NEWS
Man found in dump hit on head
Clare Anthony Alcala, the man found under a mattress at a dumping area at Penal last Thursday, suffered a fatal blow to his head.Police believe the killers hit Alcala with an object, then dumped the body at the site at Penal/Quinam Road. Up to Wednesday, they had not found the object nor arrested any suspects. Read more here
SORT raids PoS businessman’s home
Officers attached to the Special Operations Response Team are currently conducting a raid at the home of a well-known Port-of-Spain businessman. Guardian Media understands that the officers are currently searching the compound, which they entered shortly after 7.20 am Friday. The house is located at the corner of Flood Street, opposite Jackson Square, St Clair. The officers reportedly gained entrance to the heavily secured property from a side entrance. Read more here
POLITICS
Le Hunte, Labour Ministry respond to OWTU: T&TEC trainees safe
The lives of On the Job (OJT) trainees assigned to T&TEC are not at risk, said Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte. He told Newsday on Wednesday the comment of Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union vice president Peter Burke that the trainees were in danger was untrue. On Tuesday Burke said T&TEC management had recently given instructions to include OJT trainees in groups doing street light and power line repairs. Speaking at an emergency press conference, he said this move had put the lives of trainees at risk. He said they were being mobilised to complete work for the upcoming general election. Read more here
UNC: Rowley complicit
UNC public relations officer Anita Hayne says Prime minister Dr Keith Rowley has once again shown his contempt for the rule of law and has also revealed his stance when it comes to the protection of men who are involved in sexual harassment scandals. Responding to reports of an alleged cover up in the Darryl Smith matter, Haynes said, “The reports in the press are indeed alarming, and Dr Rowley’s response during the post Cabinet media conference on Thursday 31st October is weak and highlights his poor leadership.” She added: “The extent to which this administration attempted to weaponize state resources against Ms Moreau is shocking.” Haynes noted that the primary role of any Government is to protect its citizens, and that includes ensuring a safe working environment. Read more here
BUSINESS
Contractor shares guideline to your dream home
When purchasing land or building a home, people sometimes make mistakes that cost them peace of mind, time, and money. In the hopes of minimising these mistakes, Patries Ramkaran, managing director of Ramkaran Contracting Services Ltd’s The Dream Home Ambassador, hosted a seminar called Home For Me at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Westmoorings, in September. The aim of the seminar was to empower and educate people so that they could realise their dream of owning a home as soon as possible. “It’s also to provide inspiration and empowerment for people to push though and focus on their dreams despite the challenges, especially the financial ones... There is a power in visualisation and vision and I saw it work for me. I left my full time job to go into my own business. I didn’t just sit and say, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I had to put in the necessary work.” Read more here
Scotia finalising EC transfer to Republic
Scotiabank’s senior vice president Caribbean South & East Stephen Bagnarol is in St Kitts and Nevis finalising matters relating to the transfer of the bank’s operations to Republic Bank. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Insane’ Secrecy - Gov’t Urged To Reveal Redacted Court Ruling Dooming 2004 MOU With US
Pressure continues to mount on the Government to give greater insight into a new security deal brokered with Washington last Wednesday that replaces a landmark electronic surveillance memorandum of understanding (MOU), which has reportedly been deemed by the court to be "unsatisfactory". National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang revealed in Parliament on Tuesday that the cooperation deal collapsed because a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 found that the MOUs signed with the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada were “inadequate”. Such security arrangements are often not disclosed because of their sensitivity, but the scope, reach, and controversial nature of the new pact, which could facilitate extraditions of Jamaicans to the United States, was “very strange”, says noted attorney-at-law Michael Hylton, QC. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump's audacious, reelection-focused impeachment defense
Donald Trump has solved his problem over his weak impeachment defense, fusing it with an audacious reelection pitch that makes a virtue of the rule-breaking character that got him into trouble. The President is heaping pressure on Republicans to buy a factually dubious but bold message: Not only did he not abuse power in Ukraine but his conduct is that of a tough guy President beset by corrupt elites and boosting the US abroad. The narrative effectively folds Trump's apparent transgression into an extension of the effective 2016 campaign pitch that only a rule breaker can crush the power of the Washington swamp. It's a risky message from a President who's counting on his political instincts that tell him swing state voters aren't convinced by Democrats' impeachment pitch -- and one whose presidency has been dripping in allegations of corruption, self-dealing and infringing the limits of presidential power. Read more here
Millions of masks distributed to students in 'gas chamber' Delhi
1st November 2019