Daily Brief - Monday 12th December, 2017

TTMA IN THE NEWS

TTMA head: Businesses need to be competitive

Manufacturing support by the Government and its agencies is critical for the growth in the non-energy industry says president of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) Christopher Alcazar. He also made reference to Minister of Trade, Paula Gopee-Scoon’s initiative in this area. Read more here

 

NEWS

Surgical Sundays’ to rescue cataract patients

Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday said in 2018, one month would be dedicated to cataract surgeries throughout all regional health authorities. Deyalsingh made the announcement at a press conference on the “Surgical Sundays” programme held at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope. Read more here

More suspects held in $5m airport robbery

Three more suspects wanted in connection with last Wednesday's airport robbery were held by the police on Friday, They are being detained at the Maraval Police Station. Last Wednesday, armed bandits escaped with an estimated $5 million in cash from the cargo cart at the tarmac of Piarco International Airport. Police said a man and two women were being questioned up to late yesterday evening. Read more here

Why was Vidya Deokiesingh escorted from Petrotrin's compound?

Out of an abundance of caution, Petrotrin security offered to escort employee Vidya Deokiesingh out of the compound last Friday, as several workers were protesting outside. Deokiesingh, who is among several persons being questioned in the fake oil fiasco, resumed duties at the Field Equipment Maintenance (FEM) Department at Santa Flora last Wednesday. Read more here

  

POLITICS

AG: Prakash blowing hot, cold

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi yesterday said he was surprised that St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar abstained from voting on the Anti-Gang Bill 2017. At a news conference on Saturday, Ramadhar sought to explain why he voted neither with the Government nor the Opposition on the bill.  Read more here

Ministry investigates another school bullying video

The Ministry of Education is investigating a video posted on social media which has gone viral involving several students bullying another student at a prestige school in Diego Martin. In two of the videos posted on social media, the student is seen shielding himself while several boys physically assault him. In the second video, the same boy is heard screaming before he is taken and thrown into the school’s swimming pool. Read more here

Absolute nonsense Page

The People’s National Movement Government came into office just over two years ago, on September 7, 2015. Last week, CCN TV6 journalists Faine Richards and Juhel Browne conducted a comprehensive interview with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, titled “All Things Considered--The Rowley administration at mid-term”. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

NCB Financial Group launches takeover bid

The Jamaica-based NCB Financial Group Limited (NCBFG) has launched a take-over bid to acquire a majority stake in Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL). NCBFG already owns 29.9 percent of GHL - those shares were acquired in May 2016. The company, in announcing its intentions on Friday, said “further acquisition of shares in GHL is aligned with the NCB Group’s vision and will create a truly pan-Caribbean diversified financial services conglomerate.” Read more here

Support OECD legislation in 2018

The Bankers Association of T&T (BATT) is urging the Opposition to support the legislation required to meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Global Forum recommendations when the legislation is laid in the Parliament in 2018. A special majority vote is needed to pass the three pieces of legislation, which are amendments to the Income Tax Act, Chapter 75:01, the passing of the double Taxation Agreements Bill and the Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matter Bill. Read more here

NCBFG in pursuit of GHL

This week, we at Bourse take a closer look at the offer and takeover bid by National Commercial Bank Financial Group Ltd (NCBFG) to acquire a majority stake in Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL). We provide an update on details of the offer. Read more here

 

REGIONAL

Funeral Bloodbath - Gunmen Turn Weapons On Mourners Outside Church

For some, it was a scene similar to what they had seen on television as gunmen armed with high-powered weapons yesterday sprayed mourners attending a funeral at the Kings Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in east Kingston. "Collection [offering] pick up and di pastor 'bout fi pray, and a dat time di shot start fire," one woman, who was inside the church, recounted. "Mi God! About 15 shots fire, if a no more dan dat. Everybody inna di church get flat," she said, adding that there was no gunfire inside the church building. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

California wildfires now larger than New York City and Boston combined

Firefighters are struggling to contain the biggest of six blazes burning in southern California, with the Thomas Fire slipping from 15% containment to 10% Sunday. Covering 230,000 acres, the Thomas Fire is now the fifth largest blaze in modern California history. The fires are collectively burning an area larger than New York City and Boston combined. Read more here

Jerusalem: Netanyahu expects EU to follow US recognition

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he expects European countries to follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as his country's capital. He is in Brussels for talks - the first time an Israeli prime minister has visited the city in more than 20 years. But the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini says the bloc's stance on the matter is unchanged. Donald Trump's move has left the US isolated on a highly sensitive issue between Israel and the Palestinians. Read more here

11th December 2017

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