NEWS
Yung Bredda nominated for Africa Global Music Award
Trinidad and Tobago artiste Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis has been nominated for the Best Global Act for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards to be held in Lagos, Nigeria from November 25-30. Other nominees are some of the biggest names in the global music industry including rapper Drake and pop stars Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. There are nine nominees in the category. He shared news of the nomination on August 30 via his social media platforms. Soca star Patrice Roberts, Terri Lyons and Lady Lava were among the fellow artistes who congratulated him. Read more here
Thunderstorms cause flooding, traffic woes across Trinidad
Afternoon thunderstorms brought chaos across parts of Trinidad yesterday, with several communities being hit by flash flooding and commuters stuck in hours of traffic. The heavy rainfall, which lasted as long as three hours in some areas, sent rivers in western Trinidad—including the Maraval and Diego Martin rivers—close to spilling their banks. Floodwaters swamped major roads, partly blocking sections of the San Fernando Bypass, the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and Wrightson Road. Drivers were left crawling through traffic, with many reporting their usual commutes taking two and even three times longer. In the north-west, flooding was reported in Port-of-Spain, Maraval, St Ann’s and Diego Martin. Further south, San Fernando, Marabella and Debe also saw water covering streets. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla says 'kill all traffickers' as Trump claims 'lethal strike' on Venezuelan drug boat
Amid the heightened US military presence in the southern Caribbean and a US “lethal strike” on September 2 that allegedly killed 11 people on a boat, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, showed no sympathy for the alleged members of the Venezuela-based transnational criminal organisation, Tren de Aragua (TDA). “The slaughter of our people is fuelled by evil cartel traffickers. The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers, the US military should kill them all violently,” Persad-Bissessar said in a statement later on September 2. “The restriction of illegal guns, drugs and human trafficking will decrease the violence in the region and in particular our country.” Read more here
PM dismisses PNM concern over ministers at CPL matches
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath have hit back at the Opposition, following criticism that Government members attended recent Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches despite alleged national security threats, the same concerns that led to the cancellation of the Independence Day military parade. On Tuesday, Diego Martin Central MP Symon de Nobriga questioned how come the Government officials, including Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge managed to attend CPL matches at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba despite the assassination threats looming over them. Read more here
BUSINESS
JMMB repurchases over 9,000 shares
Under its share buyback programme, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) Group Ltd has reported the purchase of 9,417 of its ordinary shares valued at J$18.99 per share on September 1. In a notice of material change, posted on the TT Stock Exchange website, JMMB said the purchase was intended to bolster long-term shareholder value with a maximum intended repurchase total of J$300 million. Through a share buyback programme, a company buys its own shares from the open market or shareholders to reduce outstanding shares in circulation. This programme gives cash returns to shareholders while increasing earnings per share. This is an alternative to the use of dividends. Read more here
ExxonMobil predicts 20% rise in natural gas demand by 2050
Energy supermajor ExxonMobil, which recently announced its return to Trinidad and Tobago, is projecting a 20% rise in global natural gas demand over the next 25 years. The company’s latest Global Outlook noted that liquefied natural gas (LNG), which last year met nearly 15% of global demand, is expected to double in use by 2050. “The diversity and reliability of LNG supplies, combined with the flexibility to ship it where it is needed, make LNG a favourable choice for nations needing dependable, lower-emission energy sources to foster economic growth”, it stated. The company also forecasts oil demand to climb by 5% over the same period. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali congratulates Guyanese on peaceful voting
In a brief statement, President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has congratulated Guyanese on the peaceful electoral process held on September 1, during which thousands of Guyanese exercised their democratic right. With the tabulation of votes already underway at several Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) centres, President Ali urged “all to celebrate our democratic values as we open another chapter in the development of our beautiful country.” GECOM is moving swiftly to upload the statements of poll (SoPs) for the various districts and has already begun the tabulation of votes. And according to the Head of State, “By the end of today, the trend will be clear, and we will be in a position to move forward together.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty ahead of Gaza City offensive
Thousands of reservists have begun reporting for duty as the Israeli military presses ahead with its offensive to conquer Gaza City. Ground forces are already pushing into the outskirts of Gaza's largest urban area, which the military has said is a stronghold of Hamas. The city is also coming under heavy Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment, with local hospitals saying that more than 50 Palestinians have been killed there since midnight. The military has ordered residents to evacuate and head south immediately. The UN says an estimated 20,000 have done so over the past two weeks, but almost a million remain. Read more here
3rd September 2025