NEWS
Lawyers write to Nat Sec Minister, UNHCR on behalf of migrants
Attorneys representing 37 immigrants who are being kept at the Chaguaramas Heliport are expected to write to regional and government officials seeking permission for them to stay in TT pending guidance from regional bodies. The migrants which consists of 20 children and 17 adults were found aboard a vessel approaching TT's south coast on Saturday night. A media release from the coast guard reported that sailors attempting to stop the boat from escaping shot at their engines. Read more here
Hearse bursts into flames while carrying body to funeral
A hearse belonging to Dennie’s Funeral Home caught afire while carrying a body to his funeral along the North Coast Road yesterday. It was on its way to the funeral of Cyril Valentine in Las Cuevas due to start at 3 pm. Valentine was to be buried at the La Fillette Cemetary. According to a police report officers from the San Juan Fire Station received a report at 1 pm that the hearse was on fire in the vicinity of Maracas. Read more here
POLITICS
Over 500 cops investigated by PSB in last 4 years
Over the past four years, the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) conducted investigations into the conduct of almost 500 police officers across Trinidad and Tobago. This was revealed by Acting Snr Supt Suzette Martin head of the PSB during a joint select committee meeting on the performance of the police service on Wednesday. Read more here
Minister says absent students will be referred to SSD
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadbsy-Dolly says all students who fail to return to school will be referred to the Student Support Services Division to determine the reason for their non-attendance. She was responding to concerns from the general secretary of the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association Kady Beckles that some students have been forced to drop out of school so that they could work to assist their struggling parents. Minister Gadsby-Dolly said, “All students who are absent from school without excuse for extended periods are referred to the Student Support Services Division. This issue, which predates COVID, is a difficult one to solve in some cases, as the parent may not have provided the school with current contact information.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Why culture of cheating costs businesses millions
Thousands of businesses in Trinidad and Tobago are missing out on millions in potential sales and investment by shortsightedly skipping out on taxes and national insurance, and generally cheating the rules. The problem though is not just that this is unethical and illegal, it is also against the selfish self-interest of those same people. There’s no point , though, in scolding people to obey the rules. Any attempt will be generally ignored or mildly mocked. Read more here
Central Bank: Higher inflation a challenge
The Central Bank warned yesterday that higher prices, particularly imported inflation, will pose a challenge to the economy in 2022. In outlining the outlook for this year in its January Economic Bulletin, the Central Bank said: “The international shortage of shipping containers, higher shipping costs (freight and insurance) are expected to persist into the early months of 2022, alongside some pressure on prices of international agricultural commodities. “The widely expected rise in interest rates in the US and other areas will also feature into the calibration of domestic monetary policy and affect the public sector debt dynamics.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Several Region One communities to get first-time electricity
Hundreds of residents of Wauna, Tobago, Parakese and Yarakita, Region One, are set to receive electricity for the first time this year, as the sum of $85 million has been approved for the provision of electricity distribution networks in Mabaruma. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, M.P, made this announcement during the consideration of budget estimates on Wednesday. He said that the sum caters for the expansion of the existing electricity distribution network at Mabaruma. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine tensions: Russia begins military drills with Belarus
Russia and Belarus have started 10 days of joint military drills amid ongoing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has a long border with Ukraine. France called the drills - believed to be Russia's biggest deployment to Belarus since the Cold War - a "violent gesture". Ukraine says they amount to "psychological pressure". UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Europe faces its biggest security crisis in decades. Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine despite massing more than 100,000 troops at the border. Read more here
10th February 2022