NEWS
Trinidad, Tobago spared major damage from weather system
This country was spared the brunt of the tropical wave which increased wind speeds and slammed into Grenada on Tuesday. Speaking on I95 FM on Wednesday morning, CEO of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Maj Gen Rodney Smart emphasised how much the country should be grateful for. "It was not bad, we were fortunate. Trinidad and Tobago was spared based on what we expected." Read more here
The Grande Riviere overflows: Homes flooded near leatherback turtle nests
The usually shallow and lazy river running through the north coast village of Grande Riviere, became a raging torrent late Wednesday because of the rainfall in the mountains. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC MP: Junior AG usurping DPP’s role
Opposition MP Dinesh Rambally has said statements by the Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal on making sure the people charged in the Piarco corruption matter are brought to trial are “a shocking and blatant attempt to pervert the course of justice.” Rambally, an attorney and MP for Chaguanas West, made the comment in a statement posted by the UNC on Wednesday. Read more here
Minority Leader tells Farley to temper his rhetoric with govt
In his almost two-hour response to the 2022/2023 budget presented by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine last Thursday, Minority Leader Kelvon Morris waded into several aspects of the presentation. One key point for Morris was the relationship between Tobago and the Government. He described what he called a troubling situation caused by an “antiquated, antagonistic, combative approach taken by the Chief Secretary in his relationship with the central government.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Guyana's right to profits: Is local content law a double-edged sword?
The recent news surrounding Trinidad-based Ramps Logistics’ denial to operate in Guyana because of specifications in its recently proclaimed Local Content Act has sparked a lot of conversation, locally and regionally, on the balancing act governments must perform when ensuring that resources and commodities are shared with international parties, as well as ensuring that their populations benefit the most. Read more here
T&T, Suriname discuss energy cooperation
Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname are on the verge of forging closer energy ties, based on discussions between officials of the two Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states. President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Energy Stuart Young have held extensive discussions about a potential energy collaboration on the sidelines of the ongoing second Suriname. Read more here
REGIONAL
US$3.2M contract signed for supervision of East Coast-East Bank road link project
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Works signed a US$3.2 million contract for consultancy services in relation to the construction of the new East Coast-East Bank of Demerara road link project. At the signing ceremony, which was held at the Ministry’s Kingston, Georgetown Boardroom, it was announced that India-based RITES (Rail India Technical Economic Service) Limited was awarded the supervisory consultancy to overlook the construction of the Ogle to Eccles road linkage. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukrainian troops getting weapons training in UK
Britain has been training hundreds of Ukrainian troops, with new weapons being provided by the UK for their fight with Russia. The training has been taking place over the past few weeks in south-west England's Wiltshire county. The Ukrainians have been learning how to use the British Army's Multiple Rocket Launcher System (MLRS) which has a range of more than 80km (50 miles). Britain is believed to be providing Ukraine with three of these advanced long-range systems. The UK has also purchased around 50 howitzers for Ukraine, another long-range weapon. The L119 light gun howitzer can fire up to 12km (eight miles) away. Read more here
30th June 2022