NEWS
Proman celebrates young entrepreneur
At the Proman Foundation Power of Partnerships event on Wednesday night at the Proman Starlift House of Music in Woodbrook, a young entrepreneur took centre stage. The event featured entertainment by the Proman Starlift Steel Orchestra and celebrated not only the success of the Prince’s Trust International (PTI) Achieve Programme but also Adrian Whiteman, who was awarded the 2023 Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award for the Caribbean. Proman's executive director and foundation chairman Claus Cronberger, spoke of the significance of the event. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC calls for JSC meeting over human trafficker's escape
The Opposition will ask for an urgent meeting of Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on National Security to discuss the absconding of Anthony Smith during his trial for human trafficking. The two UNC representatives on the JSC, Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial and MP for Oropuche East Dr Roodal Moonilal, will also request that National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and the ministry’s Electronic Monitoring Unit appear before the committee to answer questions about Smith absconding. Smith removed his ankle monitoring bracelet and disappeared six days after the start of his trial. Read more here
Ramesh backs DPP in $55M bldg fiasco: Security issues not properly addresses
Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, is defending Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard and his staff’s decision not to move into a new office on Park Street, Port-of-Spain, although the state had paid $55 million in rental for it. In a release yesterday, Maharaj said after launching what he termed an independent investigation, he concluded that the DPP (DPP) could not be blamed for the expenditure on the building. “The DPP did not have any input in the decision made by the Government to enter into the rental agreement of the building which the Government entered into in 2019,” Maharaj said in the 12-page statement. “The DPP also did not have any input in the decision of the Government to pay any rentals for that building after the tenancy expired. Read more here
BUSINESS
Young meets with EOG officals
Energy Minister Stuart Young met with officials of EOG Resources Inc on Wednesday. In a media release, Young along with permanent secretary Penelope Bradshaw-Niles welcomed EOG chairman Ezra Yacob, executive vice president Michael Donladson, international general manager and vice president Joe Korenek and managing director George Viera to the ministry head office in Port of Spain. Young updated the officials on the progress of business activities regarding its drilling plan which entails drilling about 20 wells by 2025. Young expressed his optimism that TT and EOG would continue to collaborate on ongoing projects for the mutual benefit of both parties. Read more here
CBTT explains Jamaica’s suspension of TT$ exchange
The Central Bank of T&T (CBTT) says the decision to suspend the exchange of TT dollar banknotes by the Bank of Jamaica was taken to reduce costs and to prevent the possibility of criminal activities, including money laundering. Last Friday, the Bank of Jamaica, that country’s central bank, issued an interim notice advising the public that the existing arrangement for the BOJ to repatriate T&T banknotes was currently under review. Jamaica’s central bank also advised that as of last Monday, the exchange of T&T dollars at BOJ’s banking counter was suspended until further advised. A team from the CBTT, led by Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire was in Kingston, Jamaica last week Thursday and Friday, attending the 61st meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Committee of Central Bank Governors, which was hosted by Bank of Jamaica. On Monday, the BOJ issued a statement clarifying its interim notice on Friday regarding the suspension of the exchange of T&T dollars at the Bank of Jamaica. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana has the potential to serve as an anchor in the region
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Mervyn Farroe, has said that Guyana is essential to the social and economic cohesion of the Caribbean. “CARICOM continues to be a steadfast and valued partner with USAID and in promoting development, stability, and resilience in the Caribbean Region… Guyana, as a member of CARICOM, plays a vital role in the economic and social development of the Caribbean. It is a beautiful country, rich in its natural resources and cultural ethnicities. “Guyana has the potential to serve as an anchor in the region, and that is exceptional. We are proud to walk with Guyana on this important journey,” Farroe said on Wednesday, during the USAID reception at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, to celebrate the long-standing partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Manipur women in naked assault video ‘will not give up’
Six months after they were stripped, paraded naked and allegedly gang raped by a mob in north-east India, two women, whose ordeal was made public in a viral video, talk to the BBC in their first face-to-face interview. They speak about living in hiding, their fight for justice and their call for a separate administration for their community.Warning: This article includes descriptions of sexual violence. Read more here
10th November 2023