NEWS
CAL increases domestic capacity in October
From January 1 to September 30 this year, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) carried almost half a million passengers on the domestic air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago. An advertisement from CAL said there were 463,783 passengers from 7,163 flights with 512,220 seats. The seating capacity for October is 72,832, representing the highest monthly figure for the year. The seating capacity also represents 499 flights for each island for October, the highest monthly flight for the year. The spike in passengers might have resulted from the Tobago Carnival, which is scheduled to start on Friday and end on Sunday. February had the smallest number of flights, with 364 in Tobago and 363 in Trinidad. So far, July has the highest arrivals in both islands, Trinidad (30,068) and Tobago (29,134). The month with the smallest arrivals in Tobago was February, with 23,267 passengers going to the island. Read more here
OSHA begins probe into WASA worker’s death
The Occupational Safety and Health Agency has started investigations into the death of WASA worker Kern Etienne, who died after being buried alive in a trench he was working in along the Rienzi Kirton Highway, San Fernando, on Sunday. OSHA executive director Carolyn Sancho told Guardian Media yesterday that the authority is currently investigating the incident. She revealed that inspectors had already been assigned to the case. Meanwhile, WASA CEO Kelvin Romain told Guardian Media that an internal investigation, separate from the OSHA probe, had been started as well. Asked why proper shoring of the trench was not done, Romain said he preferred to refrain from commenting until the thorough investigation was completed. “This incident is tragic and we lost one of our valued employees,” Romain lamented. Read more here
POLITICS
Deyalsingh: UK wishes to partner on Central Block
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said on Monday that British entities wish to get involved with aspects of the new central block at Port of Spain General Hospital. He was speaking to reporters at the on-site topping-off ceremony to mark the last pour of concrete for the rooftop, to complete the 13-storey block's superstructure. "We are already getting expressions of interest from partners outside of TT, as they have heard of this – from England especially – to be a part of this project. "So it has ignited something very, very significant in the medical fraternity not only here but abroad." Read more here
BUSINESS
Canada, Caricom strengthen trade ties
Canada and Caricom have renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and trade relations. The Caribbean leaders convened at a Canada-Caricom summit in Ottawa last week, where they discussed ways to diversify trade and investment. The leaders also looked at the expansion of key sectors like financial services, resilient infrastructure, clean technology, information and communications technologies and natural resources management. In a release, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau underscored the importance of working together to build sustainable economies for everyone, especially as Caribbean countries continue to recover from the covid19 pandemic. Read more here
Central Bank continues probe
The Central Bank of T&T is continuing its investigation into the recent credit card processing issue to determine if there is a larger problem at hand. In a WhatsApp exchange, Central Bank’s senior manager of Human Resources, Industrial and External Relations Nicole Crooks told the Express, “The Central Bank is continuing its examination, particularly to ascertain whether the incident reflects a larger problem, so that appropriate wider control measures can be put in place.” She said based on initial discussions with the commercial banks, the incident was limited and involved certain transactions over August to September which were reversed in October. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana rejects Venezuela’s attempts to undermine its territorial integrity
The following is the full statement by the Government of Guyana: “THE Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has taken careful note of the issuance by the National Electoral Council of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of five questions to be asked in the national referendum scheduled for December 3, 2023. Among other questions, all of which are intended to further Venezuela’s unlawful and unfounded claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory, question five is the most pernicious: it brazenly seeks the approval of the Venezuelan people of the creation of a new Venezuelan State consisting of Guyana’s Essequibo region, which would be incorporated into the national territory of Venezuela, and the granting of Venezuelan citizenship to the population. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Off-duty pilot Joseph Emerson accused of trying to crash Alaska Airlines flight
An off-duty pilot has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, after he allegedly tried to crash a passenger jet during a flight on Sunday night. The suspect was sitting in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight behind the captain and the first-officer, according to an airline statement. A police booking document named the suspect as Joseph David Emerson, 44. The flight was on its way from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, with 80 passengers aboard. It was diverted to Portland, Oregon, and the suspect was subdued without incident, officials said. In a statement, Alaska Airlines said the off-duty pilot was travelling in the flight deck jump seat, when he "unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines". Read more here
24th October 2023