NEWS
Pastor at Ezekiel's funeral: 'Save our youths from gangs'
There was an outpouring of grief from Laventille residents on Thursday as Ezekiel Paria, a 12-year-old student who was killed by a stray bullet a week ago, was laid to rest. Mourners packed the Light on the Hill Ministries- a two-bedroom house which had been converted into a church – to celebrate Paria's life. As his body lay in a baby-blue and white casket at the foot of the podium, Pastor Glenford James, in his sermon, asked, “What now, what next?” Quoting Exodus 3:7, James said Paria's death was far too familiar. Read more here
Five fishermen missing at sea
Worried relatives of five Cedros fishermen, including a father and son, who have been missing out at sea since Saturday, complained yesterday that the authorities were not doing enough to find them. “I am not seeing no response so far from them (T&T Coast Guard) and that’s why I am leaning on God right now, not these people,” lamented Allison Rampersadsingh. She was among relatives gathered at Fullerton Beach in Cedros hoping to get positive news about the fishermen’s whereabouts. The fishermen, captain David Seepaul, 60, his son Davanan, 35, Shiva “Saucy Boy” Seepersad, 20, Braiyer Gonzalez Ali, 21, and Jeremiah “Coco” Pasqual, 19, left from Fullerton Beach aboard a fishing vessel named Amanda after 4 pm on Saturday. Read more here
POLITICS
Indarsingh: Pay port workers their 12%
Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh is calling on the State to honour the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and agreement reached between disenchanted Port Authority workers and management on increased wages. Accusing the government of political interference in the process and an attempt to "hijack” the negotiations between workers and its union, Indarsingh also called for this practice to cease. In a statement on Thursday, he expressed grave concern about remarks attributed to Port chairman Lyle Alexander that the hands of the port’s management is tied, as it pertains to the honouring of negotiations. Read more here
Opposition MP knocks police crime failures
Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit has accused the police of failing to implement measures to reduce crime in the jurisdiction. In a release yesterday, she said: “Despite repeated calls for police action and measures to mitigate against the proliferation of crimes and criminal activities in the Chaguanas East region, none is being undertaken or initiated despite a rampant upsurge in same. “The authorities continue to adopt a laissez-faire and nonchalant response to this problem plaguing the residents.” Mohit cited several incidents between February 27 and yesterday, including robberies and a shooting at Enterprise. Read more here
BUSINESS
Central Bank governor delivers AI-generated address – with warning
Personal use and workplace adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) have skyrocketed with the advent of Chat GPT and similar readily available open-source AI tools. The AI platforms are undoubtedly powerful, with a database almost equivalent to the entirety of the public internet. But AI-generated responses are often rife with cliches or exaggerations and sometimes outright falsehoods. Even then, it's not always immediately apparent that it wasn't written by a human, as demonstrated in a tongue-in-cheek introduction by Central Bank governor Alvin Hilaire. Read more here
Caricom leaders concerned at CDB situation
Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders have expressed their “immense concern” at the unfolding situation at the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), where the president of the regional financial institution, Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon, has been on administrative leave since January. Speaking at the news conference late Wednesday following the four-day Caricom summit, Caricom chairman Dr Irfaan Ali, told reporters that this “was a matter that was dealt with by heads,” but would not elaborate. “This is a regional institution and of course when a regional institution is going through any trauma or any situation it is of concern for the heads,” said Ali, who is also Guyana’s president. “This is of immense concern for the heads because at the end of the day our priority is on the institution,ensuring that the institution remains strong, stable and the credible nature of the institution is kept intact,” he added. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana, Brazil to pursue enhanced defence, private sector cooperation
Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva have announced plans to further deepen bilateral ties and enhance connectivity between the two South American nations. At a press briefing following bilateral talks on Thursday, President Ali told journalists that the areas of defence and private cooperation were discussed. “For Guyana and Brazil there is an opportunity that is now…an opportunity that can highly integrate our economies and create enormous opportunities for the people of our two countries,” President Ali said. Connecting the two nations by infrastructure through roads, ports and air transport will also be a key focus. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Gaza aid drop: Devastation after more than 100 reported killed at Gaza aid drop
More than 110 Palestinians are reported to have been killed while trying to get desperately needed aid in north Gaza. Crowds of waiting civilians descended on a convoy of lorries after it passed through an Israeli military checkpoint on the coastal road, west of Gaza City. Israel's military said troops fired at some people they thought were a threat, and a Palestinian witness told the BBC that most of those who died were run over. Read more here
1st March 2024