Residents of the Borough of Point Fortin and environs are the beneficiaries of the brand new, 100-bed Point Fortin Hospital located at the Corner of Techier and Point Fortin Main Road.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley officially opened the facility today (Saturday 04 July 2020) which offers services in the areas of General Surgery, Burns, Psychiatry, Pediatric/Adolescence, High Dependency and Accident and Emergency.

Dr.Rowley says the completion of the hospital was the recognition of a dream for the people of Point Fortin who told him when he campaigned in 2015 that their Borough was neglected.

Dr Rowley said the people of Point Fortin also stand to benefit from ongoing work at the Mahaica Oval, the Point Fortin Fire Station and the Techier Community Centre.
Point Fortin Mayor, His Worship Kennedy Richards Jr said more than 60 percent of the persons employed during the construction of the hospital were from the Borough.

Southsidenewstt will bring you more updates as it comes to hand.

Point Fortin Mayor Kennedy Richards Jr. and members of the Borough Council walk through the streets of Point Fortin and met with the members of the Business Community and General Public, where they discussed some of the challenges they are facing following the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Mayor promised to support in what ever way he can.

A Point Fortin man has been arrested and charged with DUI, resisting arrest, and assaulting Police officers on Wednesday 1st July 2020.

According to the police reports officers were on mobile patrol along Suchit Trace, Penal when they observed a grey Nissan Frontier overtaking a line of vehicles at high speed. The officers stopped the vehicle a short distance away and they detected a strong alcohol smell, so they informed the driver of their intention to conduct a breathalyzer test. The driver then attempted to evade the test, thereby allegedly assaulting the two police officers.

The driver, Naeem Ali, a 43-year old man of Point Fortin, was arrested and taken to the Penal Police Station. A breathalyzer was conducted at the station where it is alleged he failed.

He was charged for the offence of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and assaulting Police officers. He was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 and is expected to appear before the court on 31st July 2020.

San Fernando Mayor, Junia Regrello has agreed to move the Point Fortin Taxi Stand in San Fernando from St Andrews Street to Lower High Street. The discussion came in an impromptu meeting held between the Mayor, Junia Regrello, the Point Fortin Taxi Drivers and the Siparia Taxi Drivers a short while ago. The Taxi Drivers told the Mayor that the current taxi stand shared by the Point Fortin and Siparia Taxis is too small and as a result of that the Taxi Drivers are being issued tickets by the authority.

The decision will take effect Monday 6th July 2020. Speaking to Southsidenewstt, the President of the Siparia Taxi Drivers Association Christopher Clement said he welcomed the decision by the San Fernando Mayor and hoping the decision will ease the frustration of the drivers. Efforts to reach the Point Fortin Taxi Drivers Association were unsuccessful.

A Cap-de-Ville man has been shot and killed, he is identified as Hayden George Crichlow. According to police reports shortly before 1 am today residents of Chinkit Trace heard a loud explosion.

Upon checking they discovered the body of 52 yrs old Crichlow lying motionless on his back with a gunshot wound, he died on the spot. Police are yet to establish any motive for this killing. Crichlow worked at the Point Fortin Borough Corporation.

Regional Three Homicide Officers are continuing enquries.

Heritage Petroleum has distributed over four thousand seedlings to 400 hundred households as part of the Company’s initiative here we grow, speaking at this morning’s distribution Heritage CEO Ms Arlene Chow says, the indicative falls within a wider food security issues.

She went on to stress the importance of food security . We want to do our part to help families sustain themselves, especially in this hard time. When I grew up it was a way of life I would pick whatever was available in our garden for dinner.

Under the here we grow initiative each household will receive seedlings, which among will include corn, pigeon-peas, kale, patchoi, tomato, ochro, cabbage, eggplant, sweet pepper and sorrel.

Member of Parliament for La Brea Ms Nicole Olivierre received 1000 seedling for distribution to her Constituents and expressed her gratitude. She said many of us would have grown up hearing that in life, ‘Reap what we Sow.’ and I was reminded of this today as I thought about this life-giving initiatives

She Implores all resident to rise to the occasion and utilize the gesture to effect meaningful change in their home and community life. It is my wish that as these seedlings donated grows, the culture and fabric of our constituency grows with it.

The other three thousand seedlings were collected at Heritage compound in Santa Flora by several Councillors of Siparia Regional Corporation. The Councillor will distribute the seedling packages to members of their communities who will benefit the most from the initiative.

The hunt is over for a candidate to represent the People’s National Movement in the upcoming General Election for the Constituency of La Brea, at last, evening party screening Mr Stephen Mc Clashie has been selected.

Mr Mc Clashie got the nod of approval over five other prospective candidates. He is a Supply Chain Expert and have a wide range of experience in the field and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago (1978) Limited.

However southsidenewstt was told by an Executive Member of the Constituency that they are not happy with this selection and have stated that they are not prepared to work with the candidate since he is unknown in the La Brea constituency.

Two men have been shot and killed at a house in Mathura Avenue, Penal. The victims have been identified as Wellington Davidson aka Zoro of Rochard Road, Penal and Shazard Mohammed aka Boyie of Lowkie Trace, Penal. According to the police report, several loud explosions was heard around 12:20 a.m. today, upon checking the two men were found lying on a couch in the living room of the house with gunshot wounds to their heads.

The owner of the house told police the last time he saw the two men alive they were playing a game of cards around 10:30 p.m. before he went to bed. He was awoken by the sound of gunshots. Mohammed was shot in his face and head and Davidson was also shot in the head. Police said seven spent shell was recovered at the screen. Police are yet to establish any motive for the killing and hope CCTV camera can help them.

Southern Division Homicide Officer are continuing investigation.

A fourth person has been charged in connection with a report of kidnapping against a La Brea man which occurred on Saturday 28th March 2020.

This morning Jeffery Despot, 50, of Beach Road, Vance River Village, Guapo, appeared before a Point Fortin Magistrate via video conferencing today to answer to the charge.

The court heard, on Saturday 28th March 2020, the victim was at his properties at Beach Road, Vance River Village, La Brea, when he got into an argument with four persons known to him. During the incident, the victim was bound and tied in a house for about 10 minutes, while his assailants beat him. He was subsequently released and proceeded to the Point Fortin District Hospital to seek medical attention. Despot subsequently surrendered himself to officers of the Guapo Police Station on Tuesday 16th June 2020.

Cpl Ramjattan subsequently charged Despot on Wednesday 17th June 2020.

He was granted bail of $75,000 with surety or $20,000 cash. The matter was adjourned to Thursday 23rd July 2020.