NEWS
Trade unions unhappy with electricity rate hike
Trade unions have slammed the Regulated Industries Commission's (RIC) recent proposal to increase residential electricity rates by 15-64 per cent. Michael Annisette, general secretary of the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), told Newsday on Monday the proposed increase exceeds the government's offer of a four per cent salary increase for public servants for 2014-19. He said the increase emphasises the unions' ongoing calls for living wages rather than a minimum wage. Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced in his budget address on October 2 an increase in the minimum wage from $17.50 to $20.50 per hour, which takes effect in January 2024. Annisette called the proposed electricity rate increase "social injustice" and said citizens are already facing severe financial difficulties. He questioned the timing of the residential rate increase and the proposed increase of 37-51 per cent for small businesses and ten-12 per cent for larger businesses. Read more here
2 Ste Madeleine students arrested with drugs on compound
Two students from the Ste Madeleine Secondary School were arrested by the police for drug possession on their school compound on Wednesday, but conflicting reports have emerged regarding where the drugs were concealed. Concerned Parents Movement chairman Clarence Mendoza yesterday claimed the drugs were hidden in the students’ rectums. He voiced concern about the worsening deviant behaviour in the school and called for accountability among parents. “I was told the children were transporting the drugs in their buttocks. This happens in the jail system and on the streets. We are asking now that sniffer dogs be used on the children when they come through the school gates,” Mendoza said. He said some schools in the Victoria and Caroni Districts have had an escalation of juvenile delinquency. “Form One students are being robbed and the robbers are using the money to buy drugs in school. Students are having sex and teachers are afraid to go into some school blocks,” he revealed. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: Trinidad and Tobago increased ownership in Atlantic LNG
THE Prime Minister said the successful restructuring of Atlantic LNG (ALNG) and re-negotiation of natural gas supply arrangements with upstream producers has greatly benefited TT. Dr Rowley made those statements at a post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's on Thursday. He hinted that those two decisions could be part of his legacy as prime minister. On January 25, 2022, Government and ALNG's shareholders signed a heads of agreement (HoA) to guide the company's restructuring. A statement issued by the Energy Ministry then said the agreement was executed by Government, BP, Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd and the National Gas Company (NGC). Read more here
Insubordinate public servants anger Prime Minister: Everybody feel they bad
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is holding the Public Service Commission (PSC) accountable for what he described as the insubordinate behaviour of some State officials. He cited examples involving a permanent secretary, a staff member at the Tobago Division of the Registrar General’s Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to highlight his concern at the post-Cabinet media conference at Whitehall, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Dr Rowley promised to take action against the PSC for the flagrant disobedience of the officials with no consequence. “I just had a meeting with the head of the public service to find out if the public service has gone mad. Because this is not a singular arrangement. First, we had other situations, now we have this,” he said. “Something is very wrong and I have asked the Attorney General for guidance so that the Government could speak to the Public Service Commission. So, whatever Kool-Aid they drinking, they better understand that we are all here to serve the public,” Rowley added. Read more here
BUSINESS
TT Chamber honours business titans
The TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce has announced its Business Hall of Fame inductees – Trevor Lynch and Haji Gokool-Meah (posthumous) – who are being recognised for their lifetime achievements in the field of business. The award ceremony will be held on November 2. In a release, the TT Chamber said the award recognises the contributions of businessmen and women to the development of the business sector, their communities and by extension the nation. Since the award's inception, 42 business luminaries have been inducted. Lynch is the founder and chairman of TL Holdings Ltd, TL Investments Ltd, and Hydro Tech Ltd (1987). With over 30 years of industry experience and knowledge, Lynch is considered to be the backbone and driving force behind the group of companies. He has served on the Economic Development Advisory Board and started the Mayaro Legacy Awards 2022 at bpTT Mayaro Resource Centre, where he was also honoured by the community. Read more here
Rowley: LNG restructuring saving T&T
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday described the signing in early December of the agreements to restructure the shareholding in Atlantic LNG as one of the most significant decisions that the Government has been able to accomplish. And he told the post-Cabinet news conference yesterday at Whitehall in Port-of-Spain that the restructuring of the shareholding in the four-train LNG facility in Point Fortin in addition to the new and improved formula for realising net back LNG revenues “is what is saving us right now.” Rowley said, “Without those two decisions, the future of T&T would have been quite bleak. “If I say so myself, if I have done nothing for this country to take us to this position, I am satisfied that my living has not been in vain.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Local hydroponics farm could support region’s food security efforts
With a regional goal of reducing the food-import bill of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) by 25 percent by 2025, Guyana has made significant strides to boost the production of various crops to do its part in this effort. AS part of achieving this goal, a hydroponics project was recently launched by the National Agricultural and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. On Thursday afternoon, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, conducted a site visit to the farm where he received updates on the ongoing project. During his walk-through of the facility, the Head of State was informed of the current capacity at the farm’s nursery, which has a capacity for 100,000 plants. As it is now, there are only 25,000 plants in the nursery which includes kale, lettuce and pak choi, among others. When he enquired as to when the farm would meet the full capacity of 100,000 plants, he was informed that within two weeks that goal would be achieved. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Russia executing own retreating soldiers, US says
Russia is executing soldiers who try to retreat from a bloody offensive in eastern Ukraine, the White House has said. According to the US, some of the casualties suffered by Russia near Avdiivka were "on the orders of their own leaders". Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked into a fierce battle for the frontline town since mid-October. Russia is thought to have suffered "significant" losses in this time. Ukrainian estimates put the number of Russian casualties in Avdiivka at 5,000, while the US says that Russia lost "at least" 125 armoured vehicles and more than a battalion's worth of equipment. A Ukrainian army spokesperson said that Russian troops were refusing to attack Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka because of heavy losses and that there had been mutinies in some units. Read more here
27th October 2023