NEWS
Amplia workers in limbo
Concerns are mounting over the future of about 150 call centre workers following reports that the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is considering ending its contract with Amplia and transferring the work to Hummingbird Holdings. The workers have reportedly been informed that their contracts will not be renewed beyond September 30, giving them about 30 days’ notice. Guardian Media understands the development has raised concerns about job security and the financial impact on workers, particularly amid ongoing economic pressures. Read more here
DROUGHT ALERTS
Trinidad has been placed on “drought watch” for September 2026, while Tobago has been put on a drought “warning” for October. The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has also called on the country to practise conservation in the use of potable water, as “drier than usual conditions through the latter half of 2026 threaten to extend into the 2027 dry season”. In its Dryness/Drought Monitor and Outlook up to the end of September 2026, the TTMS issued a “drought Watch for Trinidad in September” and “drought Warning for Tobago in October”. Read more here
POLITICS
PM hopeful CCJ dispute will be resolved soon
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she hopes the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) can “sort themselves out soon” amid controversy surrounding the regional court’s leadership, but has declined to say whether her Government remains confident that the court can fairly determine the dispute over the reappointment of Caricom Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett. Persad-Bissessar took this stance yesterday, after being asked by Guardian Media whether Government remained confident in the CCJ’s ability to fairly handle the Barnett matter, given allegations surrounding the court’s internal administration, including claims of judicial “panel-fixing” and attempts to influence judgments. “I prefer not to comment,” Persad-Bissessar said when specifically asked about her confidence in the court fairly determining the Barnett issue. Read more here
BUSINESS
Do not engage in price gouging, minister urges chicken industry
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram is appealing to chicken depot owners/operators not to engage in price gouging amidst the continuing crisis currently affecting the poultry industry. Speaking with reporters in Chaguaramas yesterday, he urged persons to exercise understanding and restraint, even as he assured the situation should be sorted out very soon. While the issue of pricing remains primarily under the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Ratiram said, “We have confidence in our depot owners. We have confidence in our stakeholders there, that we would not see those types of activities happening because collectively, we build the country together.” To the public, he urged them not to panic and rush out to stock up on poultry. Read more here
CinemaOne sets box-office record as loss narrows
Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey propelled CinemaOne to its biggest box-office weekend ever, surpassing even the record set by Avengers: Endgame. “The end of July’s opening weekend performance of Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day combined with the consistently robust IMAX results of Christopher Nolan and Universal’s epic movie Odyssey catapulted CinemaOne to the achievement of the group’s all time record weekend box office performance,” CinemaOne’s chairman Brian Jahra has stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
Government takes steps to boost Linden’s electricity supply -Minister Indar says three engines to reach there soon
The government has stepped up efforts to address a growing power-supply gap in Region 10, where electricity demand has risen to 15.1 megawatts (MW), exceeding the 14 MW. Providing an update on the national grid, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar on Monday said the government has added emergency generation and is aggressively managing demand in Linden as hotter weather and rising economic activities push the system beyond its limits. Linden receives power from the Bosai minerals group. To ease the pressure during peak periods – 13:00hrs to 15:00hrs and 19:00hrs to 21:00hrs., the government has asked sawmillers in Linden to shift their operations to off‑peak hours. “There are two peaks in Linden, meaning that, the power demand spikes at its highest during those two [times] of the day,” he explained. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
UK 'supports Ukraine 100%', Burnham says, after Russia's drone warning
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK will continue "to support Ukraine 100%", after Moscow warned of "consequences" following confirmation that British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes in Russia. "We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine's hour of need and that won't change," said Burnham. The Russian embassy to the UK earlier accused Britain of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis", adding that "the deeper its involvement in the conflict... the higher the price it will pay". Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Moscow and elsewhere deep inside Russia, particularly targeting oil refineries and logistics sites for its key online retailer Wildberries. Read more here
18th August 2026