NEWS
Two boys charged in Reid's death
Two children who were taken into police custody following last Thursday's shooting death of ten-year-old Reuben Reid remained in custody up to last night. By today, the police would know wether they will be charged or not. Reid, a pupil of Diego Martin RC School, was shot and killed in a forest overlooking Richplain Road, Diego Martin. Read more…
DEATH OF A HERO
A young teacher who just a few days ago told her mother that she did not wish to die in a fire, perished when a raging blaze consumed the family’s Cunupia home early yesterday morning. Before her demise, however, 24-year-old Rhea Heeralal, was able to alert the family to the fire, running in and out of the burning building also to ensure they were all safe. It is suggested that on the occasion when she went back into the house to check on whether her parents had made it outside she became trapped in the flames and was burnt to death. Rhea was the daughter of popular freelance videographer, Ramdeo Heeralal, who suffered burns about the body and is warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mt Hope. His wife, Nardaroon Heeralal, escaped unharmed. The elder of their two daughters, however, 29-year-old Rheisa Heeralal is also in hospital with minor burns. Read more…
CAL admits to reviewing London route
Caribbean Airlines yesterday remained non-commital on whether it was withdrawing its London service from next year. However, it admitted to reviewing its options on the type of aircraft being used to fly the route. In a press release, in response to recent media reports the airline will pull out of London and return its Boeing 767 fleet to its lessor early next year in a cost-cutting measure, the airline assured its customers that as of now, it continued to service the route. It added, however, that it had been conducting a detailed review of its network profitability and after intense consultations with Lufthansa Consulting and ICF International (formerly SH&E), two of the world’s leading aviation consultants, certain strategic initiatives were recommended consistent with the current competitive environment. Read more…
POLITICS
Khan: 'good minister, bad MP'
With just 26 days to go before election day, residents of Barataria/San Juan are faced with a dilemma of sorts on whether or not to re-elect incumbent MP Dr Fuad Khan. Generally, he was described as an excellent Minister of Health, but a poor representative. Khan, who first entered Parliament as the elected member for Barataria/San Juan in 1995, held on to the seat until 2007 when he lost to the People's National Movement's (PNM) Joseph Ross. In 2010, he reclaimed the seat for the People's Partnership, defeating Ross by a whopping 4,108 votes. Read more…
Moonilal to Rowley on journalist’s claims: Take lie detector test
If the political leader of the PNM Dr Keith Rowley wants to prove his innocence over allegations of sexual harassment made by a journalist, he should subject himself to a lie detector test. This was the challenge thrown out to Rowley by United National Congress deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal, who accused him of trying to deflect from the allegations made by former investigative reporter at the Express Anika Gumbs. Gumbs resigned from the Express last Friday and in her resignation letter she detailed three instances where she claimed Rowley made inappropriate comments to her at his home and office. Rowley has dismissed Gumbs’ allegations as untrue and claimed that the reporter was paid by the UNC to fabricate them. Read more…
BUSINESS
Boodhai takes charge at UTC
The Unit Trust Corporation (TTUTC) yesterday announced the appointment of Krishna Boodhai as its new chairman. A statement issued by the UTC said the appointment was made in accordance and advised by the President. Boodhai’s term of office takes effect from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2017. Boodhai brings a wealth of global financial and management experience having served as Chief Financial Officer, Citibank, Trinidad, with responsibility for Finance for Trinidad, Barbados and Bahamas, Financial Comptroller/Head of Finance, Scotiabank, Trinidad and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IBL Bank. The UTC said Boodhai, who holds an MBA from Henley Management College, is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) as well as the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and Life Management Institute (FLMI). Read more…
Cement shares lower at $2.90
Overall market activity resulted from trading in ten securities of which none advanced, two declined and eight traded firm. Trading activity on the First Tier Market registered a volume of 318,631 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $3,162,353.54. Trinidad Cement Limited was the volume leader with 219,357 shares changing hands for a value of $636,135.30, followed by GraceKennedy Limited with a volume of 50,000 shares being traded for $180,000. Scotiabank T&T Limited contributed 25,175 shares with a value of $1,568,706.08, while Massy Holdings Limited added 8,262 shares valued at $521,168.41. Read more…
REGIONAL
United Airlines to begin flights to St. Kitts and Nevis in December
United Airlines will launch a non-stop service from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to St. Kitts on December 19. Flights will operate every Saturday until April 30 next year, complementing the existing non-stop service into St. Kitts from North America, and providing more options for travelers to get to the twin-island federation during the peak winter travel season. The new route provides additional connections from St. Kitts’ top feeder gateways, including Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Read more…
Turks and Caicos deputy attorney general appointed as Eastern Caribbean judge
Deputy attorney general in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Wynante Mary Adrien-Roberts, has been appointed as high court judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and has been assigned to Grenada. She assumes office on September 1, 2015. "I am delighted that Ms Adrien Roberts' elevation to the High Court bench in the Eastern Caribbean has now been announced,” said TCI attorney general Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles. “She is a terrific example of a well-developed legal mind and in her short tenure in my Chambers, colleagues have benefitted tremendously from her many years of public sector legal experience. We are sorry to see her leave but also very pleased for her good news. I congratulate her on attaining the pinnacle of the legal profession and wish her well. She will be a very good judge.” Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
China devalues its currency: What you need to know
China's currency has fallen 3.5% against the dollar in the past two days, setting the currency up for its largest two-day decline in decades. On Tuesday, the People's Bank of China surprised markets by executing a one-time 2% devaluation of the yuan and changing the way it's traded. The currency's losses mounted Wednesday. The shock move has rattled financial markets and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told CNN that it could be "devastating" for the U.S. economy. Read more…
32 charged over 'insider trading hack' scheme
12th August 2015