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Residents in Diego Martin Central staged a peaceful protest, outside the offices of their member of parliament.

They are calling on Symon Denobriga to fix the problems plaguing their community.

The residents say their challenges include poor infrastructure and a lack of water.

From as early as 6 o’clock this morning resident in the area armed themselves with placards.

Police went to the scene of the demonstration and were told their action is peaceful

News Centre Five attempted to get a response from MP Denobriga, but all calls went unanswered.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says he too is hurt by the crime situation now plaguing the country.

He says every life lost to crime is of concern to his government.

Over two hundred and forty people have been killed in this country so far this year.

At the peoples national movement meeting in the San Fernando West constituency last night dr. Rowley advised that people should choose wisely

Dr. Rowley also pointed fingers at the relatives of criminals’ say they cover up wrong doings.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar is not impressed by the address of the Prime Minister.

She says he is clearly unable to address the pressing issues affecting the country.

She says at no time last night did he stand his ground to confront the problems terrorizing citizens.

According to Mrs. Persad Bissessar the United National Congress has offered anti-crime plans, economic transformation plans, healthcare plans, education plans and revenue generation strategies.

But she claims Dr. Rowley has repeatedly refused to consider them.

She says the country cannot tolerate his laziness anymore.

In her response to Dr. Rowley’s address last night Mrs. Persad Bissessar says he failed to focus on issues such as murders, home invasions, rapes, robberies, high food prices, unemployment, and increasing costs of electricity and water.

She says instead he boasted that they fired over, 10000 workers at Petrotrin, was a success and declared that over 4500 Covid deaths was an achievement.

In Carenage, the victim is businesswoman Radica Dabideen

The 69-year-old Miss. Dabideen was reportedly called out of her business place and shot yesterday morning.

The woman runs a business place called Ravi By The Bay, which is located along the western main road in Carenage, she operates the business with her son.

In 2020 Miss. Dabideen’s husband Koongen Beharry was also murdered at the age of 64.

Police say an arrest is imminent.

Teachers have accepted the government’s four percent salary increase offer.

Yesterday the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association Martin Lum Kin signed on the dotted lines.

12,500 teachers are to benefit from the payout.

During an interview on TV6 news last evening Mr. Lum Kin explained that his members were at a disadvantage from the start of a tribunal hearing held on Friday.

The TTUTA President admitted the settlement is not the best and is not what teachers had hoped for.

Mr. Lum Kin said the Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial has promised to try and get the salaries and several allowances in the quickest possible time.

He said back pay is likely to be distributed in the next financial year,

that ends between September and October this year.

A shooting incident at the licensing office in Port of Spain leaves one man nursing a gunshot wound.

The man is a driving instructor.

Reports say the incident took place at the Wrightson Road office, at around 11:30 am yesterday.

The shooting took place in the main yard where the vendors and the driving school instructor’s work.

Reports are the owner of ‘Paul’s Driving School’ was shot in the shoulder.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police later saw a vehicle fitting the description of the one used in the incident.

They stopped the car and there were two occupants who were taken into custody.

Police believe the intended target was the man being taught by the instructor.

Several nine-millimeter shells were found at the scene of the shooting, a pistol was reportedly found inside the car.

The incident forced the suspension of services for the rest of the day.

The Police Commissioner admits her target of reducing murders in the country by next month is not likely to be realized.

During a grilling from members of the joint select committee on national security yesterday Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher gave a breakdown of where the numbers are at this time.

Committee Vice Chair Paul Richards asked the Commissioner about her set targets.

The commissioner said the TTPS is on track in some areas, but not murders.

The commissioner also said the detection rate for serious crimes as at may 13^th stood at 29 percent.

JSC member Dr. Roodal Moonilal said while some of her target percentiles were low commissioner Harewood Christopher met some of her target.

A 17-year-old is allegedly held with a high-powered rifle and a quantity of ammunition.

A statement from the TTPS says, the minor was detained by officers of the gang intelligence unit.

Sangre Grande is currently assisting police with investigations.

According to police, at 6.30 pm on May 13^th, officers proceeded to a house located in the north eastern settlement, Sangre Grande, where they executed a search warrant.

During the raid, the police officers allegedly found one black AR-15 equipped with one magazine, 21 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, 50 rounds of nine millimeter ammunition and one drum magazine containing a quantity of nine millimeter ammunition in a bedroom.

The boy, who was reportedly found in the room, was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody.

The eastern division task force also supported the exercise.

PC Dabreo is continuing investigations.

The Police Commissioner’s self-rating of excellent is not sitting well with opposition senator David Nakhid

Last Saturday commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher graded her performance in office so far as excellent.

Reporters asked her how she saw her performance in the first 100 days of being in office.

But senator Nakhid said yesterday, anyone who becomes involved with the present government becomes delusional.

At a news conference yesterday senator Nakhid said the top cop needs to apologize to the nation for that rating.

Meanwhile former Commissioner Gary Griffith says, Mrs Harewood Christopher’s tenure in office over the last 100 days was the worst in history.

He says self-praise is no praise.

Mr. Griffith said yesterday, by her excellent rating the commissioner has put herself in the less than distinguished company of, McDonald Jacob, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.

Chairman of the commission of enquiry into the Paria diving tragedy king’s counsel Jerome Lynch, accepts full responsibility for the latest holdup in submitting the final report.

On February 25th, 2022, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry, Rishi Nagassar And Christopher Boodram, were doing maintenance work on a 30-inch pipeline at berth 6 when they were sucked in.

Only Mr. Boodram survived.

In a release last week Commission Chairman Kc Jerome Lynch said the delay of the final report was necessary as those who were issued with Salmon letters have been given until June 9^th to respond in writing, and until June 21^st  and 22^nd to respond orally.

At a press conference yesterday King’s Counsel Lynch said, August 31^st is merely a backstop date as the report is likely to be submitted in July.

Salmon letters are sent, to individuals or companies that will be subject to criticism in a report.

KC Lynch says, persons receiving those letters must by law be given time to craft their response. 

Questioned regarding who will have access to the final report other than the president, KC Lynch made it clear that he was appointed by the president and his responsibility is to report to the president.