NEWS
Praise for CAL pilot, crew after emergency landing
The Caribbean Airlines (CAL) pilot and crew onboard the plane that made an emergency landing in Trinidad on the night of January 27, en route from Tobago, have received high praise for keeping passengers calm and collected despite the harrowing announcement that there was a problem with one of the engines. A passenger, who spoke with Newsday, said she considered the landing as one of the smoothest she had ever experienced, while two business chambers in Tobago also commended the CAL workers. The emergency landing was declared for flight BW 1541, and a statement from CAL on the night of January 27 confirmed that ATR 72-600 aircraft landed safely at Piarco International Airport. Read more here
Arouca man held for murder of toddler during arson attack
A 30-year-old Arouca man was arrested yesterday for the murder of toddler Jereem George. Police said the man was arrested in Arima around 10 am and is expected to be questioned by investigators for the crime. The suspect was arrested by acting Insp Haywood of the Northern Division. Little Jereem was asleep at his mother’s Christian Avenue Extension, Windy Hill, home last Thursday night when a man set fire to the house. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: Trump foreign policy review no surprise
UNC chairman Davendranath Tancoo was not surprised US President Donald Trump has taken a decision which could deny the Defence Force and the police access to assistance from the US military, which they got prior to his assuming office on January 20. In a statement on January 28, Tancoo said, "President Trump has remained true to his word to focus inward in developing the interests of America as he is entitled to. Trinidad and Tobago would do well to do likewise." Read more here
Unease over Trump’s plan: Red Cross, FPA among T&T agencies facing funding cuts
Two days after several United States-funded agencies and programmes (partially or wholly funded) were alerted to freeze spending, including to foreign countries, a federal judge yesterday issued a temporary injunction against such action by the Donald Trump administration. This, even as several state-run agencies, charitable and humanitarian agencies, and even NGOs here in T&T are now jittery, fearing that their funding from those US agencies could be entirely cut. Read more here
BUSINESS
Ansa Coatings announces new paint system
ANSA Coatings, manufacturer and distributor of Penta, Sissons and Berger products, has announced the introduction of a new refinishing system through the PPG Deltron brand.In a press release, Ansa Coatings, a subsidiary of the Ansa McAl Group of Companies, said it began the roll-out locally in June last year and to its overseas markets in November. Read more here
Business groups want solution to VAT arrears
Two chambers are welcoming the move by the Ministry of Finance to pay the outstanding VAT arrears, but they are calling for a long-term solution. In a news release on Monday, the ministry said only applicants owed refunds over TT$250,000.00 would be eligible to receive VAT Bonds. Refunds of TT$250,000.00 or less will be paid in cash. It said the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) advised that the VAT Bonds would be issued on a first-come, first-served basis with an effective date of January 31, 2025, and a tenor of three years. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana’s economy ‘standing on many legs’
Guyana’s economy is standing not only on an oil-and-gas foundation, it is standing on many legs, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has said, noting that the investments and policies being pursued by the government are ensuring this is the case. “When you look at the economy, when you look at all segments of the economy in the last four years, you can see the policies of the government have enabled continuous and sustainable growth. This adds to the resilience of the economy. “This adds to the diversified portfolio of the economy, so that we can withstand greater shocks. The economy is not only standing on an oil-and-gas foundation, it is standing on many legs, and the investments and policies that we are pursuing are ensuring that, that is the case,” the Head of State said during a recent broadcast on Facebook from State House. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump offers millions of federal workers eight months of pay to resign
President Donald Trump has offered buyout packages to almost all federal employees, a major move designed to shrink and reform the US government. In an email sent on Tuesday, his administration told workers they had to decide by 6 February whether they wanted to be part of a "deferred resignation" programme. If they agree by then to quit in September, the message said, they would receive about eight months of salary as a severance package. The Trump administration expects up to 10% of employees to accept the offer - which equates to about 200,000 of the more than two million people who work for the federal government, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. Read more here
29th January 2025