Kay-Marie Fletcher

Two former national security ministers are demanding answers from the Government over the leak of intercepted telephone communications involving members of the Hadeed and Sabga families, describing it as a grave breach of national security and calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

Land and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein says the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (UDeCOTT) is the executing agency responsible for carrying out the construction of the controversial police post at the Eddie Hart Grounds in Tacarigua. However, he declined to say whether Government obtained all the necessary approvals before work began on the unit on Thursday before it was eventually stopped by the Tunapuna/ Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC).

Millions of taxpayers' dollars could be lost at the troubled Ridgeview Heights housing development in Bon Air North, where Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander says some unfinished structures may now have to be demolished because of major structural problems.

National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) President General Christopher Streete says workers who have been “starved” of wage increases since 2013 are ecstatic knowing that money is finally in the pipeline for them.

Independent Senator Dr Marlene Attzs is rejecting suggestions that the Government's proposed 30 new police posts to be jointly run by police and army personnel are simply Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) under another name.

Several current and former parliamentarians named by the Integrity Commission for outstanding declarations say they have since moved to bring their filings up to date.

Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has denied any Government interference in the cancellation of a Communication Workers Union (CWU) protest outside TSTT House yesterday, instead accusing CWU Secretary General Joanne Ogeer of engaging in baseless speculation over the decision.

People's National Movement (PNM) leader Pennelope Beckles has signalled that there are no plans to expel San Fernando East MP Brian Manning, despite his public allegations of corruption and criminality within the party and criticism that she has been unable or unwilling to deal with the matter.

The Opposition is calling on President Christine Kangaloo to demand answers from the Police Service Commission (PolSC) over its failure to recommend an acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) while Allister Guevarro was out of the country.

Opposition MP and former public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales is calling for the removal of his successor, Barry Padarath and the board and executive management of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), accusing the authority of quietly increasing some plumbing inspectorate fees by as much as 700 per cent without informing the public.