NEWS
Carnival mas monarchs bow out of Carnival 2022
Reigning Carnival King Ted Eustace and Queen Roxanne Omalo will not defend their crowns at this year's Taste of Carnival they told Newsday on Thursday. Omalo cited covid19 concerns. "The virus is not playing. Three family members got it at work thinking it was a safe zone." Omalo said she has lost nine friends to covid19. "I was approached by my designer. When he got the message from NCC that there will be a Taste of Carnival this year, he asked me if I'm going to defend and I told him, 'No, I'll be out.'" Read more here
Mohammed’s family further affected by murder photos on social media
The family of murdered mother-of-two Salina Mohammed says the gruesome photos of her bloody body circulating on social media have exacerbated their agony. Relatives were reluctant to speak with reporters but they wanted the person or people behind the camera that took those photos to know that what they did was wrong and insensitive. Mohammed, 41, was shot to death in her vehicle seconds after she left her home at Palmiste Bend, Coconut Drive, San Fernando, on Wednesday morning. Read more here
POLITICS
Government approves $15 million for Taste of Carnival
Contrary to an earlier announcement by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) that its budget for A Taste of Carnival was between $25-$30 million, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts has approved only $15 million. This is for expenditure by the NCC and the three special interest groups – Pan Trinbago, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Association (TUCO), and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands Association. The ministry made the announcement in a news release shortly before 6 pm on Thursday. Read more here
AG says pepper spray process in final stages
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has said that the process for the importation and sale of pepper spray is in the finishing stages as calls are continuing for the use of protective mechanisms in light of the murders of five women so far this year. “I am pleased to report that the pepper spray legislation, the regulations and rules for them are finalised as the result of the Commissioner of Police having delivered to us two days ago the recommendation that we have drafted for him and perfected,” Al-Rawi said yesterday. He said now that the police has given their input they can take the final steps. Read more here
BUSINESS
Tobago The Sleeping Beauty
Tobago’s “jaw-dropping natural splendour” recently earned the island a top spot by National Geographic magazine. Hailing it as “quiet and welcoming,” the magazine highlighted the abundant attractions, including the bird-watching opportunities Tobago is renowned for and described it as a birder’s paradise with more than 260 species. And under the sea, the action continues. The magazine also singles out Tobago’s night-time bioluminescence tour which it said is a natural phenomenon any visitor will not soon forget. Read more here
RFHL posts $395.9m in first quarter profits
Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd (RFHL) Vincent Pereira has announced profit attributable to equity holders of $395.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. This was an increase of $4.7 million or 1.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Total assets stood at $111.9 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $7.3 billion or 6.9 per cent over the total assets at December 2020. RFHL is the owner of all the banks in the Republic Group. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali will engage new Opposition Leader
With the stage set for the appointment of a new Opposition Leader, Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said that whoever is elected would be engaged by President Dr Irfaan Ali. President Ali had previously outlined a condition which must be satisfied before he engages with the Leader of the Opposition, who, at that time, was Joseph Harmon. It entailed the Opposition Leader acknowledging the legitimacy of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government. Even so, the Head of State had assured stakeholders that where he was mandated to act in accordance with his constitutional role, he was prepared to discharge his responsibilities. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion
China has joined Russia in opposing further Nato expansion as the two countries move closer together in the face of Western pressure. Moscow and Beijing issued a statement showcasing their agreement on a raft of issues during a visit by Russia's Vladimir Putin for the Winter Olympics. Mr Putin claims Western powers are using the Nato defence alliance to undermine Russia. It comes amid tensions over Ukraine, which he denies planning to invade. Some 100,000 Russian troops remain at the border with Ukraine, which is a former Soviet republic. Mr Putin, who has written that Russians and Ukrainians are "one nation", has demanded that Ukraine be barred from joining Nato. While the lengthy joint statement did not refer directly to Ukraine, the two countries accused Nato of espousing a Cold War ideology. Read more here
4th February 2022