NEWS
Gifts Before Murder
Gabrielle Sohan loved her family dearly, especially her younger siblings Armando, four; ten-year-old Leon and 13-yearold Josh Lalchan. She recently shopped for them, purchasing gifts of toys which she planned to wrap with gift paper and present to them on Christmas Day. The gifts, bought with love, will never be presented to the boys by their big sister, after two bodies — one of which is believed to be that of Sohan — were found in the backseat of a Honda Civic car which was found ablaze in Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas on Monday night. The other body is believed to be that of Sohan’s friend Christopher Ramsawak, 27. Read more…
Protest looms over late back pay: Union boss warns of wage freeze
“Keep your mind on your money and your money on your mind.” This was the advice given to unionised employees of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) by Public Service Association president, Watson Duke, yesterday. He held an early meeting with close to a 100 nurses and administrative staff in the lobby of the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) yesterday. The meeting was to address the failure of government to pay workers their back-pay following a 14 per cent salary increase. Read more…
I want answers
The father of murdered university student Avery Keshwar is seeking answers over his son’s involvement in a sting operation with police officers which led to his killing. Kennedy Keshwar said he was confused over the circumstances which ended with his son being shot dead, and had many questions about the police operation. Keshwar said he was hoping to get answers from Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. Read more…
POLITICS
Local Govt consultations begin
THE first in a series of nationwide public consultations on local government reform takes place tomorrow (Wed.) at the San Fernando City Hall auditorium on Harris Promenade. It starts from 6 pm. Newsday understands that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Rural Development and Local Government Minister Franklin Khan will be in attendance. Khan first announced about the consultations when, at the first sitting of the Technical Committee on Rural Development and Local Government. Read more…
New anti-crime unit coming soon—Dillon
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says a new special anti-crime unit is expected to be established soon. He said that in response to questions about the on-going review of the national security apparatus in T&T. Dillon announced the review which he said included the disbanded Special Anti Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt). Sautt was set up under the former PNM administration and disbanded by the former PP government. Dillon said yesterday: “There is a review of the structure that is taking place right now. It is almost completed and soon you will see a new emerging entity.” Read more…
JTUM warns Govt to ‘get on board’
The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) on Tuesday warned Finance Minister Colm Imbert and some of his Cabinet colleagues to “get on board” and respect the labour movement or face a sustained campaign for their removal from office. Read more…
BUSINESS
Republic completes formation of holding company
Republic Bank yesterday completed the formation of its holding company, Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL). The bank said in a statement that the restructuring was effected by a vesting order under the Financial Institutions Act, Chap 79:09, in Trinidad and Tobago, and successfully brings the structure of the Republic Bank Group in line with international best practices, to facilitate future growth. In the statement, RFHL President, David Dulal-Whiteway, said that the bank had grown significantly over the years, resulting in the company performing the dual role of a licensed commercial bank, and the holding company. Read more…
Retrenchment of workers not wise at this time—ECA
The Employers’ Consultative Association of T&T (ECA) is calling for employers and business owners to be wary before they retrench workers as doing so will contribute to a deeper slowdown of the T&T economy. “Retrenchment of workers will serve to perpetuate the current period of decline and further derail the country’s chances of experiencing a turnaround in growth and development. The ECA urges employers therefore to carefully weigh the decision to ‘lay off workers’ during this economic crunch, ensuring that all possible alternatives for higher levels of productivity and innovation have been explored,” the ECA said in a reply to the Guardian last Friday. Read more…
REGIONAL
St Kitts-Nevis citizenship revenue to surpass estimate by 40 percent
The revamped St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment (CBI) programme has surpassed the expectations of the Team Unity administration, according to Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris. Harris made the statement on Tuesday while delivering the coalition government’s first national budget. He told Parliament that CBI revenue for 2015 is expected to surpass the budget by 42.3 percent. Read more…
Beating Ban Stands - Amid Opposition Calls, Education Ministry Stresses Corporal Punishment Remains Against School Regulations
Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Youth Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has called for a ban on the use of corporal punishment in all schools and has asked that a system-wide programme to give educators alternatives be started. Education Minister Ronald Thwaites had on Tuesday indicated that the ministry discourages the use of corporal punishment, although it was not illegal. His comments came as the debate on the issue has been reignited after a teacher at the St Richard's Primary School in St Andrew was charged with assault after hitting a student with a ruler. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Putin says Turkish downing of Russian plane was an 'enemy act'
Russian President Vladimir Putin, pugnacious as always, called the Turkish downing of a Russian war plane "an enemy act" and rejected international efforts to oust Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Turkish F-16s shot down the Russian Su-24 on November 24, saying the Russian plane was over Turkish airspace and ignored warnings to change course. One of the two Russian pilots was killed. Read more…
Met office says 2016 'very likely' to be warmest on record
17th December 2015