NEWS
TT must use structured process to ban plastics
This country has to look at its own context and what works for it in terms of eliminating single-use plastics from mainstream consumption, since its strategy may not necessarily work for another country and vice versa. This was the advice last week by Jamaican Senator Matthew Samuda when he spoke at the National Library in Port of Spain as part of a panel discussion on banning single-use plastics. The event was part of the 2019 Green Screen Environmental Film Festival. In 2016, Samuda said, he tabled a motion in Jamaica’s Senate to ban single-use plastics. In 2018, the motion was adopted with the Jamaican government announcing a ban on plastic straws, single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers. Read more here
Kidnapping rumour spreads after dispute near daycare
An argument between a Barrackpore mother and a relative, and her subsequent disappearance outside a pre-school caused panic when it was reported on social media that she was kidnapped. However, police said people had exaggerated the situation and jumped to a conclusion before getting the facts. The woman was located by police and was well. According to police, the woman was outside a preschool off the Rochard Douglas Road when she had a dispute with a relative. Read more here
POLITICS
Gov’t Knew of ‘Spy Ship’
National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed on Monday that he along with Police Commissioner Gary Griffith were made privy to information that a Russian military ship would be docking in Trinidad for 're-stocking' sometime this year. Newsday spoke to Young who said an official request was made from the Russian embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, for the ship to enter TT's territorial waters, but was unable to say much else about what type of ship it was or even when it would have arrived in Trinidad. "On occasion some countries would make requests of TT, via diplomatic notes for their vessels to dock in TT. On this occasion I am aware that the Russian embassy based in Guyana made a request via diplomatic note for a Russian research vessel to dock in Trinidad for re-stocking of supplies over a period of a couple of days." Read more here
EBC reports smooth Nomination Day process
The ruling People’s National Movement and Opposition United National Congress are the only two political parties fielding full teams of 139 candidates each for the December 2 Local Government polls. Several small parties—the Port-of-Spain Peoples’ Movement, Movement for Social Justice and Congress of the People—are also fielding candidates in certain areas. And a few people from both the PNM and UNC are contesting as Independents in crucial “battleground” areas, including Sangre Grande and Tunapuna/Piarco. The scenario emerged after yesterday’s Nomination Day exercise when candidates contesting the election filed nomination papers with the Elections and Boundaries’ Commission (EBC). After registration, the EBC stated that Chief Election officer Fern Narcis-Scope had confirmed that all initial reports pointed to a smooth event-free process. Read more here
BUSINESS
Boost for Digicel data customers
Digicel Trinidad and Tobago has announced the rollout of its LTE Advanced (LTE-A) mobile network, an upgrade from its LTE network. The upgrade promises customers maximum speeds of 190 megabits per second (Mbps). Read more here
REGIONAL
China Backlash - US Ambassador Warns Jamaica To Tread Carefully With ‘Two-Headed Dragon’
In stinging criticism of the Holness administration’s warming relationship with Beijing, United States Ambassador Donald Tapia has urged the Government to be wary of China’s deepening footprint in Jamaica, citing the Asian country’s lavish investment pitch as predatory and dangerous. Tapia, who arrived in Jamaica in August, has shelved the diplomatic subtlety of recent US ambassadors, even using his Twitter account as a launching pad for invective against Chinese neo-imperialism at least four times last week, much in the mould of his boss, President Donald Trump. “China is a dragon with two heads. If China came to Jamaica presumably with no strings attached, then why did you negotiate 1,200 acres of the most prime real estate with them? Because they need a return on their investment,” the ambassador said during an exclusive interview with The Gleaner. Read more here
‘Trini’ in fake kidnapping appeals sentence
Thirty-three-year-old Trinidad national Sawak Maraj, who was recently sentenced to four years imprisonment for faking his own kidnapping, has filed an appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence. In October, Magistrate Fabayo Azore, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, had found Maraj guilty for faking his kidnapping in 2017. Maraj was also found guilty of providing false information to the police, and was also sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, which will run concurrently. The appeal was filed by Maraj’s attorneys, Paula and Brandon DaSantos. Particulars of the case allege that on October 27, 2017 and in Georgetown, Maraj knowingly gave false information to the police, stating that he had been kidnapped, and that his abductors had demanded US$700,000 for his release. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Australia bushfires: New South Wales battles 'catastrophic' conditions
Authorities had predicted "catastrophic" conditions for Tuesday, amid fears a southerly wind could cause the flames to change direction. About six million people live in the region. Crews are battling a front spanning 1,000km (620 miles) along the north coast of NSW, with several blazes "exceeding 100,000 hectares alone", officials said. On Sydney's north shore, firefighting planes dropped flame retardant over trees and homes in the suburb of South Turramurra, as the bushfires came within 15km (nine miles) of the city centre. Read more here
Putin has relished US political chaos. He may now fear Trump's impeachment
On Russian state television, tightly controlled by the Kremlin, support for Donald Trump in his current impeachment battle is absolute. After all it is Russia, they sometimes joke, that got the US president elected in the first place! Of course, allegations of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, which swept Trump into office, are officially denied in Russia. But they are often referenced, even on serious television news shows, with a sarcastic wink. "Have you lost your minds that you want to remove OUR Donald Ivanovich," bawls Vladimir Soloviev, host of "Evening," a pro-Kremlin current affairs program which has been focusing on the US impeachment proceedings. Read more here
12th November 2019