NEWS
PSA head: Contract work is slavery
Felisha Thomas, President of the Public Services Association (PSA), keenly welcomed news that contractual terms and conditions of employment ("contract employment") will be removed from the Public Service, talking to Newsday on August 28. She gave her response to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's announcement the day before at a Penal event that the Public Service had thousands of permanent jobs to be filled, even as she sought to end contract employment which she said was both costly to the state and harsh on the employee. Read more here
Two more Trinis arrested by Venezuela law enforcement
A mere two days after calling T&T’s Government “shameful” after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised to allow United States military to use T&T as a base if Venezuela invades Guyana, Venezuela’s Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello has hit out at T&T again. In his latest accusations against T&T, Cabello said two T&T nationals, along with criminals from other countries, were arrested on Wednesday in the Venezuelan state of Delta Amacuro, which borders T&T. This comes after an incident two weeks ago where three Trinis were among five men arrested at sea by Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional on August 15. Speaking on his weekly TV programme, “Con el mazo dando,” on Wednesday night, Cabello said officials have discovered some things that can only come by boat from T&T. Read more here
POLITICS
Government: Gate your communities, stay safe
Minister of Local Government Khadijah Ameen said the government wants to support the denotion of new “gated communities” in response to public demand. To this end, the government was creating an inter-ministerial committee to provide a policy and guidelines on gated communities, she told the post-cabinet briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, on August 28. The measure will be in line with the government’s stand-your-ground legislation – now out for public consumption – and its policy on home invasions. Read more here
US export squeeze
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says he is hoping to resolve the issue of taxes in the United States that forced the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost) to temporarily stop all exports to the US that are not packages. In a media release yesterday, TTPost said due to a US Executive Order of July 30, 2025, entitled “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries,” which comes into effect today, all client packages that are not documents cannot be sent to the US. Other Caribbean countries, among them St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and Jamaica, also implemented similar measures yesterday. TTPost’s release added that it is actively engaging with international partners to address the matter and restore the shipment of parcels as soon as possible. It said the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued at US$800 meant all international postal items containing goods destined for the US, regardless of value, will now be subject to customs duties. Read more here
BUSINESS
AS Bryden lists nearly 1.5b ordinary shares on TTSE
JUST under 1.5 billion ordinary shares of AS Bryden & Sons Holdings Ltd are being listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange’s (TTSE) First Tier Market starting today. In a market notice issued yesterday, the TTSE stated that 1,499,251,189 shares will be listed at a price of $1.15 each under the security symbol ASBH. The company is listing its existing shares by introduction, making them available for trading on the TTSE. No new shares are being offered to the public at this time. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘We are bringing tomorrow’s medicine to Guyana today’
Offering both primary and specialised healthcare services, the multibillion-dollar No. 75 Village Regional Hospital will now serve thousands of Upper Corentyne residents, who would have once had to travel long distances to seek medical attention. Equipped with the most modern amenities and technology, the facility was commissioned on Thursday by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who during a formal ceremony told residents and stakeholders that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s revolution of the healthcare sector is not merely about the steel and cement infrastructures, but one that is strategic, ensuring that access to healthcare is equitable countrywide. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Minneapolis school attacker 'obsessed with idea of killing children', officials say
Investigators say that the attacker who opened fire on pupils as they were praying at a church in Minneapolis was "obsessed with the idea of killing children". Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 others, did not seem to have any specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. The attacker "appeared to hate all of us", the chief said on Thursday, adding: "More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children". The murdered children have been identified by family as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10. Read more here
29th August 2025