NEWS
Help load dump trucks
Despite his home and office being flooded out Friday night, Kelly Village/Warrenville councillor Samuel Sankar was out on the field attending to distressed villagers. Yesterday Sankar said he lost a computer, electronic items and important documents in his office while his home was inundated with flood waters. However it did not deter him from attending to the needs of the more than 10,000 people who were severely affected by the devastating floods last weekend. Read more here
Point residents block roads in early morning protest
Scores of residents from Point Fortin and environs who make the daily journey to San Fernando for work and school were left stranded earlier this morning after taxi drivers and residents staged fiery protests that blocked the main roadways. Point Fortin/San Fernando Taxi Drivers’ Association president John David said around 30 taxi drivers turned up at the taxi hub along Mainfield Road this morning but refused to make the 90-minute long trip to San Fernando. David said many commuters returned home while some were able to access other modes of transportation. He said the association also got support from PH taxi drivers and villagers of Union Village, La Brea, who cut trees and blocked the road to ensure that the protest got attention. However, police responded and the road was reopened. Read more here
Couva Gov't Secondary's amazing success
Seven years ago Ruqayyah Scott stood in the morning assembly at her Couva East Secondary School and listened to national scholarship winner deliver an inspiring speech. In Scott, it left a desire to excel. On Monday, this became a reality when Scott, along with two other schoolmates, stood before their school’s assembly and delivered her own motivational speech. The school held an celebratory function for the national scholars where they each gave inspiring words of thanks and advice to their school. Read more here
POLITICS
No government reaction…
With no response to their protest earlier this month, Point Fortin to San Fernando taxi drivers withheld their services for another day yesterday, to draw attention to their deplorable road conditions. Association president John David said three weeks after they wrote to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan, Point Fortin MP, Housing Minister Edmund Dillon, MP for La Brea Nicolle Olivierre and Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunt appealing for their road to be fixed, the situation remains the same. “This is disrespectful. The only person who responded was Olivierre. She acknowledged receipt of the letter and said she was working together with the Works Ministry to get the job done, but that is just mamaguy. Read more here
BUSINESS
Banks focus on diversification
The steps banks are taking to gear up for digitalisation and the support that is being made available to smaller-scale businesses operating in the non-oil economy were among the topics explored by Nigel M. Baptiste, president and CEO of Republic Financial Holdings Limited, in a wide-ranging interview he gave to Oxford Business Group’s online broadcasting channel, Global Platform. In the interview, which is now available to view in full at https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/video/nigel-m-baptiste-president-and-ceo-republic-financial-holdings, Baptiste highlighted the healthy liquidity levels of the country’s banks. Read more here
REGIONAL
Firefight - Bunting Blasts Sinclair Over Questions About Issuance Of Licence For Gun Range
Labelling Government Senator Charles Sinclair as "an idiot", former minister of national security Peter Bunting has responded with disdain to a call for him to tell the country what he knows about a firearm dealer's licence issued to the operator of a local gun range in 2015, despite objections from the National Intelligence Bureau. A strident Bunting made it clear that if he had skeletons in his closet, he could not have been "so assertive against the Labourites". "I exposed the Caricel licence, the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) used-car scandal, the FLA (Firearm Licensing Authority) issue, requiring the previous board to resign. I was the first to challenge (Andrew) Wheatley in Parliament on Petroscam. Seriously?" Bunting said, countering Sinclair's assertion. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
WWF report: Mass wildlife loss caused by human consumption
In a report, the charity says losses in vertebrate species - mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles - averaged 60% between 1970 and 2014. "Earth is losing biodiversity at a rate seen only during mass extinctions," the WWF's Living Planet Report adds. It urges policy makers to set new targets for sustainable development. The Living Planet Report, published every two years, aims to assess the state of the world's wildlife. Read more here
Lion Air crash: Indonesia to inspect all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes
Indonesia has ordered an inspection of all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes belonging to national commercial airlines, a day after Lion Air flight 610 crashed into the sea minutes after takeoff from the capital Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Speaking to CNN by phone Tuesday, transportation ministry official Capt. Avirianto said Lion Air currently has 11 of the models in its fleet while national carrier Garuda Indonesia has one. "We have inspected Garuda last night while Lion is still in progress," he said, adding that the ministry hopes to inspect at least three of Lion Air's planes Tuesday night and the other eight soon. It is unclear whether the Garuda aircraft passed the inspection. Read more here
30th October 2018