NEWS
Two Fishermen Drown, Two Survive Ordeal
Faced with death while at the mercy of violent waves at sea, Mayaro fisherman Wayne Krishnie Samaroo, 53, called out to his son and instructed him to ‘hold on’ to the boat for safety during a fishing expedition which turned tragic on Monday evening. The son — Kowayne Wayne Samaroo, 23, held on for dear life and managed to survive the ordeal.
However, the incident claimed the lives of the elder Samaroo, aka Toolman, a father of 15, as well as, father of one, Larry Phillip, 30, plunging the entire Ortoire Village into mourning. Samaroo’s godson, Rendell Jack, 23, dubbed a “champion swimmer” also survived and received high praises from relatives for ensuring that the younger Samaroo did not give up under the pressure. Read more...
Latin women in high demand
Deputy director of the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) Alana Wheeler believes that human traffickers often use the same entry route as drug and gun smugglers to bring in foreign women for the sex slave industry. “Some drugs and arms traffickers have graduated to trafficking women and girls, as human trafficking is more profitable and also less risky for some criminal networks,” Wheeler told the T&T Guardian. While selling cocaine was a one-off trade, Wheeler said, a woman could be sold by her pimp/manager to clients repeatedly, which was far more lucrative. Read more...
POLITICS
Devant: Rowley a no show at Divali functions
Former Minister Devant Maharaj yesterday denounced Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s lack of attendance at Divali functions this year. . In a release, Maharaj noted that in the height of the by elections in 2014, Rowley attended Divali functions and “even trekked down to Debe for doubles”. “Additionally I recall the PNM (People’s National Movement) massive Divali celebration at Balisier House, Macoya, and St Joseph. When criticized for attending for merely political purposes after failing to attend in preceding years, the PNM defended Dr. Rowley’s right to attend and boasted of their party’s inclusiveness,” he said. He questioned Rowley’s “conspicuous absence” from Divali celebrations as well as other PNM MPs participation and hosting of Divali functions. He said in the PNM held constituencies of Tunapuna, St Joseph. Read more...
Deyalsingh to review system
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says there is an urgent need to revise policies regarding maternal health in T&T. He made the comment yesterday following a tour of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, while responding to questions relating to the recent deaths of two babies and a mother at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope. Deyalsingh said he believed that many of the cases of maternal death could be avoided if mothers knew their respective health conditions better. Read more...
BUSINESS
Govt looks to wind energy
A wind resource assessment programme is one of the areas being explored by Government as it moves to reduce the nation’s dependence on electricity generation from fossil fuels by ten percent by 2021, said Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre as she spoke yesterday at the launch of Caricom Energy Week at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Pt Lisas campus. “Government has declared its policy goal to maximize, where practicable, the use of renewable energy (such as solar and wind), through incentives, concessions and enabling legislation and make the reduction of Trinidad and Tobago’s carbon footprint a priority by setting appropriate renewable energy production targets,” Olivierre said adding, “accordingly, consideration is being given to the achievement of at least 10 percent local electricity generation from renewable energy by 2021.” Speaking to reporters following a tour of the nation’s only fully functional solar powered house which is sited at UTT’s Pt Lisas campus, she noted that the proposals for wind resource assessment programme was submitted earlier this year, but had envisioned an assessment over the entire country which was not approved by the Green Fund due to its high costing. Read more...
REGIONAL
Curacao government resigns
The prime minister of Curacao, Dr Ben Whiteman, has tendered his resignation to the governor in Willemstad. On Friday his four-party coalition lost its majority in parliament. Whiteman has been prime minister for just one month. Whiteman’s coalition was supported by 11 of the 21 seats. On Friday the coalition lost the support of an MP for the moderate PAIS party. During the weekend, the coalition parties tried to glue the coalition together with the help of the opposition party PAR, which demanded support for two ministerial posts and the departure of the controversial minister plenipotentiary, Marvelyne Wiels, in The Hague. Read more...
INTERNATIONAL
Human trafficking survivor: I was raped 43,200 times
Karla Jacinto is sitting in a serene garden. She looks at the ordinary sights of flowers and can hear people beyond the garden walls, walking and talking in Mexico City. She looks straight into my eyes, her voice cracking slightly, as she tells me the number she wants me to remember -- 43,200. By her own estimate, 43,200 is the number of times she was raped after falling into the hands of human traffickers. Read more...
Syria conflict: Russia 'peace plan' revealed ahead of key summit
11th November 2015