NEWS
High Court orders TTDF to reconsider army major's promotion date
A High Court judge has ordered the Defence Force to reconsider the promotion date of an army major, ruling that the delay in his advancement was unlawful and unreasonable. Justice Ricky Rahim made the order on February 21. The judge presided over a judicial challenge filed by an army officer who had been eligible for promotion to major since August 24, 2019, but was only promoted on January 1, 2022. The officer, who asked for his name not to be published, argued that his delayed promotion resulted in a loss of seniority, salary, and benefits. Read more here
CoP Erla probe widens
As enquiries into allegations of misbehaviour in public office continue against suspended Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher, sources have confirmed that officers from the T&T Police Service’s (TTPS) White-Collar Crime Bureau are expected to meet to discuss a new angle in the ongoing probe. Sources close to the investigation said the unit will also meet with a representative from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discuss a “financial aspect” of the matter, which would involve examining financial transactions undertaken by the suspended CoP, including the movement of cash, to better understand a timeline of events. Read more here
POLITICS
Pushback on Kamla – New election coalition forms without UNC
A new political coalition has emerged to contest this year's general election. A statement issued on social media on February 24 identified this coalition as the People's Alliance. The members are the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), Honesty, Opportunity, Performance and Empowerment (HOPE) and the Community Reformation Network (CRN), a non-governmental organisation which works in Chaguanas, Cunupia and parts of East Trinidad. Read more here
Ex-House Speaker Nizam Mohammed: No barrier to Stuart succeeding Rowley as PM
Former House Speaker Nizam Mohammed has weighed in on the issue regarding the process involved in Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley's withdrawal from office. He says the replacement of Rowley as the People's National Movement's (PNM) leader is separate and apart, resting solely in the domain of the PNM, and has nothing to do with reference to Section 76 of the Constitution.
Mohammed did so yesterday, as he noted other analyses of the situation by political analyst Dr Hamid Ghany and Larry Lalla SC. Read more here
BUSINESS
Government bond delisted
The HO62 government bond has been delisted from the TT Stock Exchange (TTSE), effective February 24. In a market notice on February 21, the TTSE said the bond has a face value of $559.2 million. It was issued in 2013 and matured in 2023. Delisting occurs when a stock is removed from the stock exchange. The removal can either be mandatory or voluntary. Read more here
State to pay $70,000
The State has been ordered to pay $70,000 in damages to an international tobacco company that sued after its business was shut down due to issues with its licence to operate. The matter against the Ministry of Health and the office of the Attorney General, came up for hearing virtually yesterday before Justice Frank Seepersad. The claimant, North American Trading Company Ltd, is an international distributor of tobacco products to Latin America and the Caribbean and operates within the free zone under the Free Zone Act, which has since been replaced by the T&T Special Economic Zones Act. Read more here
REGIONAL
Safe, secure, hospitable environment being created with crucial investments
MAKING the streets safer and fostering a great sense of security in communities continue to be key elements of the government’s agenda, according to President, Dr Irfaan Ali. The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces emphasised the government’s position during the flag-raising ceremony for Guyana’s 55th Republic Anniversary at the Public Buildings, on Brickdam. The Head of State said that over the past four years, Guyana’s security sector has seen remarkable progress. He noted that the government pursued hundreds of capital projects for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with a total investment of close to $10 billion. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Federal workers left confused as Musk doubles down on threat
US government workers faced widespread confusion on Monday following conflicting advice over compliance with an Elon Musk-backed order to list their last week's work in an email or face termination. Just 48 hours after an email asking "what did you do last week?" was sent, the office behind it clarified responses were voluntary, leaving agencies to decide their approach. But as this new guidance was shared with federal agencies, President Donald Trump weighed in that workers who did not comply with Mr Musk's demand would be fired or "sort of semi-fired". And later on Monday evening, Mr Musk reinforced the ultimatum, granting workers a final chance to respond. Read more here
25th February 2025