DAILY BRIEF
MONDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2015
NEWS
‘Monster’ in court
Escapee prisoner Christopher “Monster” Selby, who staged a dramatic escape from the Royal Jail on Frederick Street, Port-of- Spain on July 24, was charged late Saturday night with murder, escaping illegal custody and possession of a hand grenade. The 32-year-old Diego Martin man is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today, charged with the three offences. Newsday understands the DPP Roger Gaspard SC gave instructions to officers of the Homicide Bureau late Saturday night to charge Selby with the three offences after perusing a police file presented to him. Read more...
Moonilal sues over OAS claims: Jack may have no $$ to pay me
Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner has 14 days to apologise to Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal regarding statements the he made on a political platform at La Paille Village, Caroni, last month. The former Fifa vice-president, who is accused of money laundering and racketeering, had alleged Moonilal sent an e-mail to Brazilian construction company OAS Construtora requesting $50 million for election campaigning.Warner had also accused Moonilal of being unfit to hold office, adding that he had acted improperly in the performance of his duties and obligations as a Government minister. Read more...
NO CHARGE
A Penal mother and her teenage daughter, detained in connection with the shooting death of prison officer Robert Seecharan last Wednesday, were reunited yesterday as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered that no charges would be laid against them.The 16-year-old exited the Southern Homicide Bureau at Coffee Street, San Fernando, and walked into the arms of her waiting mother. Sherry Ann Seecharan, who was detained at Penal Police Station since the shooting on Wednesday evening. Read more...
POLITICS
Concern over Collin for Cumuto/Manzanilla
United National Congress (UNC) members in Cumuto/ Manzanilla are concerned that if former MP Collin Partap is not selected as the party’s Cumuto/Manzanilla candidate for the September 7 General Election, the constituency could be lost to the People’s National Movement (PNM).Chairman of a UNC party group in the constituency, Devan Ramkissoon said the 36 party groups in Cumuto/ Manzanilla are all clear that they want Partap to stand for re-election. Ramkissoon said with only four weeks to go before the elections, it is not possible to introduce a totally new person into the constituency. Read more...
ILP, COP complete screening this week
The Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and the Congress of the People (COP), the second major political party within the ruling People’s Partnership (PP) coalition, are both expected to complete screening of candidates for the September 7 general election this week.ILP political leader Jack Warner told Newsday the party still intends to field 41 candidates in this year’s election. “Yes, we are still fielding 41 candidates and screening will be completed next Friday,” he said. Read more...
BUSINESS
Cost of borrowing going up again
The Central Bank on Friday increased the Repo rate by another 0.25 per cent, signalling that the prime lending rates of commercial banks is likely to go up even further in the near future. In its monetary policy announced, the Central Bank attributed its decision to the possibility that its counterpart in the US could begin raising interest rates, an anticipation of higher local inflation and the possibility that pace of growth in the domestic economy could speed up in the next few months. Read more...
REGIONAL
Jamaica launches new electronic procurement system
The government of Jamaica has launched the country’s first electronic procurement platform, which will improve the efficiency and quality of public procurement. The system was funded jointly by the government of Jamaica and an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) technical assistance program “Implementation of Electronic Government Procurement.” It will provide an electronic system for government procuring and tendering agencies and suppliers, and automating activities performed by these parties, by integrating them on a single portal. Read more...
INTERNATIONAL
Syrian rebels backed by the U.S. will have air cover, source says
Syrian rebels backed by the United States will now have air cover if they come under attack after President Barack Obama signed off on the decision, a senior administration official confirms to CNN on Sunday. The official said "this has been months in the making." This comes after the United States conducted airstrikes last week to protect two groups after they came under attack: U.S.-trained rebels and the U.S.-affiliated rebels of the 30th division. U.S. aircraft came in after the attack on a compound where members of the New Syria Force, which is the U.S.-trained-and-equipped rebel group, were located as well members of the 30th division.Read more...
3rd August 2015