NEWS
Flooding a wake up call for action on climate change
The unprecedented rainfall and ensuing disaster which has plagued this country for the past several weeks, is a wakeup call for the authorities to take decisive action against climate change. Environmental consultant Sascha Jattansingh said critical decisions will have to be made in the next decade which will dictate whether or not TT survives and thrive in the 21st century as climate change poses a most existential threat to the future. She said cities like San Fernando are major contributors to climate change and the recent flooding disaster is a sign that TT is running out of time. Read more here
Flood water receding in Woodland
Although the floods were gradually receding in some parts of Woodland yesterday, several homes and sections of roadway were still inundated with water. Prematie Dwarpaul, whose house has been surrounded by floods for the past three days, said it has been a very difficult situation for her and her son. “We get flooded out in October. We did not even get over that now and now we get flood out again. This is too hard,” she said. Dwarpaul was among residents who got donations of mattresses and other relief supplies from the Ministry of Works and Transport. Cleaning supplies and water were also handed out to affected residents. As he waded through his flooded yard in tall boots to collect supplies, Roger Jaimungal, 75, complained that all his household items, including fridge, stove and bed, were damaged when three feet of water gushed into his home. Read more here
POLITICS
Rowley: My buddy Tim ‘turn beast’
The Prime Minister revealed a close friendship to Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, but teased him for having “turn beast” upon joining the United National Congress (UNC). This light hearted moment prompted giggles among MPs on both sides of the House of Representatives, as it debated the Petrotrin vesting bill on Wednesday night. Rowley was refuting Opposition remarks including those of Gopeesingh. Read more here
PM, Moonilal in court this week
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s lawsuit against Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal will be heard in court this week. He told party supporters at the PNM’st 48th Annual Convention at Shaw Park, Tobago, the Opposition has been peddling fake news and described as a “monstrous lie” claims that he had a bank account in Florida and had received money from AV Drilling. “Well, that I enjoyed because that is going to court next week,” he said. In his wide ranging address, Rowley said crime and corruption were two of the biggest threats facing T&T and they require a consistent fight by his Government. Read more here
BUSINESS
Is NGC negotiating in good faith?
Is something fundamentally wrong with the National Gas Company’s (NGC) style of negotiations? The question is being asked because since the appointment of the current board there has been unease among multinational companies about the pace, tone and tenor of negotiations with the NGC. There are at least three incidents in the public domain that raise questions about the country’s flagship energy company. One is the protracted negotiations with bpTT and EOG Resources for which no solution seemed in sight before Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley went to Houston and brokered a solution among the three companies. While these negotiations were ongoing, billions of US dollars in investment were being withheld from T&T by BP and EOG. Read more here
REGIONAL
Housing For Poor Coming - Holness Announces $500m Programme For Indigent
The Andrew Holness administration is now crafting a programme through which $500 million will be spent to build "reasonable" housing solutions for the poor and indigent across the island. Further, Holness, the prime minister, signalled yesterday that from the Corporate Area to the western end of the island, more major roadworks were in the pipeline. He announced, too, that hundreds of new jobs were on the horizon across several sectors and said his administration was on track to build 22,000 housing solutions by 2021 when a general election is constitutionally due. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump's combative weekend shows rocky road ahead
President Donald Trump is responding to a midterm election that represented a rebuke for his polarizing and aggressive behavior by recommitting to his brazen political style, setting up a turbulent two years to come. Trump's busy weekend served as a microcosm for his presidency as a whole, as he seethed with insults, launched attacks on key figures who have criticized him and returned to fiery rhetoric on immigration. In one spat, he unloaded on retired Adm. William McRaven, former head of Special Operations Command, and attacked the military for not having killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden before 2011. Read more here
Nissan plans to fire Carlos Ghosn over 'misconduct'
19th November 2018