NEWS
Municipal Police force to increase
The Ministry of Local Government has said the final vetting stages of 488 candidates is ongoing and by next year, if they are accepted, the 488 will become new members of the Municipal Police force. The Ministry, in a press release, said the candidates had successfully completed examinations and would now undergo medical and psychological evaluations before being admitted to a four-month training programme by the Office of Law Enforcement Policy (OLEP). Read more here
CAL told to cut non-profitable routes
Parliament’s Joint Select Committee has recommended that Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) immediately review the viability of some of its North American routes, as these have been unprofitable and resulted in an “unabated trend of declining passenger numbers and massive financial losses.” At a press conference at Parliament yesterday, JSC chairman Independent Senator David Small said the problem demanded urgent attention, adding that CAL needed to employ strategies to save such routes to prevent future financial leakages. He, however, declined to identify the routes, saying they did not want to damage the company’s image. Read more here
31-year-old case
A man who robbed a soft drink truck and the owner of a parlour 31 years ago was yesterday sentenced for the crimes. Eddy Williams, who fled the country for 20 years, was spared a jail term. The 61-year-old, of Rio Claro, was fined $4,500. Read more here
POLITICS
Karim: Govt must come clean on UTT
Saying the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) belongs to all tax payers, former Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister Fazal Karim has called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his government to come clean on planned lay-offs at the university. The Chaguanas East MP said that after a meeting, which lasted for several hours, on Tuesday between Education Minister Anthony Garcia and the UTT Board, the single “and shameful solution” reported, was that an internal audit is underway on university’s staff, students and programmes. Read more here
Dillon to act on errant officers
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says action will be taken against Immigration officers found in breach of the Immigration Act following the chaos caused by apparent sick-out action at the Piarco International Airport on Sunday. Dillon also confirmed a detailed report was prepared and submitted to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on the matter yesterday. Read more here
Steep land discount through Self-Help Housing Programme
Housing Minister Randall Mitchell says the housing lots identified for allocation under the ministry's recently-launched Government Aided Self-Help Housing Programme are not the lots which former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers are entitled to. Read more here
BUSINESS
Local entrepreneur wins global award
Local entrepreneur Maria Borneo, who operates a pastelle making business, has won the merit award in Shell’s LiveWIRE’s top ten global innovators competition. The announcement was made at yesterday’s media launch of Shell’s LiveWIRE global entrepreneurship project at Shell’s Hospitality Suite. Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain. Leslie Bowrin, Shell T&T’s external relations advisor, said the programme will support local enterprise by helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into long-term sources of income. He said Shell had partnered with Youth Business T&T (YBTT) over the last three years and the launch of Shell LiveWIRE builds on that partnership. Read more here
Over 100 European tour operators coming
The Ministry of Tourism said yesterday T&T's participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) continues to bear fruit, with the possibility that more than 100 European tour operators could visit Trinidad next year. Read more here
REGIONAL
NIDS Green Light - Senate Passes Nat'l ID Bill Despite Opposition Resistance
Jamaica will have its National Identification System (NIDS) after all. Hot-tempered exchanges and unkind comments by senators marred the afternoon session of yesterday's Senate deliberations on the NIDS Bill in the Upper House. However the contentious legislation was passed with 168 amendments at 9:13 p.m. The Opposition voted against the bill. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
People for sale
"Eight hundred," says the auctioneer. "900 ... 1,000 ... 1,100 ..." Sold. For 1,200 Libyan dinars -- the equivalent of $800. Not a used car, a piece of land, or an item of furniture. Not "merchandise" at all, but two human beings. One of the unidentified men being sold in the grainy cell phone video obtained by CNN is Nigerian. He appears to be in his twenties and is wearing a pale shirt and sweatpants. He has been offered up for sale as one of a group of "big strong boys for farm work," according to the auctioneer, who remains off camera. Only his hand -- resting proprietorially on the man's shoulder -- is visible in the brief clip. Read more here
Iran earthquake survivors plead for help as death toll rises
14th November 2017