NEWS
PSA, 2 other unions still to meet with CPO over 2020-2022 agreements
Salary-increase negotiations are ongoing between trade unions and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) for the 2020-2022 period, but over two months after a mandate from the Minister of Finance, talks with three unions have not yet begun. On December 11, CPO Commander Daryl Dindial told Newsday he had so far held meetings with the TT Police Service Social and Welfare Association, the TT Defence Force Pay Review Committee, the Prison Officers’ Association, TT Unified Teachers Association, the Amalgamated Workers Union, the Contractors and General Workers Union and National Union of General and Federated Workers. Read more here
Ricardo’s journey from football field to scholarship
While others buried themselves in books, scholarship winner Ricardo Jhilmit spent his afternoons immersed in football. Yet, when the results came in, Jhilmit delivered what his parents had hoped for—an Additional Scholarship in Creative Arts. Jhilmit transferred from Naparima College in San Fernando to Shiva Boys’ Hindu College because it was closer to his Penal Rock Road home. “It was the best decision I made because when I was attending Naps, I would wake up at 5 am and get home after 6 pm, so I had less time to study. Going to Shiva meant I was home much earlier, so every day I would use the extra time to play football and badminton,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC continues election screening on December 12
The United National Congress will continue screening on December 12 for five constituencies ahead of the general election, which is yet to be announced but is constitutionally due by the end of 2025. The second round of screening will be for the St Augustine seat, which is held by the party's North East Regional Representative Khadijah Ameen, and four People's National Movement (PNM)-held constituencies; Arima, Arouca/Maloney, D'Abadie/O'Meara and Lopinot/Bon Air West. Read more here
AG: Govt going to the drawing board with autonomy bills
Attorney General Reginald Armour says Government will need to revisit the Tobago autonomy bills after the Opposition’s rejection of the key Constitution Amendment (Tobago Self-Government) bill. The bill, which required a three-fifths majority to pass, failed after United National Congress members voted against it. The bill proposed changes to how the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) operates, granting it more administrative control and enhancing its ability to manage Tobago’s affairs. The second bill, the Tobago Island Government Bill, is now stalled, as it depends on the rejected bill to take effect. Read more here
BUSINESS
Arima's 'smart city' initiative first in Caribbean
Julian Belgrave, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) country representative, has said the Connected Arima initiative is the first of its kind in the West Indies and possibly Central America. He said there was interest in replicating the initiative in other Caribbean countries. Belgrave was addressing over 50 Arima businessmen at a consultation with the Arima local economic development unit and the office of the MP, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, the Arima Borough Corporation and the IDB. “This important initiative has the potential to transform businesses, individuals and general lives in Arima for the better. I see this as a part of the broader urban regeneration of Arima. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana being positioned as global leader in quality assurance
The newly commissioned Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) laboratory and administrative building is set to take local businesses to newer heights with enhanced capability brand development and certification. The US$12 million facility located at the Sophia Exhibition Centre was on Wednesday officially commissioned by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who during a ceremonial address stated that the facility will carry with it accreditation that allows local products to fit into international markets. He noted that the GNBS was among several key agencies that were necessary in the transformation, competitiveness and diversification of Guyana’s economy. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Syria rebel leader vows to shut down notorious Assad prisons
Syrian rebel forces have said they plan to close the notoriously harsh prisons run by ousted president Bashar al-Assad and hunt those involved in the killing or torture of detainees. Rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, also said he would dissolve the security forces of the former regime, in a statement seen by the Reuters news agency. Videos showing thousands of prisoners being freed from Saydnaya prison - referred to as a "human slaughterhouse" by rights groups - surfaced after the collapse of the Assad government on Sunday. Read more here
12th December 2024