NEWS
ERHA fires doctor convicted of drug trafficking
A doctor who was charged and fined last week for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking has been fired by the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). Andell Jaggernauth, 29, a medical doctor of Diamond Village, San Fernando, was fined $14,000 by magistrate Cheron Raphael last Wednesday for possession of drugs including mushrooms, ecstasy and ketamine. The ERHA said it took note of a Newsday article about Jaggernauth's arrest and court appearance. "The ERHA advises that the doctor identified as Dr Andell Jaggernauth was employed as a Locum House Officer with the EMA. Given the contents of the newspaper article, the ERHA obtained a court extract from the Sangre Grande Magistrates Court, which confirmed that Dr Jaggernaugh pleaded guilty to possession of certain dangerous drug charges. As such, given the seriousness of the criminal offences, the ERHA ended the employment relationship with Dr Jaggernauth. Read more here
Osaki mayor - T&T relationship a special one
The mayor of Osaki Town in Japan says since the Olympic Games in July 2021, relations between Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Osaki have only strengthened. Osaki Town hosted the Team TTO delegation for the Olympic Games which was hosted by the city of Tokyo. In the principal's office at the Osaki Elementary School, a framed image of autographs hang near the door surrounded by two T&T flags. Signatures on the framed image include that of World Championships gold medalist Jereem Richards and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michelle-Lee Ahye. Since then, bilateral relations between both parties have stretched into recycling and teaching. However, the memories of Team TTO's athletes taking up residence in his town for the Tokyo 2020 Games remains in his mind. Mayor Yasuhiro Higashi told Guardian Media on Wednesday at his City Hall office, "Even though it is such a land in a distant place, we feel somewhat familiar with the country." Read more here
POLITICS
Education Minister: Government now pays $1 more per school meal
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly says the National Schools Dietary Services Ltd (NSDSL) is pleased with the government's decision to pay $1 more per meal for the school feeding programme. She was speaking at a standing finance committee meeting in Parliament on Tuesday morning. The 2024 budget draft estimates for expenditure list an allocation of $268,746,800 for the NSDSL. Opposition whip David Lee asked if, given the continued increase in food prices, this total would be sufficient. Gadsby-Dolly said in the last academic year, a $1 increase was approved. "And, certainly, the caterers...that would have been a recommendation of the board...we looked at it, we looked at the costs that were submitted..." Read more here
PM, T&T team get to work at Canada-Caricom Summit
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is in Ottawa, Canada, attending the first-ever Canada-Caricom Summit. The Summit, which runs from October 17-19, is being co-chaired by Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who is the current chair of Caricom. The agenda to be discussed at the event includes climate change and resilience; access to finance and global financial architecture reform; Haiti; regional security; and trade and investment. The theme, Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future, focuses on Canada’s strong ties with the Caribbean, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and charting a better future. Read more here
BUSINESS
Inflation slows to 3.9%
Average prices in Trinidad and Tobago last month were 3.9 per cent higher than in September 2022, according to the September Retail Price Index report of the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The report indicates that the average prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages were 4.7 per cent higher in September 2023 than in September 2022. The Index for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased from 147.0 in August 2023 to 148.2 in September 2023, reflecting an increase of 0.8 per cent, according to the CSO. There was the general upward movement in the prices of Irish potatoes, chilled or frozen beef, fresh beef, chilled or frozen pork, cucumber, chive, soya bean oil, onions, mixed fresh seasoning and other chilled or frozen chicken. However, the full impact of these price increases were offset by the general decreases in the prices of pumpkin, fresh whole chicken, table margarine, parboiled rice, white flour, oranges, tomatoes, grapes, eddoes and fresh steak. Read more here
WASA’s financial strain on taxpayers
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) continues to be largely responsible for the operating deficit of public utilities in this country, accounting for 66.6 per cent or $1,196.7 million of the total last year, the 2023 review of the economy has stated. WASA was also the beneficiary of $1,290 million which was the largest transfer of central government funding. But the current transfers were used for interest payments on loans and salaries and fees. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali: 30,000-bpd oil refinery to be finalised by year-end
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has disclosed the government’s plan to complete the 30,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) by year-end. Multiple bids have been submitted for the design, financing, and construction of an oil refinery at the mouth of the Berbice River.
The president shared this revelation during the commissioning ceremony of the $125 million Corriverton Entertainment Park, which took place last Saturday. “As we come closer to realising the opportunity with the energy project here in Region Six, we are working on the 30,000-bpd refinery- the proposals that came in – because we are hoping that before the end of this year, we must finalise the refinery,” he said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Greta Thunberg charged following Fossil Free London protest
Greta Thunberg has been charged with a public order offence after her arrest during a Fossil Free London protest. The 20-year-old is accused of breaching a Section 14 order that police put in place outside the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane, where oil executives were meeting on Tuesday. The climate change activist was among protesters who gathered to object to an Energy Intelligence Forum event. In total, 27 protesters were arrested and 26 charged, the Met Police said. Ms Thunberg, a Swedish national, has been released on bail with a trial set for 15 November. Read more here
18th October 2023