NEWS
Man’s Hand Blown Off
Medical Director of the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) Dr Anand Chattergoon yesterday called for action against the use of fireworks as he revealed that 11 persons including a two-year-old child and a 54-year-old man visited the hospital on Divali night (Tuesday) and Wednesday for grievous injuries caused by the bursting of fireworks. In the case of the 54-year-old man, three of the fingers on his right hand were blown off when a firework he was holding, exploded. The veteran medic told Newsday 11 patients had to seek medical attention at the southern hospital for serious injuries due to fire crackers and other explosive devices used on Tuesday night during the Divali festivites. And with Christmas and New Years fast approaching - times when fireworks are heavily used - Dr Chattergoon called for action. Read more…
Gridlock as mechanic crushed to death
It was a motorist’s nightmare in south Trinidad yesterday as gridlock traffic along the Solomon Hochoy Highway snaked its way from Tarouba to San Fernando, following an accident which claimed the life of a Princes Town mechanic during mid-afternoon rush-hour. Motorists remained stuck for more than five hours as police and fire officers supervised the removal of a trailer-truck which blocked off a portion of the north-bound lane. Read more…
POLITICS
Communications Minister: Moral suasion on firecrackers
Minister of Communications Maxie Cuffie yesterday suggested that the firecracker menace can be tackled by admonitions from the police and others being conveyed to the general public by the media. Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in St Clair, Cuffie refused to be drawn into Newsday’s question as to why firecracker merchants are not being targetted by government for a ban on the sale of fireworks. “It’s strange that you should ask that because I was at a Divali celebration last weekend and the performances kept being interrupted by people using firecrackers, and there needed to be an intervention from the podium to ask for restraint,” related Cuffie. Read more…
United Opposition as House resumes today
Sorry folks, no brawling ahead on the Opposition bench. As Parliament resumes today that was the advisory to the Government from new Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh following his appointment, replacing Roodal Moonilal, who stepped down as he challenged Kamla Persad-Bissessar for leadership of the United National Congress (UNC). The Opposition Leader is also being challenged by former senator Vasant Bharath. She appointed Singh on Wednesday to replace Moonilal. The latter launched his slate last night at Rienzi Complex. Read more…
BUSINESS
S&P says, First Citizens ‘stable’
Standard and Poor’s (S&P) on November 9 affirmed First Citizens’ ‘BBB+/A-2’ issuer credit rating, and says the bank has a “stable” outlook for the next 12 to 18 months. “At the same time, we affirmed the ‘BBB+’ issue- level ratings on its senior unsecured debt. The outlook on all ratings is stable,” S&P stated. According to the United States-based financial services company, the bank has “continued to reinforce its position as one of the top banks in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) by maintaining its diversified banking product offerings.” S&P also said First Citizens’ stable outlook “reflects its very strong capitalization levels and adequate asset quality metrics.” Explaining its rationale, S&P said the bank’s ratings “continue to reflect our opinion of the bank’s “adequate” business position, supported by its market share in terms of total loans and deposits, as one of the largest banks in TT.” Read more…
REGIONAL
Booted - JLP Drops Devon Wint As Candidate For West Central St Catherine
The constituency of West Central St Catherine has once again been rocked by turmoil as the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was forced last night to scratch a resisting Devon Wint from the slate of candidates after a meeting at the party's Belmont Road headquarters in New Kingston late yesterday. For some in the JLP, this serves as a lifeline for former South West St Elizabeth Member of Parliament Dr Christopher Tufton, who has been scrambling without success for a seat to represent the party. Party insiders told The Gleaner last night that the senior party members were troubled that Wint had initially rejected an overture by the JLP leadership when he was asked to quietly step aside voluntarily. Read more…
Barbados government to provide credit guarantees for SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Barbados now have another avenue in which to obtain finance to expand and remodel their businesses, through the provision of credit guarantees to commercial banks and other finance companies. A trust deed for an enhanced credit guarantee fund was signed on Wednesday by minister of finance, Christopher Sinckler, on behalf of the government of Barbados; and governor of the Central Bank, DeLisle Worrell. The Central Bank will be executing the fund, which was financed with capital of BDD $70 million (US$35 million), provided by the Inter-American Development Bank and the China Co-financing Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
'Jihadi John': US air strike targets Islamic State militant in Syria
The sky is falling, and scientists are amped
A mysterious object is headed for a fiery collision with Earth on Friday, but scientists say there's nothing to fear. Astronomers who've spotted the object streaking through space say it's too light to be a space rock. They think it's probably the abandoned upper stage from a man-made rocket finally coming home. At a couple of meters (about 6.5 feet) in diameter, it will pose little danger to anyone on Earth, the European Space Agency says. Read more…
13th November 2015