NEWS
TT, Venezuela talk prisoner exchange
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday announced that National Security Minister Edmund Dillon will be going to Venezuela on May 30 for direct government to government talks that could lead to the repatriation of five TT nationals incarcerated in the South American nation on charges of terrorism to this country. The talks which Dillon will have with his Venezuelan counterparts in Caracas next week will also be aimed at clamping down on the flow of illegal drugs and guns into TT, in order to curb crime in this country. “We agreed after discussions that we would take steps, on both sides of the border, to ensure our immigration and judicial processes repatriate our citizens currently in various states of detention on both sides of border,” Rowley said. Agreeing with Maduro about the need to strengthen cross border security, Rowley said, “We also discussed at length the common purpose of reducing illicit activity in western Venezuela in so far as it affects the waters and territory of TT.” The Prime Minister said he and Maduro agreed that the security services of both countries meet as a matter of urgency and re-establish the joint TT-Venezuela security operation coordinating committee. Read more…
Taxi driver ‘Lucky’ killed outside home
While the visit of Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro took centre stage yesterday, murderers continued to take lives, leaving four men dead and another nursing gunshot wounds in South and east Port-of-Spain. There were 192 murders up to late yesterday. There is yet to be closure for any of the families of these men as police have not arrested any suspects. In the latest murder, Piparo taxi driver, Anand “Lucky” Mohammed, was shot dead outside his house on Sunday night. Police said around 7.30 pm, Mohammed, 52, of Stone Road, Piparo, had just parked his purple Nissan B14 in his garage. Read more…
Chaos at Creek as ex-highway workers protest
Police failed to prevent yesterday morning’s commuter chaos at Mosquito Creek, La Romaine, and Golconda Village, San Fernando, caused by a small group of former OAS Construtora workers protesting for outstanding wages. From as early as 4 a.m., the workers blocked South Trunk Road with burning debris. Read more…
POLITICS
Mayor Valentine: It happens
“It happens.” That was the comment of Port-of-Spain Mayor Keron Valentine yesterday over the disclosure of his failure to file a return for 2014 with the Integrity Commission. The commission last Friday began the process of publication of lists of people who have failed to declare income and assets over a period of years. In an interview with Newsday, Valentine confirmed he had not filed his declaration — due last May — in time. However, he said this was because he wanted to ensure he did not provide inaccurate information. Valentine has been a member of the Portof- Spain City Corporation for a number of years. “It happens, that’s the best I could say,” Valentine said. “But going forward it won’t happen again. I will be on time for 2016.. My form is already written up.” The mayor said he had his form for 2014 already filled out, but had not complied with the deadline for filing. “I have all my forms filled out,” he said. “I guess it has to do with timing. It’s not just me. There are many other folks who did not file and their name is not there or it has not yet been reported.” At the same time, he said his returns are something he treats seriously. Read more…
Venezuela to buy US50m in goods
Oil-rich Venezuela, which is faced with a severe food crisis, will soon bring relief to its citizens by purchasing US$50 million in goods from T&T. Confirmation came yesterday from Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. In addressing the media, some of whom were from Venezuela, Maduro described his meeting with Rowley and his Cabinet as fruitful and successful, promising to strengthen ties and the relationship with T&T going forward. Read more…
5 Trinis to come home, says AG
The repatriation of five Trinidad and Tobago nationals detained in jail in Venezuela and the return of 18 Venezuelan nationals detained at the Immigration Detention Centre in Aripo will be done with “alacrity”, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi assured yesterday. Read more…
BUSINESS
Ministry consults on poverty
Ahead of crafting a National Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Ministry of Social Development held a public consultation, “No One left behind: Collaborating to Combat Poverty”, in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). The event, last Thursday, was the first in a series of planned consultations nationwide. Permanent Secretary (PS), Jacinta Bailey Sobers, speaking for Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow Cockburn, said that despite more social spending, poverty has risen since 2005. Read more…
RBC defends higher fees
RBC Royal Bank yesterday defended its decision to increase fees for personal and business banking services, saying the new rates are within industry standards. In emailed responses to questions from the T&T Guardian, the bank said its competitive edge will not be diminshed by the adjustments to its rates which are due to take effect on May 31 and June 17. RBC’s revised schedule of fees and charges include a $1 increase in standing orders to $7. The fee for initial set up of a standing order, as well as for amendments to a standing order, has been increased to $10. Read more…
REGIONAL
Cokes Turn To Christ - 'Sandy' Now Evangelising; 'Dudus' Pursuing Theology Course In Prison
Six years ago, the tough-talking Camille 'Sandy' Coke was regarded as one of the most influential women of the troubled and poverty-stricken West Kingston community, where she and her siblings grew up. So, when the security forces were sent to execute an extradition warrant on her older brother, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the former Tivoli Gardens strongman, in May 2010, she was among a number of persons who were rounded up and taken into custody. Languishing behind the bars of the Duhaney Park Police Station lock-up for several months, and with her hopes of freedom fading, she became desperate. With nowhere else to turn, she said she fell into the comfortable arms of God. Today, the prayer warrior is no longer influencing people in a negative way, but is busy in the streets praying and encouraging others to follow in the path of Jesus Christ. But she is not the only one of the Coke clan who has decided to turn to Jesus. Her sibling, Dudus, who was extradited to the United States on drug-related crimes, is pursuing a theology course in prison, she said. Read more…
Turks and Caicos to solicit public input on beneficial ownership information exchange
The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is inviting all stakeholders, corporate businesses, financial associations, interest groups, etc., to comment and provide feedback, advice, input in any form helpful to active participation in the design of the international standard on beneficial ownership information and transparency. According to the TCI government recent developments around beneficial ownership information transparency is fast becoming a key subject in the fight against criminals using complex structures to hide financial assets to avoid paying their fair share of taxes which may subject these entities to illicit financial activities. The business of offshore financial services, wealth management and asset protection is a legitimate one but a number of businesses have taken advantages of the gaps and loopholes in the system. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Syria conflict: IS 'destroyed helicopters' at T4 base
New satellite imagery appears to reveal extensive damage to a strategically significant airbase in central Syria used by Russian forces after an attack by so-called Islamic State (IS). Four helicopters and 20 lorries were destroyed in a series of fires inside the T4 base last week, the images from intelligence company Stratfor suggest. The cause of the fires is unconfirmed. A pro-Kremlin website said the helicopters had been used by "used by both Russian and Syrian air forces". Russia has not officially commented on the incident. A Russian opposition website quoted "Syrian sources" as saying "a large fire in the Syrian part of the T4 airbase spread to the fleet of vehicles, and after a fuel tank exploded four Russian helicopters nearby went up in flames". "The cause of the fire is being established," it added. Read more…
Obama raises human rights in Vietnam, calls for 'peaceful resolution' of South China Sea disputes
President Barack Obama made a forceful case for human rights in Vietnam Tuesday during a speech in Hanoi and he called for the "peaceful resolution" of disputes in the South China Sea. Obama stressed the need to uphold human rights in his remarks to the Vietnamese people and were broadcast on television in a nation that has a dismal record on the issue. Human rights "is not a threat to stability" but reinforces it, Obama said. Freedom of speech and expression "fuels" the economy, the President continued. "That is how some of our greatest companies began." Highlighting freedom of the press, assembly, and religion, Obama said that while the U.S. is not trying to "impose the American form of government on Vietnam," the country should be more open to scrutiny in order to grow "stronger and more prosperous." Read more…
24th May 2016