NEWS
Bocas Lit Fest celebrates 14 years
Arif Ali, Guyanese-born, London-based head of the Hansib publishing company, has been awarded the Henry Swanzy Award at the Bocas Lit Fest. The festival’s programme director, Nicholas Laughlin, made the announcement during the festival’s media launch at the National Library in Port of Spain on Wednesday. Among the festival’s featured authors is Haitian-born American author Edwidge Danticat, whose works focus on the lives of women and issues of power, injustice, and poverty. Guayaguayare-born Dionne Brand, who lives in Canada, is a poet, novelist, essayist, and documentarian. Brand is Toronto’s third and first black poet laureate. Also on the line-up is Geetanjali Shree, an Indian Hindi-language novelist. Her novel Ret Samadhi, translated into English in 2018 by Daisy Rockwell as Tomb of Sand, won the International Booker Prize. Read more here
Doubt over whether remains found last week are Hannah’s
Are the skeletal remains found in a shallow grave at a family compound at Butu Road in Valsayn South eight days ago those of Hannah Mathura? The answer to the question seemed unclear up to yesterday evening, after police made another trip to search for skeletal remains at the property earlier in the day and came up empty-handed. According to police and forensic sources, there are now serious uncertainties that the skeletal remains they found during their first search of the compound are of a female, meaning Hannah may still be missing. Guardian Media was informed that forensic professionals are now leaning towards the possibility that the remains are those of a man, throwing the case in a direction few saw coming. However, the results of further tests, including DNA tests, will now have to be used to confirm the sex and identity of the body. Read more here
POLITICS
8 years after Arcelor Mittal closure: Labour Minister: Little hope of severance pay for ex-workers
Eight years after the closure of steel giant Arcelor Mittal in 2016, some 644 ex-workers who were terminated without compensation are still appealing for the Government’s intervention. But Labour Minister Stephen Mc Clashie, in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said he is unsure what can be done at this point. He commented, “I am appalled, however, by the fact that we could have companies coming into TT, closing up shop and not paying people their severance. “At the same time, given the private nature of the arrangement, I really do not know what is available. “It has not struck my attention in any way until now. I do have some technocrats who would have been around at that time and based on their recollection and notes, would seek their advice.” Read more here
Opposition a no show for start of highway JSC
Opposition members were absent yesterday when a Joint Select Committee (JSC) started looking into the Point Fortin highway construction project. UNC MP Barry Padarath and UNC Senator Anil Roberts thereafter confirmed that this was due to the Opposition’s decision not to participate in the JSC on Land and Physical Infrastructure (L&PI)) inquiry on the NIDCO report on the Point Fortin Highway extension. “The Opposition continues to take a strong stand against the PNM using the JSC of the Parliament to witchhunt the People’s Partnership government with respect to the Point Fortin highway,” Padarath said. Read more here
BUSINESS
CIBC enjoys positive first quarter
The recently rebranded CIBC Caribbean Bank Ltd has confirmed it has seen increased economic performance for the quarter ended January 31, 2024. In chief executive officer Mark St Hill’s report for the quarter, he said the bank reported net income of $84.6 million, up $16.5 million or 24 per cent from the first quarter’s net income of $68.1 million, a year ago. According to St Hill, after adjusting for $4.1 million of operating expenses relating to previously announced divestitures in the Dutch Caribbean, adjusted net income was $88.7 million. He explained the results for the first quarter were positively impacted by credit loss expense which reflected a release this quarter due to a non-recurring recovery in the Bahamas and model assumptions updates. Read more here
March 31 deadline for work at Piarco
The Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) is assuring the public that ongoing maintenance work at Piarco International Airport will be completed by the March 31 deadline, following concerns raised about one of the contractors on the project. The Express has learned that a contractor accused of tardiness recently had its contract for the project terminated, and has since been replaced by another contractor. Read more here
REGIONAL
GTU VP admits ‘financial issues’ were discussed with MoE
The credibility of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is facing intense scrutiny as more doubts emerge regarding the existence of crucial minutes of meetings purportedly held between the union and the Ministry of Education (MoE). The latest developments unfolded after it was revealed that the ministry stands as the sole possessor of documentation pertaining to these meetings. On Tuesday, GTU President, Mark Lyte, asserted to Justice Sandil Kissoon that the union possessed minutes of meetings held with the ministry from 2019 to 2023. However, when questioned by the judge on Wednesday, it was revealed that no such documents could be located, casting serious doubts about the reliability of the GTU’s claims. The Ministry of Education handed over all documents related to meetings with the GTU from 2020 to February 2024, in compliance with court orders. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Russian missile attack targets Kyiv
Ukraine has intercepted 31 missiles launched by Russia at Kyiv overnight, Ukraine's air force said. At least 17 people, including a child, were injured by falling debris, four of whom are in hospital, authorities said. It is the largest Russian attack in weeks and follows a vow from Moscow for revenge over recent attacks by Ukraine on its border regions. The attack prompted Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky to renew his call for more military aid from Western allies. Read more here
21st March 2024