NEWS
Uncle v Nephew delivers jaw-dropping King of the Rock stickfighting finish in Moruga
In a jaw-dropping finish that kept Moruga on edge until the final strike, King of the Rock champion Selwyn John emerged victorious after facing off against his nephew, Anderson Marcano, in a brutal, blood-soaked championship bout at the National Stickfighting Finals. To the steady, hypnotic rhythm of bongo drums echoing through the Moruga Multipurpose Youth and Sport Facility in St Mary’s, the two men stepped into the gayelle in the wee hours of the morning—blending fierce tradition with deeply personal family ties. “Hit him, Uncle! Don’t feel sorry!” one relative shouted from the crowd as John and Marcano squared off. The pair had not been on speaking terms for years, and despite blood pouring from wounds on John’s head, Marcano—who lost an eye in a stickfighting accident in 2007—showed no hesitation, pressing the attack relentlessly. Read more here
POLITICS
PNM warns Bail Amendment Bill may face court challenge
PNM deputy political leader Sanjiv Boodhu has expressed concern over the passage of the Government’s Bail Amendment Bill 2026 by a simple majority, rather than the required special majority, warning that its provisions may face legal challenges in the courts. Boodhu argued that the public will continue to distrust the Government on matters such as this bill—and even its 965 expressions of interest under the Revitalisation Plan—because the Prime Minister has yet to clarify allegations that two Independent senators sought “personal favours” from a Government senator to vote for the Special Operations Zones bill. “How can people trust the Government on this Bail Amendment Bill and be willing to work with it when the Prime Minister’s recent allegations have cast suspicion on the entire Senate, bringing all into disrepute regarding an alleged criminal act, including by the Government senator who withheld the information?” Boodhu said yesterday. Read more here
BUSINESS
IMF sees early signs of economic recovery in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago’s economy is beginning to recover, the International Monetary Fund said, citing stability, low inflation and renewed investor interest at the close of its 2026 Article IV review, according to a release from the Ministry of Finance. The assessment followed a two-week official visit by an IMF staff team led by Ana Guscina, which concluded with a meeting yesterday with Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo. The annual Article IV consultation is the IMF’s standard review of the economic and financial health of its member countries. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana, State of Roraima could see accelerated investments, trade
President, Dr Irfaan Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to fostering closer ties with the State of Roraima, and by extension the Federative Republic of Brazil, during a one‑day visit to the neighbouring state, on Monday. Along with bilateral discussions with the Governor of the State of Roraima, Antonio Denarium, and two Brazilian senators, the President was also conferred with the State of Roraima’s highest award—the Medalha Forte São Joaquim (Order of Merit Fort São Joaquim), in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima, Brazil. During the engagement, President Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to fostering closer ties with Brazil and with Roraima, the closest state to Lethem. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump threatens to block opening of US-Canada bridge
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a bridge connecting the US and Canada until Washington is "fully compensated for everything" it has given to its northern neighbour. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting the Canadian province of Ontario to the US state of Michigan, would not open until Ottawa "treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve", Trump wrote on social media. According to the project's website, the bridge is being funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan. Read more here
10th February 2026