NEWS
Calls to protect accused woman beater
The attorney representing a man who was allegedly recorded on CCTV video beating a woman has written to the Prison Commissioner asking that his client be kept away from the general remand yard prison population for his (the accused) own protection. The accused man Ricardo Jerome has been unable to post the $60,000 bail and remains incarcerated. Jerome, 37, appeared before an Arima magistrate on Monday to answers charges arising from the alleged incident. He was charged with unlawfully assaulting Ruth Marchan, behaving in a disorderly manner and possession of a weapon to commit an arrestable offence. Read more…
Father halts autopsy
The autopsy scheduled to be done on baby Asia Marie, who died in her mother’s womb with faeces in her mouth on Monday, was yesterday halted by her parents after the child’s body was taken to another hospital without their knowledge. Asia Marie died at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital after her mother, Chelsea Robinson, spent hours begging medical staff to deliver the baby after experiencing excruciating pain during labour that lasted over 48 hours. The 19-year-old first-time mother has since been discharged from the hospital and is at home recovering from her tragic delivery. Read more…
Up In The Air
Police investigations into high-profile cases over the last two years are either not completed, near completion or files are yet to go before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This was gleaned from the updates given yesterday by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Glen Hackett during the weekly press briefing at the police administration building in Port of Spain. Among the updates given were for investigations into LifeSport, Prisonate, Emailgate, Children's Life Fund, the murder of Lance Corporal Shervaun Charleau, the murder of Superintendent of Prison David Millete, among several others. Read more…
POLITICS
Govt Senator’s office broken into
In light of a window at his office being smashed, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Avinash Singh, said that he will take steps to beef up security at his office, for his protection and that of staff. Singh made the declaration to Newsday in a brief interview yesterday, shortly after the discovery that his office had been vandalised . His office was vandalised on Tuesday night . While Singh, a Government Senator was careful not to refer to the happening as a direct attempt on his life, he did say that there are dangers involved in holding public office. Read more…
Ganga takes over as UNC’s Chief Whip
Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh will assume the position — and seat — of Opposition Chief Whip from tomorrow’s resumption of Parliament and Roodal Moonilal, who previously occupied the position, says he is prepared to sit anywhere “except the public gallery” after resigning to contest to post of political leader of the United National Congress (UNC). Also, UNC Senator Vasant Bharath yesterday resigned as an Opposition Senator and will be launching his campaign for the UNC leadership at 10 am Saturday at Rienzi Complex. Incumbent UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is defending the post in elections scheduled for December 5, confirmed Singh’s position yesterday. Read more…
Vasant resigns as senator
Aspiring United National Congress (UNC) leader Vasant Bharath has resigned as an Opposition Senator. Bharath submitted his resignation letter to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday. “This letter seeks to inform you of my resignation as Senator from the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, with immediate effect. As I recently informed you, I intend to contest the position of Political Leader in the upcoming internal elections, to be held on Dec 5th, 2015. In the circumstances I believe it would be inappropriate to continue to hold a position in the Opposition that would have been at your pleasure. I wish to record my sincerest appreciation for the opportunities afforded me to serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago and wish you well in all your future endeavours” it stated. Read more…
BUSINESS
Enill: Don’t worry about energy data
Former energy minister Conrad Enill has warned employers against using data provided by energy company officials to gauge the state of the local economy. Far too often, he said, the business community trembled when oil and gas executives revealed drops in revenue and responded predictably with job cuts, raising concerns across industries not directly related. Speaking at a Human Resource Management of T&T (HRMATT) breakfast seminar on Compensating in a Tough Economy, Enill said employers needed to learn how to interpret information from energy practitioners in the proper context. Read more…
T&T’s GDP to grow 1.8 % in 2016
Trinidad and Tobago’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 0.8 per cent in 2015 and 1.8 per cent in 2016, New York-based rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has said. The projection was included in a report on Monday by S&P as part of a rating affirmation on State bank First Citizens. S&P’s forecast was generous compared to Government’s 0.2 per cent growth projection from the Central Statistical Office (CSO).
The forecast was even more generous compared to RBC Caribbean’s estimate which is that by the end of next month, the economy would have contracted -2 per cent. Read more…
REGIONAL
Hunt on for successor to ECCB chief
An official process is underway to find a successor for the man described as the longest serving central bank chief in the world, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s Sir Dwight Venner. Venner, who is on his way out, has held the position of ECCB governor since December 1989. Grenadian businessman Nigel John, a former president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in St George’s, describes the kind of individual who would in his view made an ideal candidate for ECCB governor. Read more…
Portia, Andrew For The Leadership Debate
As it was four years ago, President of the People's National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller is set to square-off once again with Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Andrew Holness. But things have changed drastically in a number of ways since the two leaders met in December 2011. This time around, the roles have switched, as Holness was the prime minister and Simpson Miller was opposition leader. Simpson Miller will also face a more experienced political rival in Holness, who was in leadership for less than three months when the first encounter took place. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Kurds launch offensive to take Sinjar from ISIS
Kurdish forces, backed by coalition air support, have launched an offensive to take back the Iraqi town of Sinjar from ISIS. Reclaiming Sinjar is one big step toward dividing the "caliphate" that ISIS claims it is establishing across the region. The artery that passes through the town links Iraq's Mosul -- ISIS' prized possession -- with cities it holds in Syria. But the road also carries badly needed supplies to the 1.5 million people who still live in Mosul, where prices are rising and activists report hunger. Read more…
Apple apologises after allegations of racism by Australia schoolboys
12th November 2015