NEWS

CAL cancels flights

All Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flights arriving in or departing Jamaica were cancelled yesterday, as Hurricane Matthew barrelled towards the island. CAL stated that flights were cancelled yesterday and today. Three flights were cancelled on Monday, including one departing Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica and two leaving Jamaica for John F Kennedy International, New York. Read more here

Petition against online shopping tax: 1,800 signatures secured

The group Stand Up T&T has started a petition calling on Finance Minister Colm Imbert to repeal the seven per cent online tax introduced in the 2016/2017 budget last Friday. The group started the petition within 24 hours of the budget being read in the Parliament and so far it has gathered over 1,800 signatures. With the title “Repeal the 7% Online Tax NOW!!!”, the petition labels the move to tax online shoppers as “advantageous.” Read more here

POLITICS

PM’s comment on weaning misrepresented

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) yesterday sought to clear up what it called a misrepresentation of statements Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made at a function in Laventille last weekend, as he referenced the merits of the public-private partnership model to deal with economic challenges. During the launch of the School Improvement Project (SIP) at the Success Laventille Secondary School last Saturday, the PM was reported as telling the audience citizens needed to become weaned off the Government because it could not carry the weight anymore and that the 2017 Budget allowed greater participation in development. Read more here

$$ saved as Ministry gets own car park

The Ministry of Public Administration and Communication has reduced its car parking bill by $132,000 with the launch of a car park on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, solely for employees. Public Administration Minister Maxie Cuffie made the announcement yesterday at the launch at Lower Abercromby Street near Pancho’s Snackette.  Cuffie lauded the accomplishment for being one of the first projects under the 2017 budget to be completed and as one step in curbing money mismanagement by Government. Read more here

BUSINESS

Central businessmen say Budget ‘fair’

Several businessmen from Central Trinidad have indicated that the 2016/2017 Budget was a fair with a Chamber of Commerce head even describing the $53.4B fiscal package as being “real nice.” Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) president Richie Sookhai described the budget as “reasonable” given the country’s current eco nomic situation due to fluctuating oil and gas prices. However, Sookhai said the oil price should have been pegged at US$40 per barrel and not between US$48 and $50 per barrel given the volatility surrounding the world oil market. Read more here

REGIONAL

Colombian voters reject FARC-EP peace deal

Colombians voted NO on Sunday in the referendum to approve the peace accord signed just days earlier between the government and the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP). After over 99.4 percent of the votes had been counted, the No option had received some 6.417 million votes, 50.2 percent of the total. Meanwhile, 6.356 million (49.7 percent) voted YES, with barely 59,000 votes between the two choices, in a referendum where just one-third of all registered voters went to the polling stations. On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the parties for their determination, saying he believed peace could still be achieved and that all Colombians who had committed to ending the 50-year conflict should not be discouraged. Read more here

Threat Fizzles - Hurricane Warning Downgraded Though Heavy Rains Still Expected

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie is standing by Government's decision to maintain the Jamaica's state of preparedness to its highest level, even as the Met Service downgraded the hurricane threat to a tropical storm warning and the Category Four system Matthew meandered its way into the Central Caribbean. "Despite the downgrading from a hurricane warning to a tropical storm [warning], the Government will maintain the Level Three, the one which we have been for the last two days," McKenzie said as he updated the nation during a press briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) yesterday evening. "This will allow us to conduct any search and rescue that may be necessary after the passage of the storm." On Matthew's current projected path, Jamaica was likely to face tropical storm winds and increased rainfall starting at 2 this morning. Read more here

INTERNATIONAL

What to watch in the vice presidential debate

Sen. Tim Kaine and Gov. Mike Pence come into Tuesday night's debate with a mission. Pence needs to help Donald Trump recover from his lost week and re-focus his message, as well as convince people the White House is in good hands with the unpredictable Trump. Kaine wants ensure Hillary Clinton can solidify her post-debate gains in several swing states and in national polls. Here are five things to watch when the vice presidential nominees sit down for their only debate. Read more here

Hurricane Matthew: Dangerous storm closes in on Haiti

One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent years is closing in on Haiti, bringing winds, rains and storm surges. Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, is forecast to hit the western tip of Haiti early on Tuesday. "Life-threatening" conditions are already bearing down on the island, the US National Hurricane Center said. Interim Haitian President Jocelerme Privert said a number of people had been killed. "We've already seen deaths. People who were out at sea. There are people who are missing. They are people who didn't respect the alerts. They've lost their lives," he said. Read more here

4th October 2016

Back