DAILY BRIEF
Thursday 23rd July, 2015
NEWS
Bakr released without charge
Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr, who was detained by police on Monday morning for questioning on the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, was released yesterday afternoon from the Central Police Station in Port of Spain without any charge. Bakr, 74, who staged a failed coup in 1990, spent two days at the police station after he was picked up at his Dibe Road home in Long Circular by police on Monday morning. Initially he had been informed that the officers were there to execute a warrant for firearms and ammunition. Nothing was found, but he was detained. Yesterday afternoon, Bakr walked out of the police station with his attorney Criston J Williams, after police officers informed him that he was free to go. Relieved to be reunited with his family, Bakr heaped thanks on all those who were there for him and supporting him throughout his detention. Read more…
Jack’s extradition documents arrive
The Office of the Attorney General has finally received the United States’ formal extradition request for former Fifa executive and current Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner. Attorney General Garvin Nicholas made the announcement at a press conference at his Cabildo Chambers office, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday evening as he sought to dispel rumours over the arrival of the documents which are required for Warner’s extradition proceedings to commence. Nicholas said: “The process is now for me to examine the documents and consider the evidence and decide whether to issue the authority to proceed.” The official start of Warner’s case is dependent on Nicholas’s decision as only when he gives it, the documents on charges the former government minister is facing will be disclosed to his attorneys. Read more…
Imam’s son gunned down
Two weeks after participating in a march for peace in Enterprise Chaguanas — the scene of recent shootings and violence between warring gangs — head of the Enterprise Mosque Imam Morland Lynch was yesterday burying his son Akmal Lynch, hours after he was shot dead. Imam Lynch said despite his son’s murder, he was confident that peace would remain in Crown Trace, Bhagaloo Trace and other areas of central Trinidad. “I will not give up and I will keep praying for peace and I will also pray that we get justice for my son’s killing,” the Imam told Newsday moments before he buried his son yesterday. Akmal was shot at point blank range in the head. Two Sundays ago Imam Lynch was among a few residents who joined Ag Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Ag Assistant Commissioner of Police (Southern, Central and South Western) Cecil Santana in a peace march organised by the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO). Read more…
POLITICS
Rowley: It’s no vanity project
A viable mass transit system could never be a “vanity project”, People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday. He was responding to statements by Communications Minister Vasant Bharath that the Rapid Rail was a “vanity project to satisfy his (Rowley’s) ego”. Rowley stated: “Vanity project? It is not I who wants a month’s notice about the colour of the television set in the leaders’ debate so that I could plan my wardrobe.” Rowley was referring to reports that among a list of demands purporting to come from the Prime Minister’s negotiator in the leaders’ debate, was a request that the team be informed one month in advance of the colour of the backdrop to the set so that the Prime Minister’s wardrobe could be coordinated with it. Rowley said the PNM will review the proposal for a mass transit system and will proceed only if it remains an economically viable project. “With respect to the mass transit system, I have made it very clear what we (in the PNM) are going to do. Read more…
Prime Minister: No need to fear
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night said Government has received no information to suggest there is any imminent national security threat to the country and there is no need for the population to fear. The Prime Minister made the comment in a CNC3 interview during a meeting she held with other senior members of the ruling People’s Partnership coalition at an undisclosed location. “We have had no reports or information or intelligence, that there is any planning for any such thing to take place,” Persad-Bissessar said. She continued, “Law enforcement personnel are on alert for doing their jobs and we will use all the resources to deal with any untoward matters that may arise.” Persad-Bissessar, who is the chairman of the National Security Council, indicated the security forces “are fully prepared and alert, not for any specific matter, but generally to keep law and order.” She explained, “Should it be that there is any spike in anything, of course that will be increased and beefed up to deal with any eventuality.” Read more…
BUSINESS
Paint maker complains of being bypassed
The head of locally-owned manufacturing company Kaleidoscope Paints yesterday sought answers from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as to why the company was bypassed for the job to paint the Couva Children’s Hospital. The company’s chief executive officer, Dale Parson, argued that despite being competitive among foreign and local paint brands, a foreign brand was last year chosen over the 45-year-old Kaleidoscope Ltd. He said this happened although the contractor for the project specified that local brands be used. Parson was one of several people who attended a pre-election luncheon with the Prime Minister, hosted by the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry, at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday. “I don’t want to boast about our quality and our years in this business but we get a lot more support from local contractors like NH International rather than the Chinese, like Shanghai Construction. Read more…
CWC reports US$583 million revenue
Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) has reported Group revenue of US$583 million, an increase of four percent in the first quarter of the 2015 financial year. According to a statement issued yesterday, CWC’s revenue (excluding Columbus) grew by two percent while Columbus’ revenue grew by 12 percent. The integration of Columbus into CWC is reported to be progressing well, with new management and organisation in place. CWC CEO Phil Bentley said, “In the First Quarter we have made a good start on integration and have maintained momentum through organic growth.” He continued, “Mobile revenue was flat against the prior year and good progress was made in broadband and video.” While there was a delay in Panama of government contracts being awarded, Bentley said, “However, we have invested in our Latin American managed services, sales and marketing teams and continued to see strong revenue growth there.” Read more…
Petrotrin improves half-year performance
In spite of low oil prices, Petrotrin is reporting improvements to its performance for the third quarter for the fiscal period 2014-2015. In a release, Petrotrin said financial statements for the nine-month period ending June 30 2015 recorded a contribution of approximately TT$2.5 billion to its shareholder, the government, in the form of taxes and benefits. Direct taxes and fees amounted to TT$1.3 billion, while indirect taxes and benefits were placed at TT$1.2 billion. Petrotrin did indicate at the end of the second quarter, that despite a continuing adverse commercial environment, the company was on course with its mission to maximise its long-term value and return on its assets. Petrotrin’s president Khalid Hassanali said he was encouraged as the company is in the process of putting in place measures to ensure adequate access to capital in the coming years to meet its obligations and fund expanded drilling. Read more…
REGIONAL
First ever OECS Business Council formed
The first ever Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Business Council retreat began on Monday in Saint Lucia, under the theme: “Converging the development agenda together.” President of the OECS Business Council Gorden Charles said the council will focus on enhancing customer satisfaction. Charles said besides looking at their own internal structure they will also consider key interventions such as the high cost of transportation, the cost of energy across the region and access to financing along with strategies such as the ease of doing business thereby providing a less expensive environment for suppliers of goods doing business in the OECS which will benefit the consumer in the long run. Charles added that all business entities such as chambers of commerce, manufacturers associations, coalition of services, as well as hotel and tourism associations are being been further integrated, becoming part of what is known as a private sector council in each island which, as Charles explained: “sits on top of each of the various entities.” Read more…
Malaria confirmed in Puerto Rico after student trip to Dominican Republic
Secretary of Health Ana Rius has confirmed that three young men from Puerto Rico are infected with malaria. Although all are residents of the US island territory, they are believed to have contracted the disease while celebrating their graduation with classmates on a trip to the Dominican Republic. El Nuevo Dia reports that the students travelled to Punta Cana in the first week of July and their symptoms began to appear on their return to Puerto Rico about two weeks later. Physicians initially diagnosed five members of the group with symptoms of malaria, but only three were subsequently confirmed and hospitalised. The health secretary released no details of the students or the schools involved, saying only that the boys were “young, under the age of 21 and older than 15” and that “the Health Department has begun the process of monitoring these schools.” Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Here's the next stop now that US oil cracked $50
U.S. oil futures closed below the psychologically important $50 level-possibly signaling more declines to come and a retest of the March lows. West Texas Intermediate (New York Mercantile Exchange: @CL.1) settled down $1.67 at $49.19 per barrel, the first close below $50 since April 2. U.S. government data Wednesday showed a bearish increase in crude inventories last week of 2.5 million barrels, slightly more than expected. The stronger dollar was also a negative. Some strategists say the latest move down could be setting oil up for a run at the March low, just above $42 per barrel. But crude could also temporarily stay trapped in a range on both sides of $50, suspended by the pull of heavy refining demand and the pressure from increased supply from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Read more…
23rd July 2015