NEWS
Murder victim's family worried as relative misidentified as suspect
The family of Luka Goring, who was gunned down inside a KFC outlet, is upset that another relative was wrongfully identified as a suspect in his death on social media. Goring, 31, of Gopaul Lands, Marabella, was shot dead on Friday night by a man whom he had stabbed moments before during an altercation inside KFC’s Gasparillo outlet. Speaking with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, Goring’s family declined to speak about the circumstances surrounding his murder. But they voiced their annoyance that "false information" on social media was making an already difficult situation even worse. Read more here
Regional corp says sorry to woman who fell into pothole
In a collaborative effort to prevent anyone else from falling into a pothole along El Socorro Road and Fifth Street in San Juan, both the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation (SLRC) and the Ministry of Works and Transport have temporarily covered the hole. When Guardian Media visited yesterday morning, the hole was covered with a concrete slab and had an orange cone on top. SLRC vice chairman Kwesi Antoine said once they learnt about the hole, they acted immediately although they may not be responsible for the repairs. “We didn’t know it existed ... once this information comes to us we deal with it as soon as possible. I spoke to the Minister of Works who assured that he would give us assistance,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
Mickela Panday: Reward integrity, honesty, not mismanagement
The Salaries Review Commission's (SRC) proposal to increase the salaries of politicians should not be Government’s focus at this time, said Mickela Panday, political leader of the Patriotic Front, on Monday. Panday foresees politicians having a difficulty justifying this hike when public servants are still reeling from the four per cent wages, some have accepted, and other trade unions continue to oppose in the courts. She said hard work, honesty, integrity, meritocracy should be the basis for reward, not waste, corruption, and mismanagement. Read more here
BUSINESS
ASCO secures bpTT contract
ASCO, a leading material management and logistics provider, has secured a five-year contract with bpTT for supply base and pipeyard management services across all 16 offshore locations in TT. This contract marks a milestone in ASCO's presence in the Caribbean region, with a planned 30 per cent increase in local headcount and substantial investments in equipment and infrastructure to meet international standards. Deborah Benjamin, managing director of TT, called the contract a major achievement, highlighting ASCO's commitment to expanding its footprint. "ASCO's local team comprises 100 per cent local personnel. This contract and the subsequent headcount increase enable us to provide further opportunities to the communities in which we operate. Read more here
PM: T&T open for hydrocarbon business
Trinidad and Tobago has more than 100 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and is open to collaborating with regional neighbours in the development of hydrocarbon resources, says Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He said this can be achieved through the sharing of T&T’s knowledge, expertise and infrastructure in commercial activity. He was speaking at the third instalment of Guyana’s Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo in Georgetown yesterday. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Bring the synergy to the table’
As Guyana’s transformation continues to unfold, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has said that there needs to be the building out of infrastructure to bolster development to not only benefit Guyana but the Caribbean region overall.
The president made the call for greater collaboration in key areas during his remarks at the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel, on Monday. Held under the theme, “Fueling Transformation and Modernisation,” the atmosphere for the opening day of the conference and expo was filled with much anticipation, as local and international stakeholders were beaming with excitement as to what this year holds. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israel-Gaza war: US calls for temporary ceasefire in UN text
The US has proposed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council which calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. It has also warned Israel against invading the overcrowded city of Rafah. The US has previously avoided the word "ceasefire" during UN votes on the war, but President Joe Biden has made similar comments. However, the US plans to veto another draft resolution - from Algeria - which calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. More than a million displaced Palestinians, who represent about half of Gaza's population, are crammed into Rafah after being forced to seek shelter there. The southern city, which borders Egypt, was home to only 250,000 people before the war. Many of the displaced are living in makeshift shelters or tents in squalid conditions, with scarce access to safe drinking water or food. Read more here
20th February 2024