NEWS
Kangaloo gets India's highest award for non-nationals
After being named the chief guest for the the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, President Christine Kangaloo was honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. It is the highest award conferred by the Republic of India on non-nationals in recognition of the "exceptional achievements and contributions of the Indian diaspora in various fields in India and abroad." Read more here
AG’s Office admits: Gun amnesty not in effect under SoE
The Office of the Attorney General has admitted that a purported gun amnesty under regulations for the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE) is not currently in effect. The AG’s Office made the admission on Tuesday as it responded to a pre-action protocol letter challenging the constitutionality of the specific regulation from attorney Dayadai Harripaul. In the letter sent on Monday, Harripaul’s lawyer Gerald Ramdeen claimed that Regulation 11 of the Emergency Powers Regulations 2024 is unlawful and unconstitutional as it interferes with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s exclusive purview over criminal prosecutions. Read more here
POLITICS
Ford: No PNM PM needed General Council's nod
Former Arima mayor/MP Ashton Ford said Energy Minister Stuart Young has ample precedent to become prime minister with just the support of fellow MPs and without any input from the PNM General Council, speaking to Newsday on January 9. He cited former prime ministers George Chambers, Patrick Manning and Dr Keith Rowley. While Young edged Planning Minister Pennelope Beckles 11/nine in a poll of PNM MPs at a Tobago retreat held by the Prime Minister, since then, some MPs indicated they wished the general council to meet before giving their signature to a list being compiled by PNM Lady Vice Chairman, Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, to submit to the President to nominate a new prime minister. The General Council meets on January 11 at Balisier House, Port of Spain. Read more here
Dennis denies PNM imploding over Young's appointment
Leader of the Tobago Council of the People's National Movement (PNM), Ancil Dennis, has shut down claims that the party is imploding after reports surfaced that the move to gather signatures among its MPs to facilitate the appointment of Stuart Young as prime minister had hit a stumbling block. PNM MPs were asked to sign a document endorsing Young as prime minister when Dr Keith Rowley steps down on Wednesday. The document was to be presented to President Christine Kangaloo. However, some MPs signed the document while others did not, which has placed Young in limbo. Eleven MPs voted for Young to succeed Rowley while nine supported Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles during a parliamentary retreat in Tobago on the weekend. Prime Minister Rowley abstained. Read more here
BUSINESS
Arjoon: SOE could affect credit rating
Economist Dr Vaalmikki Arjoon said yesterday the State of Emergency (SoE) could impact Trinidad and Tobago's economic outlook in the eyes of international ratings. The economist stated that Moody's recent ratings would have likely been different had the SoE been called prior to the release of the recent assessment. Moody's affirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s rating at Ba2 with a stable outlook on December 16, 2024. "It happened a few weeks before the state of emergency was announced. Now, had the review taken place after the SoE was announced, there's a strong possibility that we could have faced a downgrade, or at minimum an outlook revision from a stable to negative," said Dr. Arjoon, who added the SoE could have a negative impact on tourism and other economic avenues for Trinidad and Tobago. Read more here
CinemaOne reports $7.4m loss
ALTHOUGH CinemaOne Ltd made a net loss of $7.4 million and its current liabilities exceed its current assets by more than $10 million, its auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, have stated that despite potential risks, they believe the company will be able to continue operating smoothly. According to PwC, these factors, along with others “indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern”. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘I don’t lead a government that is disconnected’
Geared towards promoting community development, an innovative agriculture programme will be rolled out in the villages of Melanie Damishana and Nonpariel along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor. Conceptualised by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the initiative will see residents from these respective communities identifying five acres of land to be utilised as innovative poultry farms. “I’m going to ask the Ministry of Agriculture to work with you and the group to see how we can identify five acres that we can put all the infrastructure in, and we can work with you to develop an agriculture innovation plan, where we can use the most innovative technology in building tunnel houses for chickens; in building egg production, and work with you on having a highly-integrated five acres,” the Head of State said during a Thursday afternoon engagement with residents of ‘Melanie’. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Danes struggle with response to Trump Greenland threat
Copenhagen's gloomy January weather matches the mood among Denmark's politicians and business leaders. "We take this situation very, very seriously," said Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Donald Trump's threats to acquire Greenland – and punish Denmark with high tariffs if it stands in the way. But, he added, the government had "no ambition whatsoever to escalate some war of words." Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen downplayed Trump's own suggestion that the US might use military force to seize Greenland. "I don't have the fantasy to imagine that it'll ever get to that," she told Danish TV. Read more here
10th January 2025