NEWS
Port of Spain city cops spread Xmas cheer to children
Over 250 children from east Port of Spain were treated to an afternoon of fun and excitement as the Port of Spain City Police held their Fifth Annual Christmas Treat at the Central Market on Sunday afternoon. This was the first children's Christmas party hosted by the Port of Spain City Police in two years, owing to covid19 restrictions that were in effect in 2020 and 2021. Read more here
Argentine Ambassador to T&T cries tears of happiness after World Cup win
Argentina’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Marcelo Suarez Salvia said he cried “tears of happiness” yesterday when his country won the 2022 World Cup. This is Argentina’s third time winning the World Cup since the tournament began in 1930. “I am personally happy because I wanted my five children to witness Argentina winning a World Cup. I had the privilege to see it won 1978, 1986 and yesterday,” Suarez Salvia told Guardian Media. Suarez Salvia is currently on vacation in El Salvador with his family where they watched the game. Read more here
POLITICS
Talk it out, don't fight – Hinds urges non-violent resolution to conflicts
Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds urged people to reduce their levels of violent confrontation and instead seek peaceful ways to resolve their perceived conflicts, talking to Newsday on Sunday, against a rising murder toll heading towards year-end. Last Friday, December 16, the murder toll stood at 577. Last Friday acting Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher described it as a "fact" that TT would reach 600 murders by year-end but hoped women as wives and mothers could help stem the tide. Read more here
Opposition MP: Migrants situation in T&T needs to be assessed
As the world commemorates International Migrants Day, the Opposition is calling for the creation of an Inter-Ministerial Task Force that can assess the conditions of migrants in Trinidad and Tobago. According to the Member of Parliament for Couva South, Rudranath Indarsingh MP, the Government’s handling of incoming migrants—mainly those from Venezuela—has been careless, insensitive, inefficient, and inconsistent with global best practices. “This Government failed to protect migrants against critical issues such as the illegal seizure of passports, the extended detention of migrants at the International Detention Centre, and the rise of Venezuelan gangs,” Indarsingh said. The Opposition MP noted that from a labour perspective, the integration of Venezuelan labour into the local economy continues to be a concern, as they continue to be exploited by unscrupulous employers. Read more here
BUSINESS
IDB lends T&T US$80m to improve water supply
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an US$80 million ($544 million) loan to boost the efficiency, quality, sustainability, and resilience of this country’s drinking water supply and water security. In a news release, the IDB said the US$80 million loan is part of a US$315 million conditional credit line for T&T’s National Water Sector Transformation Programme. The initial loan disbursement will funds for institutional strengthening and capacity building to help the country’s Ministry of Public Utilities and its executing agency, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), improve their governance and sustainable management of water resources. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘More money left with people’
President, Dr Irfaan Ali said that the Guyanese people saved some $31.4 billion following his government’s decision to slash more than 200 taxes since taking office in August 2020. The President made this statement while speaking at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) 33rd Annual Awards Presentation and Gala, held recently at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. The Head of State explained that when his government took office, several drastic measures were implemented to help reboot and revitalise the economy. One of those measures included the removal of the more than 200 burdensome tax measures. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Turbulence injures dozens on Hawaiian Airlines flight
At least 36 people have been injured, 11 seriously, after a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu was hit by severe turbulence. The incident happened shortly before the aircraft, carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew, came in to land on Sunday. Twenty people were taken to local hospitals with injuries ranging from lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness to head injuries. Thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time of the turbulence. Flight HA35 landed at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 10:50 (20:50 GMT) on Sunday. Read more here
19th December 2022