NEWS
South Oropouche man, 18, held with ammo, cocaine
The Southern Division Task Force has held an 18-year-old man with several rounds of ammunition and a quantity of cocaine. A police statement on June 3 said the police arrested the suspect in an exercise which started at 11.30 pm on June 2 and ended at around 3 am on June 3. The suspect, of South Oropouche, was held with ten rounds of 5.56 ammunition and a quantity of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Read more here
$150,000 bail for man accused of kidnapping doubles vendor
A 20-year-old mechanic from Maracas, St Joseph, has been released on $150,000 bail after appearing in court in relation to the kidnapping of businesswoman Anisha Hosein-Singh. Kevin “Pa” Augustus was granted bail as he made his first court appearance before High Court Master Sarah De Silva, yesterday afternoon, after being charged with kidnapping for ransom, last week. During the hearing, De Silva set deadlines for prosecutors and Augustus’ defence attorneys to file and serve documents related to the case and scheduled a sufficiency hearing for March 17, next year. In his bail application, Augustus’ lawyer Alexia Romero requested reasonable bail for her client as she pointed out that the case against him was weak based on the evidence disclosed by the police thus far. Read more here
POLITICS
Imbert: $50m for THA for oil spill
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said a $50 million supplementation to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in the 2023/2024 budget is to assist the THA to deal with its costs associated with the February 7 oil spill that occurred off Tobago's coast. He made this comment before the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives approved this sum on June 3. Imbert said the THA submitted a request to government for $153 million to assist its efforts to deal with the oil spill. Read more here
Gadsby-Dolly: Book, supply grants to be paid out next month
The Education Ministry will start issuing the school book and supply grant promised in the 2024 Budget before school closes in July so students will have the grant for the 2024-25 school year. Approximately half of the 26,967 grant applications received have been deemed satisfactory and the application process will be reopened after the ministry deals with those in hand, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said at yesterday’s Standing Finance Committee meeting in Parliament. The ministry is among 12 divisions that will receive supplemental funding as part of the mid-year review of the 2024 Budget. Education will get $144,200,000. This covers payment for 14,000 teachers in primary schools, 279 short-term employees, additional staff for processing backpay and for school security. Read more here
BUSINESS
Petrochemical company gets new CEO
Keio Kato has been appointed as CEO of Caribbean Gas Chemical Ltd (CGCL), effective June 1. Kato will be responsible for running the CGCL methanol and di-methyl ether (DME) facility at La Brea. In a news release, the company said his appointment follows the retirement of former CEO, Pedro Arasa. It said Arasa served as CEO since 2021 and saw the company through commissioning, the achievement of commercial operations status, and more recently, the attainment of 1 million metric tonnes of annual production for two consecutive years. Read more here
Guardian Life appoints new president
Samanta Saugh has been appointed the president of Guardian Life of the Caribbean Ltd. Her appointment came into effect on June 1. “Samanta brings to this role a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the Life, Health and Pension business segment, making her well-suited to lead the company into its next phase of growth and innovation,” a release from the Guardian Group stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Greater value for your assets!’
Over 430 residents from several communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Monday received their official leases for their lands, and, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, this is just one of many land regularisation programmes being pursued in the area. The Head of State, while addressing scores of residents, said the government’s intention is to support livelihoods through sustainable housing and long-term wealth creation. “The very fact that you own your lease now has increased your worth by over 400 per cent, overnight. You can take that to the bank, you can get a loan, you can build your home, and the value of land in this area is growing exponentially,” the President said. Simultaneously, works are underway to create some 1,600 new house lots in Hauraruni, a community along the Soesdyke-Linden highway. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Biden walks difficult tightrope as son's gun trial begins
As jury selection in Hunter Biden’s gun possession trial began on Monday, his father released a statement that illustrated the fine line he is trying to walk in the midst of his re-election campaign. “I am the president, but I am also a dad,” said Joe Biden. His statement goes on to express support for his son, who could face up to 25 years in prison for allegedly lying about his drug addiction when filling out background documents for a 2018 handgun purchase. “As president, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases,” he continues. “But as a dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him and respect for his strength.” Read more here
4th June 2024