NEWS
Cops urge Princes Town businessmen: Report cases of extortion
In a direct and proactive effort to quell what is a worrisome issue, officers from the Princes Town police station staged a walkabout in the community on November 7 where they spoke to businessmen and members of the public and encouraged to report incidences of extortion. The officers said that extortion refers to any act – whether written or verbal – of demanding money through threats or intimidation. Within recent times, police sources confirmed, there has been a rise in the number of reports of extortion across the country, so much so, that in certain police divisions, anti-extortion units have been formed to specifically deal with this type of crime. Read more here
Prisons to probe claim Hannah’s mom was raped while in custody
Hannah Muthura’s family is claiming, through their attorney Steffon Boodooram, that their mother, Alana, was raped while in custody for her daughter’s murder at the Women’s Prison, Golden Grove, Arouca. The matriarch died last week Friday while seeking treatment at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex after falling ill in prison. Alana and her husband, Andrew Mathura, were arrested and charged with the murder of their daughter Hannah on October 16. Hannah was 18 at the time of her death. Read more here
POLITICS
Attz: Trump presidency could affect Trinidad and Tobago in different ways
Economist Dr Marlene Attz said a Donald Trump presidency will likely have mixed effects on Trinidad and Tobago's economy – several positive and several negative – speaking to Newsday on November 6, the night after Trump's election victory. Attz said different factors could affect TT variously at a national, regional and international level. If Trump strengthens the US economy, Caribbean nations such as TT could benefit from a boost in their revenues from tourism and from remittances sent by their diaspora citizens in the US, she said. Read more here
Auditor General gets green light from Privy Council to pursue case against State
Embattled Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass has been given the green light to continue her lawsuit over a Cabinet-appointed probe into the handling of a misrepresentation of revenue in the national accounts. Five Law Lords of the Privy Council dismissed the appeal brought by Finance Minister Colm Imbert and the Cabinet after hearing submissions from attorneys for the State at the United Kingdom Supreme Court Building in London, England, yesterday morning. They spent almost two hours quizzing Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes over the merits of the appeal before they delivered an oral ruling after taking a short break. They did not solicit submissions from Ramdass’ lawyers, led by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, before giving their oral decision. Read more here
BUSINESS
Tobago airport set to open earlier than expected
The new terminal at ANR Robinson International Airport expansion project could be completed sooner than originally planned. Although the terminal was set to be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2025, National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco) chairman Herbert George now believes it could be finished earlier, possibly in the first part of that quarter. The billion-dollar project, constructed by China Railway Construction, is being managed by the Nidco. George has not committed to a specific date but agrees that there is noticeable advanced progress each week. Read more here
Tobago Chamber calls for more action on forex
Chairman of the Tobago arm of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams is calling on Finance Minister Colm Imbert to do more to address the difficulty in accessing foreign exchange, as Tobago businesses are reeling from the situation. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana anticipates working closely, enhancing cooperation with Trump-led gov’t – President Ali says
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana is looking forward to working closely with the incoming Donald Trump administration to further strengthen the existing robust ties with the US. The President made this announcement as part of his congratulatory message to Trump, who was elected the 47th President of the United States of America. Trump secured victory in the 2024 US presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. It was reported that the president-elect is swiftly moving forward with plans for his new administration. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli bombing puts ancient ruins at risk, archaeologists warn
For over two millennia, the Roman temples at Baalbek in eastern Lebanon have stood as some of the finest examples of Roman architecture anywhere in the world. On Wednesday, a car park just metres away from the Unesco World Heritage site was hit by an Israeli air strike. The attack, which also destroyed a centuries-old Ottoman building, highlighted what some archaeologists say is the risk of irreparable damage to historical sites across Lebanon from the current war between Israel and Hezbollah. Read more here
8th November 2024