NEWS
Gate Police
An army of investigating officers will be unleashed to probe individuals suspected of lying about their family income in the means-test for their Government Assistance with Tuition Expenses (GATE) application, Education Minister Anthony Garcia announced yesterday a news briefing at his Port of Spain office. “We’ll be appointing investigating officers in instances where we perceive students have not been truthful in their declarations,” he said. Students caught trying to cheat the means-test for assessing their true entitlement to a GATE grant, could find themselves fully debarred from the subsidy now and in the future, Garcia warned. Read more here
OWTU head: Focus on buying doubles, roti, pelau
President of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget is not backing down for a boycott of 120 businesses owned and operated by the one per cent elitists. During a march of trade union leaders and other union members last Friday in Port-of-Spain, Roget called on citizens to boycott 120 franchise stores and other business outfits owned and operated by the “elitist one per cent.” Read more here
Blank on Bridgemans
A report into the operations of Vancouver, Canada-based ferry services provider Bridgemans Services Group LP compiled by international business services company Dun & Bradstreet Inc has not been able to find any details about the company’s finances or current trading. The complete Business Information Report (International)—called a BIR by Dun & Bradstreet—states under the heading “Operation” that Bridgemans is engaged in accommodation location services. Read more here
POLITICS
Roget: Rowley a bit naïve
“I think the Prime Minister is being a bit naive.” That was how Ancel Roget, president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), responded to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s call on labour leaders to acknowledge the reality and outcome of T&T’s straitened circumstances and return to the Tripartite approach enabled by the Government, rather than rely on threats, bombast, finger-pointing and insults. Read more here
...‘Brutally honest’ talks on Petrotrin at ministry
The Energy Ministry said yesterday the minister kept his promise to trade unionist Ancel Roget and held frank and open discussions at a “brutally honest” meeting in identifying the challenges currently facing Petrotrin. Roget, the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) president general, and union members yesterday met with Energy Minister Franklin Khan at the Energy Ministry offices at the International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain. Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA McAL lines up Berger takeover bid
ANSA McAL on Monday announced its intention to make a takeover bid to acquire the 19.13 per cent stake in Berger Paints Trinidad Ltd that the conglomerate does not already own. The offer will be made by August 23 and is as a result of the conglomerate acquiring more than 80 per cent of the shareholding of the paint manufacturer, in two separate blocks of shares. T&T’s takeover bylaws require any entity acquiring 30 per cent or more of a listed company to make an offer to acquire the outstanding shares. Both ANSA McAL and Berger Paints Trinidad Ltd are listed on the T&T Stock Exchange. Read more here
FirstCaribbean posts day’s largest gain
Overall Market activity resulted from trading in 16 securities of which 4 advanced, 5 declined and 7 traded firm. Trading activity on the First Tier Market registered a volume of 632,284 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $6,004,307.09. JMMB Group Ltd was the volume leader with 210,970 shares changing hands for a value of $250,030.30, followed by GraceKennedy Ltd with a volume of 148,644 shares being traded for $423,635.40. Read more here
REGIONAL
Tropical Storm Franklin brings heavy rain to Belize and Mexico
Tropical Storm Franklin moved across the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday bringing heavy rain to northern Belize and area of Mexico. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. A strengthening trend is likely to begin when the centre moves over water, and Franklin could be near hurricane intensity at landfall in the southwest Gulf coast of Mexico. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the centre. Read more here
UN chief urges Venezuelans to ease tensions and engage in negotiations
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is closely following recent developments in Venezuela, his spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday. “In this critical moment for the future of the country, he urges all Venezuelans to make all possible efforts to lower tensions and engage in political negotiations,” underscored Stéphane Dujarric, when asked about the latest developments in the South American country. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
China earthquake: Sichuan tremor leaves least 19 dead
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 19 people and injured 247 in China's south-western province of Sichuan. Six tourists are thought to be among the dead, with up to 45,000 people evacuated from the area. A separate 6.6-magnitude tremor struck the remote area of XinJiang, injuring 32 people. More than 87,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008. Read more here
North Korea vows strikes on US as Trump warns of 'fire and fury'
(CNN)North Korea has threatened preemptive military strikes against the US, as President Donald Trump vowed to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its aggression continued. State-run media threatened a missile strike on the US Pacific territory of Guam and said North Korea would "turn the US mainland into the theater of a nuclear war" at any sign of an impending American attack. Read more here
9th August 2017