NEWS
NUGFW members defend CDA protest – 'General secretary's permission not needed'
Workers of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) who are part of the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) trade union, say they do not need permission from any senior official of the union including general secretary James Lambert, to stage any protest and stand up for their rights. This comes after a protest on Tuesday morning by daily-paid CDA workers outside the company's headquarters. The workers are demanding better workplace infrastructure and an end to outstanding issues over sick leave bonuses, among other things. Read more here
Gunmen kill man, shoot pregnant girlfriend
A shooting in the crime-plagued Freeman Road, St Augustine community left two men dead and a pregnant teenager fighting for her life at hospital. Police said Daniel Riley, 21, of Freeman Road, died after being shot in the chest by gunmen as he slept on a bed. His pregnant girlfriend Angelie Riley, 16, was also shot in the stomach as she covered it to protect her eight-month-old unborn child during the attack. Angelie remained in a critical condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, last night. The other dead man, who remained unidentified, is believed to be one of the gunmen in the ambush, who was killed at the scene by his own gang members. Read more here
POLITICS
'It's about what Tobago wants' – Farley: New political party by April 17
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced on Tuesday night that a name, symbol and colour for the new political party in Tobago should be finalised on April 17. Augustine spoke to reporters after he and other THA executive members met for almost five hours with supporters at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex. The 13 executive members had resigned from the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) on December 5, and declared themselves independents in the THA. It was envisaged that a name for the party and other related matters would have been announced on Tuesday. Read more here
UNC MP heads to Syria on fact-finding mission
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally is preparing to go to Syria on a fact-finding mission. Rambally told Guardian Media yesterday that he made the decision because over 30 of his constituents have relatives who are detained in camps in Syria, Iraq and Turkey, after they left T&T to join the Islamic State (ISIS) years ago. “Well, first of all, let me say that I view this whole scenario concerning the children in Syria, and some of them, their mothers, are still there in Syria with them, I view this whole scenario as one of an international human rights issue,” Rambally said. “I view this matter as one where we, as Trinidadians, we have to show that we have this inherent compassion for our fellow citizens. They are, after all, our fellow citizens. It is said in our society and in all societies that the true test of the morality of a society is what the society does for its children.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Bakeries rise again, sales near to pre-pandemic days
One of the busiest seasons for bakeries is here once again as customers are making their way back to buy their favourite baked goods for the Easter holidays, at almost the same pace as pre-pandemic days. Bakery owners say there's a sense of normalcy as supplies, production and purchasing, retail prices and profit have begun to stabilise. Gregory Laing, the owner of Puff N Stuff in San Fernando, and Peter George, the owner of Linda’s Bakery chain, said getting flour at a better price came after National Flour Mills (NFM) engaged in the forward-buying of wheat in 2022. Seeing that, it was easier for the food industry to determine what would happen this year. Read more here
T&TEC wants report after 2 power outages
Electricity provider T&TEC has asked one of its independent power producers to provide a report on the cause of two instances of failure of a generator, which led to outages in some parts of the country on Tuesday. Several areas reported outages including parts of Glencoe, Maraval, Valsayn North, St Augustine South, Caparo to Mamoral, Todd’s Road, Piparo, North Oropouche, Brooklyn Settlement, Vega De Oropouche, Fishing Pond, Kelly Village, Ibis Gardens and Chaguanas. Read more here
REGIONAL
Private sector proposes 35 new areas for Local Content Schedule
The private sector is in discussion with the government to add 35 more areas to the First Schedule of the Local Content Act, in addition to appealing for increases to the percentage of minimum local content required for respective sub-sectors. Though the private sector had previously noted that it recommended 25 new areas, former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker, noted on Tuesday that the business community has already begun to look beyond this and add to the recommendations. “We have recommendations for another 25 in just one year. It shows how Guyanese are finding opportunities for 25 additional areas, and I think there are another 10 more that’s going to be recommended soon. So we’re looking at another 35 areas that we are going to suggest, and even the targets are going to be raised. So the challenges and opportunities are there; it’s on us as a resilient private sector to overcome them and grab the reins and take it,” Tucker noted. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
The cost of the Ukraine war for one Russian regiment
Kostroma is not a bad place to go looking for the effects of the Ukraine war on Russia. For this city is home to a celebrated regiment that bears its name and has been in the forefront of all the main battles in the Kremlin's campaign against its neighbours. The 331st Guards Parachute Regiment, often called the Kostroma Airborne Regiment, has been the subject of investigations by BBC's Newsnight since shortly after last February's invasion. These have revealed the price paid by the regiment and its home community. We had confirmed 39 fatalities by April last year, 62 by late July, and now the toll has reached 94. Read more here
6th April 2023