NEWS
A hospital for women
Women now have a place to go to see about their every female health issue, including pregnancy, cancer, obstetric/gynaecology problems and even infertility, all under one roof. The Sanjivani Women’s Hospital formally opened its doors at Wilson Street, St Augustine, on Saturday, under the directorship of obstetrician/gynaecologist (ob/gyn) consultant Dr Prakashbhan Persad. Read more here
Tight security on illegal entry
The illegal influx of Venezuelans has shifted from Icacos and Cedros on the South Western Peninsula as security has been tightened in the area. The majority of Venezuelans are now said to be entering several other inlets along the southern coast including Puerto Grande, Erin, Los Iros, Quinam, and as far as Moruga. Other inlets used by smugglers were identified along the coastline at Guapo, Chatham, San Fernando, Vistabella, and Marabella. During a visit to the coastal villages last week, Guardian Media was told that many Venezuelans who enter into T&T illegally via pirogues pay between US$200 to US$300. Most of the pirogue operators are said to be Spanish-speaking men, also believed to be Venezuelans. Read more here
POLITICS
Young: Strides since full-time CoP
National Security Minister Stuart Young says positive effects were already being seen since the appointment of a permanent commissioner of police. “Immediately upon the appointment of a permanent commissioner of police the population said they started to feel a sense of hope, a sense of confidence in what was being done.” He was contributing to debate last Friday on a motion to adopt the report of a Joint Select Committee that looked at the Police Manpower Audit Committee report, chaired by Professor Ramesh Deosaran, in the House. Read more here
No witch-hunt in white-collar crime investigations—Griffith
With the recent announcement of a new elite unit to tackle white-collar crime in T&T and promises that the “Big Fish” will be arrested and brought to justice, Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith is assuring that it will not be a unit engaging in witch-hunt. Griffith also said he intends to "acquire" local and international expertise from outside to improve its effectiveness. The following is a short Question and Answer with the CoP. Read more here
BUSINESS
AMCL improves, GKC declines
This week, we at Bourse review the most recent financial results of two companies within the Conglomerate sector—Ansa McAL Ltd (AMCL) and GraceKennedy Ltd (GKC). Read more here
REGIONAL
Dull Debates - First-Time MPs Dismayed By 'Boring', 'Parochial' Discourse In Parliament
First-time lawmaker Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn has admitted that she sometimes gets bored listening to debates in Parliament. Cuthbert-Flynn, the former star athlete-turned-politician, asserted, too, that not enough legislation is being passed and complained that debates in the House of Representatives are often not as robust as she would like. "It is a little mundane for me sometimes and a little boring, to be honest with you, that I sit there and listen to some senior people go on and on about things and not really pushing legislation and making things happen for the country," the member of parliament for St Andrew West Rural told The Gleaner. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
California wildfires: Death toll reaches grim milestone
Trump's Paris trip marked by missed moments -- and a dire warning
First it was a second-place replacement for his own grand military parade. Then it was a stately gesture to illustrate an alliance he's done little to cultivate. After a midterm election drubbing, it was an opportunity to retreat and regroup. Yet by the time US President Donald Trump departed Orly Airport on Sunday, 44 hours after he arrived, the reasons for his trip to Paris had become largely obscured. It did less to bolster the transatlantic partnership than to expose its cracks. The 3,800 miles the President put between himself and Washington did little to buffer the boiling political crises back home. And it was decidedly gloomier than the procession of tanks and troops Trump originally envisioned rolling through Washington on this date more than a year ago. Read more here
12th November 2018