NEWS
Flood Frustration– central, east Trinidad feel effects of weekend weather
Residents of Real Spring Valsayn and Madras Road pointed their anger and frustration at those in authority for constant flooding and the fear of it on Monday after the area was flooded after rains caused by a weather system over the weekend. That weather system has since gone on to become Tropical Storm Lisa and is expected to become a category 1 hurricane over the northwestern Caribbean in the coming days. On Monday, Newsday visited St Helena, Madras Road, Tantrill Road and Valsayn after reports of flooding in the areas. Newsday saw officials of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) at Real Spring and Tantrill, taking pictures and video of the affected areas. This stirred the ire residents of Real Spring who said they were tired of photos and videos and wanted action. Read more here
PH driver shot in El Dorado still at hospital
The PH taxi driver who was shot by an unknown gunman in El Dorado, Tunapuna, yesterday, remains warded in a critical condition at hospital. The shooting, which took place around 8.30 am at Govia Street, saw residents and school children scampering for safety as the suspect fired upon the driver, who had been standing on the pavement which leads off the Priority Bus Route (PBR) after pulling up on the PH stand, near the Palance bar. Reports said the gunman was in a car which pulled up close to PH driver Ardiel Small's vehicle. One of the occupants got out and opened fire on the PH driver, who was still standing outside his car, even as school children were nearby. Two other gunmen got out the suspects’ vehicle and also opened fire on the PH driver. Another man, believed to be a police officer, who was on the PBR, responded to the gunshots and fired at the suspects, who ran into their car and escaped. Read more here
POLITICS
PM chairs National Security Council meet as murder toll hits 509
As the country's murder toll surpassed 500 - reaching 509 on Monday - the Prime Minister held a meeting of the National Security Council and police service top-brass led by acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob, said a statement on Dr Rowley's personal page on Facebook posted on Monday afternoon. "Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley is chairing a meeting with the National Security Council and the Divisional Heads of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's," said the statement. A spate of shootings saw 16 murders in four days two weekends ago, with recent victims including small children. Read more here
Kamla: Security Council meeting with TTPS a pappyshow
Nothing of substance came out of Monday's National Security Council meeting with the TTPS, which was a mere “photo op” and a "pappyshow," says UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. “They come to make you feel they working when there was no response from them in the weeks before,” Persad-Bissessar said at the party's Monday Night Forum. “(Roodal) Moonilal tell me the picture (from the meeting) looks like a Halloween picture!” She said T&T is in turmoil with the crime crisis but Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was silent in recent weeks and MIA (Missing in Action). She questioned why Rowley yesterday posted on Facebook that he had instructed the NSC to meet yesterday. Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA McAL reveals expansion plans in Guyana
The ANSA McAL Group has announced plans for an 82-acre wharf and laydown yard at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, Guyana and is also conducting a feasibility study for a brewery. This as the group celebrates 30 years of operation in Guyana. According to a report in Guyana’s Stabroek News, at an event on Friday, ANSA McAL’s Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Sabga III, told attendees, “The Group acquired 82 acres of land in the Wales, West Bank Demerara region and will begin the development of a wharf and laydown yard within that acreage to facilitate port and marine commerce.” He added the Group is currently considering significant investments within the manufacturing, construction, real estate and beverage sectors. Read more here
TCL reports 175% profit jump
Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) yesterday declared after- tax profit of $167.09 million for the first nine months of its financial year, which was an increase of 175.80 per cent, over the $60.68 million it earned for the same period in 2021. The cement-producing company, which has manufacturing operations in T&T, Barbados and Jamaica, reported revenue of $1.55 billion for the period January 1 to September 30, 2022, which was 10.38 per centmore than the $1.40 billion it generated in 2021. Its adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxation Depreciation and Amortisation) for the first nine months of 2022 was $405 million, a 37 per cent improvement on the same period during the prior year. Read more here
REGIONAL
Chandan-Edmond may not return to Parliament
People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) General-Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond may not return to Parliament unless the rift with party leader Aubrey Norton is repaired, according to multiple party sources. Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones said that Chandan-Edmond is expected to be among the Members of Parliament (MP) present on the Opposition benches come Monday. “Monday is Parliament, all of the MPs will be in session save and except for the eight of us that [sic] have been suspended. Monday is the sitting and all of the members will be there,” Jones related. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Itaewon crush: First emergency call came hours before crush
The first call to police from Itaewon came at 18:34 local time - several hours before the deadly crush took place. The caller to South Korea's 112 emergency number said they were on the main street to Itaewon and an alley next to the Hamilton hotel was becoming dangerously crowded. "That alley is really dangerous right now people going up and down, so people can't come down, but people keep coming up, it's gonna be crushed. I barely made it to get out but it's too crowded. I think you should control it," the caller said. The police officer asked if the caller meant that people weren't flowing well, that "they get crushed and fall, and then there's going to be a big accident?" Read more here
1st November 2022