NEWS
13 women, teen girl rescued from human trafficking operation
Thirteen women and a teenage girl were rescued from suspected human trafficking operations being run out of two spa locations in Marabella and Cunupia yesterday. The operations were part of a major Counter Trafficking Unit investigation into human trafficking across Trinidad and targeted branches of the Triple R Spa. During simultaneous operations, code-named Triple Knock, officers rescued six women and a 13-year-old girl at the spa’s Pearl Avenue, Marabella location, and seven Latin American women, aged 19 to 25, at the Cunupia branch on Sunrise Crescent. A Venezuelan woman and two Trinidadian men were arrested during the raids. Read more here
Missing La Romaine couple feared dead
A missing La Romaine couple are feared dead after their wooden home was found filled with spent shells, a bloody sheet and blood trails leading to the nearby sea. The circumstances of their disappearance are a mystery, but investigators are exploring the possibility that one or both of them may have been killed or seriously injured and dragged into a boat or the sea. Samuel Montano, 44, and his girlfriend, Zaheeda Mohammed, 36, lived in a shack at Freeman Bay, near Sunset Cove, La Romaine. Read more here
POLITICS
Sinanan: URP became more efficient, less corrupt under PNM
Former works and transport minister Rohan Sinanan is defending the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) after accusations of corruption, overspending and political interference made by officials, including Local Government and Rural Development Minister Khadeeja Ameen. In an August 4 statement, Sinanan said, “The articles and statements in respect of the level of influence of gangs in URP references periods of between 2000 and 2015 in the main. Concerted steps were made over the 2016-2024 period to reduce gang culture and interference in the programme. "Recent articles clearly show that expenditure over the nine-year period of 2016-2024 period was less than half of that over the five-year period of 2010-2015. Read more here
BUSINESS
Amcham calls for strengthened business continuity
The American Chamber of Commerce TT (Amcham) and the Specialised Accident Prevention Centre have emphasised the need for business continuity amid the world’s volatile business environment. During Amcham’s Why Business Continuity Is Non-Negotiable webinar, director of the Specialised Accident Prevention Centre José Ignacio Quirós said business continuity needs to be treated as a strategy. "Building a culture of continuity means making sure everybody, from leadership to frontline staff, understands their role in keeping the business running all the time. "Training, communication and inclusion are key in this subject matter. Together, risk identification, protective measures, having a written, tested and maintained continuity plan and building a culture are the key elements that we need to focus on in our operations." Read more here
T&T Chamber advises Govt: Talk to Trump on tariffs
Stakeholders across various sectors are calling for collaborative efforts to offset any potential impact from the increase in reciprocal tariff rates from 10 to 15 per cent by the United States. The increase in tariffs, established by an executive order issued by the White House on July 31, 2025, will take effect on Thursday, August 7. In a news release, the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber) called on the Government and Caricom to meet with the US government to find a resolution in the best interest of the region. The release said, “This latest action represents a significant departure from the long-standing principles of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) which is a US policy framework designed to promote economic development and export-led growth in the Caribbean through preferential market access. Trinidad and Tobago, as a key beneficiary under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), has long relied on stable, preferential trade with the United States to bolster its manufacturing and export capacity.” Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Give us the responsibility to continue delivering’
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s unwavering commitment to national development, urging citizens to once again entrust the government with the responsibility of steering Guyana towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters and residents at a public meeting Monday evening in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, the Head of State energised the gathering with a comprehensive outline of the government’s vision and ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life across the country. “We are asking you once again to give us that responsibility; to honour us with the responsibility to work for a better Guyana, a more progressive Guyana, a stronger Guyana, a wealthier Guyana, a healthier Guyana, a more educated Guyana, a more united Guyana,” the President declared. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Netanyahu to propose full reoccupation of Gaza, Israeli media report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to propose fully reoccupying the Gaza Strip when he meets his security cabinet, Israeli media say. "The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas," local journalists quote a senior official saying. Responding to reports that the army chief and other military leaders oppose the plan, the unnamed official said: "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign." The families of hostages fear such plans could endanger their loved ones, with 20 out of 50 believed to be alive in Gaza, while polls suggest three in four Israelis instead favour a ceasefire deal to return them. Read more here
5th August 2025