NEWS
Family puzzled as Claxton Bay labourer shot, killed
Claxton Bay labourer Brandon Barclay, 31, died from gunshot injuries on September 28 after he was dropped off at a Couva health facility by two anonymous men. Police said a nurse of the Couva District Health Facility contacted the Couva Police Station and reported Barclay was brought in around 6 am with several gunshot wounds. Officers of the Criminal Investigations Department responded. At the facility, they were told Barclay was brought in by two men in a white Nissan B14 who left soon after. The nurse said Barclay was in critical condition and was transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital. Read more here
Economist: Ministries with high budgets must account for poor performance
Economist and former independent senator Amrita Deonarine says concerns about ministries which receive large allocations, such as the Education Ministry and the National Security Ministry, but which are perceived to be having little impact is a valid one for the population. Deonarine, who served in the Senate between 2018 and 2023 and appeared on CNC3’s The Big Interview programme last night, said a “clear explanation” needs to be given going forward about how much of the monies allocated is going towards recurrent expenditure and what is going towards developmental expenditure. Read more here
POLITICS
Budget day arrives with chambers, lobby groups on alert
Finance Minister Colm Imbert will deliver the country’s budget for the upcoming financial year from 1.30 pm on September 30, with expectations high across all quarters. Economists, business chambers and the population at large have anticipated another major fiscal package, carrying on from the TT$57.7 billion 2023/2024 budget and the supplementary budget in June, amounting to TT$3.81 billion. One issue remains on the tip of tongues of many public figures and the general population. Read more here
Hinds praises Crime Stoppers after 25 years, but insists ...'More can be done to fight criminals'
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has commended Crime Stoppers T&T for their efforts in crime-fighting, but has also highlighted the need for greater collaboration between the public and authorities to quell rampant crime. Hinds made the remarks during a celebration dinner at the Brix Hotel, St Ann's, on Saturday night. Referring to data gathered by the organisation that over 400 guns were seized due to tips passed on to Crime Stoppers, Hinds said the group had contributed significantly to this country's fight against crime. He, however, called on all stakeholders, including the public, to redouble their efforts by working with the police to disrupt criminal networks and operations. Read more here
BUSINESS
T&T eyes more trade with Canada
Canada is a key market for expanding Trinidad and Tobago’s exports of goods and services, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said during a meeting with Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Mary Ng, in Toronto last Friday. Gopee-Scoon made the statement while leading a trade mission from Trinidad and Tobago to Canada last week, which included 19 businesses. Read more here
Ashmeer Mohamed new NFM chairman
Former ExporTT chairman Ashmeer Mohamed has replaced Nigel Romano as chair of National Flour Mills (NFM). Although unable to speak on Saturday evening, Mohamed confirmed he was appointed during NFM's annual general meeting at the Hilton Hotel, Lady Young Road, Port of Spain on Friday. According to his profile on ExporTT's website, Mohamed is also a director of KC Confectionery Ltd, TT National Gas Ltd and International Products Ltd. Read more here
REGIONAL
Concerted action required to effectively address food insecurities
To effectively address food insecurity, concerted action addressing the root causes such as global conflicts and the threats of climate change will be required, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said. The Guyanese Head of State during his address at the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York last week, pointed out that global statistics have seen billions being severely food insecure. “The primary causes were conflict and insecurity, extreme weather events, including those related to El Niño, climate change and economic shocks,” Dr. Ali said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli strikes may have displaced million people - Lebanon PM
Israel's continuing air strikes may have already forced as many as one million people from their homes across Lebanon, the country's prime minister has said. "It is the largest displacement movement that may have happened," Najib Mikati said. Lebanon's health ministry reported more than 50 people killed in Sunday's strikes - two days after Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired more rockets into northern Israel. In a separate development, Israel said it had carried out "large-scale" air strikes on military targets of the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Read more here
30th September 2024