News
Corporations on virus alert
Regional corporations are mobilising personnel and resources in response to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh’s declaration of a national public health emergency over the Zika virus. Word is that members of the business community have also offered support to block the spread of the mosquito borne virus in the country. Read more…
Granny held for sex acts on 7-year-old
OFFICERS of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) at the Sangre Grande Police Station were left stunned on Friday when a seven-year-old schoolboy confided to them that for three years he was forced to perform oral sex on his 55-year-old grandmother. Read more…
Prison Lockdown
Security forces search for firearms, explosives at Port of Spain jail. THERE was a massive joint exercise yesterday involving members of the Prison and Police services and the Defence Force at the Port of Spain prison, on Frederick Street, that left the jail and areas surrounding it under lockdown for hours. Read more…
Politics
THA, Gopee-Scoon to collaborate
TRADE and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon spent the last working day of the first month in the new year in Tobago, meeting with senior officials of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) with a view to building up commerce in the sister-isle. The day commenced with a courtesy call on THA Chief Secretary Orville London. Read more…
New VAT rate now in force
Although some sectors and individuals approached Government for special consideration with the new 12.5 per cent VAT on former zero rated items, the new tax is now in place across T&T as of midnight. Read more…
Business
Radha Permanand — new CEO of TTCSI
THE Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries (TTCSI) has a new Chief Executive Officer and her name is Radha Permanand. Her first day in office at the umbrella body for the services sector was this past Monday, January 25. In a statement issued last week, Permanand said she was “quite honoured to have been selected for this exciting role.” “Through greater collaboration amongst the key stakeholders in the services sector, Government, industry, academia and civil society, facilitated by the TTCSI, it is expected that we will be better able to identify opportunities and capitalize on them. The services sector may well be the key to economic diversification; it’s time to unlock its full potential,” Permanand said. Read more…
Central Bank: Major demand for labour
THE Central Bank, in its latest monetary policy announcement, yesterday said there continues to be a demand for low to semi-skilled workers in this country.The Bank said, “Although there have been recent reports of lay-offs across the construction, manufacturing and energy sectors, labour market conditions still appear broadly favourable, with demand for low to semi-skilled workers remaining relatively buoyant.” With domestic crude oil and natural gas production falling during the period October to November 2015, the Bank said the slippage in gas output is continuing to negatively impact the downstream industries. Read more…
Regional
IDB joins partnership to advance digital payments
he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has joined the Better Than Cash Alliance, a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that works to accelerate the transition from cash to digital payments in order to drive inclusive growth and reduce poverty. Read more..
Sandals statement prompts call for mistrial in Turks and Caicos
Following the recent disclosure of secret payments made to former Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) premier Michael Misick by one or more Sandals-related companies (Prosecution outlines secret payments made by Sandals to Turks and Caicos ministers), Sandals Resort International issued a statement on Friday acknowledging that the payments in question were in fact made, which has prompted Ralph Thorne QC, representing Misick at the trial to file an application to the court to declare a mistrial. Read more…
International
World's 'top chef' Benoit Violier found dead in apparent suicide, police say
Chef Benoit Violier, whose Swiss restaurant was crowned the best in the world last month, has been found dead in an apparent suicide, police said. His body was discovered late Sunday afternoon in his home in Crissier in western Switzerland, a statement on the Vaud canton police website said Monday. Read more…
Scientists get 'gene editing' go-ahead
1st February 2016