The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), a Division of the Ministry of National Security, aims to reduce the impact of unprecedented public and national disruptions. “Through this system, we can aim to save lives and property,” the ODPM said. The Public Alert Notification System (PANS) is being implemented in Trinidad and Tobago and members of the public can sign up now to receive alerts from the ODPM in a number of ways. Interested persons can sign up on the ODPM’s website to receive alerts by answering a few questions to create an account. PANS allows for nationwide notification, combining real-time situational awareness and mass alerting capabilities. The system offers multi-platform communication prompts, across various channels. PANS will send its alerts via a phone call, the Everbridge mobile app, SMS text message, email, home phone, work extension line or fax, all while protecting the privacy of individuals who registered and submitted their information. The Everbridge mobile app can be downloaded on Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. From next month, there will be a national focus on disaster prevention and preparedness across the country. The ODPM will be using the month of May to prepare the population for all the various natural hazards which T&T faces, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and yes, even bomb scares. The population will have a new alert system to warn them of approaching and ongoing emergency issues.
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According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), today (Saturday 29th April 2023) will be generally sunny, slightly hazy and breezy at times despite brief showers favoring hilly and Western areas of Trinidad. Tonight will be fair but hazy.
The Met Office notes that a mild concentration of Saharan dust is present in the atmosphere. The forecast maximum temperature today will be 33°C at Piarco in Trinidad and 31°C at Crown Point in Tobago. Seas are slight to moderate with waves 1m to 1.5m in open waters and calm in sheltered areas. The body of an elderly woman was found at her home in New Grant on Friday morning (28th April 2023). The deceased has been identified as 76-year-old Odessa ‘Toongalay’ Constance of Hindustan.
According to reports, neighbours went to the woman's home around 9:00 AM and discovered her body in a bedroom with a wound over her left ear. Police said she was last seen alive on her porch around 8:00 PM on Thursday night. Investigations are continuing. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Loop] The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said it began receiving several reports of bomb threats from several schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago around 8:30 AM today (Friday 28th April 2023). In an update this afternoon, the TTPS said, “It is our information that these threats were received via email. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, upon receipt of these reports, responded immediately. Officers throughout all ten (10) Police Divisions, including Officers from SIU, the Cyber Crime Unit and bomb technicians, immediately sprang into action. Assistance was also sought from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service.” The TTPS said it mobilized all available resources and all schools where threats were reported have been visited and evacuated by Officers who carried out thorough searches for any threats. According to the TTPS, no devices or explosives were discovered up to this time. The following are the Divisions where the reports were made:
“Today’s events caused undue panic and stress upon not only innocent children, but also parents, guardians and all teachers and staff at the affected schools,” the TTPS said. The Police Service is assuring members of the public that “investigations will be thoroughly conducted with a view of bringing the perpetrators to justice.” In an earlier statement today, the TTPS said the following: The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has received ten (10) reports of bomb threats from secondary schools this morning, Friday 28th April 2023. Preliminary reports indicate that these threats were sent to schools via email. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.
“Today, many parents and our children were terrorized and the education system disrupted by the wanton criminal action of one or a few who do not wish this country well.” This according to Prime Minister Keith Rowley.
Minister of Education, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said in a Press Conference at approximately 12:30 PM this afternoon (Friday 28th April 2023), that at least fifty-five (55) schools received bomb threats via email this morning, including several schools in Tobago. In a Media Release today, the Prime Minister said, “This evil action of organized bomb threats only serves to demonstrate how vulnerable we all are to the wiles of those who would harm us. Whilst we are forced to grapple with many challenges, some beyond our control, it is wholly reprehensible that any person could see it fit to attack and traumatize our children in this or any similar way.” He added, “I condemn, in the strongest terms, these actions which are clearly meant to disrupt the country even as others set out to destabilize the society. The Security agencies are fully engaged and will make every effort to locate the misguided terrorist miscreants. The State agencies will continue to monitor the situation and give the entire population the assurance that our professional staff in all agencies will do everything possible to protect them as we educate our children and make our country safer.” Prime Minister Rowley concluded his statement by saying, “Given that criminal conduct is fashionable for some of our citizens and others, I once again appeal to all citizens to assist the Police if you think you have useful information which may be helpful in the furtherance of the national effort to control and eliminate criminal behaviour which so disrupts and damages our nation.” This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. The Ministry of Health (MoH), via its Chemistry, Food and Drug Division (CFDD) is advising the public of a medical product alert, issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Guaifenesin TG Cough Syrup, made by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Limited, due to contamination.
In a Media Release today (Friday 28th April 2023), The Ministry said the alert was issued after samples of the cough syrup, which is used to relieve chest congestion and cough symptoms, showed unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The public is advised that both compounds are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. While the cough syrup is not registered for sale in Trinidad and Tobago, out of an abundance of caution, the Ministry is advising persons who may be in possession of the product, to discontinue use immediately and to return the product to the place of purchase where possible. Additional Information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Director of the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division at [email protected] or 623-5242. The Ministry said it will continue to monitor the situation and advise the population as necessary. The Ministry of Education is strongly condemning the bomb threats which were emailed to schools this morning (Friday 28th April 2023). In a Media Release, the Ministry said it was informed of bomb threats emailed to several schools across Trinidad and Tobago at approximately 8:00 AM today. In all cases, students have been evacuated, the Police have been informed and the Ministries of Education, National Security, the Fire Services and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) are working closely to resolve these situations. Principals were instructed to apprise parents of the circumstances, and to keep them updated on developments. The Ministry notes that staff of the Student Support Services Division are on hand at all schools to render support to staff and students where required. The Ministry said it “strongly condemns these reckless actions, which destabilize our nation's schools and interrupt the education of our students.” In a Press Conference at approximately 12:30 PM this afternoon, Minister of Education, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said at least fifty-five (55) schools received bomb threats via email this morning, including several schools in Tobago. She added, however, “but that number is changing as we go along, because via email, a number of the threats came and were blocked by the spam.” She said eight (8) threats were received in Tobago with threats going directly to Police in schools in the North East and Caroni districts. She said the eighty-three (83) schools in the Caroni district and the fifty-seven (57) in the North Eastern district were dismissed and parents were asked to pick up their children. She said schools, where students have been outside for over an hour due to pending safety checks, were also asked to dismiss. She assures that Principals will be working with the Ministry and keeping them informed. The Minister also said she was satisfied with the timely response from the TTPS and other relevant authorities. An investigation has been launched into how the perpetrator(s) gained access to a list containing the email addresses of all the schools who received the bomb threats. Minister Gadsby-Dolly confirmed that no students or staff members were injured during this morning's mass evacuation at schools across the country. She said all schools were not dismissed — only those who were directly threatened. She assured that protocols were being followed and safety checks were being made by Police and the Fire Service.
Addressing an email circulating on social media, she said it could be the one sent to schools as they closely resemble. She said the Ministry IT department is working with the TTPS to determine the source of the threat. Questioned if the source was determined to be students, the Minister simply warned that the threat “is a criminal offence.” According to reports, several schools were evacuated this morning shortly after receipt of the bomb threats via email. Some of the affected schools include the following:
A memo sent to parents of students who attend Holy Name Convent stated, “We wish to inform you that an email bomb threat was sent to several schools around Trinidad and Tobago, including Holy Name Convent. As per procedure, schools upon receipt of these messages evacuate the compound until it is checked and deemed safe by the Police. Holy Name moved to Memorial Park and Officers of the tactical squad are already on the compound. Please be assured that your girls are safe and under the supervision of their teachers. We expect to move back on to the compound as soon as we are given all clear.” In an unrelated issue, the TTPS is also investigating the accosting of the School Safety Officer at Belmont Secondary School by adult males this morning. Anyone with relevant information about these bomb threats is asked to contact the TTPS forthwith. More on this as it becomes available. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: T&T Guardian] Pictured Above (Left to Right): Senior Policy Advisor at the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), Mr. Jason Francis; High Commissioner of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Arif Keshani; Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P.; Director of UNLIREC, Ms. Soledad Urruela; and Director (Ag.) of the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre (TTFSC), Mr. Derrick Sankar stand outside a new forty (40) foot container donated by UNLIREC and the Government of Canada, for use by the TTFSC for the storage of evidence. The Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre (TTFSC) has received, for the purpose of evidence storage, a new forty (40) foot container furnished with secured fabricated cages and shelves, barcode scanners and a laptop computer.
At a Handover Ceremony held at the TTFSC in Federation Park, Port-of-Spain, on Monday (24th April 2023), the evidence storage container was commissioned by Minister of National Security, the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P., in collaboration with the High Commissioner of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Arif Keshani and Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), Ms. Soledad Urruela. Speaking at the event, Minister Hinds thanked UNLIREC for facilitating the donation of the forty (40) foot container. He also extended gratitude to His Excellency Keshani for the funding provided by the Government of Canada to construct the special purpose container facility. The Minister emphasized his commitment to ongoing projects with both international partners and welcomed future collaboration, with a view to increasing safety for all in Trinidad and Tobago. High Commissioner Keshani and Director of UNLIREC, Ms. Soledad Urruela, also delivered remarks at the event. They both acknowledged the longstanding bilateral relationship with Trinidad and Tobago; the successes of ongoing initiatives; and committed to continued support for the strengthening of national security projects. A Letter of Agreement (LoA) was also signed between Minister Hinds and UNLIREC Director Ms. Urruela, to formalize the handover of the container for use by the TTFSC for the storage of evidence. Also in attendance at the Handover Ceremony were Deput Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of National Security, Ms. Denise Phillip; Director (Ag.) of the TTFSC, Mr. Derrick Sankar, who delivered welcome remarks; Deputy Director (Ag.) of the TTFSC, Ms. Michelle Nasseir; Senior Policy Advisor at UNLIREC, Mr. Jason Francis; Project Manager, Ministry of National Security, Mr. Mark Lutchman; and Deputy Director of the International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security, Major (Ret'd) Richard Lynch. Prior to the Handover Ceremony, the Minister hosted a courtesy call with UNLIREC Director Ms. Urruela, who is visiting this country. Discussions reinforced the longstanding bilateral relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and UNLIREC, and focused on deepening engagements as well as expanding joint initiatives, including capacity building for law enforcement and national security officers, in the area of firearm and ballistics analysis. Pictured Above: Leah Orosco, 15. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is seeking the public’s assistance to find a missing 15-year-old girl. In a social media post today (Thursday 27th April 2023), the TTPS said Leah Orosco of Saut D'eau Road, Maraval, was last seen on Tuesday (25th April 2023).
Have you seen her? Anyone with information on the teen’s whereabouts can contact the Maraval Police Station at 629-2001, or 999, 555, 911, 800-TIPS or any Police Station or submit a report via the TTPS App. NGC CNG Company Limited is advising that CNG is unavailable at NP O'Meara Rd, Arima, from 3:00 PM today (Thursday 27th April 2023) until 5:00 PM tomorrow (Friday 28th April 2023), due to maintenance.
CNG is, however, available at the nearby NP Tumpuna Road and NP Orange Grove. The company said it apologizes for any inconvenience caused. Please be guided accordingly. |
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