NEWS
Criminologist: Child killing indicator of frightening recklessness
Criminologist Darius Figuera says the killing of five-year-old Anika Guerra during an attack aimed at her father is an indication of a frightening recklessness among criminals who no longer care about causing collateral damage. The girl and her father Enrico were shot at their home at St Mary’s Village, Moruga, on August 20. Enrico died on the spot and Anika died at the Princes Town District Health Facility. Figuera said the continued use of illegal and illicit assault rifles meant collateral damage would become more common. Read more here
Gulfstream in Trinidad after 30-hour voyage from Cove
Six months after wreaking environmental havoc on Tobago’s Windward coast, the mysterious Gulfstream barge is in Port-of-Spain and undergoing preparation for storage.The 100-metre-long vessel became the subject of environmental concern and political debate after February 7 when the Tobago Emergency Management Agency received reports of a capsized ship off the coast of Cove. A thick, oil-like substance was washing up on nearby coastlines and spanning beaches from Rockley Bay to Canoe Bay. Laboratory tests revealed that it was bunker fuel. It was unclear when the barge capsized, what happened, who was on board, who owned it and its destination.The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) reported that it successfully floated the partially sunken barge at 11.54 pm on Monday. In a media release yesterday, the MEEI said that two tug boats from the National Energy Corporation towed the barge from Cove, Tobago, to Sea Lots, in its overturned state, in a 30-hour voyage. Read more here
POLITICS
PNM screens for 9 general election candidates on August 23, 26
The PNM will host screenings for general election 2025 candidates for nine constituencies on August 23 and 26. A total of 31 candidates will be screened. In a statement on Thursday, the PNM said it had invited party groups, women's leagues and youth leagues from Fyzabad, Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland, Pointe-a-Pierre, Barataria/San Juan, Caroni East, Chaguanas East, Cumuto/Manzanilla and St Augustine to submit nominations. Screenings for Fyzabad, Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland and Pointe-a-Pierre will be held at 5 pm on August 23 at Omardeen's Auditorium at Cipero Street in San Fernando. The others will be held at 5 pm at Balisier House, Port of Spain, on August 26. Read more here
Kamla: Coat of Arms change a distraction from real issues
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar has again warned the electorate not to be distracted by the “gimmicks” being thrown out by the People’s National Movement to shift focus from the real issues affecting the country. Speaking at the final United National Congress (UNC) Pre-Budget Consultation in Siparia on Wednesday, she said the hype surrounding proposed changes to the Coat of Arms was a ploy to keep citizens from focusing on rising crime, poor healthcare, lack of educational opportunities, increased unemployment and high food prices. “I call on the country to get back to the real issues, do not get distracted,” she urged. Read more here
BUSINESS
Nestle celebrates 110 years
Global dairy company Nestle celebrates 110 years in the Anglo-Dutch Caribbean. In commemoration of its long-standing relations with the region, Nestle recognised three local dairy farmers, Praim Singh, Kenneth Hamlet and Chardaye Poliah, for their contribution to the dairy industry. "Nestle believes in the Caribbean," Nestle market head Eduardo Garcia said. Read more here
Young pitches methanol to aviation companies
Energy Minister Stuart Young has pitched the idea that methanol should be considered as an alternative aviation fuel. Young threw out the idea during his speech at the opening session of the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Latin America at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. He said the industry has been known as one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gas and following the recent use of methanol to power marine vessels, it is an avenue the industry could explore to reduce emissions. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Overwhelming positives coming out of NTC’–Dr. Jagdeo says
OVERWHELMING positives have been emanating from the ongoing National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference being held in Georgetown, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said.
Dr. Jagdeo’s comments were in direct response to negative criticisms, which are being peddled by “politically-motivated individuals and entities”. “Not a single negative; they are all supportive of the actions, in terms of development, that the government is perusing in their villages,” Dr. Jagdeo told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. Earlier this week, Dr. Jagdeo held several engagements with village leaders; those engagements, which lasted hours, saw a ‘free-flowing format’ that allowed the toshaos to discuss polices, and development projects ongoing in their respective communities. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Kamala Harris pledges 'new way forward' in historic convention speech
Vice-President Kamala Harris pledged a "new way forward" for all Americans as she formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday night, delivering a message of unity and urging voters to reject Donald Trump. November's election is a chance to "move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past", she said, bringing her party's convention in Chicago to a close as balloons rained down and supporters cheered. Ms Harris's speech capped off a four-day spectacle designed to highlight her backstory and shape the contours of what remains a vague policy agenda. She made history as the first black and Asian-American woman to lead a major party's presidential ticket. Read more here
23rd August 2024