NEWS
MATT wants greater protection for media workers
The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has called for greater protection for media workers worldwide as they go about their work. In a statement on May 2, ahead of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day (May 3), MATT said it pledged to remain vigilant on behalf of journalists, understanding that a strong democracy depends on free and fair media. "Internationally, MATT mourns alongside our colleagues the unprecedented number of journalists killed in 2023." Read more here
Man shot dead during robbery Tearful granny asks: Why did you have to kill him?
As tears poured down her face for her murdered grandson Darion Pierre, grandmother June Pierre posed a heartfelt question to those who violently ended his life. “Why did you have to kill him? Why break his hand and foot and throw him in the bush like he is a dog? He has parents, grandparents, and siblings w ho love him. You could have robbed him, but you did not have to kill him,” she said. Speaking to Guardian Media from her Rushworth Street home yesterday, the grandmother said she was in church when she got the news that Pierre’s body had been found off Cotton Hill, Bonne Aventure, Gasparillo, in a bushy area on Wednesday. Hours before on that same day, Pierre’s relatives officially reported him missing to the police after he failed to return home from his work at Junior Sammy Contractors, Claxton Bay, on Tuesday evening. Frantic calls to his cell phone and searches proved futile. Read more here
POLITICS
Ministry allocates $$ to youth leadership
The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) has allocated $13,000 in seed funding to 13 participating groups in the National Leadership Training Programme. Head of the department of behavioural sciences Dr Talia Esnard said the funds will be used to create capstone projects. The capstone project will be used as a final project in which participants will be required to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme to aid in community development. Read more here
Political analysts tell UNC: No need for election observers
Following its call for international election observers, the United National Congress is being warned that trying to blame anything but itself for election losses will lead to its political demise. On Wednesday, following an almost three-hour-long meeting with Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) officials, UNC Deputy Chair, Khadijah Ameen reiterated the party’s call for observers to oversee the next general election. However political analyst Derek Ramsamooj believes the party’s request is unwarranted. “We have a time period for an election and whilst there may be challenges during the election period, I believe that there is a level of validity in our electoral system and voting process,” Ramsamooj posited. Read more here
BUSINESS
Digicel internet, TV prices to change
Digicel customers will soon see an increase in the cost of some internet and TV plans as the company announced it is raising the prices of three of its more popular packages. Digicel said the price adjustment is due to increased content costs from international suppliers and the growing expenses related to off-island internet traffic, specifically Android TV boxes, Netflix and other streaming services. But customers can also expect a significant reduction in the cost of four of the company's faster speed packages and the introduction of two new plans. Digicel’s head of public relations, Colin Greaves, told Newsday on Wednesday, “There is an increase in three of our plans and that increase is between four and five per cent – it is very minimal. Read more here
CAL faces competition on Puerto Rico route
One day after local carrier Caribbean Airlines announced its introduce service to San Juan, Puerto Rico out of Trinidad, American ultra-low cost carrier Frontier Airlines yesterday announced its intention to operate a similar route. The airline is offering a one-way fare of US$29 from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and from Trinidad to Puerto Rico, the lowest fare is US$79. Starting July 11 2024, Frontier Airlines plans to fly nonstop between Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport (POS) and Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) three times a week using its Airbus A320 aircraft. As an ultra-low cost airline, Frontier’s aircraft are configured with high-density seating of up to 186 seats on its Airbus A320 fleet. Read more here
REGIONAL
Africa has potential to emerge as global powerhouse in food production, climate change mitigation
In his address at the launch, via Zoom, of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture’s (IICA’s) ‘Living Soils Initiative in Africa’, President Dr. Irfaan Ali underscored Africa’s immense potential to emerge as a significant player in the global food supply chain. Citing the continent’s abundant natural resources and untapped agricultural opportunities, the Guyanese leader expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to contribute substantially to addressing global food security challenges and mitigating climate change. He emphasised that the “hour has arrived” for Africa, and expressed his earnest belief that the coming decades “will belong to Africa”. President Ali said that after centuries of colonisation and resource exploitation, the continent still has an abundance of natural resources. “According to the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme,” he said, “Africa possess 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves, eight per cent of the world’s natural gas, 40 per cent of the world’s gold, 90 per cent of the world’s chromium and platinum, [and] the largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, platinum and uranium.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Kyiv can use British weapons inside Russia – Cameron
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said it is up to Ukraine to decide how to use British weapons and insisted it has the right to strikes targets on Russian territory. During a visit to Kyiv, he said the UK would provide £3bn ($3.75bn) per year for as long as necessary. "Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it's defending itself," Lord Cameron said. Russia condemned what it called "another very dangerous statement". Read more here
3rd May 2024