NEWS
Flight attendant acted in interest of safety – Expert weighs in on autistic child on aircraft
Two experts on Monday gave Newsday varying views on a father's complaint that during a flight to TT, his autistic child had to stay strapped into her own seat instead of being allowed the comfort of sitting with her grandmother. The incident was widely reported over the weekend on social media. Ramesh Lutchmedial, retired director general of the TT Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), told Newsday that the primary responsibility of an aircraft's cabin crew was the safety of passengers. This included briefing them about emergency procedures including how to put on their life jackets and seat belts and the location of exit doors. "The law says every person over the age of two must occupy their own seat," he said. Read more here
Arouca man, girlfriend fatally shot in car
Life is a circle and what you do to others today will definitely find its way back to you one day. This was the advice issued yesterday by Alex Camacho minutes after he identified the body of his nephew, Daniel Camacho, at the Forensic Science Centre, in St James. Daniel, 24, was one of two people killed by gunmen in a car at Hindustan Road, Arouca, on Sunday. His girlfriend Shenelle Edwards, 22, of New Valencia Housing Development, Valencia, was also killed after three armed gunmen opened fire on Camacho’s car around 10.15 pm. Edwards’ 18-year-old sister, who was seated in the back seat, was shot in the left shoulder during the incident. She was said to have been in a stable condition at hospital yesterday. While Edwards’ relatives declined to speak with reporters at the centre, Camacho’s uncle, Alex, speculated that jealousy and envy had led to their deaths. Read more here
POLITICS
Digital Minister: Probe into cyberattack on AG's office near completion
Digital Transformation Minister Hassel Bacchus says the threat that led to a cyberattack on the Office of the Attorney General in July is "no longer there." He added that a public statement will soon be made to address this as investigations near completion. On July 7, the Ministry of Digital Transformation revealed the attack and said actions were being taken to minimise the threat. "This unauthorised and illegal access has negatively impacted operations at the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and certain associated divisions," a release said. Read more here
Young called to account for gun donation to TTPS
UNC MP Roodal Moonilal has called on Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher to explain the policy, procedure and practice used to receive firearms from citizens—including from Energy Minister Stuart Young. Moonilal did so yesterday, after Young last Sunday denied Moonilal’s claim that he’d surrendered an “automatic” weapon to the police. Moonilal had showed pictures of the type of pistol, calling it an “assault weapon”. But Young said he’d never been in possession of an automatic firearm. He said the possession and disposal of any legal firearm must be authorised and approved by a Commissioner of Police and he could confirm that he, in fact, donated a legal weapon to the TTPS. Young said at all times, he abided by T&T’s laws, adding his action was of his own volition and he stood by it. He didn’t reply on the specifics of the reason for the action. Read more here
BUSINESS
Caribbean is bigger together, says Deodat Maharaj
Contrary to perceptions and beliefs, the Caribbean has a market of over 30 million people, said Caribbean Export Development Agency director, Deodat Maharaj. He made the statement at the launch of Caribbean Investment Forum held in the Bahamas and virtually, on Monday. The forum will be held from October 23-25 in the Bahamas. “When we think about the Caribbean, we think small – we think Bahamas; we think Grenada, with 100,000 people; St Kitts and Nevis, with 60,000 people; and TT, with 1.4 million people. “(But) when we put our population together in the Caribbean and we include the Dominican Republic, we are looking at a market of 27 million. "Secondly, the Caribbean has free trade agreements with a range of countries. We have a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) that allows investors who come and set up shop here, manufacturing or otherwise, to export their products to a highly lucrative market with half a billion people.” Read more here
Call for region to adopt US dollar
FORMER governor of the Barbados Central Bank (CBB), Dr DeLisle Worrell, says the Caribbean is unquestionably more integrated today than it was 50 years ago. However, the pattern of regional integration has nothing to do with what Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders had in mind, he said. Writing in his “Economic Letter for August”, Worrell, who served as the CBB governor from 2009 to 2017, said in that time frame there have been various socio-economic activities that have led to a further deepening of the regional integration process. “The Caribbean is unquestionably more integrated today than it was 50 years ago. Since that time Trinidad’s style of Carnival has spread into the diaspora and across the region; Jamaican music has become a world phenomenon, with variants springing up everywhere, including in the Caribbean. Read more here
REGIONAL
Sod turned for $388.8M Friendship Magistrate’s Court
East Bank Demerara residents will soon have easier access to justice, as the sod was turned on Monday for the construction of a magistrate’s court at Friendship. The $388,873,985 contract for the construction of the courthouse was awarded to Romano Builders Inc. by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) after a public tender. The sod was turned by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., Chancellor of Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings, and Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. The building will house a courtroom, magistrate chambers, living quarters for a magistrate and a clerk of court, washroom facilities, parking facilities and a perimeter fence. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Thaksin Shinawatra: Former Thailand PM jailed after return from exile
Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been jailed upon returning to the country after 15 years in exile. But many believe he has struck a deal that will keep him from serving more than a short period in prison. He arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday morning in a private jet, hours before his Pheu Thai party's candidate Srettha Thavisin was voted the next Thai PM. This cements Pheu Thai's coalition with its former military rivals who deposed the party in 2014 in a coup. Mr Thaksin, Thailand's most successful elected leader, has long been feared by conservative royalists, who have backed military coups and contentious court cases to weaken him. He went into self-imposed exile in 2009 after being deposed by a coup two years earlier. Read more here
22nd August 2023