NEWS
India donates 19,000kgs of rice to Trinidad and Tobago
Hours after 100 tonnes of Guyana-sourced rice seeds were distributed to farmers, the Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Ministry has received 19,000 kilos of rice and 12,500 litres of edible oils from India to be distributed to vulnerable families nationwide. Sourced from the Haryana State Co-operative Supply & Marketing Federation Ltd (HAFED), the donation comes after a business delegation led by then HAFED chairman Kailash Bhagat came to TT in June 2024. At the handover ceremony at the ministry’s head office on May 21, Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram welcomed the donation, saying the ministry would embark on a collaborative strategy to ensure the products were distributed to families experiencing significant food insecurity. Read more here
Tax, national insurance amnesty extended to August 2
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo has announced an extension of the Tax and National Insurance Amnesty to August 2. In a statement issued by the ministry on May 21, Tancoo said the extension was authorised through the necessary orders published in legal notices 211, 212, 213, 214 and 215 of 2025. He reminded the population the tax amnesty covered penalties and interest in relation to certain taxes up to the year of income ending December 31, 2023. Read more here
POLITICS
Farley, Morris spar over Tobago autonomy motion
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Minority Leader Kelvon Morris yesterday engaged in a war of words over a motion on autonomy scheduled for debate during today’s plenary sitting. In a Facebook Live last evening, Augustine shut down Morris’ suggestions that the Tobago autonomy motion is deceptive, insisting there’s nothing to hide. “There is, and I’m committing one time before I transmit the supporting policy paper to the Prime Minister, I will publish that policy paper publicly. So everybody, all Tobagonians, can see that policy paper,” Augustine said. “If you don’t want to come tomorrow (today) to the assembly, stay home. That’s up to you, but I will not be withdrawing the motion.” Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA McAL CEO: Suspending dividend will drive future growth
ANSA McAL Group CEO, Anthony Sabga III, says he has absolutely no regrets at the group’s decision to suspend its dividends for three years in order to reallocate capital to fund future acquisitions, as well as continue investing in technology and automation to drive efficiencies and optimise supply chains. Speaking to the Business Guardian, Sabga said the suspension of dividends is going to correlate with very substantial growth and it is going to ensure the delivery of future prosperity. “The reallocation of resources to support the investment horizon and also the future sustainable delivery of income and dividends is not something we’re rethinking and not something that we’re regretting,” Sabga said. Read more here
REGIONAL
MP office overhaul
The time has come for Jamaica to explore an overhaul of the office of member of parliament (MP), which should include providing them with additional taxpayer-funded resources to help with national development, the country’s two main political parties have suggested. There are 63 elected MPs in the Lower House of the Jamaican Parliament. Dr Horace Chang, a five-term MP for St James North West and general secretary of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), disclosed during a Gleaner Editors’ Forum that, at present, MPs get a driver “who is underpaid” and a secretary, but no office, an arrangement he said dates back to the country’s colonial past. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Gazans fear shutdown of water plants as Israel widens offensive
Chronic shortages of water in Gaza are worsening as Israel's expanding military offensive causes new waves of displacement - and desalination and hygiene plants are running out of fuel. The UN's humanitarian office has said its partners are warning that, without immediate fuel deliveries, a full shutdown of water and sanitation facilities is possible by the end of the week. Days after Israel imposed its blockade on aid in early March - which is only now being eased - it also cut off power lines to the main desalination plants - a vital source of water for Gazans. Read more here
22nd May 2025