NEWS
TTUTA: Inspect labs at St George's College
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has called on the Education Ministry to ensure the various laboratories at St George’s College, Barataria are inspected and certified before being used. Speaking to Newsday by phone on September 4, TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin said two of the union’s national officers toured the school on September 2, at the insistence of its members. “We would have seen evidence of areas not prepared for occupation by the members of staff and the students. Our question at this point is the fact that we have labs that were at a standstill for over a year, and we understand the students and teachers have to now use the facilities. Read more here
Relatives mourn teen girl, brother hacked to death by ‘friend’ ‘They leave us in pain!’
There was heartbreak and outrage from the relatives of two siblings slaughtered on Wednesday night in New Grant, as well as from the family of the man suspected of committing the gruesome acts. Sixteen-year-old Shenelle Singh and brother Keston, 21, were hacked to death in New Grant. The murders of the siblings were among seven between Wednesday and yesterday, with two of the incidents involving multiple victims. Shenelle, a Form Four Mayaro Secondary student, left her home in Mayaro on Saturday to purchase school shoes but decided to spend a few days with her brother at his home. Read more here
POLITICS
Opposition Senator Anil Roberts has criticised the Education Ministry for its poor performance in the upkeep and repair of schools as the new school term opens. Speaking during a virtual media conference on September 5, Roberts said, “Our children have gone back to school and you have seen across the board the dilapidated state of our nation’s schools, especially those in the at-risk areas, especially those in rural communities. Why is it so terrible? Read more here
BUSINESS
HSF returns to US$6B
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has announced that the current value of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) stands at US$6 billion. Imbert made this statement yesterday via a post on X (Twitter). He said in June 2022, the value of the HSF was US$4.7 billion, which was attributed to instability in the international financial system at that time. "Now two years later, because of prudent management, the value of the HSF has increased to US$6 billion, an increase of US$1.3 billion,” the finance minister said. Read more here
CDB knocks T&T’s project progress
Acting vice-president of operations at the Caribbean Development Bank Therese Turner-Jones believes Trinidad and Tobago and the CDB’s “story” is not impressive, given that many specific projects were not completed despite the benefits they would bring. Turner-Jones yesterday attributed this large gap between identified projects and completed ones to administration changes. “In the last country strategy, we identified over $430 million in projects and less than $10 million actualised. So, that is a concern because in the strategy we identified doing more on water and sanitation...there is a lot of room there and we are doing some technical assistance for your master plan for water resources in the country, but it hasn’t been outstanding in terms of what we have been able to do,” she said. Read more here
REGIONAL
More than increasing classrooms…Conducive learning environment being created at every level
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, commissioned the new Yarrowkabra Secondary School, which will facilitate over 1,000 students, as part of ongoing efforts nationwide to not just increase the number of classrooms but to also create a conducive learning environment at every level. The new facility on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, replaced seven primary top schools in the region. This state-of-the-art facility is just one of 26 being built around the country, with several others slated to open within the next week. The massive multimillion-dollar school marks a major leap for the nation’s education sector as well the government’s agenda. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
UK to send hundreds more missiles to Ukraine
The UK will send an additional 650 short-range missiles to Ukraine to help in its fight against invading Russian forces. The new package of aid comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made another impassioned plea for further support from allies at a defence summit at the Ramstein air base in Germany. Mr Zelensky said he was grateful for the military support Ukraine had received but urged allies to authorise the used of Western-supplied long-range missiles on targets inside Russia. Read more here
6th September 2024