NEWS
Teen raped in cemetery exorcism
A Central man and his wife were granted bail yesterday, after they were charged in relation to the rape of the woman’s relative and the subsequent abortion of the man’s child. According to the charges, the man, who claimed to be a spiritual advisor, suggested that the girl’s deceased father’s spirit was haunting her and she needed to get it exorcised. The girl was sixteen at that time. The way he suggested this be done was through sexual penetration. The first incident reportedly took place at a cemetery in Caroni, after the child was made to write the name of her deceased father on a candle before she was assaulted on top a grave. The man reportedly claimed that there were other spirits tormenting the child and those also needed to be dealt with. The 67-year-old man allegedly convinced the 58-year-old woman, the teen’s grandmother, that in order to rid the teen of these further evil spirits, he needed to perform more rituals. The woman, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, is alleged to have allowed it, leading to the child being raped on more than one occasion. Read more here
POLITICS
Indarsingh promises to be impartial as Industrial Court judge
Former UNC Couva South MP and trade unionist Rudranath Indarsingh has promised to be impartial in his new role as an Industrial Court judge. Indarsingh made this promise after a special sitting of the court at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando to mark the start of its 2025-2026 term. He served as Couva South MP from May 28, 2010- March 18, 2025. Read more here
Govt to downsize COP30 delegation
Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh, who holds the responsibility for the environment, will lead this country’s delegation to the 30th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP30) pending the approval of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. However, he revealed the Trinidad and Tobago contingent will be smaller in size. Guardian Media has learnt that T&T’s longstanding lead climate negotiator and head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements at the ministry, Kishan Kumarsingh, will not head this country’s delegation going forward. It is understood that Kumarsingh learnt of the news during a meeting on Tuesday, which he attended virtually as he is recovering this week from illness. Read more here
BUSINESS
Wowing them back to the office
Once accepted as grey and emotionally flat places, modern offices today are expected to be lively and suggestive spaces that energise the inner life of employees. The business rationale driving the trend is hard to refute: making the office a more attractive place not only delivers recruitment and retention advantages, but it also helps employers create a central space. However, there is certainly work to be done. A recent UK survey found just 11 per cent of employees "highly satisfied" with their workplace design, while a pre-pandemic US survey reported only 28 per cent of employees to be enamoured of their open plan offices. Read more here
Only 4 bids for 26 blocks
Despite a three-month extension, Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025 Deepwater Competitive Bidding Round attracted only four bids for four of the 26 blocks on offer. The round included 13 blocks carried over from the 2021 bidding round, which also struggled to attract investors that year. Still, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Ernesto Kesar described the bid rounds as a success. The 2025 round, which officially closed yesterday, yielded results that Kesar said he was pleased and encouraged by. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali advocates multi-crop model, encourages citrus alongside sugarcane
President Irfaan Ali has called on private cane farmers in the Skeldon, Upper Corentyne area to significantly ramp up agricultural production and fully utilise their land holdings as he cautioned that ongoing government investments in infrastructure must be matched by tangible increases in productivity. Speaking directly to a gathering of farmers and GuySuCo officials on Wednesday, President Ali emphasised the importance of linking state support to results on the ground. “We can’t have people holding on to land while the government is making heavy investments in drainage, irrigation, and infrastructure. All of this must be tied to production and productivity. That is how we expand business opportunities, create jobs, and grow the economy,” he said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli tanks push into major Gaza City residential area
Local residents and eyewitnesses say dozens of Israeli tanks and military vehicles have pushed into a major residential district of Gaza City, on the second day of Israel's ground offensive aimed at occupying the area. Video footage shows tanks, bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers moving on the edges of Sheikh Radwan, in northern Gaza City. Thick clouds of smoke can be seen as Israeli forces fire artillery shells and smoke bombs to cover their advance. The Sheikh Radwan district was home to tens of thousands of people before the war and is considered one of the city's most densely populated areas. Israel says the aim of its Gaza City offensive is to free hostages held by Hamas and defeat up to 3,000 fighters in what it describes as the group's "last stronghold" - but the operation has drawn widespread international condemnation. Read more here
18th September 2025