NEWS
Couple snatched from Monos Island home:US$2.5m ransom demand
Former powerboat racing standout Derek “Stones” Tardieu and his wife, Clarabelle, 47, remain missing after being kidnapped from their Monos Island home on December 6, prompting a widespread police investigation and anguished appeals for their safe return. Kidnappers have since demanded US$2.5 million for their release. Reports say a distressing voice note was sent to a relative’s phone around 9.44 pm on December 6 from an unfamiliar number. In the recording, the 70-year-old Tardieu said, “They have meh and want US$2.5 million for meh release.” Following the message, Tardieu’s son was contacted, and he rushed to the couple’s Blanchette Bay residence, where he found the home ransacked and both his father and stepmother gone. He tried calling Tardieu’s phone, but it went unanswered. Read more here
Man dies in fire minutes after threatening to burn house down
Mere minutes after threatening to set his house on fire on Sunday, a 40-year-old New Grant man with a history of mental instability was burnt to death after his home erupted in flames. However, fire officers returned to the scene of the blaze which claimed Amarnath Narinesingh’s life yesterday, and as of last evening had not yet determined the cause. Police said Narinesingh, who lived with his 48‑year-old common-law wife Asha Norman, was a psychiatric patient at the San Fernando General Hospital for eight years. Norman told police that 15 minutes before the fire, she was downstairs baking when he threatened to burn down the house. Read more here
POLITICS
Hope, scepticism as Trinidad and Tobago doctors bound for Guyana
A FIRST BATCH of around 50 Trinidad and Tobago doctors is bound for Guyana as part of a new partnership announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Speaking at the re-dedication ceremony for the Couva Children's Hospital on December 7, Persad-Bissessar said, “Our plan was to have it serve as a centre for Caricom and the Caribbean but Guyana has made so many hospitals we are partnering with Guyana now. “Guyana will hire doctors from Trinidad and Tobago because we have so many well-trained doctors and with all new hospitals open up in Guyana we are working on a partnership.” She said advertisements for doctors’ applications will be circulated. Read more here
BUSINESS
Caricom must look south, says Swaratsingh
Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh has urged Caribbean nations and their Latin American partners to embrace strategic south-to-south cooperation as a transformative pathway for resilience, competitiveness and inclusive growth. He made the call while addressing a Caribbean Development seminar hosted by the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held yesterday at the Hilton, where the minister underscored the urgency of moving beyond symbolic gestures toward purposeful, resource-oriented collaboration. Swaratsingh emphasised that cooperation among developing nations must be tailored to the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He noted that persistent challenges—such as limited access to technology, research, and financing—should not be seen merely as obstacles but rather as opportunities to drive competitiveness and resilience. Read more here
Scotia T&T lands double ‘Bank of the Year’ win
Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago scored a notable double this year, securing “Bank of the Year 2025” honours from both LatinFinance and The Banker Magazine. In a release yesterday, the bank stated that these global accolades underscore the bank’s commitment to innovation, resilience, and delivering exceptional client experiences while driving sustainable growth. It added that the Latin Finance honours institutions that set benchmarks in retail, commercial, and investment banking across Latin America and the Caribbean, while The Banker Magazine, published by the Financial Times, recognises banks worldwide for outstanding financial performance, technological innovation and community impact. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana, Grenada deepen ties
GUYANA and Grenada on Monday marked a new chapter in their diplomatic and economic relations with the official opening of the Office of the Honorary Consul for Grenada in New Market Street, Georgetown. Speaking at the event, President Dr Irfaan Ali described the occasion as a historic one, adding that it signals the growing of closer ties between the sister states of Grenada and Guyana. Dr Ali noted that Grenada’s decision to establish the office reflects “Grenada’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Guyana.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine prepares new peace plan as Zelensky rules out giving up land
Ukraine is preparing to present a revised peace plan to the White House, as it seeks to avoid making territorial concessions to Russia. Kyiv is set to propose alternatives after President Volodymyr Zelensky again ruled out surrendering land, saying he had "no right" to do so under Ukrainian or international law. He made the comments after meeting European and Nato leaders on Monday, part of a push to deter the US from backing a peace deal which includes major concessions for Ukraine, and which allies fear would leave it vulnerable to a future invasion. Read more here
9th December 2025