NEWS
Trini Isis Blown Up
A 34-year-old Trinidadian who left his Richplain Road, Diego Martin home in August 2014, accompanied by his two wives and two children, to perform guard duties in Syria was killed last Friday at his workplace during a US airstrike on ISIS terrorists in that country. The Trini was identified yesterday as Chris Steve Lewis also known as Abdool Rahim. He also had the alias ‘Fig Man’ because he provided bananas for high end supermarkets locally. Newsday understands Lewis worshipped at the Jamaat Al Muslimeen compound in St James but in August 2014, told Jamaat members and relatives that he was going to England to do guard duties and make a better life for himself. However, Lewis travelled to Syria with his wives and children and carried out guard duties for ISIS rebels. While in Syria, he married a third woman. Read more…
Man ambushed after roulette argument
Some 228 people have been murdered in the first six months of the year, according to Homicide Bureau of Investigations. This figure is 28 more than for the corresponding period last year. The most recent victim was Anderson Gomez who was killed on Wednesday night moments after he got into a argument with a group of men over a roulette machine game. Police said Gomez, of Maturita Extension, Arima, was killed after gunmen ambushed him around 10.30 pm in the car park of the Big Yard Recreation Club. He was shot several times by his attackers and collapsed and died at the scene. Police said they knew of no motive for his shooting since he was not known to them. However, they believe it may be tied to an argument he had with some men over a roulette machine in the recreation club. Read more…
Jamaica blanks Trini over yellow fever fear
Two passengers who travelled from Trinidad to Jamaica this week were turned back at Norman Manley International Airport after failing to show proof of yellow fever vaccination. The passengers were a Trinidadian and a Barbadian. The Jamaican Gleaner reported on Tuesday that the passengers arrived on Caribbean Airlines (CAL). The newspaper reported: “Jamaica has carried out its threat to deny entry to the island persons who could not prove that they were vaccinated against the yellow fever virus by turning back nine passengers who arrived in the island yesterday. Another eight were being quarantined at a hotel in Kingston. Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton has confirmed the matter, saying that five of the passengers who were from Trinidad and Tobago arrived on Caribbean Airlines while 12 came in from Panama on Copa Airlines. Four of the 12 were included in the nine who were sent back.” Read more…
POLITICS
Rowley: NO TREXIT
That was the position of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday as he said this country remains “resolute in our commitment to Caricom”, in the face of indications of disturbances within the Caribbean’s regional block after Britain’s stunning Brexit vote. “As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago I hear the winds of disturbances in the Caricom,” Rowley said at a post Cabinet media briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. “Trinidad and Tobago is resolute with respect to our commitment to Caricom.” The Prime Minister said he had a message for Caricom. “When your neighbour’s house is on fire, wet your own,” Rowley said. “There is value and strength in Caricom. As a unit we are stronger together.” Rowley announced a mission will re-open at Barbados and this would be one expression of that commitment. This mission, he said, will also serve the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) block. Read more…
Mottley replaces Jones on Energy body, PM admits WGTL failed
While Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has praised service to T&T by former Petrotrin chairman, Malcom Jones, he also admitted yesterday the World Gas to Liquids (WGTL) project — done under Jones — had failed. “It’s accepted without question that WGTL failed and it came to grief... it’s one project that went horribly bad... that isn’t an issue for debate, it’s a clear statement,” Rowley said at yesterday’s weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the PM, St Clair. Saying Jones had resigned from Government’s Energy Sub-Committee (ESC) since March 23, Rowley said his replacement was one-time People’s National Movement finance minister Wendell Mottley. Mottley helmed Finance under the 1991-1995 Patrick Manning PNM administration, led the now defunct Citizens Alliance and was a Congress of the People (COP) foundation member. Read more…
PM assures highway extension work will continue
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has assured the construction of the multi-billion-dollar Point Fortin highway extension will continue. He was responding to a question at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. Read more…
BUSINESS
Labour, business disagree on Code
The divide between the business sector and labour was evident on Tuesday as a prominent business sector leader and trade unionist offered differing views on a new code to govern the workplace. Energy Chamber chief executive officer Dr Thackwray Driver, in agreeing with the adoption of a Basic Terms and Conditions Code, applauded the emphasis on “individual employment rights” together with the “ability of non-unionised employees to access the services of the Ministry of Labour and the Industrial Court.” However, in stark contrast was Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) president Vincent Cabrera who pointed out that the ordinary worker would not be able to approach the Industrial Court without the assistance of either a trade union or a lawyer. Both men were addressing a national stakeholder consultation on the basic terms and conditions of work code hosted by the Ministry of Labour at the NESC Auditorium, Rivulet road, Couva yesterday. Cabrera, who spoke on behalf of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) said they were “opposed to item 2 (of the Code), in terms of accessibility because not every worker can afford an attorney. Read more…
NEL’s profits decline
Holdings company National Enterprises Ltd (NEL) has seen its profits plummet during its past financial year. NEL’s after-tax profits and earnings per share declined because of a fall in energy prices and revenue declines in several investee companies that make up NEL, the company’s consolidated financial statements for its year ended March 31, 2016. Read more…
REGIONAL
Suriname president acts to halt his trial in 1982 political executions
President Desi Bouterse on Wednesday instructed Suriname's attorney general immediately to halt his trial in relation to the abduction and summary execution of 15 political opponents in 1982 when he was the military dictator of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member nation. Bouterse invoked Article 148 of Suriname's constitution, which allows the president to issue such an order in the interests of national security. The former dictator returned to power in 2010 when he was democratically elected president by parliament. Two years later, Bouterse's supporters pushed an amnesty law through parliament. He was re-elected by parliament after general elections last year. However, in June, the court declared the amnesty law invalid and ordered the resumption of the trial against Bouterse and 24 co-defendants. Read more…
Top Cop Probe - Searchlight On High-Ranking Officers In Operation To Nab 'Dudus'
More than six years after the deadly police-military operations in west Kingston, the Police High Command has agreed to have an independent panel scrutinise the conduct of several high-ranking officers and their subordinates during the incursion. The review will target senior officers such as Assistant Commissioner Donovan Graham, the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) ground commander for the operations; Assistant Commissioner Winchroy Budhoo; and other serving members of the JCF whose conduct during the May 2010 operations came in for sharp criticism from the Sir David Simmons-led West Kingston Commission of Enquiry. The High Command indicated yesterday, in its first public comments on the raft of JCF-related recommendations included in the report of the Simmons commission, that the findings of the independent review panel would determine whether these officers and their subordinates would face any action. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Austria presidential poll result overturned
Brexit: The week that brought Britain to its knees
The gasps were audible, the stares of disbelief wide-eyed. This was big news. Massive. And nobody had seen it coming. Boris Johnson, one of the most recognizable faces in British politics and champion of Britain's "Leave" campaign, was not, after all, going to lead the UK out of the European Union, into the brave new dawn of whatever it is that comes next. Instead, faced by a challenge from his closest companion on the Brexit battle bus, the former London mayor opted to pick up his toys and go home. It was the most shocking day in British politics since, well... last week. The seven days since have been packed with more intrigue and plotting than a House of Cards box set, more turmoil and backstabbing than an entire season of Game of Thrones. Read more…
1st July 2016