NEWS
Pennywise robbery leaves six dead – Police kill 4 bandits after 2 guards killed, 2 wounded
Police are investigating a shooting and robbery at Pennywise Plaza, La Romain on Monday evening. Reports say around 5 pm, three private security officers, two men and one woman, were shot by bandits while driving out of the Pennywise compound during an attempted hold-up. The men escaped in a waiting vehicle. Police were called and intercepted the getaway car a short time later and there was a shootout. After a chase during which the men abandoned the getaway car and stole another vehicle, police eventually cornered them in an abandoned house. When the smoke cleared after another exchange of gunfire, police said four bandits were found dead and three AR-15 rifles were recovered. Read more here
UTT, CARIRI in partnership to recycle waste tyres
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) has entered a partnership with the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) which focuses on the recycling of waste tyres. The signing was held at the UTT Chaguanas campus where the newly formed Rubber Crumb Project was agreed upon by both institutions. According to CARIRI, there is an average of three million tyres imported into Trinidad and Tobago annually. With there being limited tyre disposal or recycling options available, this project is expected to combat environmental problems caused by the pollution of some 1.5 million scrap tyres across the country. Read more here
POLITICS
THA Chief Secretary to sue ex-deputy
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has plans of suing former deputy chief secretary and electoral representative for Roxborough/Argyle Watson Duke for allegations of corruption made against him. At a media briefing on Monday following the election of a new deputy chief secretary at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Augustine said he had been very deliberate in his communication since the debacle began. “My silence, which I treat as being golden, I think was absolutely necessary to ensure that the business of governing Tobago did not get muddied with all of the back and forth. Read more here
BUSINESS
CSO: Food, non-alcoholic beverages increase by 2.9%
The price of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 2.9 per cent from June 2022 to July 2022, according to the retail price index released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). It said contributing significantly to this increase was the general upward movement in the prices of white flour, tomatoes, parboiled rice, ochro, melongene, green (sweet) pepper, chive, celery, ketchup and sliced white bread. However, the CSO said the full impact of these price increases was offset by the general decreases in the prices of green pigeon peas, fresh and frozen chicken, fresh King fish, fresh Carite, carrots, hot peppers, garlic, fresh pork and salted pig tail. Read more here
Thomas-Felix supports tripartism
President of the Industrial Court, Deborah Thomas-Felix, yesterday encouraged trade union leaders to reconsider being part of the National Tripartite Advisory Council, as she emphasised the importance of government, employers and unions working together. Her sentiments were expressed during the special sitting of the Industrial Court to mark the opening of the 2022 to 2023 law term in Port of Spain yesterday. Read more here
REGIONAL
Narrowing access, attainment gaps
The Government, as part of efforts to empower Guyanese and meet the demands of a growing economy, will soon increase education expenditure to 20 per cent of the national budget and six per cent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), President, Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Monday. It is common knowledge that one of the most effective methods of eliminating inequality and poverty is education, which also lays the foundation for long-term economic progress. Cognisant of this, the Government plans to increase its expenditure in order to ensure that there is always adequate and sustainable financing for education. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Turkey's Erdogan: Russia's Putin willing to end war
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes Russia's leader is seeking an end to the war he began in Ukraine, and that a "significant step" will be made. He said his impression from recent talks with Vladimir Putin was that he wanted to "end this as soon as possible". Ukraine has recaptured swathes of its territory this month. The Turkish leader indicated things were "quite problematic" for Russia. Mr Erdogan spoke of having "very extensive discussions" with Mr Putin at a summit in Uzbekistan last week. In an interview with US broadcaster PBS, the Turkish leader said he gained the impression that the Russian president wanted a speedy end to the war. "He is actually showing me that he's willing to end this as soon as possible," Mr Erdogan said. "That was my impression, because the way things are going right now are quite problematic." Read more here
20th September 2022