DAILY BRIEF
MONDAY 29TH JUNE, 2015
NEWS
Stop the war
President of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) Brother Harrypersad Maharaj yesterday called on religious leaders in Chaguanas - in particular Enterprise Village - to take action to quell the wave of violence and open warfare between rival criminal gangs reportedly tied to religious groups. In an interview with Newsday, Maharaj implored persons within Enterprise Village to take immediate steps for the sake of residents as well as the nation as a whole. He disclosed the IRO will today convene a meeting at which the body will consider how it too might play a role in finding a solution, possibly involving mediation between rival Muslim and Rastafarian gangs. Read more...
Pensioner killed crossing road: Police hunt hit and run driver
Shem Bernard, 77, of Jackson Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas succumbed to injuries he received in a hit and run accident earlier this month. His relatives are now making a public appeal to police officers of the Central Division to investigate the case properly. Bernard’s son, Frank Hernandez said there was enough information to locate the driver and charge him but was confused as to why the police are not doing what they are supposed to do. “If I can work on information and get the number plate of the vehicle, the type of vehicle and the colour of the vehicle and be able to get information as to the owner of the vehicle, how come the police can’t do such? Read more...
US sends for Jack
Official documentation requesting the extradition of Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader and former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sources told the Express that around midday yesterday the package was dropped off via courier and will be sent to Central Authority head Netram Kowlessar today. The package, sources say, also gives detailed listings of the alleged offences against Warner, who is wanted on wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges. Contacted yesterday evening, Attorney General Garvin Nicholas said he is unaware that the US Department of Justice had sent the necessary paperwork for the commencement of extradition proceedings. Read more...
POLITICS
MSJ wants Jwala to go
Political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah yesterday called for Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran to be fired. Speaking yesterday at a press conference in San Fernando, Abdulah alleged that Rambarran was operating as if he thought he was a power onto himself. He further alleged that Rambarran was, “messing up totally, the foreign exchange system of allocation and that is why business people and private individuals complain everyday of their inability to get foreign exchange in the country.” Abdulah also referred to “difference” brewing between Rambarran, fired Clico chairman Gerald Yetming and Finance Minister Larry Howai. Read more...
ILP PRO: Anna was UNC operative
Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Public Relations Officer Danan Singh says former ILP deputy political leader, Anna Deonarine-Rampersad, has been an “operative” of the United National Congress (UNC) since she left the party in 2014. In a release issued yesterday, Singh said Deonarine-Rampersad’s claims that she left the ILP because of the motives of its political leader, Jack Warner are untrue. She made those claims at a UNC meeting in St Helena on Friday last. Singh said there was evidence in the public domain, including newspaper reports that she left the ILP when Lyndira Oudit was appointed political leader, in June 2014.Read more...
BUSINESS
First Citizens CEO: Banks need better security solutions
It is time for regional providers of information technology to develop more innovative security solutions to help strengthen the banking system, says Karen Darbasie, Group CEO of First Citizens. She said the recent arresta of senior Fifa officials in Zurich, Switzerland on bribery and racketeering charges brought by the United States Justice Department and Swiss authorities shows how the banking system can be manipulated to help persons achieve wealth illegally. She expressed concern that the investigations had pointed at transactions involving three local banks. Darbarsie said Caribbean-based IT companies must give priority to developing robust, world class security platforms to guard against wire fraud and other associated risk. Read more...
MovieTowne pioneers online cinema ticketing
MovieTowne cinema patrons can now enjoy the convenience of buying movie tickets online from their homes, office or anywhere. That is among the latest innovations introduced by the entertainment company. In addition to launching a new website, Movietowne recently unveiled a Buy Tickets Online Platform in partnership with Ticktr, T&T’s first mobile-based cinema ticket purchasing app. The new site features show times, advanced day schedules, voting for movies, kids’ movie selections, and social media movie sharing. It also showcases the MovieTowne Mall at Invader’s Bay, with all of the stores, restaurants and bars featuring their menus, product offerings, as well as deals and specials on offer. Read more...
Jack: Tobago’s revenue potential is being limited
The Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) limited power to make decisions for the island’s welfare is hurting the island’s development, according to Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development, Joel Jack. He said under the existing legislative arrangement, Tobago’s present and potential contributions to the national purse are not clearly defined and Tobago cannot pass laws, make certain financial transactions, or source additional funds for the island’s development. He said these realities significantly weaken the THA’s negotiating position when requesting funds from the Central Government. Read more...
REGIONAL
US initiative financing the largest solar energy facility in the Caribbean
The United States is financing the construction of the first utility scale photovoltaic power plant in Jamaica. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – the US Government’s development finance institution – recently signed a US$47 million financing agreement with WRB Enterprises for development of the 20 megawatt solar plant in York Town, in the southern parish of Clarendon. The US$60 million Content Solar Limited (CSL), being built by WRB Enterprises, will supply power to the national grid. It is the second such project in Jamaica, to be financed by OPIC, under the United States Government’s Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, launched by Vice President Joe Biden in June of last year. Read more...
INTERNATIONAL
Turkish police fire pepper spray at gay pride parade
Although the gay pride parade has happened in peace for at least 13 years in Istanbul, on Sunday the parade was interrupted by police who fired pepper spray and rubber pellets at thousands when they arrived to march. Organizers of the march released a statement saying the Istanbul governorship was not allowing the procession, citing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Paradegoers continued to celebrate in the side streets, as riot police chased other attendees from arteries of Istanbul's main commercial district of Taksim. One video shows a gay pride attendee being swept off his feet with the force of a water cannon. Read more...
29th June 2015