NEWS
CoP warns parents: Keep your children in check
Students of some 50 schools nationwide started the new academic year with more than just a new intake of students, as police officers assumed their new roles at the compounds as part of a programme to combat school violence and indiscipline. But visiting some of the selected schools on September 8, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro had a strong warning for parents. "If you can recall, at my inauguration, I made particular statements that if parents can't control their children, the TTPS will confine them. It's not far off that we now have police officers in schools ready to respond to those immediate threats to our children who seek to have that higher education and learning. "So, just a further warning to the parents out there, keep your children in check. The well-behaved children who are here for that particular purpose of getting an education have no reason to fear from my officers. It's those errant ones who want to bring disruption to the education facility and the system; those are the ones who have to be fearful." Read more here
Economists warn $9 exchange rate a ‘dangerous move’ for T&T
Several economists are saying it would be a dangerous move for this country’s economy to raise the exchange rate of the US dollar from TT$6.79 to TT$9. They say such an adjustment, without solving structural economic issues in Trinidad and Tobago, will not augur well. Professor Patrick Watson strongly opposes the idea of a direct devaluation to TT$9. Drawing from the experiences of other Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Guyana, he warned that such a move often triggers a speculative spiral. He said once a signal is sent that devaluation is acceptable, “everybody will start thinking that this thing will just get worse,” prompting hoarding and speculation. Watson said this can drive the exchange rate well beyond the intended TT$9, perhaps even up to TT$20, as seen in Jamaica’s history, where the dollar spiralled from J$9 to over J$150 per US dollar. He insisted that the textbook theory of devaluation improving exports does not apply in T&T’s case because “nobody wants our goods.” Read more here
POLITICS
PM, US deputy secretary reaffirm strong ties
The US commended Trinidad and Tobago as a strong partner, the US’ Department of State principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a release following a discussion between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau. A release posted to the US Department of State website said Landau spoke with Persad-Bissessar to reaffirm the strength of the US-TT partnership. It added that the deputy secretary commended this country as a strong US partner in the Caribbean. Read more here
Enough is enough! PM defends use of armed cops in schools
As armed police took up posts in high-risk schools yesterday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar vowed to tackle school violence, saying enough was enough and calling the initiative the beginning of the end for bullying and classroom violence. Her comments came hours after the Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro toured several high-risk schools and warned parents to keep their children in check or else they will be imprisoned. In a statement hours after school was dismissed, Persad-Bissessar lamented the fear students and teachers felt because of violence. “Our teachers have become victims of assault and abuse by some students and parents. That will not continue. Any student or parent who abuses or assaults a member of the teaching staff will be removed from school by the TTPS,” she said. Read more here
BUSINESS
Predator completes acquisition of Challenger Trinidad
Predator Oil and Gas (Predator), a global energy company with portfolios in Morocco, TT and Ireland, has completed the acquisition of Challenger Energy (CEG) operations in TT. The acquisition includes a revenue-sharing agreement with NABI Construction, allowing Predator to benefit from increased production without bearing field operating costs. CEG’s operations in Trinidad include three onshore producing fields: Goudron, Inniss-Trinity and Icacos. Across these fields, there are a total of 250 wells, of which approximately 60 are in production at any given time. Read more here
Exxon’s return highlights T&T as oil and gas hub
EXXONMOBIL’S re-entry into Trinidad and Tobago will keep the country at the forefront of the global oil and gas sector in the coming years, Predator Oil & Gas CEO Paul Griffiths has said. Griffiths made the comment as Predator announced the completion of its acquisition of Challenger Energy (CEG) Group’s operations in Trinidad and Tobago. “The timing of completion of the acquisition is particularly noteworthy given the recent reports from Trinidad of ExxonMobil entering the Trinidad offshore with a committed expenditure of US$42.5 million and a reported speculative US$16.4 to US$21.7 billion spend on development if initial seismic and other technical studies are successful. This will ensure that Trinidad will be a centre of attention in the oil and gas sector over the next few years,” Griffiths stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Nation’s development being placed in most capable, tried, tested, proven hands’
BRIGADIER (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday, were officially appointed as Prime Minister and Vice-President, respectively, by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who hailed them as “exemplary” leaders who have been tried, tested and proven as ideal persons to help take Guyana forward. Phillips and Dr. Jagdeo’s appointments are the first two major appointments under President Ali’s new administration. These appointments come one day after Dr. Ali was officially sworn in to serve a second term as the ninth President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The President emphasised that the appointments of Prime Minister and Vice-President were made in accordance with Articles 101 and 102 of the Constitution. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US lawmakers release Epstein 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note
US lawmakers have released a copy of a "birthday book" given to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which includes a note allegedly signed by US President Donald Trump. The book was released with a trove of documents that include Epstein's will and his personal address book - with contacts that include royalty, celebrities, models and politicians from around the world. It also contains a birthday message from Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK Ambassador to the US, in which he calls Epstein "my best pal". Read more here
9th September 2025