NEWS
PCA: Co-operation with Griffith going well
Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West has said the police and the PCA are working on a memorandum of understanding which does not require legislative intervention. “We are almost complete with it. Once it is complete will see how it works.” West, speaking to Newsday in a phone interview, said the memorandum should reduce the need for legislative intervention. He also said with the appointment of Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, the relationship between the police and the PCA has improved. “The co-operation between the TTPS and the PCA is working well.” Read more here
History of Lapeyrouse revealed
“A place where history comes alive among the dead.” This is how Education and Outreach officer of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, Marlon Green describes the Lapeyrouse Cemetery in Port-of-Spain. Green led a tour of about thirty people through the cemetery yesterday. The cemetery is located on the outskirts of the capital city on 20 acres of land that was once a thriving sugar estate. Its architecture includes graves, tombs and mausoleums modelled after chapels that may bring to mind the set of a horror film at first glance but on closer inspection, one realises that many of those who helped shape and mould T&T are buried within its walls. Read more here
POLITICS
City to launch ‘nudge along’ policy for homeless
The Port of Spain City Corporation will try to clear the city of vagrants by introducing a “nudge along” policy. The policy is designed to discourage homeless people sleeping in the city. Port of Spain mayor Joel Martinez, in a phone interview yesterday, said the corporation had been trying to do something about the homeless population. This included building a homeless shelter, but the corporation was unable to get the land designated for the shelter, and will instead encourage them to go to Riverside Plaza. Read more here
BUSINESS
MHTL raises $1 billion
Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited (MHTL), a member of the Proman Group of Companies, yesterday announced the completion of a TT $1 billion term facility. The term facility bears interest at a rate of 5.50 per cent per annum for the first 18 months, a statement from the company said. It added that the term facility has a tenure of three years and is unsecured with interest payable semi-annually. The lead arrangers for this TT$1 billion term facility are ANSA Merchant Bank Ltd, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Ltd and Republic Bank Ltd. The company said the inaugural TT$1 billion debt issuance was oversubscribed and based on strong local reverse inquiries from a combination of local banks, global banks represented domestic and local asset managers. Read more here
Digitisation and technology drive Jamaica’s improvement
T&T is economically situated in a place where it should be doing much better than it is currently doing when it comes to the ease of doing business. This according to the executive director of the Mona School of Business and Management in Jamaica, Dr David McBean. Responding to questions posited by the Business Guardian, McBean said: “T&T with a per capita income of US$15,000 compared to Jamaica’s US$48,000, should be in a position to outperform its Caribbean neighbour given its resources.” He continued: “A quick review shows that Jamaica is ranked 71st in the world for ease of doing business, while T&T is ranked at 105. While tables do not often tell the whole story, it is instructive to see what factors drive the rankings and how relevant they are to us as developing economies.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Sex Cult? - Cops, Soldiers Storm MoBay Church Compound Amid Claims Of Child Abuse
Security forces battled their way on to the Qahal Yahweh Church compound Tuesday afternoon to remove three children reportedly in need of care and protection at what has been styled as a cultic stronghold of abuse, sexual assault, and wife-swapping. Yesterday’s was the second raid on the facility located at Lot 144 in Norwood, Montego Bay, since last Thursday and brings to six the number of minors, including a pregnant 16-year-old, extracted from the communal setting dotted with tents, huts, and unfinished buildings. Approximately 70 followers reside under the same roof, having reportedly abandoned their homes. Read more here
Brazilian investors showing interest in Guyana
THERE has been a marked increase in the number of Brazilian investors who are showing interest in Guyana. “I have been there for three and a half years and there has been a marked improvement with regards to interest being shown in Guyana as it regards to investing,” said Consul-General of Guyana to Brazil, Shirley Melville, in an invited comment on Saturday. The increase was justified by the number of meetings between the consulate and investors from Brazil. Melville said over the years, she has interacted with investors from Northern Brazil and Sao Paulo. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump's impeachment defense splintered by new revelations
President Donald Trump's impeachment defense is being stripped away plank by plank by some of the administration officials caught up in his scheme to pressure Ukraine for political favors. A dramatic reversal by Republican donor turned diplomat Gordon Sondland, who now says that a quid pro quo was needed from Kiev to free up military aid, rocked Washington Tuesday and undercut GOP strategy. In testimony released by impeachment investigators, the US ambassador to the European Union also testified that he assumed it would be "illegal" for Trump's fixer and personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to push Ukraine to investigate the President's political opponents. Read more here
Mexico ambush: Boy, 13, walked 23km for help after gun attack
6th November 2019