NEWS
SEX ATTACK ON BABY
Two men are in custody assisting Rio Claro police detectives in their investigations into a case of sexual assault on a 13-monthold baby girl. One of the suspects, Newsday was told, is the boyfriend of the baby’s mother. The case is one of top priority for the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the TT Police Service whose head, Margaret Sampson-Browne, commended the victim’s grandmother for observing signs of the assault and calling in the police. Although still awaiting a full report on the incident, Sampson- Browne told Newsday yesterday, “We will be offering support to the family to repair them because that 13-month-old baby cannot speak for herself, but the adults have to be counselled. Read more…
Another inmate escapes from Carrera prison
A prisoner who escaped from the Carrera Island Prison on Sunday remained on the run last night. Reynold “Bago” James, formerly of Windy Hill, Five Rivers, Arouca, escaped from the prison around 5 pm. He is approximately 166 cm in height with an oval face and dark complexion. He was serving time for a series of robberies. Last year, Steve McGilvery, of Sea Lots,and Leroy Mohammed, of Gasparillo, escaped from the same prison on Independence Day. They remain at large. Read more…
$4.5m bail for 6 cops on robbery, misbehaviour charges
Six police officers were granted bail totalling $4.5 million yesterday after reappearing before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port of Spain Magistrates' Eighth Court. The accused officers are Steve Williams, 35, of Heights of Guanapo Road, Arima; Ronald Samuel, 32, of Duncan Trace, San Juan; Dion Ottley, 31, of Bon Air Gardens, Arouca; Kevon Patrick, 30, of Kingdom Avenue Bypass Road, Arima; Ryan Grandison, 27, of Tunip Lane, La Horquetta; and Brandon Thompson, 25, of Seeyjagat Trace, Tumpuna Road, Arima. Read more…
POLITICS
Kamla: Lawsuit against COP orders
Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad- Bissessar, is greatly concerned at the Police Service Commission (PSC’s) disclosure of not being consulted by Cabinet over a new way for choosing a Commissioner of Police (COP), and vowed to oppose it in Parliament and then in the Courts of Law. At a news briefing at her office at Charles Street, Port-of-Spain, she referred to Newsday’s exclusive report that PSC head, Dr Maria Therese Gomes, had not been consulted on Legal Notices 218 and 219 for selecting a CoP and Deputy Commissioner (DCP), and said the Opposition would try to annul them by motions in the House of Representatives tomorrow and the Senate (maybe Thursday) respectively. Failing that, the Opposition will ask the law-courts to strike down the two orders as unconstitutional. Read more…
T&T can ill afford reduction in energy sector
Energy Minster Nicole Olivierre said yesterday that the current environment of low oil and gas prices has slowed investment by energy companies and this has hampered growth in the industry. “Trinidad and Tobago can ill afford any substantial reduction in activity in the energy sector, particularly at this time when there is need to shore up production and unlock potential resources in our deep water provinces. As a Government, we are mindful of the economic challenges with which companies are faced and we are prepared to work with them toward mitigating these challenges,” the minister told energy industry leaders at a conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain. Read more…
BUSINESS
Christie: bpTT committed to T&T
Regional president of bpTT Norman Christie said the energy giant spent close to US$1.5 billion in T&T last year and is prepared to spent even more this year “If the above surface conditions are right.” He said this demonstrates the company’s confidence in the local energy sector even in an unfavourable economic climate. Christie, who spoke yesterday at the T&T Energy Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, said the company had been affected by the downturn in energy prices and the local economy. He said while downturns like the present one result in major dislocations for employees, contractors, communities, partners and the country, bpTT sees it “as an opportunity to demonstrate that our statement that we care is not a shallow one.” Read more…
‘Used-car dealers will not lose $$’
Used-car dealers will not lose money as a result of the new policy governing the foreign-used car industry, says Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon. She said vehicles purchased prior to the January 15 policy change would be exempt and there would be no loss to dealers or customers. Read more…
REGIONAL
No Babies! Health Ministry Advises Women Against Getting Pregnant, MAJ Agrees
Describing as smart and reasonable the move by the Ministry of Health to advise women to delay getting pregnant because of the potential impact of the Zika virus on newborns, Dr Myrton Smith, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), is also urging women to make use of birth control. "The reality is that women need to decide, is it really worth the risk of getting pregnant now and having your newborn baby pick up the infection and develop permanent brain damage, and that is if they survive, or do you play it smart and safe and wait until the threat has passed, and then go ahead and have your child," Smith shared with The Gleaner yesterday. "Bear in mind that some of these babies may not make it to term if they contract the infection; they may actually die before coming to term. I think it is really just good, smart, reasonable advice that should be given serious consideration. Protecting yourself, your family and your child's future should take precedence, against what could turn out to be a big problem." Read more…
St Lucia government upholds diplomatic immunity for Saudi billionaire
The government of Saint Lucia has informed Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) that it intends to uphold the principle of diplomatic immunity by allowing its permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to invoke his diplomatic immunity in a civil case brought by his ex-wife in the United Kingdom. The government advised the FCO of its position last Friday, after it received a letter from the FCO requesting the government of Saint Lucia to lift the immunity of Saudi billionaire Dr Walid Juffali. Subsequent to the receipt of the letter, the representative of the government of Saint Lucia, along with its attorney, met with FCO officials to discuss the matter. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Escaping ISIS: How French teen got free of terrorist recruiters
Most 15-year-old French girls spend their time on social media chatting with friends about schoolmates, music and movies. But Joanna was different. While her contemporaries "liked" one another's posts on Facebook and Instagram, or nattered on Snapchat and WhatsApp, Joanna was using the Internet to track down a fake passport and find her way to Syria. In the process, she also found herself in contact with one of the women directly involved in the Paris attacks. "I was trying to get a passport to leave for Syria. I had names and contacts, and this woman spoke to me on social media; she wanted to go to Syria with someone, she didn't want to go alone. "She was also trying to control everything I was doing," says the 15-year-old, from the outskirts of Paris. Read more…
China economic growth slowest in 25 years
19th January 2016