NEWS
Mutilated body found in Siparia
The mutilated body of a man was discovered in Siparia on Monday afternoon. The body bore multiple chop injuries across the face and head, the skull appeared to be bashed in, and legs were severed beneath the knees and could not be found, police said. The discovery was made in Sennon Village around 1 p.m. after police officers followed up on an anonymous tip-off. Police said an identification card in the name of Ramdath Maharaj, aged 60, card was found near the body, which was in the early stages of decomposition...Read More
Doctors petition for better salaries, conditions
Over 2,000 persons have petitioned for better salaries and working conditions for doctors in this country. The petition was started by the Northwest Doctors Association (NWDA). Speaking with the Express yesterday, NWDA president Dr Kevin Harris said that the decision comes as a result of a request from its members, as well as doctors from other regions, because of a lack of adequate representation for salary negotiations...Read More
POLITICS
Marcelle gets Laventille West
HUNDREDS of people showed up to support their hopeful candidates at the PNM's screening exercise at Balisier House last night. Melville Lane was blocked off to accommodate the screening of the 15 candidates, who were celebrating and cheering each of their nominees as they went in. Up to 7.30 p.m. people were still coming into the area even though the screening process began at about 5.30 p.m. While each candidate had their own group, the largest appeared to be attorney Kareem Marcelle, who is eyeing the Laventille West seat. Incumbent Fitzgerald Hinds dropped out of the race last week...Read More
UNC newcomer challenges Faris
While he is new, some residents in the constituency of San Fernando West will be looking closely at former Naparima College principal Dr Michael Dowlath as he vies to become the Member of Parliament for the constituency in the 2025 general election. Others however believe that present MP Faris Al-Rawi will be voted back into the position for the People’s National Movement (PNM). The United National Congress (UNC) selected Dowlath following its first screening of candidates at the weekend for the upcoming general election. The Express visited areas in San Fernando West yesterday for feedback from residents on Dowlath as the UNC nominee...Read More
BUSINESS
Massy Group hosts investors, analysts, stockbrokers
MASSY Group hosted institutional investors, stockbrokers and analysts as part of its ongoing commitment to engage key stakeholders and deepen its relationships with the investment community. In a release on December 2, Massy said this event was one of several held throughout the year to discuss the group's progress and performance with its stakeholders. Addressing the audience, David Affonso, president and group CEO, thanked Massy’s employees, customers and investors for their confidence and support. "We remain wholly committed to continue delivering on the trust and belief that you have placed in us," Affonso said...Read More
Agostini’s profit declines 14.9%
Agostini’s Ltd yesterday reported after-tax profit of $323.4 million in its financial year ended September 30, 2024, 11.3 per cent less than the $364.6 million the group earned in its 2023 financial year. The company said its profit attributable to shareholders, before the one-off net gains on acquisitions in 2023, improved by 10 per cent, from $221 million in 2023 to $242 million in 2024. The multi-line group reported revenue of $5.09 billion, an increase of 8.74 per cent, compared to the $4.68 billion it generated in 2023. In his chairman’s report, Agostini’s Christian Mouttet noted the group had geographically expanded its pharmaceutical and healthcare business with the acquisition of the Aventa Group, a pharmaceutical distribution company in Curacao and Aruba. Mouttet said the acquisition of Aventa marked a pivotal step in the group’s growth strategy, expanding its pharmaceutical and healthcare operations beyond the English-speaking Caribbean...Read More
Imbert: T&T's energy transition requires balance
Finance Minister Colm Imbert yesterday admitted that Trinidad and Tobago will face a dilemma during the energy transition. While addressing the launch of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean's (CAF) Report on the Economy and Development (RED) 2024, at the Central Bank Auditorium, Minister Imbert said the transition required a difficult balancing act. "The fly in the ointment is the dilemma that confronts oil-and-gas-based economies that earn most of their revenue from fossil fuels. It is easy for spokespersons from advanced diversified economies to insist on the elimination of fossil fuels, and the extreme weather events affecting many countries in recent years make this an obvious imperative, but for countries that have few alternative sources of income, the future will be difficult. Trinidad and Tobago is an energy-based economy, and therefore, we must be careful and prudent, and our energy transition must therefore thus be measured and sensible." He continued, "We certainly cannot abandon the production of oil and gas, but what we can do is to reduce our carbon footprint, small as it is, by maximising the use of renewable energy for electricity production, and the use of electric vehicles, and promoting green energy sources, such a hydrogen, as we carefully map out and plan our energy transition...Read More
REGIONAL
BVI: Captain charged with manslaughter after boat accident
A South African marine captain has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal maritime accident that claimed the life of a 39-year-old man in the British Virgin Islands. Lesley Joubert, 36, was formally charged in connection with the death of Stephen Cross Jr of St Thomas, USVI. Preliminary reports indicate that a 21-foot RHIB collided with a dinghy, resulting in serious injuries to Cross on November 22. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries. During a court appearance at a local Magistrate's Court, Joubert was granted bail set at $120,000, with a mandatory return date scheduled for February 11, 2025...Read More
INTERNATIONAL
Lebanon ceasefire under strain after Israeli strikes and Hezbollah mortar fire
Deadly Israeli air strikes and a mortar attack by Hezbollah have raised fears that the ceasefire in Lebanon could collapse. Ten people were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday night, the health ministry said, after Israel carried out its biggest wave of air strikes since both sides agreed last week to end 13 months of conflict.The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah fighters, launchers and infrastructure and urged Lebanese authorities to prevent what it called the group’s “hostile activity”. Hezbollah had earlier fired two mortars at an Israeli army base in a disputed border area, saying they were a warning over what it saw as “repeated violations” by Israel. No casualties were reported...Read More
White House defends pardon of Hunter Biden amid backlash
The White House has defended President Joe Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, after repeatedly insisting he had no plans to grant such executive clemency. The press secretary said Biden had pardoned his son, who was facing sentencing later this month in two federal cases, to shield him from potential persecution by the outgoing president's political foes. The sweeping pardon covers any potential federal crimes that 54-year-old Hunter may have committed over the course of a decade. Republicans have lambasted the move, with President-elect Donald Trump calling it "an abuse and miscarriage of justice". Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday that Biden had "wrestled" over the decision during the family's Thanksgiving break on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, at the weekend...Read More
3rd December 2024