NEWS
CJ ducks media at opening of Children’s Court
AS questions surround the granting of a six-month sabbatical to embattled Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the CJ steered clear of the media yesterday, as he opened the Children’s Court (South) in Fyzabad. Project manager of the Juvenile Court Candice Davis-Blackman blocked reporters from speaking with the CJ or accompanying him and the official entourage on a tour of the building, saying very politely that she was following instructions. She offered to take the media on a separate tour of the building, which is owned by Laura Khan, wife of Energy Minister Franklin Khan. Read more here
Hope for Muslim leaders
Over 100 Muslim leaders felt a “measure of hope” after last evening’s four-hour meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on issues directly affecting them, including the labelling them as terrorists. Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr was one of approximately 120 leaders and representatives of Muslim organisations represented at the meeting, which was also attended by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. Read more here
Law Association files nine grounds of appeal
The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) has filed nine grounds of appeal against the findings of Justice Nadia Kangaloo, who ruled on Tuesday evening that it could not lawfully carry out an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Chief Justice Ivor Archie. Read more here
POLITICS
Mark slams RIC head’s rate increase talk
Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on Tuesday called for the resignation of Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) chairman Dr Hyacinth Guy for hinting at rate hikes for water and electricity supplies ahead of any public consultation being completed. His call came in a motion on the adjournment of the Senate. “How does she know there will be an increase in rates,” he asked. Mark also hit Minister of Public Utilities Robert Le Hunte for insinuating that rate-hikes are to be expected in an online news source on October 11, titled: “Minister: TT too dependent on Government subsidy”. Read more here
Umar Abdullah denied entry to PM’s meeting
Islamic Front head Umar Abdullah is today wondering why he was denied entry to yesterday’s closed door meeting between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Muslims leaders. But he is also questioning where the unity of his fellow Muslim brothers went, as he would have expected them to stand up and demand that he be allowed into the meeting, which was attended by over 100 Islamic leaders. Read more here
PM writes Carmona on Archie’s sabbatical
The Office of the Prime Minister has written to the Office of the President seeking clarification on the legal authority for the granting of sabbatical leave to Chief Justice Ivor Archie. Read more here
BUSINESS
Caribbean prepares for climate change
After the devastating effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September, Caribbean nations are starting to fully embrace the necessity of becoming climate resilient in the face of extreme weather phenomena. Together, Irma and Maria caused over US$155 billion in damages and over 170 confirmed fatalities. Recovery is expected to take decades in a world where massive and intense storms like these – once anomalies – are now expected to be more frequent. Read more here
Support growing for Tobago shutdown
President of the Inter-Island Truckers Association Horace Amede says his motion calling for a two day shutdown of Tobago is meant to send a message to the powers that be that “this thing cannot continue.” Referring to months of disruption on the seabridge, he said: “People are hurting and businesses are closing down.” The shutdown, details of which are yet to be finalised, is getting support from the Minority Council of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the Public Services Association, both led by Watson Duke. Read more here
MPs grill TGU on audit deficiencies
The management of the power generation company, Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU), was yesterday grilled by the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee (PAEC) about an audit report which listed 18 weaknesses in the company’s procurement practices. Read more here
REGIONAL
Bitter Lesson - Parents Say Schools Serving Too Much Sugar
More than 61 per cent of Jamaican parents believe that the school has become a place that poses serious health threats to the lives of their children because access to sugary drinks is too easy. Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, in sharing findings from the Heart Foundation of Jamaica's Obesity Prevention Public Opinion Survey, said that the results revealed that parents were extremely concerned about their children's health. He sought to reassure persons that their concerns would not be ignored. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Spy attack victims in serious condition as suspicions against Russia mount
A former Russian spy and his daughter who were the target of an attempted assassination in England remained in a "very serious condition" Thursday as the British government faced growing suspicions that Moscow may have been involved. UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd will appear before Parliament to update lawmakers after police declared that a nerve agent was used in the attack in the southern English city of Salisbury on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Read more here
International Women's Day: Spain's workers in 'feminist strike'
Women workers in Spain are marking International Women's Day with an unprecedented strike targeting gender inequality and sexual discrimination. Work was being halted as part of a 24-hour strike organised by the 8 March Commission and backed by 10 unions and some of Spain's top women politicians. Hundreds of marches with the slogan "if we stop, the world stops" are planned. International Women's Day events are also being held in dozens of other nations across the world. Read more here
8th March 2018