NEWS
Attorney tells PSC: CoP’s suspension ‘unlawful’ — ‘Let Erla do her job’
A fierce legal battle has erupted between Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher and the Police Service Commission (PSC) over her recent suspension from duty. Her attorney, Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, wrote to PSC chairman Dr Wendell Wallace on February 3, demanding that the PSC immediately rescind its decision, warning that failure to do so would result in judicial review proceedings against the commission. Read more here
Boys rescued after boat drifts out to sea
Two cousins, aged ten and 12, who went on an adventure to catch conch yesterday afternoon, were stranded at sea after their pint-sized boat began drifting in the Gulf of Paria during high winds. The boys are students of the San Fernando Methodist School but did not attend yesterday. Realising they were in danger, the boys—Kadeem Branker, 10, and his cousin Christopher Bridgelal—dropped anchor and jumped overboard onto a rock about a mile from shore, while their father and police mobilised a rescue mission. Speaking to Guardian Media, Kadeem’s father, Clint Branker, said they stayed out on the rock for 20 minutes before they were brought to shore. Read more here
POLITICS
Young aims to unite young, old to take Trinidad and Tobago into future
STUART YOUNG hopes to unite young and old when he becomes Prime Minister to take the country into the future. He made this declaration while addressing the inaugural class of the National Energy Skills Centre Technical Institute's (NESC-TI) Renewable Energy Technology Services Scholarship programme on February 3. During his speech, Young urged the dozen students to think big, get excited and get involved in the country as he promised his tenure as Prime Minister would be one of unity. Read more here
PM Rowley: Govt cooperating with TTPS in probe
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Government is cooperating with the T&T Police Service, as it continues the investigation into the allegation of misbehaviour in public office against Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher in the ongoing Strategic Services Agency (SSA) probe. While he did not specify the specific nature of the assistance, Rowley yesterday assured that Government, through the National Security Council, was abreast of the developments and had also been contacted by investigating officers. “In the last 48 hours, the police have asked questions of the minister (Fitzgerald Hinds) and the National Security Council. Answers will be provided as requested,” Rowley said in a WhatsApp response to queries from Guardian Media. Read more here
BUSINESS
Agostini's subsidiary buys Jamaican firm from Massy
Publicly listed Agostini's Ltd yesterday announced that its subsidiary, Caribbean Distribution Partners Ltd, signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Massy Distribution (Jamaica), a pharmaceutical and consumer products distribution company in Jamaica. Agostini's owns 50 per cent of Caribbean Distributors Partners, in a joint venture with Barbadian company Goddard Enterprises. Agostini's purchased a pharmaceutical and personal care distribution company in Jamaica called Health Brands, in a transaction that closed on August 3, 2023. Read more here
Young defends fuel deal with Jamaica
Energy Minister Stuart Young took aim at the “naysayers” and “mischief makers” yesterday, proudly defending Jamaica’s export of marine fuel to Trinidad and Tobago, stating that he is proud of this development. Young said Paria’s partnership with Petrojam Ltd for the bunkering of marine fuels was discussed over the last two years. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Everyone is subject to the same conditions’
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that the strict regulations, transparency and openness in the housing sector ensure that there is fairness in allocations, and no room for misconduct. The President, during a live broadcast on Monday evening, spoke extensively on the operations of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), and emphasised his administration’s commitment to ensuring that there is transparency in all spheres. Although under the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), the housing sector was embroiled in allegations of infractions, corruption has been stamped out under the current Ali-led administration. First, the Head of State spoke on the land policy and how it has resulted in the lives of ordinary citizens being transformed. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump sows uncertainty - and Xi Jinping sees an opportunity
If China was angry at the United States for imposing an extra 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, it did a good job of hiding it. It urged Washington to start talks after repeated warnings that there would be no winners in a trade war. It held its fire until midnight in Washington - and then just as the tariffs on China kicked in, Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs of 10-15%, starting 10 February, on various US imports, including coal, crude oil and large cars. Read more here
4th February 2025