and charged in connection with, breaking the law.

He was responding to independent senator Paul Richards.

Dr. Richards told of two situations where, families were murdered by the people they filed protection orders against.

Minister Hinds pointed to amendments to the law.

He said, protection orders work in many instances.

He said, the amended act has assigned certain responsibilities on the TTPS.

He said, the police must respond with haste when reports of domestic violence are made.

Minister hinds said, there must be a zero tolerance position when it comes to such crimes.

They were speaking during the matters on the adjournment, in the upper house yesterday.