NEWS
Businessman Sachel Kungebeharry's mother begs kidnappers: Give me back my son
The mother of a Cunupia businessman who was kidnapped over a week ago, is pleading with those involved, to return him alive to his family. Three policemen are in custody assisting investigators with the case. A marked police vehicle has also been impounded. Sitting in her Cunupia home on Thursday, Lyncia Hansranah made a heartfelt appeal to those responsible for taking away her son Sachel Kungebeharry, a used car dealer. Read more here
Baby suffers broken rib during attack
The grandfather of the baby who was brutally beaten and later rescued by police from a Claxton Bay home, is now demanding answers from the Children’s Authority. He yesterday questioned why the child was removed from his care and sent to live with a relative on the Marabella Trainline, where she endured a vicious beating that left her with a broken rib, blue-blackened eyes, cuts on her hands, and a scorch mark on her leg from an iron. Three people are now in police custody, one of whom has said the baby was demon-possessed. Read more here
POLITICS
Al-Rawi defends wage increase for public sector workers
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi says the five per cent wage offer is not something which is being imposed on public sector workers. He also welcomed an increase in the minimum wage for public sector workers as announced in the 2024/2025 budget. Al-Rawi welcomed the benefit this increase will have on workers who fall under his ministry such as those in the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep). Read more here
Kamla to reply to Imbert’s budget today
For the people who have been “abandoned” by the People’s National Movement (PNM). That’s how Opposition United National Congress (UNC) officials have described the reply that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will deliver today to Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s 2025 Budget. Persad-Bissessar will speak from 10 am. She has equal speaking time as Imbert had on Monday, when he delivered his 178-page budget speech in five hours and 11 minutes. In an immediate response on Monday, Persad-Bissessar had labelled the budget “a multi-hour eulogy for the PNM Government’s decade of destruction...a ten-year legacy of banditry, broken promises and betrayal.” Read more here
BUSINESS
39 Tobagonians get micro, small business grants
Thirty-Nine people received grants from the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service as part of that ministry's collaboration with the National Entrepreneurship Development Company (Nedco). The grants were distributed during a ceremony on October 2 at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort. At the ceremony, Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings said these grants were proof of government's investment in the nation's youth. The 39 applicants are micro and small business (MSB) operators. Read more here
Digicel gives up e-money issuer licence
MYCASH (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd, a subsidiary of Digicel, confirmed yesterday that it had “voluntarily” surrendered its provisional registration as an e-money issuer in this country. Digicel made the statement to the Express in response to a release from the Central Bank which announced the revocation of MyCash’s provisional e-money issuer licence. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana eyes gas exploration, shared infrastructure with Suriname
Guyana is keen on perusing a joint natural gas development and shared infrastructure with its eastern continental neighbour Suriname, as the country is set to unlock a new potential for offshore oil and gas development. This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice-President. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. “We are looking forward to working with Suriname on synergies,” Dr. Jagdeo told reporters on Thursday at a press conference at the PPP’s Freedom House, Georgetown headquarters. This week, a staggering US$10.5 billion was invested in Suriname’s Block 58 oil and gas project. The total recoverable resources of the Sapakara and Krabdagu fields, called “Gran Morgu,” are expected to exceed 700 million barrels. TotalEnergies and APA intend to develop these fields. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
India government says criminalising marital rape 'excessively harsh'
The Indian government has opposed petitions in the top court that seek criminalisation of marital rape, saying it would be "excessively harsh". The federal home ministry told the Supreme Court that "a man does not have a fundamental right" to force sex on his wife, but there were enough laws to protect married women against sexual violence. The top court is hearing petitions seeking to amend a British-era law that says a man cannot be prosecuted for rape within marriage. Violence within marriage is rampant in India - according to a recent government survey, one in 25 women have faced sexual violence from their husbands. Read more here
4th October 2024