NEWS
Man, son killed in police-involved shooting — Alexander: It is good...if they can't behave
The latest police-involved shooting has left a father and son dead, and elicited a terse comment from Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander that this was the end result when some people in society cannot behave. The killings came after police received about 20 reports of extortion particularly in the Central Division, over the past few weeks, and began intense investigations. This led officers of the Anti-Extortion Unit to swoop down on a property in Cunupia, on which a church is located, during the early morning hours of October 2, with the intention of arresting suspects. Police said that around 5.10 am, officers from the unit were carrying out an operation at Mon Plasir Road, Cunupia, in connection with reports of money being demanded by menace, commonly referred to as extortion. Read more here
2 more gangsters detained under SoE orders
Two more men have been ordered to be detained under the State of Emergency powers at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre for their alleged gang involvement. The orders, signed by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, were issued in August and September respectively but only gazetted yesterday. Christian “Heads” Joshua of Simon Trace, Carapo, was listed as a member of an organised crime group, while Diego “Alejandro” Fuentes, of Southern Main Road, St Helena, and Ross and Dass Trace, El Carmen, was listed as a member of the Resistance Gang. Joshua’s order, issued in September, said he is part of an unnamed gang engaged in violent, pre-planned acts, larceny of motor vehicles, robbery with violence, trafficking of firearms and misbehaviour in public. Read more here
POLITICS
Young goes after cabinet ministers over Cepep firings
Government’s decision to terminate hundreds of Cepep contracts is again under fire as former prime minister and opposition MP Stuart Young leads a team of attorneys for three construction companies, challenging the move that left thousands unemployed and fueled claims of political victimisation. Justice Margaret Mohammed permitted Hughelen General Contractors Ltd, Base Construction Company Ltd, and Vision Engineering Ltd to pursue judicial review against the Cabinet, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Utilities, the Cepep Company Ltd, and its CEO Keith Eddy. The companies allege the June 27 mass termination of approximately 350 CEPEP contractors was unlawful, unreasonable, and politically motivated. Read more here
PM: T&T not seeking any regime change in Venezuela
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is denying claims that her Government is seeking regime change in Venezuela, but stopped short of saying whether she recognises Nicolás Maduro as the country’s President. Speaking at the VIP lounge of Piarco International Airport on Wednesday evening, Persad-Bissessar received a boisterous welcome from members of her Cabinet after returning from her first diplomatic mission since winning the April 28 General Election. Her trip included an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, followed by talks in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Prime Minister framed her administration’s top priorities as crime reduction and energy security. She also hailed US backing for an OFAC licence to develop the Dragon gas field, a joint project with Venezuela. Read more here
BUSINESS
‘Historic’ energy achievement
National Gas Corporation (NGC) chairman Gerald Ramdeen has praised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for securing US backing for the cross-border Dragon gas project, calling it “the single most important and significant achievement by a sitting prime minister towards providing energy security to this nation and the region.” “Our Prime Minister, against all odds, has delivered on her promise to return Trinidad and Tobago to its rightful position as this region’s energy hub and leader in the development of hydrocarbon resources throughout the Caribbean and wider region,” Ramdeen stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Guyana not chasing short-term gains’
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced plans for Guyana to build its capacity in trading crude oil, through strategic partnerships that will see the country boosting its expertise through knowledge and skills sharing. This was revealed on Thursday, during the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce’s (GCCI) inaugural Energy Insights and Breakfast Brief held at the Pegasus Corporate suits. “I will be working with the local private sector and international partners to ensure that we develop our capability and capacity in crude oil trading. We must be able to trade our crude oil from Guyana, with the infrastructure, with the human capital and with the market skills, and that is going to create enormous opportunities for us,” the President said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump wields axe over 'Democrat Agencies' as shutdown blame game rages
President Donald Trump has said he and his budget director will work out which "Democrat Agencies" to cut as the US government shutdown approached its third day. He suggested Republicans should seize the opportunity to "clear out dead wood" and gave no hint of concessions to Democratic demands that legislation funding the government should include healthcare insurance subsidies. Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, continued to blame each other for failing to keep federal agencies open. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are staying home, while others worked without pay. Some federal attractions closed to visitors while others, including the Statue of Liberty, stayed open. Read more here
3rd October 2025