NEWS
5 students stabbed at Palo Seco Sec
TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Martin Lum Kin believes gang activity may have resulted in a fight at the Palo Secondary School that left five students with stab wounds on Thursday. Lum Kin told Newsday there was an incident in Siparia over the weekend between students from the Palo Seco Secondary School and other schools, which may have led to the fight. He also referred to a video on social media showing a student from Palo Seco allegedly masquerading as a Siparia West Secondary School student who went to that school to seek revenge. Read more here
Cops kill four suspects linked to kidnapping of doubles vendor
The four men who were killed by police during an alleged shootout in the mountains at Upper St Michael’s Road, St Augustine, yesterday morning, were yet to be identified up to last night. Although the T&T Police Service (TTPS) was unable to definitively confirm if and how the men were connected to the kidnapping of doubles vendor Anisha Hosein-Singh, who was released unharmed on Wednesday night in Caroni, it is believed the four played a part in the woman’s five-day ordeal. The dead men, who were killed several hours after Hosein-Singh was found by a motorist wandering along the road in Caroni, were alleged to be members of the Resistance Gang. Head of the Anti Kidnapping Unit (AKU), ASP Darryl Ramdass, yesterday said, “We would have had intelligence that suggested and led to enquiries.” Read more here
POLITICS
PM: Attorney General examining legislation for Tobago police force
The Prime Minister says everything possible must be done to prevent Tobago from becoming another criminal playground. Speaking during the conversations with the Prime Minister at the Ann Mitchell-Gift auditorium of the Scarborough Library, Dr Rowley said the Attorney General has been asked to look into Tobago's ability to have its own police service. He said 15 years ago, a draft bill was sent to the Cabinet, however, upon examination, it required a series of amendments to several clauses. He said it became too complex and did not get past the cabinet at that time. Read more here
Roberts questions why no charges for axed SSA director
Opposition Senator Anil Roberts is questioning the veracity of the national security threat that led to the shake-up at the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), as its now-fired director, retired Major Roger Best has not been charged with a crime. At an Opposition press briefing yesterday, at the UNC’s headquarters at Mulchan Seuchan Road, Chaguanas Roberts noted that police charged three SSA agents with misbehaviour in public office. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told reporters at the opening of the Diego Martin Library in March that Government believed circumstances at the SSA presented a threat to national security that warranted a drastic intervention from the Cabinet. Recalling this, Roberts proffered that a serious threat could be a large cache of weapons, explosives or a plot to destabilise the country. But he said so far he has only seen charges against the SSA agents for the alleged transfer of firearms and ammunition between law enforcement agencies without proper paperwork. Roberts does not believe those charges meet the benchmark of a critical national security threat. Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA McAL shareholders enjoy ‘watermark year of revenue’
Ansa McAL Ltd’s ability to navigate dynamic markets and continuously diversify its portfolio is to credit for its record-breaking performance in 2023, says the group’s CEO Anthony N Sabga III. The group hosted its 95th meeting of shareholders at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on May 23, where heads of sectors shared a brief recap of their respective performance and acquisitions over the last financial year. Ansa McAL delivered a strong financial performance in 2023, posting its highest-ever revenue of $7.046 billion – a ten per cent increase from $6.392 billion in 2022. Read more here
No plans for crypto investments
The Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) has no immediate plans to invest in cryptocurrency due to its volatility, according to its executive director, Nigel Edwards. Edwards made the statement yesterday in response to a question from a unitholder during the organisation’s annual general meeting, which took place at the Auditorium Conference Centre, Government Campus Plaza, Port-of-Spain. Read more here
REGIONAL
Gov’t mulls ‘sting’ operations to tackle procurement breaches
The Government of Guyana plans to conduct ‘sting’ operations to clamp down on officers and other personnel who engage in procurement breaches.
This was revealed by Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo at a news conference at his party’s Georgetown Headquarters on Thursday. Dr. Jagdeo told local journalists that the government has undertaken a review of the procurement system at every level. “Let me put on notice all of those people who are responsible for procurement in public corporations, statutory bodies, the ministries, the regions, central ministry, everywhere, all the way to the National Tender Board,” the General Secretary said firmly. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
In pictures: North India boils as temperatures near 50C
Parts of northern India continue to reel under a prolonged heatwave that has thrown normal life out of gear. On Thursday, temperatures soared beyond 45C in many states and touched 48.8C in Rajasthan state's Barmer city. India's weather department has said that the heatwave is likely to continue till Wednesday. Several regions are facing water and electricity shortages due to spikes in power consumption. Read more here
24th May 2024