NEWS
Fathers of murdered youths brace for East PoS gang war
Christopher Levia, the father of Kareem Stanislaus who was shot and killed after killing 17-year-old Kobe Brown, aka “Bottles,” is calling for an end to violence as a series of shootings in Belmont and the Beetham have left residents bracing for an impending gang war between the communities. Newsday spoke yesterday with Levia, who said he was concerned but not particularly surprised by the murder of Kevon Joseph, aka “Fish,” on Monday afternoon, and blamed the increase in violence on children who no longer value the advice of their elders. Read more here
Contractor to return 13 seized vehicles
A construction company has been ordered to return 13 vehicles which were seized from the Cepep Company Limited to recoup a $1.5 million debt earlier this year. Appellate Judges Peter Jamadar, Gregory Smith and Prakash Moosai granted the order at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain on Monday, as they ruled in favour of the State-owned special purpose company in its appeal against Tora Bora Construction and Contractors Limited. Read more here
Nailah nominated for BET award
Nailah Blackman has been nominated for a BET Award (Viewer’s Choice). The young singer/songwriter/musician who has been performing all around the world since after Carnival is among the ten artistes in the running for the Best New International Act Award. Read more here
POLITICS
Weekes: We must guard against pollution
President Paula-Mae Weekes has said the country’s development is not only about the amount of foreign exchange earned, but also about the state of the environment. “The development of a country is not to be measured only in economic terms, it’s not just about how much foreign exchange we earn, or what the average income is, the employment rate or even the number of tertiary-level graduates, important though those statistics are. Our development also has to do with the quality of our lives and our environment has a direct bearing on that,” she said. Read more here
Rambharat: Land fraud rampant across T&T
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat yesterday admitted that land fraud is rampant in T&T and that as line minister for land, he had to report land fraud to the police for an investigation. He made the disclosure during his contribution to the Registration of Titles to Land Bill in the Senate. Read more here
Dulalchan’s lawyers write PM
Lawyers for Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodat Dulalchan have written to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley asking that he be appointed Commissioner of Police (CoP). Read more here
BUSINESS
Rambharat: Food safety policy coming
After extensive consultations, a food safety policy is being finalised for submission to Cabinet, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said yesterday. Responding to calls from President of the Poultry Association Robin Phillips to implement the Poultry and Poultry Products Caricom Standard which was passed in 2012, to prevent substandard meat from entering the local market, the minister said meetings had been held with all stakeholders in the industry. “We are familiar with the proposals of the local poultry sector. Most of what has to be done requires legislative changes. Those changes are in various stages of development,” he said. Read more here
‘IMF is not the boogeyman’
Introducing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) standby programme would be a positive for Barbados, according to executives of the English-speaking Caribbean’s largest insurer by assets, Sagicor Financial Corporation. Read more here
REGIONAL
Sugary Drink Ban - New Policy To Be Implemented In Schools January 2019
Students across Jamaica will be forced to drink healthier beverages at school starting January 2019 as a result of a ban announced by Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton during his Sectoral Debate presentation in Parliament yesterday. "Effective January 2019, the Government will implement a policy to restrict certain types of sugary drinks in schools. By sugary drinks, we mean beverages that contain sugar or syrup that is added by the manufacturer.... It does not include, Mr Speaker, 100 per cent juice or unsweetened milk," Tufton told the House of Representatives. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Beijing may have removed missiles from disputed South China Sea island
Beijing may have removed missile systems from a disputed island in the South China Sea even as it accused the US of sending "attacking weapons" to the region. The deployment of a number of missile systems to the Spratly and Paracel Islands in May sparked an angry rebuke from Washington about Beijing's "militarization" of the sea, almost all of which is claimed by China. It was followed by a B-52 bomber flyover of the Spratlys this week, which the US said was part of a "routine training mission." Read more here
Guatemala volcano: Almost 200 missing and 75 dead
6th June 2018