NEWS
La Romaine crime spike blamed on drug turf war
The fight for turf control in La Romaine is being blamed for the recent upsurge in gun violence in a community that, only last Thursday, bade farewell to nine-year-old Cyon Paul, who was gunned down a short distance from his home on Byron Street. Police believe he was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident at a nearby bar. When Paul met his death on the night of August 19, the youngster was on his way to buy hot dogs. Police are working on information that the regular gun play is as a result of a known criminal gang from San Fernando now slowly moving in to certain areas in La Romaine in an attempt to take over their “blocks”. On Saturday, a mobile police unit was installed at the corner of Potato Trace, La Romaine as officers of the Southern Division grapple with the increase in shootings and woundings in the area. Police said except for the murder of Adrian Paul, 29, on Friday night, considered unrelated to the ongoing warfare, the area was very quiet over the weekend. A senior officer told Newsday yesterday, “Over the weekend, La Romaine was like a ghost town. Read more…
Mom must wait for case hearing
A clerical court error may have caused a 34-year-old mother of seven to lose custody of two of her children. Laventille resident Natasha De Silva is now seeking any legal aid she can get to assist her in regaining supervision of her children. The single mother has always taken care of brothers — Nathaniel and Tyrese, aged four and five — and was fighting for full custodial rights at the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Family Court. But when she missed her last court date, due to an error she claims was made by a court official, Magistrate Ejenny Espinet ruled in favour of the boys’ father, Declan Ashton. Read more…
Management involved in racket, says Hadeed
National security at Piarco International Airport has been compromised because of a “racket” involving management, says former government minister Gerald Hadeed. Hadeed served as chairman of the Airports Authority before he was appointed as a minister of communications and then tourism under the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led People's Partnership government. Last Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in stressing that he was in charge of the National Security Council which is functioning effectively, stated the face recognition cameras at the airport were sabotaged. Read more…
POLITICS
UNC MP: What about ‘Turkey nine’?
United National Congress (UNC) Naparima MP Rodney Charles yesterday called on Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses to act urgently, regarding nine alleged TT nationals who have been detained in Turkey, after reportedly being en route to join the terrorist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS. In a statement, Charles said Moses and the Government appear to be “completely lost and out of depth in handling the detention” of these people. Charles, who was this country’s ambassador to the United Nations before he was recalled to serve as the UNC’s campaign manager and contest the Naparima constituency in last year’s general election, claimed that Government is “woefully unaware of the UN Security Council Resolution S/2014/688. Read more…
PM invites Kamla for crime talks
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has agreed to meet with Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and her delegation on Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, to discuss rising crime in the country. The talks are scheduled even as the National Security Council meets today to discuss a video in circulation from one of the country’s major criminal gangs, Rasta City gang, displaying a cache of weapons usually used by soldiers on the combat fields and moves by the Ministry of National Security to put more pressure on divisional commanders of the Police Service to be accountable for increasing crime detection in their respective areas. Read more…
Attorney: We don't want an apology
Attorney Michael Quamina, representing businessman and key People's National Movement strategist, Andrew Gabriel, and his wife Natalie, said yesterday that legal action against CNC3 and Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne will be taken by the end of this week. The legal action on behalf of the Gabriels comes days after Alleyne asked on his programme whether “Andrew's wife” got a multi-million dollar contract at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. Read more…
BUSINESS
Methanex mentorship delivers tangible rewards
For Kato James, student of Preysal High School, his decision to participate in the unique Mentoring Our Children initiative administered by Methanex, has been a heart-warming and life-changing experience. I didn’t know what to expect when a teacher recommended that I should take part in the programme when I was in Form 2. To be honest, I had some attitude problems but I decided to give it a try. I am not exagger ating when I say that it has changed my life in a very positive manner. I can relate better to people now. I am more disciplined and more focused on my goals and I truly believe that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to, said an assured James, who went back to Methanex in August to say a hearty thank you to his mentors. Read more…
Unemployment rate creeps up
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) reported yesterday that the overall unemployment rate had increased from 3.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2015 to 3.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, based on data collected in the Continuous Sample Survey of Population conducted during the period January to March 2016. In its statement, the CSO said: “From a gender perspective, the unemployment rate among males increased from 3.4 per cent to 3.7 per cent. Additionally, females increased from 3.6 per cent to 3.8 per cent during the same period.” The CSO data comes against the backdrop of the decision by ArcelorMittal in March to close its doors, resulting in about 700 workers being sent home. In February, Centrica terminated the services of 200 workers and in January, Repsol sent home 11 workers. As well, other companies across varying sectors of the country sent home workers as the contraction in T&T’s economy tore into the bottom line of many companies. Read more…
Starbucks launches in San Fernando
Is the biggest size Starbucks caramel macchiato with steamed milk, vanilla syrup and espresso worth $42? Absolutely, says Prestige Holdings chairman Christian Mouttet. Read more…
REGIONAL
Obama's Leaders - Eight Jamaicans Selected For Young Entrepreneurs Initiative In The US
A little over a year after United States President Barack Obama visited Jamaica and announced his flagship Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), the first crop of young people to participate in the programme has been announced. The US Embassy yesterday announced the names of the eight Jamaicans selected as YLAI fellows. Five of them are female entrepreneurs Patria-Kaye Aarons, Craslyn Benjamin, Tishauna Mullings, Renee Stewart and Latoya West-Blackwood. Javette Nixon, Kadeem Pet-Grave and social outreach specialist Miguel 'Steppa' Williams round out the list of male fellows. Read more…
Bahamas minister warns of zika impact on regional tourism
Bahamas minister of tourism Obie Wilchcombe said the increasing number of warnings on the zika virus coming from the Caribbean region could create a negative perception of Caribbean countries, if the number of people infected with the virus continues to rise. Wilchcombe said, although there is currently no evidence to suggest that visitor arrivals in The Bahamas have been affected in response to the presence of the zika virus, there is still a need to adopt the “simple theory that prevention is better than cure”. The tourism minister said the zika virus could have a “devastating impact” on the economies of Caribbean countries. Since the first case of zika was reported on August 10, The Bahamas has received three international travel warnings. Last week, three additional zika cases were confirmed and health officials say there were 83 suspected cases found throughout The Bahamas, eight of whom are pregnant women. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Chinese embassy blast: Car bomb attack in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Europe hits Apple with $14.6 billion tax bill
Ireland must recover up to 13 billion euros ($14.6 billion) in unpaid taxes from Apple, Europe's top regulator ruled on Tuesday. The tax ruling is by far the biggest the European Union has ever made regarding a single company, and it could spark a huge transatlantic row over how Europe treats big U.S. companies. Apple shares fell almost 3% in premarket trading. The company will appeal the decision. It said the ruling upended the international tax system and would damage jobs and investment in Europe. Ireland also intends to appeal. The Commission said the Irish government had granted illegal state aid to Apple (AAPL, Tech30)by helping the tech giant to artificially lower its tax bill for more than 20 years. Read more…
30th August 2016