NEWS
China agrees to fund new Forensic Sciences Centre
Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Government for the construction of a new Forensic Sciences Centre. The MoU signing was done on Monday between National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and China's ambassador to TT, Fang Qiu. Hinds said construction of the new centre in Mt Hope will stand soon. The project is fully funded through a donation from the Chinese Government. Read more here
Privy Council upholds $2M award to teen victim for severe sex trauma at state facilities
The London-based Privy Council has restored an award of almost $2 million in damages to a young man who was tortured and abused sexually and physically at the St Michael’s Boys Industrial School and the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital. In the landmark judgment, Law Lords Burrows, Hodge, Leggatt, Rose and Richards overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision and restored the initial compensatory and vindicatory damages that were awarded by the trial judge. To protect the identity of the young man, who is now 19 years old, he will be referred to as JM in this article. Read more here
POLITICS
Robinson-Regis: Government looks to small, medium contractors
Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said her ministry continues to keep faith in small and medium contractors, as it continues to seek partnerships with the private sector to satisfy the housing demand. She made this comment when she addressed a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) key-distribution ceremony in Edinburgh 500 on Monday. Public-private sector partnerships (PPPs) are not new to TT, going as far back as the establishment of PowerGen in 1994. Compared to its predecessor governments, Robinson-Regis said, "This administration has made it (PPPs) a necessary feature of several discussions at various levels. Read more here
Farley: I was responsible for PDP’s success
Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says there is no “moral obligation” to step down, as he believes he won elections as an independent. In an interview on TV6’s Morning Edition yesterday, Augustine also rejected calls made by Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke for there to be fresh elections. “When people go to the polls and vote in the context of democracy in Trinidad and Tobago, there are two things you vote for. There are two items on your ballot paper, one of which have to be there and one that doesn’t have to be there. One is a party symbol, a name. And the other is the name of the candidate. The one that absolutely must be there is name of candidate,” Augustine said. Read more here
BUSINESS
Imbert claims victory in NIB matter
Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday that a High Court judge ruled in his favour, when she dismissed a challenge to the minister’s appointment of Patrick Ferreira as chairman of the National Insurance Board (NIB). In a news release yesterday, Imbert said the judge assigned to the matter, Justice Jacqueline Wilson, ruled in favour of Minister Imbert and dismissed an application by Opposition activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj’s application for judicial review of Imbert’s decision to appoint Ferreira as NIB chairman. Read more here
REGIONAL
Hinterland healthcare system to get $125B boost
Hinterland residents will soon benefit from enhanced health services, as the government, over the next three years, plans to inject some $125 billion into the enhancement of the healthcare systems in Lethem, Kato, Kamarang, Mabaruma, Moruca, Bartica and Port Kaituma. This was according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali during his remarks at the commissioning of the Mabaruma Smart Hospital on Monday. The Head of State said the intention is to utilise the funds to upgrade various facilities across hinterland regions. “More than $125 billion will be invested in upgrading these facilities, giving you the best working conditions. That is important; giving the population the best possible access to healthcare services; that is what transforms societies,” President Ali said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Volodymyr Zelensky visits frontline city of Bakhmut
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an unannounced visit to the frontline city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian and Russian forces have fought a fierce, months-long battle. He met troops and handed out awards to soldiers, the presidency said. For months, Bakhmut has been a key target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region, and has been extremely badly damaged. However, Ukrainian forces have been able to hold back the advance. In video footage shown on the Freedom TV channel on Telegram, Mr Zelensky wished his troops well. "I think that the heroes of Bakhmut should have what every person has, that everything should be OK for their children, their families, that they're warm and healthy," he said. "I'd like to wish them light, but it's such a difficult situation that there is light and then there isn't. The main thing is for there to be inner light." Read more here
20th December 2022