NEWS
GUNMEN DON'T CARE – grandmother of murdered Grande girl, 6, speaks out
As she continues to grapple with the reality of losing her granddaughter, Tisha Maloney is lamenting the spate of murders in TT, and the disregard for human life by criminals. Maloney's six-year-old granddaughter Kylie Maloney was killed during an attack at the family's Blake Avenue, Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande, home early on Sunday morning. Police said Kylie's mother Akeeila Maloney, 25, Kevon Lucas, 34 and Dexter Trotman, 45, were also wounded in the attack. Read more here
Scrap iron workers struggling to pay $200 for stickers
Scrap iron workers say they are finding it difficult to pay $200 for scrap collectors’ registration stickers to operate legitimately. The Scrap Iron Dealers’ Association started distributing 2023 stickers on Monday but several workers who went to collect them at the Claxton Bay Anglican School said they found it difficult to pay $200 for the stickers. Sheldon Morraine said: “Collecting those stickers is a plus for vanmen. Now you can’t go and sell iron by certain yards if you don’t have a sticker but it is hard for us because now we have to find that $200 for a sticker. I don’t know if they could give us the sticker on hire purchase. They done say they want nothing in the yard if we don’t have a sticker.” With the scrap iron export ban set to be lifted next month, Morraine said dealers are now paying them $500 per tonne rather than $1,000. Read more here
POLITICS
Local government election's injunction reaches appeal court
Three Appeal Court judges are to decide on an injunction application filed by political activist Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj to prevent local government councillors and aldermen from continuing in office for another year. On Monday, Justices of Appeal Prakash Moosai, Gillian Lucky and James Aboud began hearing submissions from Balgobin-Maharaj’s attorney in his challenge of the refusal of Justice Jacqueline Wilson’s refusal to grant the injunction as part of his challenge to the Local Government Reform Act, which contains amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act. Read more here
PM sticks with Kangaloo as President ...blasts UNC for misleading public on selection process
Despite vociferous and unreserved objections from the United National Congress (UNC), the Government has confirmed Christine Kangaloo will be its nominee come January 20th when the Electoral College meets to elect this country’s seventh Head of State. “This matter is going very smoothly, according to the Constitution, according to the practice and according to our history,” Dr Keith Rowley told journalists during a media conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s yesterday. However, armed with his own copy of the Constitution, Dr Keith Rowley seemed prepared to respond specifically to UNC Senator Wade Mark’s attacks on Kangaloo. “He has to be dealt with,” the Prime Minister said sternly. The Prime Minister said Mark has been in the media calling Kangaloo and “PNM yes woman and puppet.” He said Mark was even questioning the constitutionality of Kangaloo’s nomination. Read more here
REGIONAL
Energy, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals
President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on Monday held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues, the Government of India has reported. President Ali and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines of 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) in Indore. “The two leaders held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues, including cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology and innovation, and defence cooperation. “Both leaders recalled the 180-year-old historical bonds of friendship between the People of India and Guyana, and agreed to deepen them further,” the Ministry of External Affairs of India reported on its official website. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
China blocks S Korea and Japan visas over Covid
China has stopped issuing short-term visas to individuals from South Korea and Japan in retaliation for Covid restrictions on Chinese travellers. Visas for South Koreans entering China as tourists have been suspended, Beijing's embassy in Seoul said. And Japanese media reported China was imposing similar measures there. It's a tit-for-tat move which Beijing says will remain in place until "discriminatory" entry restrictions against China are lifted. Last week, South Korea stopped issuing tourist visas for those coming from China, which the Chinese foreign ministry called "unacceptable" and "unscientific". Read more here
10th January 2023