NEWS
Perenco finds gas in Onyx well
Perenco TT Ltd has announced its finding of "significant columns" of natural gas in two separate geological compartments on the eastern part of the Onyx field, an undeveloped gas field off Trinidad’s south-eastern coast. A media release from Perenco said the gas discovery was found at a depth of 180 feet, between the Poui and Teak fields. The Teak, Poui and Samaan fields (TSP) are under licence by a joint venture between Perenco TT, Heritage Petroleum Co Ltd and NGC. Read more here
Former senior cop: New TTPS leadership must restore public confidence
Former TTPS public information officer Sheridon Hill says while the reputation of the office of the Commissioner of Police has "taken a hit" in light of the arrest and suspension of Erla Harewood-Christopher, the executive should now engage in some introspection to rebuild their image. Harewood-Christopher signed her letter of reinstatement from the Police Service Commission (PolSC) at 6.21 yesterday. However, this was preceded hours earlier by a letter from the Ministry of Homeland Security which ordered her on 66 days' vacation leave with immediate effect. Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin, who served as the head of the TTPS since February 6, thus continued to lead the organisation. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: I wish Gary Griffith the best
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar extended well wishes to former political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), Gary Griffith, who has since resigned from the party. Despite her kind words, Persad-Bissessar emphasised her party’s focus on moving forward. “As with everyone else, we wish him well in his future endeavours. The United National Congress put forward plans, policies, and personnel during the campaign, which the electorate chose to support. We plan to move forward with our policies and personnel,” she said. Read more here
Hiccup with ministry portfolio allocations
The document sent by the Government to the President to be gazetted, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of each ministry, contains errors and will now have to be amended before being published. A gazette, in this case the T&T Gazette, is an official publication for the purpose of notifying the actions and decisions of the government. However, while Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath told Guardian Media yesterday that the document with the errors is not official, as it has not yet been gazetted, that version was meant for official use, as page two of the document states, “Government printer, Forwarded for publication in the Gazette, please.” Two blue stamps belonging to the President’s Secretary and another with the President’s name are also affixed to the 65-page document, indicating that it was received by the Head of State. Read more here
BUSINESS
Connected skies: Advancing Trinidad and Tobago's aviation sector
Few industries exemplify the magnitude of human innovation quite like aviation. Beyond bridging gaps between borders, aviation has expanded trade, bolstered tourism and connected cultures around the world. With technological advancements moving faster than ever, air travel is rapidly becoming faster, safer and more accessible. Under the direction of the new minister, Eli Zakour, the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry seeks to do just that with a mandate of improving flight, cargo and immigration services through the integration of modern technology. Read more here
Erla’s treatment could impact investor confidence
The debacle surrounding Erla Harewood-Christopher’s truncated tenure as commissioner of police has not only created ripples throughout the country but the now the business community says on a larger scale, the internal wranglings within the T&T Police Service, can affect investor confidence. Arrested in her office on January 30, Harewood-Christopher was suspended for 101 days, as the police investigated the procurement of two high-powered rifles. With her suspension lifted on Monday, Harewood-Christopher perhaps suffered serious reputational consequences and now, businesses say this may have a far-reaching impact. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘We have to demonstrate how the forest can stimulate economic and livelihood opportunities’
President Dr Irfaan Ali has called on forest-rich nations to reframe the global narrative around forests and look at them as both environmental assets and economic powerhouses that are capable of transforming livelihoods. The Head of State made these remarks on Tuesday evening at the opening of the Forest Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), where he made the call for leveraging forests as climate safeguards and tools for sustainable development. He said, “We have to demonstrate how the forest can stimulate economic and livelihood opportunities.” Dr Ali further positioned the green economy as central to the global climate agenda and indicated that maintaining forests should not come at the expense of economic opportunity. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
BBC joins Gaza children as they are evacuated to Jordan for treatment
We were flying through the warm light of the setting sun. There were villages and small towns where the lights were coming on. It was a peaceful landscape where people walked and drove without constantly looking to the sky. We were over the suburbs of Amman when Safa'a Salha held up her mobile phone so that I could read a message she'd written. "Oh my God," this Gaza mother wrote, "Jordan is so beautiful." The evacuees had come to the Jordanian border by road. I joined them there for the final part of the journey by helicopter to Amman. Read more here
15th May 2025