NEWS
Marissa’s move gets its own name
The name of TT Gymnast Marisa Dick’s signature move was highlighted by the Wall Street Journal in an online article over the weekend. In February, Dick’s signature move was officially recognised by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). A move she perfectly executed at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. The Canadian-born gymnast’s move is a change-leg leap to free-cross split sit which is called “The Dick”. In the article headlined, ‘The Gymnastics Move That Must Not Be Named” the WS J said that Dick “won’t make it out” of the Olympic qualifier which was held yesterday in Brazil. Read more here
4 drown in 2 incidents
Coast Guard divers, police and Air Guard officers mounted a land, sea and air search in the choppy waters of the Atlantic Ocean yesterday, after four people, including a nine-year-old child and a teenager, drowned in two separate incidents at Mayaro and Manzanilla. The bodies of pensioner Morris Sammy and his granddaughter Anna Ali were recovered, but up to press time there was no sign of Deoraj Harridass, 49, and his 13-year-old step-daughter Ranesha Basdeo. The first drownings occurred at the Ortoire River, off the Manzanilla Road, around 7.30 am, when Basdeo went to wash her hands near the mouth of the river. Police said the child did not realise there was a 12-feet drop near the river bank and she slipped in. Basdeo, an estate constable with Allied Security Services, dived in to save her but was pulled in by the strong undercurrents. While the family hurriedly called for help, the man and his step-daughter were washed further out to sea. Read more here
Chaguanas woman reports home invasion, gang rape
In what was described as a nightmare scenario by some police officers, a 25-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a group of men during a home invasion on Saturday morning. According to police reports, around 3.45 a.m. on Saturday, the victim was at her home in Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas, when she was awakened by a strange noise. Read more here
POLITICS
Arima Mayor wants burgesses to excel
Arima Mayor George Hadeed challenged residents of the Arima to be excellent yesterday as the borough marked its 128th year of existence. In fact, the theme chosen for this year’s celebration was “Usahu” a first people’s word, according to Hadeed, which means excellence. He said that excellence was not only to be observed by residents, but by the Arima Corporation as well __ not only in ensuring efficient services, but in how the Corporation treats the people of Arima. He posited, “As individuals and as a Borough we know that “USAHU” excellence in what we do must be our daily goal. As Aristotle says, it is not an act but a habit. I suggest brothers and sisters that we adopt this principle of USAHU in all that we do as a daily routine. As I mentioned before, it is not an event or destination but a continuous effort in how we conduct our daily lives. “This principle must be applied within our Arima Corporation; our burgesses must always see us as serving them with excellence. “What we deliver must not only evidence this but also in the manner we treat with our public. Burgesses must feel a sense of satisfaction and pride in the way we would have dealt with their query or concern. The work of the Arima Corporation can and must be ‘USAHU’. Read more here
‘Come clean on Rowley’s health’
Calls for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the Government to “come clean” with the nation on his health condition have mounted, following Rowley’s recent hint that there appear to be some “changes” in his health issues which both his local and foreign doctors feel should be “investigated further.” Politicians and analysts say his health cannot be his personal business when he’s a public figure and the country’s leader. Three weeks ago, Rowley announced he would do a medical check during a two-week vacation he was taking. Soon after, Office of the Prime Minister spokesman Stuart Young had said at this stage there was no cause for concern about Rowley’s medical condition, but asked people to “pray” for Rowley. Read more here
Panday: PM’s health not your business
The health and medical records of a prime minister are private and should not be shared with the public says former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday. Panday was responding to questions yesterday on whether Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley should disclose his health issues to the country. “No, I don’t because why should he?” said Panday. “He (Rowley) has gone for medical tests, he can. I can’t see why this has become an issue,” he added. Panday said it was up to the Prime Minister and his office to inform the public of any matters relating to his health but it should not be mandatory for him to do so. He said there are other issues that are relevant such as crime, flooding and unemployment to be concerned about. Read more…
BUSINESS
Steep increase in debt
The coupon or 4.5 per cent interest rate obtained from Government’s US$1 billion ten-year bond is a “positive development,” RBC Royal Bank said in a statement to the T&T Guardian. “Considering the Moody’s rating, the size of the issue, the current oil price scenario, and that the Government initially expected to pay a coupon around 4.625 per cent, the fact that they landed on 4.5 per cent based on 3.5 times oversubscription, could be seen as a positive development. Our information tells us that local accounts received on average 20 per cent of their expected orders. This will lead to fairly active secondary market trading as local investors try to secure more of the bond. “According to Central Bank statistics, gross public sector debt outstanding stood at $108.7 billion in March 2016, which is 60.5 per cent of GDP, which is already over the debt sustainability threshold. This means that each additional dollar of debt actually has a negative impact on growth. Read more here
Banking stocks resilient
National Commercial Bank of Jamaica (NCBJ) For the nine month period ended June 30, 2016, NCBJ delivered Earnings per Share (EPS) of TT$0.22, representing a 23.9 per cent (TT$0.04) increase from the TT$0.18 earned during the comparable period a year prior. Positive performance during the period was mainly attributable to an 8.8 per cent increase in net interest income from TT$1b to TT$1.1b. Read more here
REGIONAL
In Hunt For Gold, Alia Is ... Final Bound
She is already a world record holder and is also the first black woman to win a World Championships title, but having returned to the final of the 100m breaststroke at the Olympic Games, Jamaican swimmer Alia Atkinson is looking for more. Like she did four years ago in London, the 27-year-old last night booked her spot in the final of the women's 100m breaststroke after tying for third with the United States' Katie Meili in 1:06.52 in her semi-final at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. The event was won by American Lilly King in 1:05.70. But while her first trip to the medal round was more of a 'let's have some fun' outing, this time around, with higher expectations on her shoulders after a strong couple of years, Atkinson is aiming for another first - Jamaica's first medal in Olympic swimming. "Hopefully, it will come tomorrow," she smiled after last night's swim. Read more here
ABC ferry project struggling, while other Caribbean islands may soon be connected
While various islands in the Caribbean are working hard on their connection with a ferry, the ABC islands ferry project is struggling. The ferry project to connect Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao by sea looked very promising but it appears that it might not crystallize for now. On the other side of the Caribbean, the Barbados-registered Caribbean Ferry Service is in the process of finalizing paperwork to operate two vessels. Another effort is also being made to get a double decker ferry with a capacity of 350 to travel between other islands in the Caribbean. According to the Nation newspaper in Barbados, Caribbean Ferry Service will operate The Dream Jet Express and The Opal Jet Express, for travel and cargo. It says the service will be initially accessible to travellers in Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia and other islands would eventually be added to the itinerary. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistan hospital bomb attack kills dozens in Quetta
Officials turn themselves in following Duterte's name-and-shame list
Almost 50 Filipino officials, including mayors and police officers, have surrendered in response to being called out by the country's president as being connected to illegal drug trade Sunday. Following the name-and-shame speech by President Rodrigo Duterte, in which over 150 officials were called out by name for alleged links, 18 mayors and 31 police officials have turned themselves in, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Dionard Carlos told CNN. Duterte had given those named 24 hours to surrender, a deadline which has now expired. Carlos said more are expected to report in to the police later on Monday. Duterte, who took office at the end of June, has been aggressively pursuing an anti-crime agenda -- with a special focus on ridding the country of illegal drugs. Read more here
8th August 2016