NEWS
Woman stabbed, beaten to death: Suspect held by standpipe
Minutes after residents of Walcott Lane, Enterprise, found the battered, nude body of one of their neighbours in a track yesterday, they saw another neighbour eating a piece of bake and pumpkin while trying to wash blood off his clothes. The residents cornered the man and although he put up a struggle, he was eventually subdued and handed over to the police. The dead body was identified as that of Pamela Balgobin, 37. Balgobin and the suspect, now in police custody, grew up in Walcott Lane together. Read more here
Pothole problems? Call the Works Ministry
Tired of driving into potholes and causing damage to your vehicle? The Ministry of Works and Transport is seeking to make this nuisance a thing of the past with its newly launched infrastructure and rehabilitation programme. The programme was launched yesterday and includes a hotline through which people can report road issues. The ministry is promising to respond to all reports within a one-week period and is hoping to reach a point where reported issues are fixed within 48 hours. Read more here
POLITICS
Young: $1B recovered in highway project
Government MPs thumped their desks and Opposition MPs were silent yesterday in the House of Representatives as acting Attorney General Stuart Young announced, “This morning in the High Courts of London... we succeeded once again ... Government of TT through Nidco (National Infrastructure Development Company) ... succeeded in the Commercial High Courts of London against Banco Santander ... and we recovered $256 million.” Government, through Nidco, has been making efforts to recover monies owed to it by Brazilian contractor OAS Construtora, which was fired as the main contractor for the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension Project earlier this year. Read more here
Imbert sorry for offensive remarks
“I unreservedly apologise to all.” That apology came yesterday from Finance Minister Colm Imbert following his recent controversial statements on “wage restraint” and “no riots yet” he made at last week’s conference with visiting International Money Fund (IMF) officials. Imbert’s apology was made in Parliament as he piloted a motion to confirm tax orders in the 2017 budget. It also follows a demand for an apology from the trade union leaders and a public dress-down from Prime Minister Keith Rowley at last week’s post-Cabinet press conference. Read more here
BUSINESS
Gopee-Scoon tours Nestle
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee- Scoon along with Dr Rolph Balgobin, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) toured the factory facilities of Nestle´ Trinidad and Tobago Limited on Tuesday to gain insight into the operations of Nestle´ (TT Ltd) and discuss the organisation’s future plans for growth and sustainability, to aid in the advancement of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy. Nestle´ Country Manager Michel Beneventi, provided a comprehensive presentation of Nestlé’s operations both locally and internationally detailing its export markets and the organisation’s upcoming plans for new product development. Read more here
Trump win will not affect trade ties
Tobago’s trade with the US to be affected in any way by the change in US government. Reacting to Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential polls yesterday, Amcham T&T chief executive officer Nirad Tewarie said: “We congratulate the American people on conducting another successful election, from all reports free and fair. We would hope that the rules-based trade will continue and that when the policies are rolled out they are somewhat different from the campaign rhetoric. Read more here
REGIONAL
Caribbean reacts to Donald Trump election victory
MIAMI, USA -- His campaign was vitriolic, sometimes acrimonious. He was labeled a racist, a bigot, anti-Mexican, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim. Despite this, Republican candidate Donald Trump was on Tuesday elected the 45th president of the United States, defying the polls and popular media hype that favoured his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. “Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division, we have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it’s time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump said in his victory speech in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Read more here
GM Cutting Production At Two Plants As Sales Slow
Shifting demand from cars to trucks and SUVS is forcing General Motors to lay off more than 2,000 workers indefinitely at two assembly plants in Ohio and Michigan starting in January. The company said on Wednesday it would suspend the third shifts at factories in Lordstown, Ohio, and in Lansing, Michigan, because of the market change, which is growing and shows no sign of abating. About 1,250 workers will be furloughed at the Lordstown plant, which makes the Chevrolet Cruze compact car, starting January 23. Another 840 will be idled at the Lansing Grand River factory, which makes the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car and the Cadillac ATS and CTS luxury cars, when their shifts end January 16. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Protesters target Trump buildings in massive street rallies
(CNN)The morning after Election Day smacked Democrats with a combination of shock and sadness. Donald Trump would be the next US President. For thousands, disappointment turned to protest as Hillary Clinton supporters channeled their disbelief into a single defiant message. "Not my President," they chanted. "Not today." Read more here
India rupees: Anxious customers swap banned banknotes
People are queuing up outside banks across India to exchange 500 and 1,000 rupee notes after they were withdrawn as part of anti-corruption measures. Indians will be able to exchange their old notes, which stopped being legal tender at midnight on Tuesday, for new ones at banks until 30 December. The surprise move is part of a government crackdown on corruption and illegal cash holdings. Banks were shut on Wednesday to allow them enough time to stock new notes. There are also limits on cash withdrawals from ATMs. The BBC's Yogita Limaye in Mumbai says there have been chaotic scenes outside many banks. Read more here
10th November 2016