The Ministry of Health is advising that as of midnight tonight (Tuesday 31st January 2023), pharmacies can continue to operate. The Ministry said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh signed the Pharmacy Board Amendment (No. 2) Regulations, 2023.

These Regulations allow for a pharmacy licence which was valid and subsisting immediately before 1st February 2023, to remain in force until a pharmacy licence for the period 1st February 2023 to 31st January 2024, is issued by the Council of the Pharmacy Board of Trinidad and Tobago, if the fee in respect of the renewal of the pharmacy licence was paid.

The Ministry said these Regulations will be published later today.

The Ministry of Health revealed in its weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday (31st January 2023) that there have been 323 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus seven (7) unfortunate deaths over the period 25th - 31st January 2023. The rolling 7-day average of new positive cases is forty-six (46) while the rolling 7-day average of new deaths is one (1).

T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 318. The country’s death toll has increased to 4,326. As of 31st January 2023, 328 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 3,608 deaths were not fully vaccinated. 390 deaths were recorded prior to 24th May 2021 (date at which the first group of vaccinated persons became fully vaccinated).

A total of 718,410 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 51.3% of the population. Meanwhile, 681,590 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 48.7% of the population. 173,603 persons in total have taken a booster shot.

The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during an 8-day period between 23rd - 30th January 2023 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours.

​The Ministry also notes that there are currently seventy-one (45) hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients — thirty-seven (37) in the parallel healthcare system and eight (8) in the hybrid system. Three (3) patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and two (2) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

The Ministry of Works and Transport said it notes with “grave concern,” the viral video which captured the physical altercation between a Traffic Warden and an off-duty Police Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), on Monday (30th January 2023) on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.

The Police Officer has since been officially suspended by Acting Police Commissioner Erla Christoper.

In a Media Release today (Tuesday 31st January 2023), the Ministry said, “Any conduct or the display of behaviour by any member of the public that amounts to interference with the powers of a Traffic Warden and an obstruction in the execution of their duty, must be condemned and dealt with in accordance with the law.”

The Ministry is reminding members of the public that under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 48:50 (MVRTA), a Traffic Warden is “appointed by the Commissioner of Police, to assist in the control and regulation of road traffic and enforcement of road traffic laws. Also, a Traffic Warden in uniform has the authority to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to motorists for traffic violations.”

​The Ministry is also advising the public that section 10A(3) of the MVRTA states: ”any driver who fails to comply with the directions given by a Traffic Warden while on duty or obstructs a Traffic Warden in the execution of his duty, or aids or incites any other person not to comply with the directions of a Traffic Warden or to obstruct a Traffic Warden in the execution of his duty, is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars and imprisonment for six months.”

The Ministry added that it remains “committed to building strong partnerships and working closely with the TTPS in its continuous pursuit to ensure compliance with road traffic laws and promote road safety for all road users.”

The Ministry said it awaits the outcome of the investigation into this matter.

Several persons were arrested, while two (2) firearms and quantities of marijuana were seized by Officers of the Central Division, during co-ordinated anti-crime exercises in the Chaguanas, Couva and Freeport districts yesterday (Monday 30th January 2023).

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), in the Chaguanas district, Officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Central CID Operations conducted an exercise in the Enterprise area, between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM on Monday.

During the exercise, an abandoned house was searched which resulted in a revolver, a bulletproof vest, a hat, a leg holster, a magazine pouch, a handcuff pouch and a pistol holster being discovered.

Two (2) suspects were also held during the exercise; a 26-year-old Cunupia man for possession of marijuana and a 40-year-old Chaguanas man in connection with a report of robbery with violence.

In the Freeport district, Officers of the CID conducted an exercise at Beaucarro Road, between 2:30 PM and 7:00 PM, on Monday, during which they found a Glock-19 pistol, loaded with a magazine containing three (3) rounds of ammunition.

Also in the Freeport area, CID Officers arrested a 34-year-old man for possession of 7 Kgs of marijuana.

The drug has an estimated street value of $80,000.

In the Couva district, Officers of the Central Division Task Force, Area South and the Canine Branch, conducted a search at Basta Hall, where they found 1 Kg of marijuana hidden in some bushes.

The drug has an estimated street value of $15,000.

Meanwhile, in the Port-of-Spain Division, Officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) conducted an exercise around 10:30 AM on Monday, during which they proceeded to Upper Argyle Street, Belmont. There, they conducted a search of a bushy area, which resulted in Officers finding a rifle wrapped in a piece of cloth.

Investigations are ongoing into all of the above seizures.

A 38-year-old woman was shot and killed while seated in a vehicle in St. Joseph on Monday night (30th January 2023) in what appears to be a targeted hit. She has been identified as Siobhan Rogers, a Lab Director at Apex Diagnostics.

According to reports, a 35-year-old Doctor was securing his business place, Edson Breedy Athletics, located at Abercromby Street, St. Joseph, around 8:45 PM on Monday night, when a silver Nissan AD wagon pulled up. Rogers was sitting in the front passenger seat at the time.

A man wearing a black bandanna over his face approached the vehicle and fired several shots at Rogers. The Doctor, who told Police he ran away when the shots were fired, returned a short while later and found Rogers slumped over in her seat. He rushed her to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope.

​However, she was pronounced dead at 9:13 PM.

Crime Scene Investigators found two (2) spent 40 calibre rounds and one (1) live 40 calibre round at the scene.

No motive for the woman’s murder has yet been determined.

Investigations are ongoing.

[Source: Loop]

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is seeking the public’s assistance to find a missing 31-year-old woman. In a social media post today (Tuesday 31st January 2023), the TTPS said Danette Pierre of Hibiscus Drive, Petite Morne, Ste. Madeleine, was last seen on Saturday (28th January 2023).

Have you seen her?

​Anyone with information on the woman’s whereabouts can contact the Ste. Madeleine Police Station at 653-1023, or 999, 555, 911, 800-TIPS or any Police Station or submit a report via the TTPS App.

Nine (9) men acquitted of kidnapping and brutally murdering businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman in 2016, will each receive $2.1 million in damages from the State for malicious prosecution, which after additional costs, amounts to $20 million in total. This may be the largest award in Trinidad and Tobago’s judicial history.

​High Court Master, Martha Alexander, awarded $19,168,917.56 in total on Monday (30th January 2023), representing the award for malicious prosecution and exemplary damages; costs amounting to $200,917.56; and the cost of an expert witness of $68,000.

Interest will be added to the damages for each man, at a rate of 2.5%, from 29th May 2020 to 30th January 2023, which will push the final total even higher.

In response to this judgement, Acting Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Honourable Stuart R. Young, M.P. has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the State's failure to file a defence in the civil action brought by the nine (9) former accused.

The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs has called for a Press Conference on Wednesday (1st February 2023) to address this matter.

The former accused, who all hail from La Puerta, Diego Martin, filed their malicious prosecution lawsuit against the State after they were freed by a 12-member jury in 2016.

The nine (9) men, Shervon Peters, Devon Peters, Anthony Gloster, Joel Fraser, Ronald Armstrong, Keida Garcia, Jameel Garcia, Marlon Trimmingham and Antonio Charles, were among twelve (12) who went on trial in 2016 for Naipaul-Coolman’s murder.

Eight (8) were acquitted and one (1) released after the Judge in the trial upheld a no-case submission.

Two (2) men, Earl ’Bobo’ Trimmingham and Lyndon ’Iron’ James, were ordered to be re-tried for Naipaul-Coolman's murder.

​Allan ’Scanny’ Martin, who was also on trial, was killed in 2016 during a failed escape attempt from the Frederick Street prison in Port-of-Spain. In October 2021, Gloster was killed in a drive-by shooting in Diego Martin.

​The nine (9) filed a malicious prosecution claim in May 2020, which the State did not defend, despite having entered an appearance. The nine (9) were represented by Anand Ramlogan, SC, Renuka Rambhajan, Ganesh Saroop and Natasha Bisram.

[Source: Newsday]

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is confirming that the off-duty Police Officer who was involved in an altercation with a female Traffic Warden on Monday (30th January 2023), has been suspended from actual duty by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Erla Christopher, pending the outcome of the investigation into the incident.

The altercation occurred along Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.

The Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) is currently investigating the incident.

Acting Commissioner Christopher was made aware of the incident, which went viral on social media, a short while after Noon on Monday and immediately instructed that an investigation be launched surrounding the circumstances seen in the video footage.

​This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

UPDATE: Acting Commissioner of Police, Erla Christopher, has officially suspended the Police Officer seen in the viral video. Get the details here.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is confirming that the man seen in the viral video incident with a female Traffic Warden, is in fact a Police Officer of the TTPS.

The Police Officer, who was off-duty and the female Traffic Warden are currently assisting investigators of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) of the TTPS, following an alleged altercation today (Monday 30th January 2023) which occurred along Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, Commissioner of Police (Ag.), Erla Christopher, confirms.

According to the TTPS, CoP (Ag.) Christopher was made aware of the incident which went viral on social media shortly after 12:00 PM.

The TTPS notes that the Acting Commissioner immediately instructed that an investigation be launched surrounding the circumstances seen in the video footage.

The PSB is leading enquiries into the incident.

Republic Bank Limited (RBL) is urging customers to upgrade their Republic Bank OneCard at any RBL branch. The deadline to upgrade has been extended to Tuesday 31st January 2023.

According to RBL, “Your new Visa Debit card is Chip and PIN protected, making it safer and more secure. It also allows for contactless transactions and purchases at local online merchants. To make changing your OneCard as convenient as possible, we have extended our opening hours.“

​After the deadline on Tuesday, these cards will no longer work.

Customers attempting to use the OneCard at ABMs and Point of Sale terminals will receive a “Void Code 130 – Card Expired” message. The following message will also be displayed at Republic Bank ABMs: “We are unable to process your card. Please contact your Branch Manager.”

You can change your card at any time during the following hours:

Non-Mall Branches

• Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• Fridays: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

​Mall Branches

• Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Fridays: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

RBL notes that while you can change your OneCard at any time during the above hours, no other transaction can be done during the extended time. “Kindly visit any branch to have your OneCard updated to the new Visa Debit card, FREE of charge. Our extended opening hours will continue until further notice to facilitate the updating of expired OneCards.”

For more information, or if you are unable to collect your new Visa Debit card within the given timeframe, please e-mail RBL at [email protected], or call 623-4RBL (623-4725).

[Source: RBL]