NEWS
Drone restrictions in effect for Carnival
As Trinidad and Tobago gears up for the vibrant celebrations of Carnival 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a firm reminder to all drone operators that specific no-fly zones will be enforced to ensure public safety and smooth aerial operations. In a statement on February 15, the police advised of the designated no-fly zones ahead of Sunday’s Panorama semifinals and for the remainder of the Carnival season until March 8. Restricted airspaces include Port of Spain, Chaguaramas, Caroni, Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Point Fortin and Galeota. Read more here
Central Bank to unveil new $100 bill with steelpan in Sept
Economist Dr Vaalmikki Arjoon says the Central Bank’s decision to update the $100 banknote reflects a commitment to ensuring the reliability of the currency. His comments came in wake of the bank announcing over the weekend that the newly designed $100 bill, which will be in circulation from September, will feature the steelpan instead of the three ships of Christopher Columbus. Arjoon said the integrity of the currency is vital for economic stability. “When consumers trust that their money is genuine and challenging to counterfeit, they are more likely to engage in everyday transactions, thereby supporting economic activity. This confidence is essential for an economy to thrive, where both consumers and businesses feel secure in their financial transactions,” he explained. Read more here
POLITICS
Moonilal demands answers over missing regiment ammo
Oropouche East MP and shadow minister of National Security Dr. Roodal Moonilal wants answers on the disappearance of 25,000 rounds of ammunition from the Regiment (TTR), calling the situation a glaring example of national security mismanagement under Minister Fitzgerald Hinds. In a strongly-worded statement, Moonilal said he initially dismissed the story as fake until he read an official "special orders" memorandum from the commanding officer of the Regiment. He said this exposed the minister’s incompetence but also reflected poorly on the Prime Minister, who chairs the National Security Council. Read more here
Fireworks ahead of Paray’s UNC screening
“Fireworks” started even before today’s United National Congress screening of so-called dissident Mayaro MP Rushton Paray, by members of the party’s executive whom he fought in last year’s internal polls. Paray’s claimed he ’s rejected various proposals from “intermediaries,” including a Senate seat if he’d step aside, but UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and MP Barry Padarath have called him out to reveal who made the proposals. “No one was authorised by myself or the party to have any such discussions with Paray ... Call their names, provide the evidence!” Persad-Bissessar said yesterday in response to Paray’s claims. Both the UNC and the People’s National Movement (PNM) are doing screening today. Read more here
BUSINESS
US$6m facility for Chaguanas
Advensus, a Dominican Republic contact centre and business process outsourcing (BPO) services company, has announced the launch of its US$6 million delivery facility in Chaguanas. This new, state-of-the-art facility aims to tap into the high-quality workforce available in the country, the company says. It will be a 4,000-square-metre facility with three floors with a maximum capacity of 800 workstations. Projected job creation is 1,000 in 18 months, it said. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana hoping for ‘greater appetite’ for energy projects – President Ali
WITH chances of a more favourable climate for energy investments, Guyana is optimistic that there will be a greater appetite for financing energy projects. In a recent engagement, Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali discussed the evolving landscape of energy projects, the opportunities for local and regional investments and the significant economic benefits that Guyana stands to gain through strategic partnerships and enhanced infrastructure. “We hope that there will be greater appetite for lending for energy projects and the cost of that financing will be more manageable because the cost was ramping up.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms
UK Special Forces command rejected resettlement applications from more than 2,000 Afghan commandos who had shown credible evidence of service in units that fought alongside the SAS and SBS, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed for the first time. UK Special Forces officers appear to have rejected every application from a former Afghan commando referred to them for sponsorship, despite the Afghan units having fought with the British on life-threatening missions against the Taliban. The MoD had previously denied there was a blanket policy to reject members of the units - known as the Triples - but the BBC has not been able to find any evidence that UK Special Forces (UKSF) supported any resettlement applications. Read more here
17th February 2025