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There is a breakdown of institutional protection in Trinidad and Tobago.  This is the view of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

Dr. Rowley’s suggestion formed part of an interview on today’s TV6 Morning Edition program on crime.

Addressing the issue of illegal guns and ammunition, Dr. Rowley was adamant some of the firearms being used in crime enter by legal institutions.

The Prime Minister described the information surrounding this issue as alarming and worrisome.

Dr. Rowley further noted that in addition to guns giving power to criminals, wholesome life concepts no longer exist.

Dr. Rowley is of the view that because of the recidivism rate, rehabilitation must be considered at all levels of crime.     

Jack warner is again in the fold of the United National Congress

The former FIFA Vice President and minister in the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration, last evening mounted the platform of the rising sun during a political meeting at the Center of Excellence.

After his fall out with the UNC and the formation his Independent Liberal party, mister Warner sought to explain the reasons for his return.

He said, he has been asked why by persons who may be critical of his stance.

According to Mr. Warner, his return is a bid to help save the nation from Dr Rowley’s Peoples National Movement.

He also indicated, it is his plan to dissolve his independent liberal party, after he has earned his return to the UNC.

He called on voters to give the UNC and Gary Griffith’s National Transformation Alliance a clear victory on august 14^th.

Meanwhile UNC leader Kamla Persad Bissessar welcomes the accommodation with the NTA and the ILP.

On the platform last night she said, Mr. Warner was embracing of the idea of a return to the UNC.

She said the differences between her leadership and the two men are over.

And another former minister may be on his way back to the UNC, now that jack warner is back.

After being a critic of the leadership of the party over the year Dr Fuad Khan yesterday said, Mr. Warner’s return could make him change his positions.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar has said, she is ready to welcome back others who may have strayed from the party.

Two more murders overnight

At around 9:15 pm Hashim Balantyne was shot on Henry Street Aranguez.

Police arrived on the scene, and were directed by residents to the back of a house.

Upon checking police discovered 25 year old Mr Balantyne suffering, from gunshot wounds about the body.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

In another incident at Hindustan Trace, Five Rivers, 19-year-old Dillon Mohammed was shot multiple times.

He died of his wounds while police say 38-year-old Dylan Baptiste, who was shot in the same incident, remains warded at hospital.

Police reports say the attack happened near a burger cart operated by Mr. Baptiste.   

Gangs operating in the La Horquetta district are warned by the Head of the Northern Division, that they will not escape the TTPS.

The warning follows three murders in the area on the weekend.

18-year-old Keylon Joseph and twenty-four year old Akill Mc Williams were gunned down on Saturday.

Yesterday, Senior Superintendent Kerwin Francis said, the La Horquetta district has been very peaceful and has seen a reduction in crime over the past year.

However, he said gangs appear to be rearing their heads again.

As such the senior officer said, police patrols would be ramped up with a special focus on gangs in the area.

Sen Supt Francis told gang members and their leaders they are not welcomed in the area.

He said, law and order would be maintained in his district and anyone seeking to do otherwise will be dealt with.

Former Deputy Political Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots Kezel Jackson is hospitalized, following a road traffic accident abroad.

Reports say the collision occurred in Aruba sometime yesterday.

Newscentre Five understands Ms. Jackson was being driven in a jeep wrangler when the accident occurred.

Reports say the driver was speeding despite Ms. Jackson’s instructions to slow down.

It is said, the man attempted to overtake a car but crashed, head-on into a vehicle driving in the opposite direction.

Newscentre Five was told, that a toddler occupying the other vehicle was thrown through one of the car windows, on impact.

Reports say Ms. Jackson, was able to pull her from the wreckage before the vehicle began to smoke.

She told the authorities she passed out after escaping the wreckage.

She woke up in the ambulance en route to hospital.

Latest reports say, she is in a stable condition with no serious injuries and continues to be monitored by medical staff.

The Prime Minister is being told to say to whom would members of the proposed vetted units be reporting.

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh is concerned and wants Dr Keith Rowley to answer.

At a media conference yesterday Mr Indarsingh said, the members of the units can only report to Police Commissioner Erla Harewood Christopher and no one else.

He wants Dr Rowley to say more on this issue.

He said, Dr Rowley must also tell of the administrative and operational sections of the proposed units.

He said, the units, as proposed are very suspicious and the Prime Minister must reveal what they entails.

And the Peoples Empowerment Party says, if it forms the next government it would dismantle the Police Complaints Authority and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Political leader Phillip Alexander says, the party has been advocating the shutting down of these entities long before there was any talk of vetted units to weed out rogue police officers.

At a political meeting in Diego Martin last evening, mister Alexander said, the two agencies could be replaced with a more effective tool, than what is now being touted by the Prime Minister.

He insisted former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith did not contemplate this.

Mr. Alexander outlined some of the P.E.P’s policies and priorities once it wins the local government election on august 14^th.

He noted the Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s repeated statement, that the Local Government Election will not change the party in power.

However Mr. Alexander feels it will set the tone for major shifts and changes to come.

The Procurement Amendment Bill gets the approval of the lower house of parliament, but without the help of the opposition.

Yesterday, the government made good on its promise to take the procurement and disposal of public property legislation, to the Parliament in order to fix flaws within.

Earlier in debating the procurement and disposal of public property amendment and Validation Bill 2023 Finance Minister Colm Imbert, like his Prime Minister again argued there are errors in the act, which must be addressed. 

He also reminded the opposition that changes would allow for cases of emergency and the ease of doing business.

She is being described as a country treasure and powerhouse behind the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival.

Opera singer and musicologist Joslynne Carr-Sealey is being hailed and remembered after her death at Gordon home All Saints Port of Spain last Friday morning.

She was 88.

One of her past students and mentee Chantal Esdelle says, the late music icon remained true to her principles beyond the classroom.

She says the Mrs Carr-Sealey was eager to share her knowledge with the younger generation.

Mrs. Esdelle says, the late music expert remained generous, even to the end.

She says she is saddened at the passing of her mentor and is staying away from social media as a result.

Mrs. Esdelle says, while Mrs. Carr-Sealey’s family has not yet released details of her funeral, she knows it will be held at her home church, All Saints.

An agreement to put more patrols on the ground, particularly in so called hot spots.

The plan comes out of security talks at the diplomatic center last Sunday

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

It was also agreed that there will be further use of technology in gathering intelligence for the police service to battle criminals.

Dr. Rowley, who chairs the National Security council is said, to have listened and shared with security heads the concerns he has with the crime situation.

The sub-committee meeting saw the attendance of divisional heads, the Police Commissioner Erla Harewood Christopher and the National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.

Speaking with News Center Five yesterday, Minister Hinds also confirmed there are plans to beef up joint army police patrols in the fight against crime.

Reports are saying, more than four-hour talks were in depth and included, the increasingly contentious plan to establish vetting units to deal with rogue elements in the service.

Tabquite MP Anita Haynes says, the Minister of Education Dr. Nyan Gandsby –Dolly has no clear plan for the sector.

She says the decisions taken by the Minister recently are leaving stakeholders with more questions.

Over the last few weeks, the Education Ministry has undertaken a number of initiatives, for the new school term in September.

Among the stated initiatives is the facilitation of migrant children in the local school system.

However speaking with Newscentre Five this morning Mrs. Haynes said, there is no clear policy on that.

The shadow Minister for Education also said, the Ministry must state how, it intends to deal with the many financial short falls some schools face.

Mrs. Haynes said, the issue of hairstyles in schools, is a relic of the colonial past and there is need for review.