NEWS
Chris Must List: ‘Powerful’ lawyers ready to represent me for free
Days after parting ways with his previous legal representatives over fees “above (his) pay bracket,” Canadian YouTuber Christopher “Chris Must List” Hughes says some “powerful lawyers” have contacted him saying they are willing to represent him for free. Last week, the 45-year-old travel vlogger, who is facing a sedition charge, said he received a US$40,000 invoice from his lawyers for two ten-minute court hearings. He was being represented by Pamela Elder, SC, and Russell Warner. Elder has since said that the fee reflected the total cost for the entire trial, regardless of how many court appearances it took, for both attorneys. Read more here
Judge avoids ruling on who should collect rent MovieTowne tenants in limbo
Tenants at MovieTowne Port-of-Spain will have to seek legal advice on who they should pay their rent to at the end of the week, as their landlord continues its legal action over a move to repossess the entertainment and shopping complex. Last Friday, the Port-of-Spain Infrastructure Company Limited (POSINCO), which manages land held by the Port Authority of T&T (PATT), sought to take control of the complex over $10,904,121.23 in rental arrears allegedly owed by Trinbago Commercial Development Company Ltd (TCDC), owners of MovieTowne. Less than 24 hours later, however, TCDC obtained an injunction blocking POSINCO from issuing communications to its tenants, who were previously told by the authority that they had to make new arrangements with it over their continued occupation of the venue. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla says no to cashless Trinidad and Tobago, promises $$ to cops
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has promised that a future UNC government will consider implementing monetary rewards to police officers as a strategy to incentivise them to work harder to reduce crime. Persad-Bissessar also warned that the creation of a cashless society in TT would introduce a new level of dictatorship by the government. She made this statement at a UNC cottage meeting in Chaguanas on August 26 as she offered party supporters a glimpse of the UNC's draft general election manifesto. Read more here
Kamla wants legal age for ganja use, gambling at 25.... also promises no property tax, electricity or water hike in manifesto
The Opposition UNC's general election manifesto plans include raising the legal age for marijuana use and gambling to 25 years and older, supporting victims of crime with jobs and housing - and introducing a constitutional right for an accused person to have a trial within a reasonable time. UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who revealed some of the party's manifesto on Monday night, said her Government will also consider introducing a system of monetary rewards for police officers and divisions where crime is kept low. And there will be no property tax or increases in water and electricity rates in this dire economic climate. Persad-Bissessar unveiled the plans at the party's Monday Night Report at its Chaguanas headquarters. Read more here
BUSINESS
Angostura CEO to work from Miami
Angostura Holdings Ltd has announced that as part of its global expansion strategy, its CEO, Laurent Schun, will be primarily operating from Miami, Florida. This was disclosed in a material change notice issued on the TT Stock Exchange on August 23. "As Angostura intensifies its international expansion efforts and prepares to launch its newly-styled premium rum range in the global market, the company CEO, with the approval of the board of directors, will operate primarily from Miami, Florida, US," the notice said. Angostura said this strategy will start on August 26, enabling the CEO to place increased focus on key international business development initiatives. Read more here
bpTT, EOG partner on Coconut development
bp Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) and EOG Resources Trinidad Ltd (EOG) have agreed to partner on the Coconut gas development. “Coconut will be a 50/50 joint venture with EOG as operator. The final investment decision has been taken by the joint venture partners and first gas is expected in 2027,” a release from bpTT stated yesterday. The Coconut field is located off the southeast coast of Trinidad in the Columbus Basin and was discovered in 2005 by bpTT in a water depth of 260 feet. “This partnership for the Coconut development is part of bpTT’s strategy to grow its gas business and unlock the energy future of Trinidad and Tobago. Strategic partnerships are an important component of this strategy, as they allow bpTT to increase the competitiveness of its projects, accelerate resource progression, grow its business and continue to deliver value to bp and to the country,” the release stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
Carbon credit funds to be audited
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Guyana’s Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has assured Guyanese that all funds generated from the sale of the country’s carbon credits will undergo a thorough audit. Dr. Jagdeo, during a press conference last Thursday, said that the audit will be conducted as part of the process for the allocation and expenditure to ensure that all funds are accounted for. “At the end of the day, we have to account for all of these funds, and with a separate audit that will go to the Parliament,” Dr. Jagdeo said. In December 2022, the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions announced the issuance of 33.47 million TREES credit to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
UN says Gaza aid operation paused due to evacuation orders
The United Nations says it has had to temporarily suspend its aid operation in the Gaza Strip because of Israeli military evacuation orders in the centre of the Palestinian territory. A senior UN official told reporters that its humanitarian staff had been unable to operate on Monday because of safety concerns. Evacuation orders covering parts of the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in and around the central town of Deir al-Balah - where the UN has its main operations centre - had forced staff to relocate quickly and leave equipment behind, they said. However, the official stressed that UN agencies would not be leaving Gaza and were now trying to find somewhere to operate safely. Read more here
27th August 2024