Daily Brief - Tuesday 31st October, 2017

NEWS

Local marine scientists discover new life

Eighty-three deep-sea species, with several new to science, have been discovered offshore in two new deep-sea cold-seep habitats east of Trinidad and south of Tobago by two local marine biologists. The marine biologists are Drs Diva Amon and Judith Gobin. “There are at least five species of deep-sea animals, including a purple octopus, that are completely new to science,” Amon, a Trini-British post doctoral researcher said in a release. Read more here

Prison officers in sick-out action

Prison Commissioner William Alexander says there was an increase in absenteeism at the nation’s prisons yesterday, in wake of a voice note circulating on social media that was alleged to have called for prison officers to take industrial action. The social media threat came in the wake of the murder last Thursday of prison officer Glenford Gardner in Bagatelle in Diego Martin. Gardner was assigned to the Carrera Island Prison and was killed two weeks after another officer, Richard Sandy, was killed by an ex-convict at a Gasparillo bar. Read more here

Cancer Society chairman calls for national oncology programme

Given the alarming numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in Trinidad and Tobago, this country is in dire need of a National Oncology Programme (NOP), instead of a National Oncology Centre (NOC). Read more here

 

POLITICS

Hosein, Charles want answers

Opposition Senator Saddam Hosein has renewed his call for the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Government and Sandals Resorts to be made public. In a statement, Hosein said he observed that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the MOU was signed, as he addressed a PNM public meeting in San Fernando last Friday. Rowley first announced the MOU was signed on October 12, during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Representatives. Read more here

3 challenge Duke in PSA elections

Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke will be challenged by three candidates in the union’s November 27 election. However, the outspoken trade unionist who is leading his own slate in the polls, the Game Changers, is not concerned. “None of these guys have a proven track record in representing workers. They have not even done anything to improve themselves and the workers after eight years or added one certificate to their name. They have done nothing to improve their personal capacity,” he told the T&T Guardian. Read more here

Vasant says UNC MPs secretly supporting him for leadership election

There are members of Parliament who have pledged support for Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to continue as United National Congress (UNC) leader but are secretly supporting Vasant Bharath. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

FSO: More financial inclusion needed in T&T

Financial Services Ombudsman (FSO) Dominic Stoddard said the perception in T&T is that more can be done to increase financial inclusion in the country. Financial inclusion, as defined by the World Bank Group, means individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. Stoddard was yesterday delivering remarks at the ceremony to relaunch the Bankers Association of T&T (BATT) Code of Banking practices which was held at the Scotiabank Hospitality Suite at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-Of-Spain. Read more here

Eight banks sign revised code governing services 

The Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) has launched its revised Code of Banking Practice which sets out guidelines to be followed in the provision of banking services. Read more here

 

REGIONAL

Ecstasy & Agony – JLP Celebrates Dunn Victory With Massive Street Rally

Jubilant Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters brought the main street in Annotto Bay to a standstill, forcing everyone and everything to a halt for several hours, as the party held a celebration meeting at the car park in the town yesterday. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

Mueller probe may ground Trump's unconventional success

Donald Trump can't tweet his way out of this one. The President's tried and tested political defense mechanism is to whip up chaos to tip his enemies off balance and launch a fierce counter attack. He'll also take cover with his ultra-loyal political base, rely on Republicans who are too cowed to repudiate him and fog an issue with alternative facts. Read more here

Russia-linked posts 'reached 126m Facebook users in US'

Facebook has said as many as 126 million American users may have seen content uploaded by Russia-based operatives over the past two years. The social networking site said about 80,000 posts were produced before and after the 2016 presidential election. Most of the posts focused on divisive social and political messages. Facebook released the figures ahead of a Senate hearing where it, together with Twitter and Google. will detail Russia's impact on the popular sites. Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it attempted to influence the last US presidential election, in which Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton. Read more here

31st October 2017

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