NEWS
Machel, Bravo launch Pineapple Riddim, call for more investment in culture
Soca star Machel Montano believes greater investment in arts and culture is needed. He said while for young calypsonians and soca artistes being part of the Soca Monarch contest might seem exciting and had done a lot for people’s careers, it was now a shifting world. He also spoke to why he believed this was a time for unity and not competitions. He also reconfirmed that he would be defending his Calypso Monarch crown for Carnival 2025. Read more here
BREAKING NEWS: Kidnapped teen found
Fourteen-year-old kidnap victim Zaheer Samuel has been found, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has confirmed tonight. Samuel was kidnapped while at his parents' business, S&S Plant and Garden Shop, in St Augustine, early Wednesday. At 5.30 am on Wednesday, the teen was helping his parents set out plants and other items as they prepared to open their shop when a brown wagon, bearing the number plate PEA 3666, pulled up and two men came out and grabbed Samuel. They then bundled him into the car and drove off. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC screens for three more seats
The Opposition UNC will screen election nominees for the constituencies of St Joseph, San Fernando East and Toco/Sangre Grande at its headquarters in Chaguanas from 4 pm on December 19. It made this announcement in a statement on December 18. In March, Opposition Senator Anil Roberts filed a nomination for St Joseph, which is currently represented by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh. Deyalsingh, who has been St Joseph MP since 2013, was recently chosen by the PNM to contest the constituency in the next general election. The National Transformation Alliance (NTA) has chosen its political leader Gary Griffith as its St Joseph candidate. Read more here
Gary, Seepersad criticise police response to abductions
Former police commissioner Gary Griffith has criticised the T&T Police Service’s response to the recent rise in kidnappings, describing current efforts as ineffective. He yesterday questioned the strategy of forming specialised units for individual crimes without addressing the root causes. “The question should be asked, what has been done to curb not just kidnappings, but other aspects of crime like extortion and home invasions?” Griffith said. “Every time there’s a new type of crime, they form a new unit. That is not how you deal with the situation.” Griffith outlined measures taken under his tenure, which, he said, led to a significant reduction in kidnappings for ransom between 2020 and 2021. Read more here
BUSINESS
Globally in-demand AI skills
The global job market is undergoing a seismic shift, with artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of this transformation. AI has become more than just a buzzword – it’s now a driving force across industries, reshaping how businesses operate and how we interact with technology. For Caribbean professionals, this revolution presents a unique opportunity. By acquiring in-demand AI skills, individuals can position themselves to secure remote jobs with global companies, generate foreign exchange for the region and build a competitive edge in the international job market. Read more here
CSO: Inflation rises
The rate of inflation in Trinidad and Tobago has risen slightly, the Central Statistical Office has said. The rate for November 2024, which measured the percentage change in the All Items Index for the month of November 2024 over November 2023, was 0.5%. “This represents an increase from the previous period (October 2024/October 2023) from 0.2%. The inflation rate for the comparative period (November 2023/November 2022) was 1.1%,” the CSO stated in a release yesterday. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Convenience of conscience’
President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday morning fired back at opposition operatives and groups that have attempted to discredit the government’s management of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF). The Head of State, in a live broadcast on his official Facebook page, said the criticisms spewing from varying opposition characters are only aimed at discrediting the efforts made by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to transparently manage the NRF. In recent weeks, opposition-nominated member to the Investment Committee of the NRF, Terrence Campbell, along with the parliamentary opposition, have voiced criticisms of the NRF’s committee, which they believe function merely as a ‘rubber stamp.’ Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after missile attack
Israel has said its fighter jets conducted a series of strikes against military targets in Yemen belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi movement. An Israeli military spokesman said the targets included Red Sea ports and energy infrastructure in the capital Sanaa. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that nine people were killed in the port of Salif and the Ras Issa oil terminal, which are both in Hudaydah province. The strikes came hours after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted over central Israel. A school and several cars were damaged in Ramat Gan on the edge of Tel Aviv. Read more here
19th December 2024