NEWS
President's Medal winner to sponsor 2 needy students: Scholar gives back
CAPE President's Medal winner (sciences) Teddy Mohammed Jnr wants to give back to TT by helping pupils less fortunate than himself, he told Newsday on December 5, minutes after his award was announced by the Ministry of Education. He is currently studying medicine at the University of the West Indies, Mt Hope. He vowed to help pupils at his Hillview College alma mater in accessing vision testing and eyeglasses and said he wished to help two needy pupils access learning resources. Asked how he felt to get the news, Mohammed said, "Currently, I think I am still in a lot of shock. Read more here
Businessman Chris Rajbally slain in his Range Rover
A San Fernando businessman was gunned down inside his vehicle on Thursday night. Chris Rajbally, owner of a pet store, was attempting to exit the parking lot at V's Casino at Union Hall, San Fernando, when a white Toyota Aqua blocked his pathway. At least two men exited from the Aqua and opened fire on Rajbally's Range Rover sports utility vehicle. The incident happened at around 11pm. Read more here
POLITICS
Labour group, MSJ support protest over $$ increase for PM, officials
Members of the Caribbean Labour Society (CLS) will protest outside the TT High Commission at Belgrave Square, London on December 6. In a statement issued on December 4, the CLS said this action was taking place in solidarity with workers in Trinidad and Tobago. The group added that it supports the positions taken by trade unions on issues such as the government's acceptance of the 120th Salaries Review Commission (SRC) report (which recommends salary increases for numerous public officials) and the state of industrial relations in TT. Read more here
Imbert: Overruns on ANR Robinson Airport at TT$16.9M
Finance Minister Colm Imbert yesterday admitted that the Government is paying more than expected for the new ANR Robinson International Airport, but he said it is nowhere near the half a billion dollars Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is alleging. Rather, it is only US$2.5 million (TT$16.9 million). Speaking at the post-Cabinet media conference at Whitehall, Port-of-Spain, Imbert said Persad-Bissessar’s comments on the project hinged on three main points; a cost overrun of TT$462 million, multiple instances of failure to meet specifications and building codes on the superstructure, and extensive delays. Addressing the media for the first time since the allegations were made on Monday, Imbert acknowledged that the original construction contract was US$128.7 million (TT$872 million), inclusive of provisional sums and contingencies. He also admitted the project is slightly behind schedule, as the completion date was January 2025 after COVID-19 delayed works which began in 2020. Read more here
BUSINESS
Cariri spotlights youth innovators
The innovation of young minds was at the forefront of Cariri’s annual PowerUp competition, which saw young visionaries present ideas to transform education and agriculture. The competition, sponsored by bmobile, was held at Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies. In a release on Thursday, Cariri said this year’s competition highlighted its 2024 Virtual Innovation Nation Training Camp which taught over 3,500 students skills in coding, engineering and business development. Read more here
CAF lends T&T US$250M for roads, schools
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has approved US$250 million in financing to support two critical resilience and sustainability initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago—resilient road infrastructure and resilient educational infrastructure. In a news release, CAF was said that both programmes are focused on sustainable development and building resilience to the effects of climate change. CAF’s executive president, Sergio Díaz-Granados, said, “CAF has a longstanding, fruitful partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and we stand ready to support the nation’s thrust towards building resilience, which are key elements of these programmes. This new investment of US$250 million will enhance climate resilient infrastructure and strengthen the teaching of Spanish as a first foreign language. We are confident this will lay the foundation for a more robust education system that prepares students to be global citizens." Read more here
REGIONAL
Economic model must be established to value biodiversity, standing forests
THE establishment of an economic model is paramount to ensure that countries like Guyana are able to acquire adequate financial support to not just maintain its crucial biodiversity and standing forests but also enhance the lives of its people, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said. Dr. Ali, who has been Guyana’s voice on the international stage for this and other crucial issues, was awarded by Wilson Center’s Latin America Programme for his efforts in environmental and biodiversity sustainability as well as climate action.
Guyana has been a vocal advocate for the establishment of a global market mechanism to enhance the value of carbon credits, and leverage them as a significant revenue source. This call is rooted in the country’s proactive efforts to monetise its vast forest resources, which serve as vital carbon sinks, while promoting sustainable development and combating climate change. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump tariff threat puts a strain on Canada-Mexico ties
Canada is being accused of throwing Mexico under the bus amid a tariff threat ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term in the White House. Last week, Trump threatened he would impose a blanket 25% tariff on both countries when he takes office in January unless they secured their shared borders with the US. Canadian officials were quick to distance their country's border issues from those of Mexico, arguing that drug smuggling and unlawful crossings at the southern border were much higher, and that Mexico was serving as a "back door" in North America for Chinese investment. Those remarks have not gone unnoticed in Mexico. Read more here
6th December 2024