NEWS
‘Trinis want to pay the tax’
People want to pay property tax, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday as he confirmed Cabinet's approval of June 5 as the new deadline date for the submission of valuation return forms (VRF). Speaking at yesterday's post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's, the minister said: “As you know, Trinbagonians are famous for last minute. So what has happened is that in the last week leading up to the [original deadline of May] 22nd, which is Monday, the number of persons visiting the Valuation offices has exploded. Read more here
Wife found dead in bed
A Mafeking woman, who was the only survivor in a car crash which killed four people two years ago, was found dead on her bed with her face covered by a garbage bag yesterday. Sewhroni Mohan, 38, of Mafeking Village, Mayaro, who only two weeks ago returned to her husband’s home at Mafeking, was discovered dead by husband Dave Rampersad around 10.30 am on his return from work. Read more here
Policeman on murder charge
A 44-YEAR-OLD policeman who is on suspension was charged yesterday with the murder of a 24-year-old male relative. PC Kumar Bharath of Macoya was charged by ASP Flaveney of the Homicide Investigations Bureau on instructions from the office of the DPP on Wednesday. Bharath, who was on suspension after being charged with driving under the influence, was detained last Friday after a shooting death at his home. Read more here
POLITICS
Imbert, Cuffie: Shamfa not to blame
FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie yesterday said Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe is not to blame for a $58,379.80 phone bill she incurred while attending a Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) conference in the Bahamas earlier this year. Imbert and Cuffie said that bill was the result of high roaming charges in the Bahamas which exceed similar charges in countries, inside and outside of the Caricom region. Read more here
PM leaves for New York
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley left the country yesterday to attend the graduation of his daughter Sonel in New York . A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said Rowley wentd on vacation from yesterday and will attend Sonel’s graduation from Fordham University in New York on Saturday . Read more here
BUSINESS
IDB: TT loses 3.52% GDP to crime
THE Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) latest study entitled, ‘Restoring Paradise in the Caribbean, Combating Violence with Numbers’, says this country loses between 2.68 percent and 3.52 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to crime. The study, which looked at crime throughout the region, in its specific references to Trinidad and Tobago said, “Trinidad loses between 2.26 percent (lower bound) and 3.56 percent (upper bound) of GDP to crime annually. Out of 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago ranks sixth for annual costs of crime as a proportion of GDP.” A press release said findings were based on the results of new crime victimization surveys carried out in The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. It said 3,000 individuals were interviewed in each of the five countries. Read more here
REGIONAL
St Lucia signs new development agreement under CBI programme
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Range Developments, an international developer focusing on luxury hotel projects in the Caribbean, signed definitive agreements with the government of Saint Lucia on Tuesday to continue the development of the Black Bay Master Development. The heart of the Black Bay Master Development will consist of a luxury branded hotel and villas set on 180 acres on the beautiful southern tip of the island. The site is on the Caribbean southwest coast, within easy reach of the international airport and the Pitons, the world famous heritage site. The master development will be developed in a number of phases. Read more here
Anheuser-Busch Boosts Spending
Anheuser-Busch is upgrading its United States breweries and plans to build two new distribution centres as it adapts to an increasingly fragmented beer market. The maker of Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois says the upgrades and new distribution centres in Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio, will allow it to store a greater variety of products and get them to customers faster. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Besieged at home, Trump sets off for 'do-or-die' foreign trip
Washington (CNN)Given his current political fortunes, if President Donald Trump's crucial first foreign trip passes off without a disaster, it will be considered a success. The President embarks on a journey Friday to Saudi Arabia, Israel and global summits in Italy and Belgium, after one of the most tumultuous and damaging weeks any President has had to endure. Read more here
Times Square car crash driver Richard Rojas 'heard voices'
A man who drove a car along three blocks of pavement in New York's Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring 22 people, said he had "heard voices", according to law enforcement sources. Richard Rojas, 26, a US Navy veteran who was arrested twice previously for drink-driving, is now in custody. He also said he expected to die, the sources told AP news agency. Read more here
19th May 2017