NEWS
14 detainees to be charged before SoE ends
Senior police sources say they are confident at least 14 people who were held under the authority of a Preventive Detention Order (PDO) during the State of Emergency (SoE), will be charged before it expires. The SoE began on December 30 and will end on April 13 as Parliament must meet to vote on an extension, but cannot as it has been prorogued in light of the upcoming April 28 general election. Read more here
Acting CoP says no leave restriction currently in force
Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Junior Benjamin has denied there is a leave restriction policy in place for the T&T Police Service (TTPS). This, following complaints from officers who reported being denied leave on the basis that it was a “crime-fighting measure.” Disgruntled officers claimed they were entitled to four days off as compensatory time for Carnival 2025, but claimed following the General Election announcement, a memo was issued by the acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Curt Simon, that leave had once again been restricted. Upset over the fact that the rank and file had not been informed of this prior to the memo’s release, the officers complained that they had been working right through Christmas, Carnival, the State of Emergency, and now for the upcoming General Election, without any substantial breaks. Read more here
POLITICS
Cummings slams negative media, begs East Port of Spain residents to 'stop killing each other'
Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings used the occasion of the launch of the recommissioned Basilon Street Youth Development Centre to complain about the media's coverage of the area, in his address on April 10. However minutes later, he urged residents to stop murdering each other. "The media! Stop only putting murders on the front page! Give us a front page and put Basilon Street Youth Facility where positive things will be happening for the young people of Trinidad and Tobago. Put that on the front page! Papers will still sell! Read more here
Kamla vows to pay Caroni cane farmers $110m owed to them
UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has pledged to pay former Caroni private cane farmers the entire outstanding sum of $110 million that was due to them - and she's questioning if Government has sold the Port of Port-of-Spain. Persad-Bissessar also accused Finance Minister Vishnu Dhanpaul of signalling that the People's National Movement (PNM) "has no intention" to pay workers backpay or salary increase if re-elected. Read more here
BUSINESS
Cocoa Development Company eyes US$100m revenue by 2030
The Cocoa Development Company of TT Ltd (CDCTTL) hopes to turn a US$5.9 million investment in a strategic plan into US$100 million in revenues over the next five years. Speaking to Newsday after its fourth National Cocoa Awards at NESC auditorium in Couva on April 9, CDCTTL's acting CEO Mala Partap said the international demand is there but, due to various challenges, the country is unable to produce the 2,000 metric tons being demanded. Read more here
T&T to launch new Global T&T Agency
Trinidad and Tobago will soon have a new Global T&T Agency (formerly Export T&T) aimed at boosting investment and driving exports, according to Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon. Gopee-Scoon made the remarks during the T&T Manufacturers’ Association’s leadership discussion and networking event on Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. Read more here
REGIONAL
25, 000 seniors with insufficient NIS contributions to get one-off payments from today
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced a mammoth $10 billion one-off payout for senior citizens who would have contributed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) but do not have enough to qualify for pensions. During a live announcement, the Head of State explained that the payout will provide financial support to those NIS contributors. “This is yet another fulfilment of something we did not even promise, but something we heard from you when we visited you, when we talked to you, when we interacted with you. And that is what this government is about; delivering better, delivering bigger and delivering every single day for the people of our country,” President Ali said to the group of senior citizens and NIS staff seated in front of him. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US fires Greenland military base chief for 'undermining' Vance
The head of the US military base in Greenland has been fired after she reportedly sent an email distancing herself from Vice-President JD Vance's criticism of Denmark. The US military's Space Operations Command said Col Susannah Meyers had been removed from her role at Pituffik Space Base due to a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead". Last month, Vance said Denmark had "not done a good job" for Greenlanders and had not spent enough on security while visiting the Danish territory. The alleged email, released by a military news site, told staff Vance's comments were "not reflective" of the base. A Pentagon spokesman cited the article, saying "undermining" US leadership was not tolerated. Read more here
11th April 2025