DAILY BRIEF
WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE, 2015
NEWS
Man found gagged, throat slit at home
Hasley Goodridge, 39, described by his neighbours as a spiritual man who used to read people’s palms and give bush baths, was found tied up and gagged with his throat slit yesterday morning. Speaking with journalists outside Goodridge’s Hillaire Street, Diego Martin, home yesterday, Goodridge’s neighbour, identified only as Grace, said she found him around 8 am yesterday after she passed by his home, saw his house open and heard loud music coming from inside. “He used to be loose. He loved to drink his rum, have a merry time and welcome everyone he meet. If you hungry he would cook you food. He used to do little bush bath and read (tarot) cards for people and sell oil or whatever. But to say he was a violent person? No, not at all,” Grace said. She added, “He wasn’t just a friend, he was a brother, a father, he was everything to all of us. Up to Saturday night we was liming, spending time and ketching up.” Read more...
4,200 apply to adopt TT children, but only 20 children available
There were 4,200 persons in Trinidad and Tobago who applied to adopt children, but there are only 20 children available. Yesterday, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT) revealed that since it took over the role and functions of the Adoption Board, it intends to free up the bureaucracy to make it easier for couples to adopt children. And in order to source more children eligible for adoption, The CATT is on a drive to sensitise the public. The aim is to give more children homes to live in like normal families. Recently, the Adoption Children Act of 2000 was proclaimed by His Excellency President Anthony Carmona. The CATT held a sensitisation session on Friday last, for families who were pre-approved for adoption by the former Adoption Board. Senior Counsel Stephanie Daly who chairs the CATT, said that efforts are being made to make it easier for people to adopt children. Read more...
Ganja probe
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has ordered an investigation into the discovery of “five grammes of a plant-like material resembling that of marijuana” at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's Phillipine home more than two years ago. The probe was ordered following receipt of a signed report at 2 p.m. yesterday by Williams from the head of the Special Branch confirming the discovery. The Sunday Express this week published an article written by investigative journalist Denyse Renne, headlined “Smokeout”, which focused on an affidavit by Member of Parliament Jack Warner in which he stated he was part of a plan in 2013 to ensure there was no criminal probe into the discovery of marijuana at the private home of Persad-Bissessar. Speaking to the Express on Monday evening in Tobago, Williams said there was “no report recorded in the Police Service concerning a matter like that”. Read more...
POLITICS
Moonilal offers ‘file’ to Jack
Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal offered a hardware file to embattled Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, in a tease over the United States Justice Department’s extradition bid over FIFA dealings, at Monday night’s Monday Night Forum of the United National Congress (UNC) at Rienzi Complex, Couva. Scoffing that Warner had claimed to have files on Government Members, Moonilal said, “This is the only file he needs, a Nicholson 12 inch file, to saw his way out of an American jail cell. He don’t need Kamla file or Moonilal file but just a Nicholson file.” Earlier he said voters face a choice between Perrsad-Bissessar and PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley. “The choice is clear, vote for a PM of sincerity courage commitment and love for the people of TT.” He dubbed Dr Rowley “an angry, insincere, leaderless and clueless politician. He embarrassed himself writing the President and then had to apologise to His Excellency.” Saying Rowley has “no vision, no plan, no policy, no strategy” Moonilal said.” Read more...
PM declares 2015 campaign...
Four days after she announced the election date, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar kicked off her 2015 campaign at Rienzi Complex on Monday night with the theme, On to Victory. Dubbing the election the mother of all election battles, the PM warned supporters to brace themselves for a bruising three-month campaign and called on them not to weaken in the face of propaganda. Over the past weeks the Persad-Bissessar and her Government have faced stinging criticism from her former party chairman and Cabinet minister Jack Warner, including allegations that he funded their 2010 election and the latest salvo that marijuana was found at her private home in Philippine.The PM cautioned the sea of yellow supporters, assembled under a white tent in the backyard of the party’s headquarters at Couva, that it was not going to be an easy three months. She told them to be prepared for more vicious lies and fabrications. Read more...
BUSINESS
Sevilla packing house to boost food security
A state-of-the-art packing house that will accommodate the produce from more than 500 farmers will be instrumental in reducing T&T’s $4 billion food import bill and encourage food security, deputy chairman of the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (Namdevco) Ryan Badal said yesterday. The facility, located at Sevilla Compound, Couva, and built on former Caroni (1975) Ltd lands, will be used by farmers to store, sort and prepare their produce for local and international markets. Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Badal said the only way the country can attain food security is by supporting local farmers. “As you are aware, T&T is confronted with the challenge of reducing an increasing food import bill of $4 billion, while also promoting food security. That is why we believe full support must be given to our farmers through the provision of storage and processing facilities to increase local food production,” he said. Read more...
UTT, GLI promote values-based leadership
"Effective leadership always starts with a foundation of strong values and a commitment to internal change.” This was the core theme at a recent leadership training workshop hosted by the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT). “The UTT Student Support Services Department has as one of its focus areas the deepening of student leadership capacity with an emphasis on values. The goal is not only student leaders but the preparation of future national leaders who are guided by high ethical standards,” said Dr. Letitia Williams, Assistant Vice President in charge of Student Support Services at UTT. The workshop was facilitated by Global Leadership Interlink, an international non-profit organisation that promotes values-based leadership development around the world. More than 60 incoming Student Guild Officers of UTT participated in the event. They explored the current expressions of leadership in Trinidad and Tobago and the issues being confronted. Read more...
New FCB CEO to speak at TTCSI function
FIRST Citizens Bank (FCB) chief executive officer Karen Darbasie will deliver her maiden speech as ceo on Wednesday. Darbassie is the feature speaker for the eight annual general meeting of the Trinidad & Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI). The function carded for 4 p.m. will be held at the National Carnival Commission's VIP Lounge. Other speakers include TTCSI's president Angela Lee Loy and TTCSI's ceo Camille Sears-Carter Wells. Darbassie's speech will focus on “Banking and the Economy”. She was appointed ceo on April 7. The TTCSI is a business support organiaation that brings together all services sector organisations and associations. The Bankers Association, Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies, the Energy Chamber, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry & Commerce, Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association, Trinidad and Tobago, Society of Planners, Joint Consultative Council for Construction Industry, NationalChutney Foundation and Caribbean Corporate Governance are all part of the TTCSI. Read more...
FirstCaribbean CEO stepping down
Rik Parkhill is stepping down as CEO of FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited at the end of the year. His resignation was accepted at a meeting of the regional bank’s board of directors on June 12. In a notice to the T&T Stock Exchange, the bank announced that senior Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) executive Gary Brown will take up the appointment as the new CEO on January 1, 2016. A full transition plan for the end of year has been established which focuses on face to face meetings with the new CEO and the bank’s stakeholder groups across the region. Parkhill, who has held the top post at FirstCaribbean since September 2011, was a senior executive with CIBC, the regional bank’s parent company before being tapped to head up the Caribbean operation. Other appointments announced by FirstCaribbean include Neil Brennan taking over the position of managing director, Human Resources, effective June 15. Carolyn Lewis will assume the role of deputy managing director, Human Resources. Read more...
REGIONAL
Regional economies broken but not failed
The Third Regional Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF) opened on Tuesday with St Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony saying it was necessary for regional governments to dispel the notion they were managing failed economies. “I do not subscribe to that perspective. These economies may be broken but I believe we can pick up the pieces. I believe that our historical task is to conceptualize, shape and define an economic model that answers to the times and to our needs,” Anthony told delegates attending the two-day event. The CGF provides an opportunity to discuss a new agenda for sustainable growth in the Caribbean and also provides a platform for private sector and civil society to give feedback on national reforms and help track the implementation of actions needed to spur sustainable growth and opportunities for all in the Caribbean. Anthony told the meeting it is no secret that the global financial crisis which started in 2008 has adversely impacted the economies of non-commodity exporting Caribbean states. Read more...
We do not manage failed economies in the Caribbean, says St Lucia PM
We do not manage failed economies in the Caribbean, but broken ones and we just need to pick up the pieces. That was the sentiment of the prime minister of Saint Lucia Dr Kenny Anthony while addressing the opening ceremony of the World Bank’s Caribbean Growth Forum on Tuesday morning. “We need to dispel the widespread view that we are all managing failed economies. I do not subscribe to that perspective. These economies may be broken but I believe we can pick up the pieces. I believe that our historical task is to conceptualize, shape and define an economic model that answers to the times and to our needs,” Anthony said. “So, challenge yourselves, our development partners and the esteemed panelists to develop a new phase which builds upon the successes of the last CGF, and learns from its shortfalls. Now is the time to discuss. Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to act,” he added. Read more...
INTERNATIONAL
Mudslides hit quake-ravaged villages in Nepal
At least 13 people died and many more are missing after mudslides hit villages reeling from April's earthquake, authorities said Thursday. A dozen landslides triggered by torrential rain have hit six villages in the Taplejung district in eastern Nepal, said Surendra Bhattarai, the assistant chief district officer. Nineteen people remain missing, he said.Dozens of families have been taken to safer areas as security forces and police search for survivors.The April earthquake killed thousands, and was Nepal's worst natural disaster in more than eight decades.
17th June 2015