NEWS
Mother of student, 15, beaten outside Holy Faith: Girls fighting for 'likes'
The mother of a 15-year-old form four student at Holy Faith Convent in Couva says her daughter was wrongfully targeted and attacked just outside the school gates on June 10, caught in the crossfire of a "social media beef" the alleged attackers had with another student. In a now viral video on social media, five girls are seen beating on the 15-year-old girl at the gates of the school compound. They then dragged her into the road, where they continue their assault for another 15 seconds. Read more here
Minister declares illegal dumping in waterways a national emergency
Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John has declared the widespread practice of dumping waste in watercourses a “national emergency”, emphasising the critical need for immediate action as the rainy season approaches. During a tour of outfall drains in her Couva North constituency yesterday, John told Guardian Media that the Government is considering expanded public education campaigns to combat littering and its devastating environmental impact. “Pollution is a major contributor to flooding across the country,” John explained, citing recent incidents in Port-of-Spain where clean-up crews discovered large drums, wardrobes, stoves, and clothing clogging waterways. “In addition to major appliances, we have plastic bottles strewn everywhere throughout our water systems.” Read more here
POLITICS
Ameen: Government moving to create jobs, not fire workers
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen says the UNC is about creating new jobs and not firing people. She made the comment during a visit to the Princes Town Regional Corporation on June 10. On June 3, former rural development and local government minister Faris Al-Rawi claimed there would be mass firings of URP and CEPEP workers. “I’d like to caution the government that irresponsible action, witch-hunting, mass firings, persecution, scandalising will not be tolerated and will be met with full force.” Read more here
Security boosted in Cedros Peninsula—Alexander
Amid growing concerns from Cedros residents about the state of security along the southwestern peninsula, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander has assured that additional security measures have been implemented in the area. Speaking to Guardian Media, Alexander said Wayne Sturge has been placed in charge of external border patrols. Regarding security on land, Alexander noted, “The commissioner deployed some vehicles in that area in response to the concerns people are having.” He added that the Government remains committed to providing a high level of safety and security to everyone. However, he declined to comment on a police exercise that took place in Cedros over the weekend. Read more here
BUSINESS
Scotiabank reports $340 million
SCOTIABANK TT has reported $340 million in profits after tax in its six-month financial report ending on April 30. The results showed a $17 million or five per cent increase in profits, as compared to the same period the year before when it reported $324 million in profits. The bank reported that total revenue was $1 billion for the period, an increase of six per cent or $55 million over the year before. Read more here
Business Chambers urge clarity, reform ahead of Mid-Year review
AS Trinidad and Tobago’s mid-year budget review nears, business chambers across the country are urging the newly elected government to outline clear, time-bound policy actions to drive economic diversification, improve the ease of doing business, and restore investor confidence. Chamber leaders are also urging swift action on persistent challenges such as foreign exchange shortages, VAT refund delays, and bureaucratic red tape, while calling for accelerated development in non-energy sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, maritime services, and digital innovation. Read more here
REGIONAL
Abundance of opportunities available to work, grow, live a fruitful life
Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo has urged the newest graduates of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) to seize the opportunities before them, emphasising that their newly acquired skills and certifications should be utilised to achieve further growth and development. Jagdeo said this in an impromptu address during the final ceremony as part of the two-day graduation events at the National Cultural Centre, where close to 2,000 persons received various certificates and degrees at different levels. He expressed pride in witnessing the fruits of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning, with thousands of persons graduating, and the number of allotted scholarships even doubling the government’s initial target of 20,000 online scholarships. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
South Korea turns off propaganda loudspeakers to North
South Korea's military says it has suspended its loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border to North Korea, as part of a bid to "restore trust" between both countries. The move comes a week after the country elected its new president Lee Jae-myung, who had campaigned on improving inter-Korean ties. Pyongyang considers the loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts an act of war and has threatened to blow them up in the past. They were paused for six years but resumed in June last year in response to Pyongyang's campaign of sending rubbish-filled balloons across the border to the South. Read more here
11th June 2025