NEWS

Media tracks Isis fighters from T&T

Reporters from the New York Times and Al Jazeera are speaking to members of T&T’s Muslim community following last week’s news that 130 nationals are involved in terrorist activities in countries abroad. The updated figure was given last Tuesday by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon following MSNBC commentator Malcolm Nance’s claim that the Islamic State terrorist network “has dozens of members from Brazil or Trinidad or the Bahamas, who have more terrorist members than any of the seven countries” that are the subject of an immigration ban ordered by United States President Donald Trump. Read more here

Local Muslims: AG threading on dangerous ground

Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago (MOTT) said Attorney General Faris al Rawi is threading on dangerous ground by proposing to amend the Ant-Terrorism Act which would restrict the movement of local Muslims. Al Rawi made this announcement at last Thursday’s post Cabinet briefing. He said this was all part of Government’s thrust to combat terrorism inside and outside of this country’s borders. Read more here

Murder At Movietowne

One man is currently in police custody following the brutal murder of a woman in the MovieTowne compound in Port or Spain last night. While up to 10 p.m. full details were unavailable, the Express was reliably informed that Jamilia Derevenax was at her workplace at Manderos restaurant in MovieTowne, when about 8.15 p.m. she received a phone call from a man known to her. Read more here

POLITICS

Gambling Bill sent to JSC

It will be difficult to run T&T on a budgeted oil price of US$50, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said in response to a comment by Opposition MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie during Friday’s House of Representatives debate on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2016. Tewarie had asked Imbert if it was unreasonable for T&T to manage its business on the basis of a US$50 oil price and a US$3 gas price. Read more here

COP wants crime summit

A national summit must be convened to address the out-ofcontrol crime situation currently affecting the country, leader of the Congress of the People Dr Anirudh Mahabir has recommended. In a statement, Mahabir said government has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Read more here

REGIONAL BUSINESS

CBI bank accounts under scrutiny in Dominica

Although there has been no official word, either from foreign banks in Dominica or the Roosevelt Skerrit administration, that government citizenship by investment (CBI) accounts have been closed, there is, however, speculation in Roseau and elsewhere that the banks are becoming wary that some of the CBI funds held in government bank accounts could be tainted. Regional broadcaster Jerry George is among those addressing that matter. Read more here

More Than $9B Owing For Property Taxes – Chuck

Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck said the government will be moving to collect more than $9 billion it is owed in outstanding property taxes. He noted that almost one third of landowners are not paying their property taxes, which is used to finance critical services at the local level. This includes garbage collection, the maintenance of street lights, rehabilitation of parochial/farm roads and provision of community infrastructure. Read more here

REGIONAL

Iranian with St Kitts-Nevis passport sanctioned by US Treasury Department

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against an Iranian businessman who holds a St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) passport, for violation of the prohibited ballistic missile program by Iran. CEO and director of MKS International group, Kambiz Rostamian, the holder of SKN passport number RE0003026, who resides in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is accused of dealing directly with, and receiving payments for the procurement of goods, and utilizing multiple front companies to circumvent export laws and sanctions. MKS has been accused of procuring controlled technology and materials, in support of Iran's prohibited ballistic missile development program. Rostamian is also the sole director of a UK firm called BTS International Limited, which may be connected with an Iranian firm known as Beh Tarashan Sepahan Company. Read more here

INTERNATIONAL

Catalan trial: Artur Mas independence vote case draws crowds

Thousands of supporters filled the streets outside a court in Barcelona on Monday as the former Catalan president Artur Mas went on trial. He is accused of serious civil disobedience over Catalonia's unofficial vote in November 2014 seeking independence from Spain. The vote went ahead in defiance of an order from Spain's constitutional court. Prosecutors are calling for him to be disqualified from office for 10 years. Mr Mas, his deputy Joana Ortega, and Catalan former education minister Irene Rigau face accusations ranging from disobedience and perverting the course of justice to misuse of public funds. Read more here

Trump's travel ban hits legal hurdles: Get up to speed

US President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again travel ban is back with the courts after a tumultuous weekend, when an appeals court opted to keep the suspension ordered by a federal judge until a final ruling can be made. The now-suspended order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen -- from entering the US for 90 days, all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely halts refugees from Syria. So what's the latest with one of the new administration's most controversial moves so far? Read more here

6th February 2017

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