NEWS
Teen's body found buried at Valsayn House of Horrors
The police are trying to ascertain the identity of the remains found buried in the backyard of a house in Valsayn on Tuesday. But it is believed the bones were that of 18-year-old Hannah Mathura, who was never reported missing. The remains were said to have been buried near a tree in a shallow grave behind the family home in Butu Road, South Valsayn, in 2017. The police were tipped off by a male relative, who showed them the location of the grave. An excavator was used to dig up the body. Read more here
MP shocked, traumatologist wants assessment of survivors
MP for St Augustine Khadijah Ameen has expressed alarm over the discovery of a teenager’s corpse within her constituency. Ameen said while she did not know all of the details surrounding the incident, the situation was frightening. “What I can tell you is that residents of Valsayn South are shocked and concerned about the discovery. I hope that whoever is responsible is brought to justice and the other victims in the situation get suitable counselling.” Also reacting to the find was the president and chief executive officer of the Centre for Human Development, clinical traumatologist Hanif E A Benjamin. Benjamin, who was once chairman of the Children’s Authority, said the individuals who were at the home could have easily been lost to society if they never entered the school system. Read more here
POLITICS
Griffith: SSA asked for pastor to be SRP
Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith has defended the move to appoint Pastor Ian Albert Ezekiel Brown a Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer amidst the imbroglio over Brown and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). Griffith told Newsday the SSA has asked for Brown to be made an SRP. "The SSA made the request stating they would like to have persons appointed to assist as covert operatives based on their qualifications, so those are the units that would do the background checks, the due diligence, checking and making sure the person has the qualifications needed." Read more here
BUSINESS
Third Massy executive leaving group
Massy Holdings Ltd's executive vice president of Global Expansion, David O'Brien, on Friday, announced his intention to resign from the company effective June 8, 2024, according to a notice from the group posted on the website of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange yesterday. O’Brien retired as executive chairman of the Motors & Machines Portfolio at the end of September, 2022, following which he was appointed to his current position. O'Brien is the third executive of Massy to announce their departure from the company in the last three months. The first to go was Massy's executive vice president of Business Integrity and Group General Counsel, Angelique Parisot-Potter, who resigned from the company effective December 27, 2023. Read more here
Back to the drawing board for PoS multi-purpose project
Almost three years after the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) invited tenders for a housing and commercial complex at Keate Street, near the Memorial Park and the Port of Spain General Hospital, it has been reported that the original tender failed to attract an appropriate bidder. It is now hoping for a way forward in the coming months. In 2021 UDeCOTT, the company that manages many of the government’s projects, put out a tender for a developer to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the facility under the terms of a Lease Agreement. UDeCOTT said it would provide the land base and the administrative requirements for urban development. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘This is just one step forward in many long steps ahead’
Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry has resigned, paving the way for the establishment of a new transitional governance council, as the country inches closer to hosting fresh elections, President of Guyana and Chairman of CARICOM, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said. At a Monday night press conference in Kingston, Jamaica, Dr. Ali said this arrangement will now make room for “a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance an action plan for near term security and the road to free and fair elections.” The CARICOM Chair, on Monday led meetings with several other regional leaders and international partners to address the increased waves of violence in Haiti. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
How the US military plans to construct a pier and get food into Gaza
A US plan to deliver aid to Gaza from a floating pier at sea will be fraught with potential logistical and security challenges. More than 1,000 US troops are expected to participate in the operation although the Pentagon says there will be no "boots on the ground". To help achieve that, the US has partnered with a little-known private firm, Fogbow, which is run by former military and intelligence officials. The goal is to deliver aid equivalent to two million meals a day to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned that famine is "almost inevitable" without urgent action. Read more here
13th March 2024