NEWS
Two held with scarlet ibis carcasses
Two people were held with five scarlet ibis carcasses at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, yesterday. Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat announced the arrest in a Facebook post. “There is no doubt today that the scarlet ibis is an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) under the Environmentally Sensitive Species Rules and possession involves a fine of up to $100,000 for each bird, with the possibility of up to two years imprisonment,” he said. Read more here
‘Little progress in reducing HIV’
This country has made “very little progress in reducing HIV and AIDS through education, resources and necessary support in the context of global trends,” according to Nikoli Edwards, executive chairperson T&T Youth. Since 2016, Edwards said he had been able to witness the operations of HIV or STD/STI clinics in more developed countries around the world and there was absolutely no reason why T&T had not raised its standard. “This was especially concerning for a country with such a small population, but one that exists in one of the most at-risk regions,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
Hinds hopes Opposition relents
Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds is hoping an eleventh hour change of heart by the Opposition ahead of the month-end deadline to pass the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018. The bill lets the authorities of TT and other nations share the tax-details of individuals. Last Friday the Opposition said they will not participate in a Special Select Committee of the House of Representatives proposed that day by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. Read more here
Griffith: I intend to cripple their business
Police investigators are now on the hunt for the “Big Fish” in connection with yesterday’s $3 million drug bust that occurred at North Valsayn. A businessman linked to a popular furniture chain in T&T owns the residence, according to sources. Guardian Media was told that investigators believe that there is also a “strong” Colombian link to the massive drug ring that they believe they have “cracked.” Four Venezuelan women were among nine people arrested in connection with the drug haul and up to press time were being questioned by the police. Read more here
BUSINESS
GHL advances, SFC slips
This week, we at Bourse review the performance of two insurance companies within the Non-Banking Finance sector—Guardian Holdings Ltd (GHL) and Sagicor Financial Corporation Ltd (SFC)—for the nine-month period ended September 2018. Read more here
REGIONAL
Editors' Forum | Sexual Harassment Sham? - Hewett Questions The Commitment Of Legislators To Pass Long-Promised Law
Almost 30 years after Jamaica first started its consideration of laws to address the issue of sexual harassment, executive director of Woman Inc Joyce Hewett has concluded that the political will is not there for the legislation to be passed. And Hewett is convinced that the delay in the legislation is partly because men are the ones who predominantly make the decisions in Parliament. Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum last Thursday, Hewett noted that there have been discussions about introducing sexual harassment legislation from as far back as 1991. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
China baby gene editing claim 'dubious'
Ukraine says Russia opened fire on its naval vessels, seized them
The Ukrainian military said Sunday that Russian boats opened fire on and seized three of its ships near Crimea, escalating a standoff over the Kerch Strait, a key waterway that holds strategic importance for both countries. The incident marks a major escalation in tensions between the two former Soviet Republics. On Monday, Ukrainian lawmakers will vote on whether to declare martial law, following a proposal by the country's President Petro Poroshenko. An emergency United Nations Security Council meeting has been called for Monday to discuss the issue. Read more here
26th November 2018