NEWS
Chamber welcomes ferry
Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce president Ramchand Rajbal Maraj has welcomed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement that a new ferry had been found to service the seabridge, which has been floundering after six aborted tenders by the Port Authority. In a nationally televised address on Sunday, Rowley said the new vessel will create a dramatic improvement on the seabridge and bring relief to the long-suffering people of Tobago from the early months of 2018. Read more here
Cops go after new leads in Joshua’s killing
The investigation into Monday’s incident in which 15-year-old schoolboy Joshua Andrews and “PH” driver Devon Fernandez were killed and their bodies burnt while trying to escape has made a twist suggesting that Andrews may have been the target. Investigating officers said according to new information reaching them, Andrews was part of a gang and was believed to have been involved in a shooting that occurred on Sunday night where 37-year-old Andrei Pereira was killed. Read more here
Counsellors try to help sad pupils
Two of the three pupils who were in the backseat of a taxi attacked by gunmen in Laventille on Monday sustained injuries but were treated at hospital and discharged. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla questions new ship for seabridge
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Monday questioned whether proper procurement procedures were followed regarding the purchase of a ship from Asia for the domestic seabridge. In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said a Cabinet sub-committee, using the National Infrastructure Development Company as the contracting party, found a new ferry to service the seabridge. Read more here
Garcia: Pupils to carry less books to school
Efforts are being made to reduce the number of books primary school children take to school as greater emphasis must be place on more teaching time. So said Education Minister Anthony Garcia during yesterday’s news conference held at the Education Ministry. Garcia also expressed concern that heavy bags could adversely affect a child’s health saying often times children were “weighed” down by thick textbooks. Read more here
PM: Blood on UNC’s Hand
Having refused to provide law enforcement with the legislative tools to deal with gang violence, the blood of 15-year-old Joshua Andrews is virtually on the Opposition UNC’s hands. That was the position taken by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday as he commented on the gruesome shooting death of Andrews as he sat in a taxi being driven to his home on Monday. Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA McAL: Berger acquisition will benefit customers
The ANSA McAL Group of Companies (ANSA McAL) says the take-over of Berger Paints Trinidad Limited (Berger) by ANSA Coatings International Limited (ACIL) will mean “added value” for customers. “ACIL has long recognised the Berger brand as a world class brand and looks forward to its continued growth. Read more here
Govt exploring greater forex control
Finance Minister Colm Imbert says that given the persistent tightness in the foreign exchange market, the government is considering exercising tighter control over the distrubution of foreign exchange. Speaking on the Morning Brew television show on CNC3 yesterday Imbert said: "We (the government) are looking at whether we should get involved in a greater level of control of the foreign exchange distribution system. I'm trending towards more control of it rather than less to make sure that people who need it actually get it" Read more here
Does NIF stand for Now Is Failure?
Anyone who has followed my commentaries over the years would know that I am a huge proponent of the “widest possible public participation” of T&T citizens in the ownership of local shares. But I am also a proponent of individuals using share ownership to build their wealth over time, as investment in stocks or in stock-based mutual funds are one of the few ways available to locals to protect their money from the ravages of inflation over time. Read more here
REGIONAL
Portland Shakes Off Mud - Community Spirit: Helping Hands Amid Deadly Floods
Cut off from the rest of Portland since Saturday when torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that blanketed the main road linking their community with Barry Hill, residents of Cornwall Barracks were yesterday still struggling to adjust to a life of isolation and dreading the likelihood of more showers. High-school students, farmers, a taxi operator, as well as a cooking gas entrepreneur were among the residents of this eastern parish The Gleaner encountered during a visit to the marooned rural community. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Catherine Deneuve defends men's 'right to hit on' women
President Donald Trump appeared to contradict himself multiple times in a meeting on immigration with a bipartisan group of lawmakers Tuesday -- a reflection of growing frustration from Capitol Hill about the lack of direction from the White House on the issue. The President at times suggested he would be looking to sign everything from a stand-alone fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program -- set to expire in March -- to comprehensive immigration reform, often appearing to being guided by lawmakers in the room to modify his positions. Read more here
10th January 2018