NEWS
Mother of suicide victim wants help
Four months after 33-year-old Raquel Madoo, a mother of one who chose death over a life of torture by drinking poison, her mother, Deomattee, is pleading for assistance. Madoo drank Gramoxone on March 9, at her Felicity home, shortly after she was allegedly beaten by a relative, who is a member of the protective services. Speaking to Newsday on Sunday, Deomattee said the maintenance matter is before the court, and since Madoo’s death, life has been challenging. “I have my grand-daughter here with me and to date her father has not been paying any money to help take care of her. I am now faced with her school booklist and she is in need of a lot of other things for which I need the support. It is getting harder every day.” Read more here
‘Japs’ found murdered in Woodland
Four months after his father suffered a fatal heart attack, a 24-year-old man was found dead near his Woodland home yesterday with chop wounds to his head. Relatives of Lutchman “Japs” Ramcharan, an electrician/labourer, were clueless as to why someone would want to kill him. His body was found under a shed not far from the early childhood and primary schools along the La Fortune Road. Read more here
Driver survives crash, then killed in hit-and-run
Javed Hassanali was killed in a road accident yesterday. Hassanali was driving a black Toyota Hilux around San Fernando Bypass when he lost control of the vehicle, which mounted the median and ended up in an embankment. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: New CoP by next month
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley promised a new Commissioner of Police (CoP) by Independence Day, August 31, as he addressed the General Council of the People’s National Movement (PNM) at Balisier House, Port of Spain, on Saturday. The promise is in stark contrast to the huge gulf between the Government and Opposition in the Lower House where the former were content to reject the nominees for the post so far on the grounds of the selection process being flawed, but with the PM now possibly indicating a change of heart. Read more here
New birthing beds for Sando hospital
New birthing beds have been ordered for the San Fernando General Hospital months after the Ministry of Health completed upgrades on a temporary labour suite. This was revealed by acting chief executive officer of the South West Regional Health Authority Dr Albert Persaud during an exclusive interview with the T&T Guardian. Asked to comment on overcrowding issues and bed shortages at the hospital Persaud said new beds have been ordered for the ward. Read more here
‘Griffith the choice for top cop’
From captain to commissioner. Gary Griffith, 53, the man who senior Government sources yesterday confirmed is the choice for Police Commissioner, was uncharacteristically quiet when the Sunday Express contacted him. Read more here
BUSINESS
FirstCaribbean wins Innovative Bank Award
Less than two months after releasing enhancements to its Mobile App and Online Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean has been named the Most Innovative Bank in the region at the prestigious World Finance Banking Awards presented by UK-based World Finance Magazine. The bank is the only Caribbean-based bank to have been recognised at this year’s event. “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award,” said Trevor Torzsas, the bank’s Managing Director, Cards and Customer Relationship Management. Read more here
Addressing NIF investor questions
With the ongoing National Investment Fund Holding Company Ltd’s (NIF) Initial Public Offering (IPO), this week we at Bourse address some investor questions. As mentioned in our previous article titled ‘Investing in NIF bonds’, the NIF is issuing bonds in three tranches—a five-year bond (coupon 4.5 per cent), a 12-year bond (coupon 5.7 per cent) and a 20-year bond (coupon 6.6 per cent). Read more here
REGIONAL
Is It Worth It? - PNP Questions Whether Country Getting Value For Money From SOE
The parliamentary Opposition is questioning whether the state of public emergency imposed in St James since January is providing value for money. Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips, who raised the issue yesterday, stressed that taxpayers were paying $30.6 million per month - or just over $210 million - for the seven-month period on the police side of the operations. Despite this, Phillips noted that only 138, or five per cent, of the 2,672 persons detained since the operations began in January have been charged with any criminal offence, including 20 gang members. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump tweets explosive threat to Iran
President Donald Trump issued a furious, all-caps challenge to the Iranian regime late Sunday night, warning that any threats to the US would be met with unspecified dire consequences. The tirade signaled an immediate escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran, andcapped a weekend of angry tweets by the President on the Russia investigation and the legal problems facing his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen. "To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE," Trump tweeted after returning to the White House from a weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. "WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!" Read more here
Toronto shooting: Deadly attack in Greektown district
23rd July 2018