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A healthy report on Trinidad and Tobago’s economy.

Minister of finance Colm Imbert quoting data from the central statistical office says the country’s economy has grown and has a bright future.

But, opposition leader kamala Persad-Bissessar is not convinced.

Mrs. Persad-Bissessar says her information says different.

Yesterday in his presentation minister Imbert referred to figures from the international monetary fund on the country’s economy.

He said the non-energy sector is a great contributor to economic growth.   

But again Mrs. Presad-Bissessar rubbished the finance minister’s presentation saying it was far from reality.

She said while government is requesting an additional amount in the vicinity of four billion dollars in its mid-year review of the budget, it is failing to deal with what matters most…crime.

The two were contributing to the motion adopt the second report of the standing finance committee. 

No identification yet on a female corpse found at the queen’s park savannah, Port of Spain.

According to police the body was discovered in the vicinity of Peschier cemetery on Monday.

Police say the unidentified female appears to be in her early twenties, is of African descent, dark brown in complexion and of medium build with short, black curly hair.

It is said the body was clad in a pink blouse and dark-coloured underwear.

Anyone with information that can assist in identifying this body can call the homicide bureau of investigations, region one office, at 625-8234 or 624-5230.

All calls are confidential.

Controversy over the issuance of “silk”, with the law association of Trinidad and Tobago stating that attorney general Reginald Armour never held discussions with the body on the awards.

In response, Mr. Armour said that he never indicated that he consulted with the LATT, but he held discussions with a LATT nominated member as the association’s president, Lynette Seebaran-Suite, had recused herself, given she had applied for senior counsel status.

The LATT issued a media release yesterday, noting newspaper reports of the AG’s comments at a media interview following the silk ceremony at President’s house on Monday, where President Christine Kangaloo conferred the prestigious award to 17 attorneys, including her husband, Kerwyn Garcia, and brother, Colin Kangaloo.

There, the AG said he consulted with the Chief Justice on the names and he held discussions with LATT senior members, given that Seebaran-Suite had recused herself.

In its release, the LATT stated that it had “no discussions whatsoever” with the AG on applicants for senior counsel.

At a news conference at the diplomatic center, St Ann’s, yesterday, the Prime Minister, who has returned from a weekend golfing vacation in Barbados, invited the AG to the podium to answer questions from the media on the LATT’s release.

After Mr. Armour’s explanation, prime minister Rowley quipped:

In a release yesterday, opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Armour must resign, as he has humiliated himself.

Prime minister Dr. Keith Rowley has requested a full explanation from the Police Commissioner about the matter involving Brent Thomas’ forced return from Barbados.

The Barbados police on the request of their Trinidad and Tobago police service detained firearms dealer Mr. Thomas.

On his return Mr. Thomas was charged with illegal possession of weapons…including grenades and rifles

Mr. Thomas took legal action against the state.

Ruling in Mr. Thomas’ favor justice Davindra Rampersad last week said the national was abducted in Barbados.

Prime Minister Rowley says, he learnt of the October 2022 incident via the media and he has grave concerns.

Minister Hinds also told of a possible appeal of Justice Rampersad’s ruling.

Meanwhile Attorney General Reginald Armour also defends National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, after his statements on the matter.

Mr. Armour says, his attention was also drawn to the reported remarks made by Minister Hinds at a news conference on Monday.

He adds that Minister Hinds spoke to the hard work of the members of the T&T police service in the fight against crime and criminals in this country, and to the fight in which all law-­abiding citizens and all institutions are engaged for the soul of Trinidad and Tobago.

But the Minister also said criminal elements have links in the Judiciary among other sectors.

The Attorney General says he has viewed the television recording of Minister Hinds’ news conference, which gave rise to newspaper reports yesterday.

He says has also spoken with Minister Hinds and is satisfied that it was not his intention to impugn the integrity of the Judiciary of the country, either in any particular matter or generally.

In Barbados the Attorney General Dale Marshall has also requested a report on the incident and the role of local police.

Another scary incident at a school in Trinidad and Tobago

A student at the Tranquillity Secondary School was seen on video brandishing a cutlass.

In the video students were seen running away from the boy.

A teacher at the school disarmed the teenager but only after a struggle.

The incident is believed to have occurred yesterday.

There has been no official word from the authorities at the school or from the Ministry of Education

President of the National Parent Teacher Association Kevin David is reported as saying, it  has not yet been determined how the student was able to enter the school with a cutlass.

He said, yesterday students are usually searched when entering the compound.

Mr. David said police were called to the school in light of the incident.

A deadly shooting at a wake for a murder victim in St. Augustine

Chris Pooran was fatally shot while at the wake for fruit vendor Omardath Dillon last evening.

The incident occurred at Warner Street Freeman Road St. Augustine at around 10:30 last night.

Two armed men exited a dark coloured vehicle and began firing shots in the direction of Mr. Pooran and another man identified as Salaman Ali.

The men returned to the vehicle and fled the scene.

Police took both wounded men to hospital.

Mr. Pooran died at 11pm and Mr ali is being treated.

This latest murder came less than 24 hours after five gun-related killings were recorded in Santa Cruz, Tobago and St. Anns.

Three more persons die from covid-19.

The deceased were one elderly male, one elderly female and one middle aged male.

One person had multiple comorbidities, one person had a single comorbidity and one person had no known comorbidity.

In its latest update the Ministry of Health says this now bring the total number of covid-19 related deaths to 4,390.

The new fatalities are for the period April 19th to May 02nd.

It says the rolling 14-day average of new deaths is less than one.

The Ministry says for the same period 146 new positive cases were recorded.

It says the rolling 14-day average of new positive cases are10. The Ministry says the total number of patients hospitalized is 24.