NEWS
Freeport home owner to get $3.3m from WASA
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was ordered to compensate a Freeport home owner for a leaking underground pipeline which severely damaged his home, causing the foundation to weaken and placing the house in jeopardy. On July 15, Master Sherlanne Pierre ordered WASA to compensate Balchan Gopie for the damage to his home which, he said, was a hazard to his life and safety. Gopie will receive $3.3 million, plus interest. In April 2018, Gopie, of Chickland Village, was successful in his lawsuit against WASA for negligence. The matter was sent to a master to assess compensation. Read more here
Valencia couple saves hundreds of abused and abandoned animals
Animals tend to bring a great deal of joy to humans, yet they do not all receive the same love they selflessly give. Over the years, animal rescuers Clifford Tardieu and his wife, Sharon Tardieu, have committed themselves to improving the lives of those who have been abandoned, abused, and forgotten through their animal shelter, Tardieu’s Kitten & Puppy Sanctuary. The Tardieus have been rescuing animals since 1991, when they lived in St Maarten, and continued the service when they moved to Trinidad. “I’ve been doing this for many, many years, and then when Sharon and I met in St Maarten, we rescued our first dog together, and then we started to do a lot of rescues with other animals, other puppies. Trinidad is the first place that, when we came back to live here in ‘97, it was the place where we started to do cats, and we only had about four or five of our own cats together.” Read more here
POLITICS
Roberts: PM subverting tender process for refinery
UNC Senator Anil Roberts has castigated the Prime Minister for meeting with businessman Indian businessman Naveen Jindal of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd while the bidding process for the now defunct Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre was ongoing. Speaking during the UNC’s media briefing in Chaguanas on July 21, Roberts questioned the timing of the decision to sell the refinery. “As he (Dr Rowley) removed disposal of assets from under the watchful eyes of the procurement regulator, he decides he wants to sell your refinery. It belongs to you. Read more here
BUSINESS
CSO reports higher unemployment rate
Professor of Economics at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Agustine Roger Hosein is “concerned” about the rising unemployment in T&T. The latest Central Statistical Office (CSO) data shows that 5.4 per cent of the population was unemployed in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 4.1 per cent for the last quarter of 2023. “When you look at the updated figures (Quarter 1 of 2024) you would see that the number of people employed has fallen. The number of people unemployed is rising. The labour force participation rate has fallen. Therefore, there is cause for concern,” he told the Business Guardian. The CSO released its latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) Bulletin on July 9. Read more here
Leon no longer CDB president
The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) yesterday confirmed that it had concluded the “internal administrative process” involving its president, Dr Hyginus Leon, and that he “has ceased to hold the office of the President of the Bank”. In a four paragraph statement, the CDB said that its board of governors had taken note of the “closure of the internal administrative process” involving the St Lucian-born economist and that “in accordance with the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Development Bank, the Vice President (Operations), Mr Isaac Solomon, will continue to exercise the authority and perform the functions of President until a new President is elected”. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali pledges $2M to SDA health movement
President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday pledged a $2 million donation to the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) health fair and business expo. The Head of State made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the health fair held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre and while addressing the mammoth gathering of religious leaders and patrons, he highlighted the importance of hosting unifying events with a focus on prioritising the body’s well-being, including physical, mental, and spiritual health. “I want to extend our services to the church because I believe that your work is evidence of the type of environment we want to create in service to people,” President Ali said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
What Biden quitting means for Harris, the Democrats and Trump
Joe Biden has turned the US election on its head. After fiercely insisting for weeks that he would remain the Democratic nominee for president, he has bowed to pressure and dropped out of the race. Here's what it means for Vice-President Kamala Harris, for the Democrats more broadly and for Donald Trump. Read more here
22nd July 2024