NEWS
Bail for woman who allegedly struck boyfriend with iron
A woman who allegedly struck her boyfriend in the head with a piece of iron at his home has been granted $100,000 bail by a San Fernando magistrate. Shelly Sookoo, 37, appeared yesterday in the First Court before magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine who read the charge. It is alleged that between March 29 and 30, she wounded Shawn Brown with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. The alleged incident occurred at his home at Aripo Drive in Tarodale, near Ste Madeleine. Read more here
Mom: Michelle-Lee now eyes Olympic victory
National sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye created history yesterday when she won this country’s first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games with a stunning performance in the Women’s 100m final at the Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia. Running in lane four, Michelle-Lee clocked a time of 11.14 seconds to win gold, becoming the first female sprint medal at the event. It was also the first gold medal for this country at the Commonwealth Games in 20 years. (The last time this country won Gold at the Commonwealth was in 1998 when Ato Boldon won the 100 metre sprint.) Read more here
Police probe poisoned roti
Police suspect poisoned flour was used to make roti which was eaten by two persons who fell violently sick on Sunday. The roti was fed to the family dogs, which later died. A 27-year-old Salybia woman and her 44-year-old brother-in-law were treated at hospital. Read more here
POLITICS
Rowley Keeps Smith
As if to prove he really meant he has full faith in his Cabinet, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley did not fire anyone in the latest reshuffle announced yesterday, but instead moved around several ministers chief among them, Sport Minister Darryl Smith, who is now junior Housing Minister and will be working with Rowley, who has assumed the Housing Ministry portfolio. At the post Cabinet press briefing last week, Rowley declared his full confidence in the Cabinet and also said he will investigate several claims and allegations arising out of the sex scandal within the Sport Ministry in which an official was paid $150,000 by tax payers not to pursue a sex suit filed against a Ministry official and also to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Read more here
Sinanan promises to repair Williamsville landslip
Days after a major landslip claimed part of the roadway at Garth Road, Williamsville, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan has instructed Director of Highways Navin Ramsingh to investigate. In an interview Sinanan said Ramsingh will send a team of engineers to assess the problem following which arrangement will be made to rectify the problem. Read more here
Moses apologises to Dominica
On April 1, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dennis Moses “verbally conveyed and offered sincere apologies” from Trinidad and Tobago to the foreign affairs minister of Dominica for voting against Dominica’s waiver request at an Organisation of American States (OAS) meeting on March 23. Read more here
BUSINESS
Delinquent loans stay in single digits
Two local banks say the number of delinquent loans has stayed in the single-digit range even with the slow down in the T&T economy. Nigel Baptiste, Managing Director of Republic Bank Limited (RBL) said the situation with delinquent loans “has not been far different from prior years” which he attributed to prudent borrowing by customers combined with diligent follow up by staff of the bank. Read more here
Toyota focuses on smaller, economic vehicles
With a challenging economic climate and the removal of the fuel subsidy, one of the leading car importers in Trinidad and Tobago is focusing on smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. Toyota Trinidad Ltd launched its new 2018 Agya model at Toyota’s San Fernando showroom last Saturday. Read more here
REGIONAL
Shock Immunity - JDF Says Soldiers Accused Of Killing Keith Clarke Shielded From Prosecution
The trial of the three soldiers accused of murdering businessman Keith Clarke turned into a legal drama yesterday after lawyers for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) appeared in court with immunity certificates, signed by the former minister of national security, Peter Bunting. After six years of delay, Corporal Odel Buckley, Lance Corporal Greg Tinglin and Private Arnold Henry were scheduled to stand trial for allegedly shooting Clarke 21 times inside his Kirkland Close, St Andrew, home on March 27, 2010. But before prosecutors could empanel a jury, JDF attorney Paul Beswick asked presiding judge, Justice Glen Brown, to halt the proceedings, declaring that the soldiers were shielded from prosecution through certificates of immunity that were signed by Bunting six years after Clarke's death. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump lashes out as Cohen raid fuses Russia probe and Stormy case
There could be dark and unprecedented times ahead. The FBI raid against Michael Cohen spiked President Donald Trump's rampant indignation over the Robert Mueller probe to previously unseen heights, multiplying the persecution complex he feels about the FBI and his own Justice Department and fueling his sense he's the target of a witch hunt. And it suggests that Cohen, who paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels, could be a bridge between the two separate legal strands threatening Trump. Read more here
Russian spy: Daughter discharged from hospital
10th April 2018