NEWS
Solomon Hochoy Highway gets extra lanes in Central
The Ministry of Works and Transport has embarked on a new initiative to use the median between the north- and south-bound lanes of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway to add lanes as part of its traffic-alleviation programme. The project, which will see three instead of two lanes on each side of the highway, is expected to be completed within the next four months, weather permitting. It has a $65 million cost attached for two packages of works awarded. The first, which has already started from Chaguanas to Brentwood Mall, is being undertaken by Junior Sammy Construction. On completion of that package, Seeraram Brothers will continue with the second leg from Brentwood Mall to the Chase Village Interchange. Read more here
Murder toll jumps to 13:Man killed after working on Carnival booth at Savannah
With only seven days into 2024, four unrelated murders between Saturday evening and yesterday afternoon have pushed the murder toll to 13. In the latest incident of violence, a 26-year-old loader was gunned down after working on Carnival booths around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain yesterday. Police said Akeil Archer was in the tray of a brown Mazda T3500 truck on a paved area near the Paddock when a white four door pick up truck drove in the path of the vehicle blocking it. Gunmen got out of the white truck as Archer jumped out of the tray and ran to a grassy area nearby. He was chased and shot by the gunmen who got back in their vehicle and sped off. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: New school term 'marred' by Education Ministry's mismanagement
Opposition MP for Tabaquite Anita Haynes-Alleyne called on the Ministry of Education (MoE) to address “critical issues” that crossed over into the new year causing stakeholders to publicly display their frustrations. In a statement on Sunday, referring to media reports of parents keeping children at home at St Therese and Poole RC Schools in Rio Claro, and protests at St Dominic’s RC, Penal, Haynes-Alleyne said the start of the new school term – which began January 2 – was “marred by instances of mismanagement and disregard by the MoE.” Read more here
Sinanan: Ask AG about Caribbean ferry
After asking for time to respond to an announcement by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali that his country formed a company with Barbados and T&T on January 4 to establish a regional ferry system, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan shirked responsibility, pointing to the Office of the Attorney General. Sinanan was speaking during a media tour of the construction of additional lanes northbound and southbound along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway between Chaguanas and Chase Village, on Sunday. On Friday, Ali said the company had already been formed the day prior. When contacted on Saturday, Sinanan told Guardian Media he was gathering information on the subject and would respond at the tour. Read more here
BUSINESS
‘18 new SME listings planned by year end’
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) is targeting the listing of 20 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) on the local stock market by the end of 2024. That’s the aim vocalised by Chief Executive Officer of the TTSE, Eva Mitchell, following the following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the TTSE and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) on Friday. She is hopeful the partnership would vastly increase the number of listed companies on the stock exchange by the end of the year. “We at the Stock Exchange have been working really aggressively on building out our SME market. We’ve done a lot of positive changes. Read more here
737 Max under scrutiny
Boeing faces new scrutiny about the safety of its best-selling plane after federal officials announced the temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 Max planes on Saturday, following a harrowing flight in which an Alaska Airlines jetliner was left with a gaping hole in its side. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was requiring immediate inspections of some Max 9 planes operated by US airlines or flown in the United States by foreign carriers. The FAA’s emergency order, which it said will affect about 171 planes worldwide, is the latest blow to Boeing over the Max line-up of jets, which were involved in two deadly crashes shortly after their debut. Read more here
REGIONAL
Sod turned for modern US$161M New Amsterdam hospital
Set to be equipped with all modern facilities to conduct transplants and other major surgeries, the modern Level Five hospital in New Amsterdam, Region Six, will soon be available to residents, as construction will commence soon given that the sod was turned for the medical institution on Sunday. Addressing a mammoth gathering of citizens, healthcare workers and regional officials, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, said that the US$161 million hospital will be a major hub linking both the regional and countrywide healthcare facilities. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
TB Joshua: Megachurch leader raped and tortured worshippers, BBC finds
Evidence of widespread abuse and torture by the founder of one of the world's biggest Christian evangelical churches has been uncovered by the BBC. Dozens of ex-Synagogue Church of all Nations members - five British - allege atrocities, including rape and forced abortions, by Nigeria's late TB Joshua. The allegations of abuse in a secretive Lagos compound span almost 20 years. The Synagogue Church of All Nations did not respond to the allegations but said previous claims have been unfounded. TB Joshua, who died in 2021, was a charismatic and hugely successful preacher and televangelist who had an immense global following. Read more here
8th January 2024