NEWS
HDC chair: Rule-breaking leads to anarchy
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) chairman Noel Garcia said the organisation’s managers were doing their jobs when they evicted illegal tenants from apartments at Old St Joseph Road, Piccadilly, Port of Spain. He said anarchy could prevail if rules were not followed. Five families, comprising 18 people, including ten children, were evicted on April 21 for illegally occupying the apartments, after being served with eviction notices on April 12. The families admitted to illegally occupying the apartments. Speaking to Newsday on Monday, Garcia said the management’s job was to ensure there was order and the rules are followed. Read more here
Four murders in Penal overnight, including triple murder
Homicide detectives are investigating four murders in Penal which occurred over the past 12 hours, including a triple murder. Guardian Media understands hours ago Anand Kumar, 42, his son Kishore Kumar, 18, a labourer, and their relative Rolley Hosein, 26, were executed at their Mathura Street, Charlo Village home. The men were asleep around 4 am when there was a knocking on the front door and a male voice reportedly shouted, “Police open the door!” Two assailants wearing masks and a tactical uniform including a bullet proof vest with the markings “Police" are said to have broken down the door. They then ordered the male occupants out of the house and made them lie face down on the ground. Shortly afterwards, several loud explosions were heard. Read more here
POLITICS
Fitzgerald Hinds: Gun ban to protect region from mass shootings
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said the proposal to ban assault weapons in the region is a pre-emptive measure to tackle possible instances of mass shootings. A mass shooting is defined as any single shooting incident in which four or more people are killed. On April 18, at the close of a two day regional anti-crime symposium, the Prime Minister said one of the measures to address gun violence was a ban on assault weapons except for security forces and competitive shooters. He never gave a definition of assault weapons, which has gun owners anxious, since some have been granted firearm users' licences (FUL) for semi-automatic rifles, which look like assault weapons. Read more here
BUSINESS
Caribbean Airlines flying again to Caracas from May 13
Local carrier Caribbean Airlines is set to resume flying to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Come May 13th, the airline will begin scheduled flights to Caracas’ Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS) operating on a once weekly basis. The airline says frequency is expected to be increased later on. CBW300 departs POS on Saturdays at 8:00 am for the 1 hour 55 minute journey to Caracas, arriving at 9:55 am. The return flight, BW301, departs at 10:45 am arriving in POS at 12:35 pm. Commenting on the move, CAL CEO Garvin Medera says the airline is poised for growth as it continues to connect the Caribbean region. “We are delighted to resume flights to Caracas and to provide reliable and convenient travel options for our valued customers” says Medera. Read more here
Ex-procurement regulator ready to serve second term
Former procurement regulator Moonilal Lalchan said he is ready to serve a second term if required to do so. Lalchan served a five-year term as procurement regulator from 2018 to January 2023. In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Lalchan said he was “head-hunted” for the position previously. He said he never applied for the post, but was asked to submit his resume based on a recommendation of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, where he served as the president. Read more here
REGIONAL
House approached for $31B to fund Amerindian, environmental development
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira on behalf of Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, on Monday, presented a Supplementary Bill comprising Financial Papers Numbers One and Two to the National Assembly relating to programme components of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 to be financed from carbon credit inflows.
Work began in 2009 with the original LCDS– the first such strategy from any developing country in the world. A national consultation from October 2021 to July 2022 saw the original LCDS expanded and enhanced, culminating in the endorsement of the National Assembly and then the finalisation of LCDS 2030. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Sudan crisis: Gunfire heard as uneasy truce holds
A ceasefire in Sudan appears to be holding, although there have been reports of new gunfire and shelling. It is the fourth effort to stop the fighting which began on 15 April, with previous truces not observed. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the 72-hour truce had been agreed between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after 48 hours of negotiations. The latest ceasefire attempt started at midnight (22:00 GMT on Monday). At least 459 people have died in the conflict so far, though the actual number is thought to be much higher. Both sides had confirmed they would cease hostilities. Read more here
25th April 2023