NEWS
Deep sorrow: MP Morris-Julian, 2 children die in house fire
D’ABADIE/O’MEARA MP Lisa Morris-Julian is being remembered as a kind, caring and helpful woman who dedicated her life to serving people, her community and her country. Morris-Julian, 48, died in a tragic early-morning fire at her Farfan Street, Arima home on December 16, which also claimed the lives of two of her children. Police say the fire began at around 5.30 am while eight people were at home. Morris-Julian's body was found in a bedroom on the eastern side of the house with her youngest child, six-year old Jesiah Julian. Read more here
Welcome Road residents not happy with pothole repair work
Residents of Welcome Road, Enterprise, are not happy with the pothole patching works being done in the area to bring some level of relief to motorists, who have had to bear worsening road conditions over the years. They believe the crusher run used to fill the potholes yesterday may last around a month before it is either washed out by heavy rains or pushed out by heavy vehicles. However, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) chairman Ryan Rampersad says this was all the CTTRC could do at this time. Read more here
POLITICS
COP, HOPE consider alliance with Griffith’s NTA
Two political parties that have distanced themselves from any formal partnership with the United National Congress (UNC) are now considering joining forces with the National Transformation Alliance (NTA). And the NTA has offered the UNC a place in its political arrangement. Mere days after it seemed as if the UNC had teamed up with the Congress of the People and the HOPE party, both parties revealed they may sign an official agreement with the NTA for a strategic alliance going into the next general election. News of this broke when Guardian Media asked NTA leader Gary Griffith for a comment as it pertained to the COP’s statement that despite media reports, the party had not formally entered into any arrangement with the Opposition. Griffith revealed that prior to that meeting at the UNC’s headquarters, the NTA had been having weekly discussions with HOPE and the COP. Read more here
BUSINESS
Perenco expands Trinidad and Tobago operations
PERENCO TT Ltd has completed its acquisition of several offshore gas fields and associated production facilities from bpTT, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the country’s energy sector. In an Energy Now report, Perenco said the acquired assets, collectively referred to as the CAFI asset, include the Cashima, Amherstia, Flamboyant and Immortelle offshore gas fields. These fields, off Trinidad’s east coast, are crucial sources of natural gas – a key component in TT’s energy production. Read more here
T&TEC granted injunction against OWTU
The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has been granted an injunction against the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU). The order was granted by Justices Heather Seale, Herbert Soverall and Michelle Ann Austin at the Industrial Court yesterday. “T&TEC’s amended application to the court to ‘prevent further acts of unlawful industrial action’ by the Union was made on December 2,” it stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana among Caribbean nations leading in transparency, citizen engagement
As Caribbean nations continue to make positive strides towards more transparent governance, Guyana has emerged as a leading force in advancing open government practices in the region. With the implementation of fiscal transparency, improved access to information, and enhanced citizen engagement, Guyana is setting a commendable example for other nations in the Caribbean. Building on recent developments, Guyana’s commitment to transparency and public accountability has positioned it as an eligible candidate for membership in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an initiative that brings together countries committed to making their governments more transparent, inclusive, and accountable to their citizens. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trudeau in peril after Trump spat sparks political crisis
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has been thrown into fresh disarray with the abrupt departure of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. By the end of a frenetic Monday, a new finance minister was in place, but Trudeau was facing calls from members of his own Liberal Party to quit. Without directly referring to the news, the prime minister told party donors at an event in Ottawa: "It's obviously been an eventful day. It has not been an easy day." Read more here
17th December 2024