NEWS
'Big Boy' gunned down in Enterprise
An Enterprise, Chaguanas, man was shot and killed on Wednesday night outside his home. Melville Phillip, 44, also known as “Big Boy,” of Tobago Road, Enterprise, was killed around 8.16 pm. Reports indicate that Phillip was washing his car under a shed in his yard. He walked to the front of the house where he was confronted by two masked men, both armed and both dressed in black. They opened fire, killing him on the spot before escaping. The loud shots alerted his wife and others in the area who called the police. Homicide Region 3 and crime scene investigators responded. Read more here
Kiran Maharaj named T&T Chamber president
Kiran Maharaj has been appointed the president of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Maharaj replaces Charles Pashley who served two successive terms as the Chamber's president. Maharaj is the managing director of Caribbean Lifestyle Communications, Music Radio 97.1FM, The People’s Station Radio 90.5FM & Heartbeat Radio 104.1FM, the latter she founded as the world’s first radio station for women. She is the president of the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) headquartered in Jamaica, and the former president of the T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA). Maharaj began her career in media and entertainment as a freelance journalist over 20 years ago and was also a Freelance Correspondent for CNN World Report for two years. Read more here
POLITICS
‘Crime control is not crime prevention’
At the end of the two-day regional symposium to address crime and violence as a public health issue, Caricom heads issued a statement saying the region has declared a war on guns. However, two former Ministers of National Security (Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis) caution it may do little to prevent rising crime. One of them explained that methods of crime control were often conflated as strategies for crime prevention by politicians who want to appear tough for political currency, when social strategies were more effective tools for crime reduction. The consensus from the region seems to be that while politicians treat crime prevention as an opportunity to talk about joint police and army patrols, and other tough sounding measures what really seems to be effective are social programmes that offer skills training and rehabilitation to law-breakers. Dwyer Astaphan, Minister of National Security in St Kitts and Nevis from 2004 to 2008, says the region has to put in the work to change the attitudes of its younger citizens. Read more here
BUSINESS
Eco-tourism for all
First, the good news. There is, at long last, a concessionaire who will take up the reins of the commercial operations of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, which only a few years ago faced extinction. Secondly, the decision by the Hadco Group, through its Hadco Experiences division, to invest in the centre as well as the Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel in Grande Riviere, is a big moment for local business. While we acknowledge the importance of foreign investment, it is good these two crown jewels in our eco-tourism offerings are in indigenous hands, especially given the way both venues are so intimately tied to the landscape. Host to critically-endangered species endemic to our islands, as well as some of the oldest creatures on earth, they are invaluable sources of pride. Read more here
REGIONAL
Foreign Secretary lobbies for China to import more local non-oil products
The Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, on Thursday met with a delegation from China’s Shandong Province to discuss areas of co-operation and trade and investment between Guyana and the province. In his remarks, the Foreign Secretary welcomed the delegation and urged greater collaboration I n areas of agriculture and industry, and assured them of Guyana’s continued commitment to address global issues such as poverty reduction. While noting that exports to China have been increasing due to rising shipments of oil, he challenged the delegation to increase imports from Guyana, especially as it relates to trade in non-oil products. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Russian warplane accidentally bombs own city
A Russian Sukhoi-34 fighter-jet has accidentally bombed the Russian city of Belgorod, around 40km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine. The bomb left a 20m (60ft) crater and caused an explosion so large it blew a car on to the roof of a nearby shop. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said authorities had ordered the evacuation of a damaged nine-storey block of flats as a precaution. Three people were injured and several buildings were damaged, he said. Video posted on social media showed the impact of the blast, lifting a vehicle on to the roof of a supermarket as traffic streamed along Prospekt Vatutina, close to the centre of the city. In a brief statement, the Russian defence ministry admitted that one of its Su-34 fighter bombers had "accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance" at 22:15 local time (19:15 GMT) on Thursday. Read more here
21st April 2023