NEWS
Rastas plead with public: Crime not the way for conflict resolution
As the country’s 2023 murder toll surpasses 160, the Rastafarian community is pleading with the public to find non-violent forms of conflict resolution and to stop attempting to use crime to achieve same. Speaking to Newsday on Thursday, Prince Imsley of Zion – a Bobo Shanti priest – said the crime situation in the country is “very terrible,” and that most people seem to be of the view that “If I do not agree with you, I am the wickedest person... “And it’s not really so it’s supposed to go. A difference of opinion shouldn't make us enemies.” Read more here
T&T ranked 6th most criminal country in world
T&T has been listed as number 6 by the World of Statistics (WOS) for being among the most criminal countries” in the world. The World of Statistics (WOS) list of “Most Criminal Countries” was released on Wednesday. The WOS website describes itself as a global network of nearly 2,360 organisations worldwide which is committed to compiling statistics to increase public awareness. T&T had also figured at Number 6 in the 2023 World Population Review (WPR) of crime rate by countries recently. The WPR website states it’s an independent US-based statistics agency without political affiliation. In the WOS list of rankings of the world’s most criminal countries, the WOS stated,” On the list, Venezuela has been ranked top, followed by Papua New Guinea (2), Afghanistan (3), South Africa (4), Honduras (5), Trinidad (sic) (6), Guyana (7), Syria (8), Somalia (9) and Jamaica (10), respectively. Read more here
POLITICS
Shamfa Cudjoe: Training should lead to entrepreneurship
Sport and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe said some of the people who are accessing the training being provided by the ministry in handicraft should be paying for the service as they are not converting the skills learned into businesses. She made the statement at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the MIC Institute of Technology (MIC-IT) and the Export Centres Company Ltd (ECCL) on Wednesday at the MIC-IT head office in Trincity. We’re boasting that we’re training over 6,000 people per year in the ministry, and if you’re training that many people per year and you’re not creating thousands of businesses per year, you’re creating hobbies. Read more here
Hinds: A crime plan is CoP’s responsibility
As this country grapples with rising crime, in particular murders and a rise in violent home invasions, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says developing a crime plan is not his responsibility. Rather, he says it is the responsibility of Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher-Harewood and the Defence Force, which offers support to the T&T Police Service in its crime eradication drive. Speaking to reporters at the opening of a repatriation office in San Fernando yesterday, Hinds made the comment after being asked to share his crime plan and his views on the reimplementation of the death penalty, the establishment of a gun amnesty and imposing a state of emergency to arrest the rising crime wave. Read more here
BUSINESS
Unipet opens new service station
Unipet on Wednesday opened its 25th service station in the country, and in the not-too-distant future more of its service stations will be powered by solar energy and be able to accommodate electric vehicles, says its Chairman Dr Afraz Ali. Speaking at the opening of the gas station, which is located at the corner of Ramgoolie Street, Southern Main Road in Curepe, Ali said while fossil fuel will be Unipet’s main business driver for the foreseeable future, it recognizes the importance of reducing its carbon footprint and has begun to focus on renewable energy. Additionally, he also noted that technology can help the business be of service, particularly to those who struggle to be formally involved in the financial sector. “We envision a system that will be available for other consumer items beyond fuel. We envision that for the first time in our country there will be a system which provides the unbanked with a way of recording their transactions. Read more here
Flow set to increase prices
Telecoms provider Flow will increase prices next month. In a notice to its customers on Wednesday, Flow said the 3.5-per cent increase in its Internet and cable packages will come into effect on May 1. Another notice was sent to customers with multiple cable boxes via e-mail on Wednesday. Flow said: “The current external economic pressures are now such that as a business we must unfortunately slightly increase our prices. Therefore, from May 1, 2023, there will be a nominal increase in your cable box monthly rental fee if you have three or more cable boxes at your home. Rental for the first box remains free.” Flow further stated that the new rental price for the third cable box and other subsequent cable boxes will be $50.63. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana secures Latin America, Caribbean’s support for spot on UN’s Security Council
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Hilton Todd, on Wednesday, met with Permanent Representatives of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean States (GRULAC) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. According to a press release, the minister took the opportunity to present to the group Guyana’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term and to outline Guyana’s vision and priorities once successful. Minister Todd also expressed Guyana’s appreciation to the Permanent Representatives for their respective governments’ support of Guyana’s candidacy. The election is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2023 in New York. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Japan approves plan to open its first casino
Japanese officials have approved controversial plans to build the country's first gambling resort. The complex will open in the western city of Osaka in 2029. Casinos have long been illegal in Japan. But a law was passed in 2018 providing exceptions to games, such as poker or baccarat, to create jobs and boost tourism. Public opinion has been split, with some concerned about a rise in crime and gambling addiction. Besides the casino, the 5.3 million square-foot (49ha) complex will include a hotel, conference centre, shopping mall and museum. Read more here
14th April 2023