NEWS
Nearly 2,000 migrant children left out: 23 Venezuelans to start school
While the doors of TT’s schools will open to 23 Venezuelan children next month, hundreds of others will remain locked outside the education system. Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly listed all the preparations – legal, administrative and educational – to admit the young migrants, but Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds told reporters that about 2,000 Venezuelan minors were now in TT, including those not registered as migrants. The duo spoke at a ceremony at the ministry on August 19 to present the parents of Venezuelan children with migrant student exemption letters. Read more here
Tobago records 18 new cases
Tobago’s dengue cases have climbed to 36, with 18 new cases reported since August 2. In an update by the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Secretary, Dr Faith B Yisrael said the island has not had any dengue fatalities. On July 7, a release from the Tobago House of Assembly stated that the island had recorded its first laboratory-confirmed case of dengue fever, following the wave of dengue cases that began in Trinidad in January 2024. The THA said then that the suspected case was flagged by relevant personnel at the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), a sample taken, sent for testing and confirmation received on July 5. The THA Secretary of the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection has been encouraging residents in Tobago to take the situation seriously, “as one case can lead to one hundred.” Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla warns Coat of Arms change a sensitive topic
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar believes that while some of the history behind Christopher Columbus has to be revisited, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s promise to remove his ships from this country’s Coat of Arms needs to be carefully thought out. This is because she believes if not handled properly, it can ignite racial tensions in Trinidad and Tobago. In a statement yesterday addressing the plan to remove the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria from the national emblem and replace them with the steelpan, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged that Columbus was wrongfully celebrated for some time. However, she said she is of the belief that “sanitising history, truth, and free speech in the modern era of wokeness, virtue signalling, and cancel culture will only promote ignorance and foster the repetition of evil acts in the future that can be preventable.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Courts, TCL collaborate to make construction easier
Courts Ready Finance has collaborated with Cemex TCL in an end-customer financing programme aimed at making construction materials accessible and affordable to customers. The programme is called ConstruCredit. A release from Unicomer, parent company of Courts, said the venture will benefit individuals and families who hope to build and improve their homes. “By combining our financial expertise with TCL’s industry experience, we are creating a powerful synergy that will drive growth and development, foster economic growth and build a more inclusive financial ecosystem.” Read more here
Inflation drops to 0.3% in July
Although there was a slight decrease in inflation for July, food prices continued to rise during the month, according to the Central Statistical Office's (CSO) Consumer Price Index. The CSO in its Consumer Price Index release yesterday said the inflation rate percentage for July 2024 over July 2023, was 0.3 per cent which represents a decrease from 0.7 per cent recorded in the previous month (June 2024/June 2023). The CSO said the Inflation Rate for the comparative period (July 2023/July 2022) stood at 4.7 per cent. However, the all-items index calculated from the prices collected for July 2024 was 123.9, representing an increase of 0.2 points or 0.2 per cent above the all-items index for June 2024 as shown in the table attached. Read more here
FT Farfan, Kioti launch ‘agri game changer’ for region
Agricultural equipment provider FT Farfan Ltd and global tractor technology leader Kioti SA DE CV announced a partnership yesterday that promises to transform the region’s agricultural landscape. The official launch of the Kioti tractor line in Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, and key executives from both companies at the recently concluded 2024 Agri Expo held at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Read more here
REGIONAL
Seven Indigenous communities receive ‘absolute grants,’ certificates of title at NTC
As the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) Conference opened on Monday, seven leaders from Indigenous communities across the country received absolute grants and certificates of title on their village’s behalf. The grants and titles were handed over by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali during the opening ceremony of the NTC Conference which is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre this week. The villages of Hotoquai, Hobodia and Red Hill of Region One received the absolute grants while Akawini in Region Four received its absolute grant, Arau in Region Seven received its certificate of title and Moco Moco, Region nine received its absolute grant. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
'America, I gave my best to you': Biden eyes legacy in emotional farewell
It was not the speech Joe Biden wanted to give. At least, not this year, under these circumstances. But if anyone knows how quickly fortunes can change, it’s this president – whose personal and professional life has been scarred by tragedy and adversity. Speaking to a packed arena in Chicago on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Mr Biden offered a full-throated defence of his presidency – touching on many of the themes that he campaigned on in 2020 and again this year before abandoning his re-election bid in mid-July, a few weeks after a catastrophic debate performance. Read more here
20th August 2024