NEWS
Morvant man shot dead outside home
Police are investigating the murder of a 42-year-old Morvant man who was shot dead while standing outside his home on Tuesday night. Police said Cepep supervisor Shawn Alleyne aka 'Pablo' was standing outside his Caledonia, Morvant, house at around 11 pm when he was approached by a gunman who shot him several times. Residents heard the gunshots and on checking saw Alleyne bleeding on the ground. He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. No arrests have been made in the murder as yet. Read more here
Returning Trinis may soon face COVID quarantine fee
As hundreds of citizens request exemptions to re-enter Trinidad and Tobago, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says Government may consider asking people to pay for their COVID-19 quarantine stays.He made the comment during yesterday’s COVID-19 update in response to questions on whether T&T could follow Jamaica’s policy for its returning nationals. Earlier this month, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson said some nationals would have to pay US$20 per day for the 14 days of their mandatory quarantine. Deyalsingh said while he did not have a firm decision on the issue, it was something he would discuss with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister of National Security Stuart Young. “On the issue of paying for quarantine, I think it is something that may have to be considered as the number goes up and up. I see Jamaica is taking that stance. I do not have a firm decision as yet,” Deyalsingh said. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: Our screening is not secret
IN an unprecedented move, the UNC has been conducting its screening exercise at an undisclosed location, void of media coverage, but the party had denied it is being secretive. UNC PRO Anita Haynes said, “We are not having secret screenings, the media is not locked out, but we don’t want to put the public at risk,” referring to government’s guidelines against congregating in large numbers. “We have not disclosed the location because once bitten by the election bug people usually get excited and will want to show up (at the screening).” She said the screening is being done in batches and the party has discouraged large gatherings from accompanying prospective candidates. The PNM which is also screening candidates has been doing so from two locations, at its Balisier House headquarters and at Queen’s Hall in full view of the media. The PNM is also ahead in its naming of candidates. Read more here
Ministry to hire more invigilators, safety officers for exams
More invigilators and safety officers will be hired over the next month by the Ministry of Education in anticipation of the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) exams. The CSEC exams will begin on July 13 and because of COVID-19 protocols, students will be placed in many classrooms throughout the school. During a tour of the San Fernando West Secondary School on Wednesday, Minister Anthony Garcia assured that finances will be provided to hire additional invigilators. However, he could not say how many more will be needed. “Yes, we will definitely need more invigilators. Towards this end, we have advertised publicly for people supervising the exams to apply and we are hoping to get positive responses as soon as possible. Read more here
BUSINESS
Out to the movies
Drive-in cinemas are not foreign to TT. With household names like Starlite in Diego Martin, Kay Donna in Valsayn, and Bel-Air in Point Fortin, many can reminisce on these types of businesses that have ceased to exist in TT for over a decade. But as a viable option to adapt to the “new normal” amid the covid19 pandemic, they may be making a comeback. A drive-in is a type of cinema – typically a large space like a car park – where drivers go with their vehicles and remain inside of it to view a movie projected on a large screen. It also has a concession stand, just like any other cinema. Years ago, there would usually be speakers on poles throughout the venue. But nowadays, one can tune their radios to a FM frequency to pick up the sound clearly. The sound is broadcast using a FM transmitter. Read more here
Ministry blanks NCB Global Finance
The Ministry of Finance has decided not to award the mandate to raise $125 million to NCB Global Finance, despite that company having the most competitive bid. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Coalition says polls tainted’
Despite attempts to discredit a list of names provided to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the Guyana Police Force Immigration Department, one person has thus far stepped forward, confirming that he was indeed out of the jurisdiction on elections day, and therefore, could not have voted. His name – Adler Bynoe, was reportedly crossed off on the Official List of Electors (OLE), adding weight to claims by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) that unscrupulous people not only voted in the place of the dead, but also in place of persons who were out of the country on March 2 when the general and regional Elections were held. Read more here
More Scrutiny On COVID Clean-Up
The Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) has called on the Integrity Commission or any other appropriate state body to investigate the $46-million contract awarded to Rahim Cleaning and Trucking Limited to carry out cleaning and sanitising works at eight locations in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Eyebrows were raised yesterday during a meeting of the committee at Gordon House when it was revealed that it cost more than $9 million to sanitise and clean handrails, gates, doors, gate handles, and door handles at the Ocho Rios Pier. The St Ann Municipal Corporation requested funds from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to carry out the sanitisation exercise in the wake of COVID-19. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Military leaders condemn Trump over protest response
President Donald Trump is facing an unprecedented revolt from the elite corps of ex-military leaders and presidents over his brazen response to mass protests and inflaming of racial divides. In a true Washington bombshell on Wednesday evening, former Defense Secretary James Mattis, a warrior revered by his troops, told Americans they must come together without the President. "Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people -- does not even pretend to try," said Mattis, who has kept silent since resigning in 2018. "Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership," said the retired Marine general in a statement, criticizing Trump for threatening to deploy regular troops to quell unrest in a flagrant threat to US political stability. Read more here
Russia's Putin declares state of emergency after Arctic Circle oil spill
4th June 2020