NEWS
Guyana vessel waiting for bad weather to stop
An agent for the owner of the Guyanese cargo ship Hein, which was run aground on June 10 to prevent it from capsizing, said the vessel had been repacked, was afloat, and was waiting on the bad weather to end before anchoring in Port of Spain. He spoke to Newsday on June 12 via telephone and said works were ongoing. “The cargo was repacked yesterday, so we should be moving the vessel, maybe tomorrow. Because of the rainy weather today, we decided not to move, we decided not to move until tomorrow.” Read more here
Met Office warns of more bad weather today
The Met Office yesterday extended both the Yellow Level Adverse Weather Alert and the Orange Level Riverine Flood Alert for Trinidad, as it forecasts more bad weather today. With an approaching tropical wave expected to bring heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms over T&T, the Adverse Weather Alert was extended until 4 pm today. Persistent rainfall over the South Oropouche River basin yesterday resulted in its inclusion in the riverine update, which now has an end time of 6 pm today. As of 6 pm yesterday, water levels along the Caroni River (and its tributaries) were critical and above capacity, with overflowing reported in areas such as Ibis Gardens, Piarco, San Raphael and Brazil. There were also several reports of flooding in Central Trinidad in areas such as Cunupia, Chin Chin and Chaguanas. River levels remained mostly contained in those areas, with the exception of the Cunupia River which remained elevated. Read more here
POLITICS
Ministers: State response good but flood danger still high
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen says while government is pleased with its flood response thus far, the country is not out of danger as further flooding is possible. Speaking at a post-cabinet media conference on June 12 at the Red House, she said government was taking an inter-ministerial approach to assisting the affected population through its flood-mitigation programme. “We have seen a reduced impact of flooding on homes and infrastructure as a result of early and proactive collaboration between the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.” Read more here
State enterprises struck off Companies Registry for breaching regulations
Two state enterprises have been struck off and 16 more in danger of being struck off the Companies Registry, Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein said yesterday. Hosein said some of the state enterprises were incorporated by way of the Companies Act and, therefore, have to legally comply with regulations just like private companies. “The first company, sorry to disappoint you, Miss (Jearlean) John, is the National Marine and Maintenance Services Company Ltd was struck off on 16 January, 2025, while the Tourism Trinidad Ltd was struck off on 10 March, 2025,” he said at post-Cabinet media briefing. Read more here
BUSINESS
Mounting legal, financial pressure
NIQUAN Energy Trinidad Ltd, now in receivership, is under mounting legal and financial pressure as it struggles with significant debts owed to both State entities and private creditors. At the heart of the controversy is the company’s alleged access to undisclosed financial support despite its insolvency. The issue was raised by senior counsel Anand Ramlogan during winding-up proceedings before Justice Westmin James on Wednesday. Ramlogan represents former NiQuan vice-president David Small, who initiated liquidation proceedings last year to enforce a $20.5 million judgment stemming from unpaid sums and a breach of a mutual separation agreement dating back to November 2021. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana eyes offshore salmon production ‘collab’ with Norway – President Ali
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called for a shift in public attention from superficial online engagement to the substance of nation-building, as he unveiled plans to explore offshore salmon production through collaboration with the Kingdom of Norway. Speaking at a recent event, President Ali emphasised the quiet but critical work being undertaken in agriculture to diversify and expand Guyana’s food production capabilities. A recent study published in Nature Food found that Guyana is the only nation among 186 countries analysed that achieves full self-sufficiency in food production. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
What we know about Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and military commanders
Israel launched strikes across Iran on Friday, saying they targeted the "heart" of Iran's nuclear programme. The strikes killed Hossein Salami, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards - a powerful branch of the country's armed forces - other senior military figures and nuclear scientists. Civilians, including children, were also among those killed, Iranian state media reported. The BBC is not able to independently verify these reports. The Israeli military said Iran launched about 100 drones towards Israel on Friday morning, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was intercepting. A state of emergency was declared in Israel. Read more here
13th June 2025