TTMA In The News
TT trade mission heads to DR
The Trade Mission this week to the Dominican Republic (DR) is seen as being critical to opening new markets. This was the view expressed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on mission which starts today and ends on Saturday. The mission is coordinated by the TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) and supported by the ministry. “The MTI and the TTMA are both of the view that this mission is critical to opening new markets having successfully collaborated on similar visits, the last being to Cuba in 2016”, stated a release from the ministry. Read more here
NEWS
19 evacuated...coming home soon
Nineteen Trinis who had to be evacuated from Dutch St Maarten to Antigua in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma’s devastation are to return home soon. Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Fernandez gave this confirmation yesterday as he praised the Trinidad National Helicopter Services who rose to the occasion in assisting in the evacuation of residents from Barbuda and St Maarten. He said the helicopter service was able to evacuate about 50 people from St Maarten on Monday, including several children who sat on their parents laps. These included 19 Trinis, five Antiguans, four Dominicans and several Barbadians. While it was not confirmed by TT Foreign and Caricom Affairs, despite requests made by Newsday, Fernandez said several Trinidadians returned home on Monday and others were expected yesterday. Read more here
Another Chinese restaurant robbed
Another Chinese restaurant being robbed has been caught on tape again and circulated on social media. This comes in wake of several robberies and other attacks against Chinese nationals over the past few months. This time the Chinese restaurant in question is located on the Eastern Main Road between Petit Bourg and Mt Hope. In the video, a gunman is seen entering the restaurant and shortly after he demanded money from one of the restaurant employees seen behind a burglar proofing counter. Read more here
Dying for her baby
Anastacia Waterman was told by doctors not to become pregnant because her enlarged heart could not handle it. She refused the medical advice, determined to have a child, even at the risk of her own life. Waterman died on Monday, seven months after she defied the odds and delivered a healthy baby boy. The baby boy will be raised by Waterman’s husband, Ray Phillip, at the family home at John Williams Trace, Tabaquite. Read more here
POLITICS
Ramadhar writes Rowley over news reports
ST AUGUSTINE MP Prakash Ramadhar has written to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley over issues raised in a recent news report as to whether political interference was exerted to remove the head of Special Branch, he told a news conference yesterday at his constituency office at Railway Road, Tunapuna. Ramadhar said copies of his letter have also been sent to President Anthony Carmona, the Police Service Commission, Police Complaints Authority, Integrity Commission and Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP.) He said the story in last Sunday’s press had alleged that ACP Ainsley Garrick had been transferred for declining to charge a police constable over alleged links to terrorism. The story alleged that the directive to charge the constable was made after a lengthy meeting of protective services top brass attended by a politician. Ramadhar said the news story made him extremely alarmed at the possibility of misbehaviour in public office and/or perverting the course of justice. Read more here
Prakash writes PM on transfer of Special Branch head
Former leader of the Congress of the People (COP) Prakash Ramadhar yesterday sent a letter to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley asking him to “investigate” the alleged transfer of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ainsley Garrick for failing to take instructions from a “politician” to arrest and charge a police constable with terror-related offences. The St Augustine MP raised the issue yesterday at a press conference at his Tunapuna office as he called on Rowley to probe what triggered Garrick’s transfer. Last Sunday, Ramadhar said he became concerned after reading a daily newspaper, which stated that Garrick, who once headed the elite Special Branch unit, had been transferred after he failed to take instructions from a politician to lay charges against a PC who had been absolved of having any link to a terrorist organisation. Read more here
Kamla calls for freeze on assets
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley must take action on the “fake oil” scandal, says Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who last night called for a freeze on assets to recover millions allegedly defrauded from State-owned Petrotrin. “We have called for this matter to be investigated by the (Director of Public Prosecutions), Commissioner of Police (and the Fraud Squad) and the Integrity Commission with haste. Read more here
BUSINESS
Learning to live with less money?
IN the wake of last week’s political opinion polls, which were published to coincide with the second anniversary of the current administration’s five-year term, much of the commentary has focused on the impact that the Government’s handling of the economy has had on its popularity.
Negative comments have come from analysts interviewed by the media, opinions expressed on call-in programmes and in newspaper commentaries. Read more here
Energy Chamber: People must be held accountable
The Energy Chamber says it is "very concerned" about the allegations being made about fraud in the transfer and sale of oil from A&V Drilling to Petrotrin. It is urging a speedy conclusion to the internal investigations and that Petrotrin takes all appropriate measures based on the final findings of the investigation, including referring the report to the police once due process is followed. The Chamber said it supports any comprehensive investigation into operators who sell oil to Petrotrin and appropriate action being taken whenever appropriate. It said "people must be held accountable for their action or inaction." Read more here
REGIONAL
No ZOSO Abuse! - PM Praises Security Forces Conduct In Zone
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said that the security forces have demonstrated that they do not have to abuse the rights of citizens in order to carry out an effective job in the first zone of special operations (ZOSO) in Mount Salem, St James. In a statement to the House of Representatives yesterday, Holness said before the passage of the bill, there were concerns that powers given to the security forces would result in flagrant breaches of human rights in the areas where zones of special operations are declared. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Caribbean residents describe dire situation as food, water run out
A week after Hurricane Irma struck a string of Caribbean islands, some residents find themselves in darkness, as power remains out and increasingly worried as food and water run scarce. In the storm's aftermath, residents and tourists described a volatile situation with vexing challenges ahead that have forced people to fend for themselves. "You listen to the radio. You call. But nobody comes," said Leroy Webb, a resident of St. Maarten, which is the Dutch part of the island. The French side of the island is St. Martin. Read more here
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi to miss UN General Assembly debate
13th September 2017