Fire has claimed the life of a man in South Chatham, he is identified as 77 yrs old Ezekiel Juba. According to reports reaching Southsidenewstt shortly before 3:00 a.m. Wednesday, residents of Chatham was awakened to the sounds of cracking noises, upon checking the saw Mr. Juba’s house was on fire. The Point Fortin Fighter responded to the trouble call, when they arrived the house was well alight. The house was completely destroyed. Fire Fighters managed to contain the blaze from spreading to nearby houses. Upon checking, Juba’s lifeless body was discovered in burnt-out house. The body was ordered to be removed to the Forensic Science Center where a post mortem is expected to be performed to determine the cause of death. Fire Prevention Officers are expected to visit the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Point Fortin Police is continuing investigation.

Point Fortin Borough day J’ouvert competition 2023 is in crisis as the Point Fortin Corporation has asked the organizer Dock of the Bay Sports Club to pay the sum of Eighty Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Five Dollars to host the J’ouvert event this year. Southsidenewstt has obtained a letter from the Office of the Chief Executive Officer requesting the payment made on or before April 7, 2023.

Southsidenewstt understands that over the past few months Dock of the Bay, the Corporation Festival Committee and Band Leader had several meetings, however there is no resolution in site. The letter has advise the competition organizers to pay a fee to host the event.

The fee is broken down into two parts, firstly, for the extensive clean exercise to be untaken as result of the J‘overt competition in the sum of Fifty Two Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Five Dollars ($52,185.00) to be paid and secondly for the cost of transportation and labour to collect, return and lay out barriers along the Point Fortin Main Road in the sum of Thirty Five Thousand ($35,000.00).

Dock of the Bay have hosted the event for the past twenty years and this is the first time they are being asked to pay for clean-up and to provide barriers on the streets of Point Fortin.

The letter also asked the organizers if they are in agreement to host the J‘ouvert Competition the letter should be signed, and there will automatically indemnify the Point Fortin Borough Corporation from all claims suites cost liabilities and whatsoever arise.  We try to reach out to the Chairman of the Festival Committee to seek clarification of the letter however all call to his mobile phone went un-answered.

Southsidenewstt understands that the Band Leader and Dock of the Bay will meet with Officials of the Festival Committee on Friday morning at 9.30am in a last effort to save Borough J’ouvert 2023.

A forty five year old security officer has committed suicide. According to reports shorty after 8 pm Monday Anthony Martin a security officer employed with Security Escorts Security Limited was on duty at Labidco Compound, Brighton La Brea when loud explosions were heard. Upon checking by his colleagues he was found with what appeared to be a gun shot wound to the head. The company issued firearm was also in his hand. The body was viewed by the District Medical Officer and was ordered to be removed to the Forensic Science Center. La Brea Police are continuing investigations.

Fire destroyed a building on Frisco Junction, Point Fortin. According to report shortly after 4 pm today smoke was seen coming from the building. The wooden and concrete structure was completed engulfed in flames and was totally destroyed.

Point Fortin Fire Fighters were able to contain the blaze from spreading to a nearby building. The cause of the blaze could not be immediately ascertain. Investigations are continuing.

Three people are homeless following a fire in Alexander Street, Point Fortin.  According to report’s shortly before 8pm Saturday Point Fortin Fire Fighters responded to a trouble call telling them of a house on fire at the said address. When they arrived, the house was well alight, it was completely destroyed. Southsidenewstt understands, a relative who is being described as a mentally ill man is alleged to have set the house ablaze. The cost of building is estimated in excess of one-million dollars. Point Fortin Police are continuing investigations.

There are report’s of a fire at the Fanny Village Government Primary School in Point Fortin, details remain sketchy. Southsidenewstt newsroom understands, shorty before 1:00 am today, Point Fortin Fire Fighters respond to a trouble call, informing them of a fire at the school, when they arrived, they observed fire coming from serveral classroom. The Fire Fighters manaed to contain and extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire could not be immediately determined. Fire Prevention Officers are expected to return to the school to determine the cause of the fire. The new school was recently opened in November 14, 2022 following a multi million dollars construction after years of occupying temporary structure opposite the new building. The original building the once housed the school was destroy by fire in 2015. We will bring readers up to date as information become available.

There are reports of a Murder in Point Fortin details remain skeckty but our. Newsroom understand the incident occurred shortly before 10pm Sunday in the front of chill bar on the cap de ville main road Point fortin

we will update our story as information come to hand

The streets of Point Fortin came alive this Sunday morning as members of the National Council of Incorporate Spiritual Baptist of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, wells wishers and worshipers from La Brea, Point Fortin and Environs join in a National Day of Pray, as Leaders pray for peace and the end to violence and crime.