NEWS
Bushfire forces closure of Tucker Valley Road
A bushfire has caused the temporary closure of the Tucker Valley/Macqueripe Road. A statement from the Chaguaramas Development Authority advised the public of the road's closure on May 5. "The Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) wishes to advise the public that Tucker Valley/Macqueripe Road is temporarily closed until further notice due to a bushfire. "The safety of our visitors and the protection of our natural environment are of utmost importance to us. Read more here
Disabled ‘village sweetheart’ cares for blind mother in crumbling home
Randy Seepersad was born with deformed limbs, so his mother cared for him for most of his life. But now, in her twilight years, when she has become blind, their roles are reversed, and Seepersad finds himself caring for her in their dilapidated home, teetering on the brink of collapse. The plywood house at Papourie Road, Diamond Village, San Fernando, leans precariously. The kitchen is at a perilous angle, making cooking impossible. Randy, 55, said he fears that the wooden floors will suddenly give way, hurting his mother. “I don’t like to see her suffer. She did so much for me, but living in this house is making it more difficult for her. This will fall anytime. Every time the breeze blows, the house shakes. If a truck passes, the house shakes. It is frightening for her,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
Indarsingh concerned for NiQuan workers
Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh said the roughly 80 workers sent home last week from NiQuan Energy could suffer financially due to the Government allegedly breaking its past promise to amend the law. "Even as 80 workers are being sent home by NiQuan, we see they have none of the protection promised to them by NiQuan." At a UNC briefing on April 5, he said a minister in the Government's first term had promised to amend the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act. Indarsingh said this had never been done, so that today severed/retrenched workers remain "at the bottom of the totem pole" in order of priority to be compensated whenever a firm closes down. He recalled such a promise being made during the Arcelor-Mittal steel plant saga where workers had won a pay rise in the courts, only for the company to be suddenly shut down leaving workers empty-handed. Read more here
Opposition wants details of Auditor General probe
The United National Congress (UNC) is calling on Finance Minister Colm Imbert to reveal the names of the investigators appointed to look into issues related to the submission of the Auditor General’s report on the 2023 public financial statements to Parliament. The party also wants to know the selection process for the investigators, their terms of reference and the cost to taxpayers. The call was made by Oropouche East MP Davendranath Tancoo at a UNC’s press conference yesterday. On April 26, Imbert succeeded in having a motion passed in the House of Representatives to extend the time to submit public accounts to the Auditor General and the time for the Auditor General to submit a report on the accounts to Parliament, under Sections 24 (1) and 25 (1) of the Exchequer and Audit Acts, respectively. Imbert said it was necessary because ministry officials had detected a variance and understatement of approximately $2.6 billion in the 2023 public financial statements. Read more here
BUSINESS
Shell promises more value, less emissions
Shell PLC which owns 45% of the restructured Atlantic LNG plant in Pt Fortin and is Trinidad and Tobago’s second-largest natural gas producer, plans to grow its global liquefied natural gas (LNG) business by between 20 and 30% by 2030, compared to its 2022 portfolio. In 2022, Shell’s share of Atlantic’s LNG’s output was 4.4 million tonnes or 15% of its global production. The company recently updated its energy transition strategy, effectively scaling back its carbon emission targets and ending a previously announced goal of further reducing its carbon footprint by 2035. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘We are all equal members of the human family, united by aspirations for a better future’
President, Dr Irfaan Ali has said that multiculturalism remains a priceless asset that enriches the human collective experience. The Head of State made this remark in his Arrival Day message where he extended greetings on the occasion which commemorates the rich and varied tapestry of cultures that constitute the fabric of the nation. “On Arrival Day we celebrate their indomitable spirit and resilience and also pay tribute to the myriad contributions they and their descendants have made to our motherland,” he said.Added to this, Dr Ali said that their enduring legacy reminds all of the human capacity to overcome adversity and thrive in the face of challenges. As their contributions are honoured, the President urged that Guyanese reaffirm their commitment to building a future that honours their sacrifices and embraces the values of unity, diversity and inclusivity. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Surfers killed in likely carjacking, says Mexico
Three tourists found dead in Mexico were shot in the head and their bodies dumped in a well, authorities have confirmed. Officials believe the men were attacked trying to stop the theft of their pickup truck. Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, 30 and 33, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, disappeared on 27 April while on a surfing trip in Ensenada. Relatives of the three men identified their bodies on Sunday after travelling to Mexico to assist authorities, a state prosecutor said. The attackers wanted the vehicle for its tyres and shot the tourists when they resisted, Baja California state prosecutor Maria Andrade suggested. Read more here
6th May 2024