NEWS
Show of Force
One day after a “hit list” of Rasta City gang members circulated on social media amidst talk of an impending bloody showdown with the rival Unruly ISIS gang, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon led a contingent of the top brass in national security on a walkabout yesterday in Laventille. The walkabout, which included visits to known Rasta City territory was meant to send a message to the criminals – the State security agencies are in charge. Read more here
Cussing UTT lecturer stressed by video leak
A University of T&T lecturer caught in a video using profanity towards his students was said to have been “only appealing to the students in the class to listen and take their studies for serious.” The 39-second video, which went viral over the past 24 hours on social media, showed the lecturer, dressed in a grey hoodies jacket, scolding the students using “strong profanity”. The man was yesterday identified as a former Physics lecturer who was based at the South campus for the past 13 years. Ironically, he was one of the lecturers whose contracts were terminated in the first phase of a restructuring exercise by the university. The video in question, however, was taken seven months ago. UTT management sources confirmed that the lecturer taught at the university but made it clear he was retrenched and not fired from the university over the said video. Read more here
Doctor’s dark side
The race-related post by Dr Dhelia Gabriel has brought forth other dark and disturbing accusations against her by her very own medical colleagues and a patient. Read more here
POLITICS
Obika mortified that Ministry cannot verify data
Opposition Senator Taharqa said he was “mortified” that the Energy Ministry cannot currently verify production data from oil and gas extraction companies. He was speaking yesterday as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) met with the Auditor General’s Department at the Parliament building, Port of Spain on the report for the period 2017. Read more here
Soca artiste Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc wins case against AG
The State has been ordered to pay financial compensation to soca artiste Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc after he emerged victorious in a civil suit filed against the Office of the Attorney General, claiming he was unlawfully assaulted by police during a fete at San Fernando Hill in 2010. Read more here
BUSINESS
The American factor
There are many good reasons why American companies want to do business in Trinidad and Tobago, and not just because of the weather and liming. “US companies see TT as positive because you have a stable democracy, you have rule of law, the same language, we have a roughly shared culture and time zone. All these things are good things so that’s why business operations and services are something that may take off in the near term,” says new economic and commercial officer at the US Embassy Matthew Ciesielski. Read more here
Scotia opens first local digital branch
For Scotiabank T&T Limited going digital is not a one business line initiatives but a cultural transformation designed to enhance customer experience. Ignacio Nacho Deschamps, Scotiabank’s Group head International Banking and Transformation, said as technology continues to advance customers expect the same seamless and simple experiences from their bank. Banking is adapting to meet these expectations he said at the official launch of the bank’s digital branch at Price Plaza, Chaguanas, yesterday. Read more here
Govt starts online building approvals
The Government is hoping that the introduction of an automated construction permit project will alleviate some of the stresses currently facing the construction industry, such as long lag times between the pre-construction and project completion phases. Read more here
REGIONAL
Anguish at Anchovy - student killed in freak accident at primary school
A pall of gloom is now hanging over the Anchovy Primary School in St James as staff and students try to come to grips with the tragic death of seven-year-old Easton Stapleton, Jr, who was killed on the school's compound by a car being driven by a teacher. The incident reportedly took place a few minutes after 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday when the grade two student, who resided in Belmont district, was struck down. The teacher seemingly lost control of the car while reversing, struck the youngster, then crashed into a wall. "Easton was a loving, playful, and happy student who was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that his classmates were well taken care of," said a grieving Veronica Collins, Stapleton's class teacher. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Pompeo: No sanctions relief for North Korea until complete denuclearization
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said there will be no sanctions relief for North Korea while it maintains nuclear weapons, contradicting North Korean state media who said it could take place "as progress is made." Pompeo made the statement during a news conference with the South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers in Seoul Thursday, 24 hours after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touched down in Pyongyang, triumphant after his meeting with US President Donald Trump. North Korean state media KCNA reported Wednesday that Trump had discussed lifting sanctions against Pyongyang during his talks with Kim in Singapore. Read more here
North Korea sanctions remain until complete denuclearisation, says US
14th June 2018