NEWS
Insurance firm to pay ex-MD $2.1m, pension, house in retirement
An insurance broking firm has been ordered to pay its former long-standing managing director in excess of $2.1 million, plus a monthly pension and an apartment in a development, if construction resumes, as promised to him in his retirement package. Justice Frank Seepersad made the order on September 11. It came after former MD Omar Daniel and M&M Insurance Broking Services Ltd could not agree on a proposal. The judge was presiding over Daniel’s lawsuit against M&M Insurance. The trial took place on September 9 at the Waterfront Judicial Complex, Port of Spain. On September 10, attorneys for the parties informed the judge they were working on updated figures. Read more here
URP workers uncertain about future, lament errors in dismissal letters
Recently dismissed monthly-paid workers with the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) say the recent batch of terminations has cast uncertainty over their futures. Several workers have also raised concerns over errors in the date of termination and other inaccuracies in the dismissal letters given to them and have claimed that efforts to rectify it only lead to further bureaucracy. On Wednesday Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen confirmed that 400 URP workers would be terminated as letters were distributed to 12 regional offices. Ameen defended the move, as she said such changes was part of a "make work" programme aimed at tackling years of entrenched corruption. Read more here
POLITICS
Government committee to tackle cyber security, AI fraud
Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dominic Smith said Cabinet has newly approved an inter-ministerial committee to deal with cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI). He said it is meant to address cyber-security threats and AI-enabled scams. He said there has been a rapid increase in cyber-related incidents and AI-enabled scams targeting public officials and well-known organisations. “The range of illicit activities that currently target citizens include, but are not limited to, investor scams, some of which are using AI-generated likenesses of public figures, with the intent to defraud citizens. The government takes these threats very seriously. Read more here
Vice president warns T&T ‘don’t dare’ provoke Venezuela
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is now warning T&T against any plans of aggression against the “people of Simón Bolívar,” saying, “Don’t even think about it.” She made the comment even as Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro yesterday announced the deployment of the Independence 200 Plan, which will see the participation of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the militias on “284 battle fronts” to guarantee “the independence and peace” of that country. The move comes after the United States deployed at least eight warships and one submarine to the Caribbean in a bid to counter illegal drug trafficking, which it claimed is emanating from Venezuela. Read more here
BUSINESS
Govt plans mass retrenchment in public sector
Government plans to give public sector workers the promised 10% salary increase but will retrench half of them. So claimed former finance minister Colm Imbert on Wednesday night as he addressed a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting at the Diego Martin North Community Centre. Imbert said it was obvious the Government was struggling. “Every day we get a new story about somebody who didn’t get their salary, or who didn’t get their benefits,” he said. “Every day we have a new story about salaries being paid late, salaries not being paid at all, deductions not being made, standing orders not being processed, people not getting their allowances, and of course, thousands of people being retrenched, bills are not being paid, suppliers are not being paid, because the Government is struggling,” he said. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘You held the line’
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has recognised several members of the Disciplined Services for their outstanding bravery, dedication, and professionalism in upholding law and order. At a special awards ceremony on Thursday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces commended the ranks for their unwavering commitment to duty and their vital role in ensuring the safety and security of the nation during the recently held 2025 general and regional elections. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ros Atkins on... Israel's war in Gaza and proportionality
Israel's military operation in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of buildings, and severely restricted the supply of food. The operation was launched after Hamas rampaged through villages, military posts and a music festival in Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. The United Nations' (UN) human rights body would later conclude that Hamas had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time that "like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself". He argues his country's military operation in Gaza is a "just war" with the goals of destroying Hamas and bringing home all the hostages. Read more here
12th September 2025