Daily Brief - Friday 4th March, 2022

NEWS

Kussie's nightmare: Identifying diver husband’s body

The widow of diver Rishi Nagessar identified his body on Thursday morning at the Forensic Sciences Centre (FSC), St James. Vanessa Kussie was accompanied by one of her sons and relatives Angi Benjamin and Allan Seepersad, who arrived at the FSC shortly after 9 am and were called inside around 11.45 am. As she left the building, around 12.45 pm, Kussie was overcome with grief, making it difficult for her to walk. She did not speak with the media and was quickly taken to a vehicle. Read more here

TCL workers demand outstanding COLA payments from company

Six years have passed and workers from Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) say they have not been paid Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and other benefits since 2015. Around 6 am, about 40 workers led by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union gathered in the car park of TCL compound at Claxton Bay, hoping to get an update on their outstanding benefits. The gathering did not hamper operations at the company. Branch Secretary of the OWTU Akini Solomon told Guardian Media that over 100 retirees and 200 permanent and casual workers are owed since 2015. Read more here

 

POLITICS

Young gives committee 45 days to probe Paria tragedy

Energy Minister Stuart Young named three members of the five-member committee set up to investigate the tragic deaths of four divers in an undersea oil pipeline at Paria Fuel Trading Co, Pointe-a-Pierre on February 27. They are attorney Shiv Sharma (chairman), engineer Eugene Tiah and subsea specialist Gregory Wilson. Energy companies BP and Shell will nominate two more. Read more here

Gopee-Scoon: Caricom stands with Ukraine

The lone Trinidadian living in war-torn Ukraine is now safe while Caricvon stands fully behind Ukraine, which is currently under siege by Russia. Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Paula Gopee-Scoon on Thursday said the Trinidadian man and his Ukrainian wife were given safe passage to Hungary and were making their way to their final destination. “The population would know that in an international crisis as we have today, the first responsibilities of any ministry with responsibility for Foreign Affairs is to inquire immediately so, into the safety of its national,” Gopee-Scoon said. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

C&W Communications reduces roaming rates for Caricom

C&W Communications has announced a new suite of roaming rates in support of an intra-Caricom agreement for lower charges. C&W, the operator of Flow, Flow Business and C&W Business, said its new plans include "radically reduced rates that will see Caribbean nationals paying far less for inter-regional connections than ever before." “Flow is proud to make a concrete step towards answering the call of Caricom and its citizens to reduce mobile roaming charges in our region and the signing of the Declaration of St George’s is an excellent first step in establishing a tangible framework,” said Kurleigh Prescod, VP, C&W Communications, South Caribbean. Read more here

Why the Ukrainian war matters to all of us

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has sent shockwaves around the world. It is, after all, war on European soil, on a scale now seen since 1945 and involves the largest military in Europe and one of the largest countries on the continent. It is also a war among the Slavic people and the commentators have wasted no time in reminding the western world that these Ukrainians are people who look like them and must be protected from the invaders. Read more here

 

REGIONAL

Sugar can be sweet again

President, Dr Irfaan Ali and President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei Falla have committed to strengthening bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two counties and have discussed issues of trade, investment, climate change and agriculture, in particular, assisting Guyana with revitalisation of the sugar industry. According to a joint statement, the two Presidents shared the aspirations of both countries to develop broad and effective cooperation for mutual benefit, including in the areas of security, climate change, agriculture and food security. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

Ukraine nuclear plant: Russia in control after shelling

Russia has taken control of a nuclear power station in Ukraine after it was hit by shelling. A fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - the largest in Europe - and Ukraine said it was shelled by Russian troops. Authorities say the facility is now safe and radiation levels are normal. World leaders have accused Russia of endangering the safety of an entire continent, and Ukraine's president accused Russia of "nuclear terror". US President Joe Biden urged Moscow to stop its military activities around the site, while Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the "horrific attacks" from Russia "must cease immediately". UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the "reckless" attack could "directly threaten the safety of all of Europe". All three leaders spoke to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone. Read more here

4th March 2022

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