NEWS
Rainfall but reservoirs still low
While recent rainfall in T&T has positively impacted local reservoirs, they remain significantly low. So said communications manager of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Daniel Plenty while responding to questions via e-mail. He said water schedules would remain until otherwise advised by the authority. Earlier this month, WASA told customers water levels at all of its reservoirs in Trinidad and particularly in Tobago were lower than the 20-year long-term average. Read more...
SECTION 34 OUTRAGE
It was a desire to appease major public outrage over the possibility that the Piarco Airport fraud accused would escape criminal prosecution, which led to the repeal of the controversial Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act. This desire, according to British Queen’s Counsel Michael Beloff, who is seeking the interest of Maritime General — a company which sought freedom from prosecution under the controversial clause — was unfair and in violation of the Constitution as it targeted two persons, businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson. Read more...
BABY DIES
AN 11-month-old baby boy is dead and, according to an autopsy report, his death is as a result of injuries sustained by blunt force trauma to his abdominal area. According to police reports, officers of the Eastern Division police received information last Friday that Mikyle Ramnath had died at the Sangre Grande District Hospital around midday that day. Read more...
POLITICS
Govt to probe $40m bill for 3-day event
Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis says the new PNM Government is probing a three-day event under the former PP government which cost taxpayers an estimated $40 million. She raised the issue during her brief presentation to the Standing Committee of Finance in the House of Representatives yesterday. Later in an interview with reporters, Robinson-Regis said: “We have clear evidence of the Americas Competitiveness Forum costing in the region of $40 million for probably about three days and our competitiveness index did not improve.” Read more...
Moonilal: Couva hospital allocation standard
Opposition Whip Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday accused Minister of Finance Colm Imbert of “headline- grabbing antics”, saying Budget allocations in relation to the Couva Children’s Hospital were standard, even for government- to-government arrangements. On Saturday last, Imbert had said he was going to examine how State funds were allocated for the project, even though it was subject to a government- to-government loan with China. Moonilal said even government-to-government loans have allocations, because they relate to fees not covered by such loans. Read more...
BUSINESS
Olivierre promises local content laws
Government is reconstituting a Local Content Committee to develop legislation that will assist in the development of home grown companies. Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre, who made the announcement over the weekend at the 25th anniversary celebrations of In-Corr-Tech Limited, said during her tenure she will be championing the cause of local content. Read more...
CAL wins WTA award for 5th year in a row
For the fifth consecutive year Caribbean Airlines has won the “Caribbean’s Leading Airline” award at the annual World Travel Awards held this weekend at Sandals Emerald Bay Golf, Tennis & Spa Resort Great Exuma, Bahamas. Accepting the award on behalf of the airline, Chief Executive Officer Michael DiLollo stated: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do at Caribbean Airlines, and we are very proud to be recognised by them. This award comes at a time when Caribbean Airlines has had a successful summer peak performance. Our teams have worked hard and our frontline employees have persevered to make a positive difference. We are also in the final weeks before cutting over to our new Amadeus Passenger Service System, which will further enhance our customers’ travel experience.” Mr DiLollo continued: “Caribbean Airlines is in a state of transformation. Read more...
REGIONAL
Infection affecting newborns in Jamaica hospital identified
Health officials in Jamaica have figured out what is causing some newborns at the University Hospital of the West Indies to fall ill, and Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson says it’s being dealt with. And international partners, including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), are on standby to provide any additional assistance that may be required. But Ferguson is keeping the nature of the infection under wraps, at least for now. He is expected to address the issue tomorrow. Read more...
Cuba denies sending special forces to Syria
The Cuban foreign ministry issued a news release on Sunday denying the presence of Cuban Special Forces in Syria. The general director for bilateral affairs at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, Gerardo Peñalver, strongly denied and rejected what he termed irresponsible and false media reports about the presence of Cuban troops in Syria. Last week, an unnamed US government official stated that Cuban Special Forces and paramilitary personnel had arrived in Syria, and will support the Assad regime in military operations. Read more...
INTERNATIONAL
Oscar Pistorius released from prison under house arrest
How asteroids can help us reach Mars
If you've read or seen "The Martian," you know that getting humans safely to Mars and back will be a gargantuan task. Unlike a mission to the moon, which can be done in three or four days, a journey to Mars -- some 140 million miles away -- could take more than six months each way. For a trip that long, astronauts would need to set up a network of supply depots in deep space to refuel their spacecraft. But how? As crazy as it sounds, one answer is -- asteroid mining. Read more...
20th October 2015