NEWS
Christlyn Moore to chair new TRHA board
Attorney and former People's Partnership Minister of Justice Christlyn Moore has been appointed chairman of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA). This was revealed by THA Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Faith BYisrael as she named members of the newly minted board, who received their instruments of appointment last Friday. Other board members are deputy chairman Dhanique Jerry and members Alana Alleyne, Dr Bridgette Edmund-Benoit, Yvette Parks-Caruth, Nkosi Dick, McKay-Prince Martin, Karen Moore-Nicholson and Sangeeta Siew. Simon Wilshire is an ex-officio member. Read more here
Missing Naipaul-Coolman file re-appears
The mystery of the “missing” Vindra Naipaul-Coolman lawsuit file deepened yesterday, after it was mysteriously found. This was confirmed last night in a media statement from the Attorney General’s Office. It was issued by lead investigator into the issue of the missing file, Justice Stanley John (retired). John and Justice Rolston Nelson were hired last week to investigate the disappearance of the missing file, which is said to be the reason the state failed to mount a defence in a matter brought the nine former accused in the Naipaul-Coolman kidnapping/murder case. That matter involved a claim for malicious prosecution mounted by the men, who won over $20 million, or $2.1m each, in a default judgment in court last week. Read more here
POLITICS
Deyalsingh: Four SWRHA employees sent on leave
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said four South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) employees have been sent on administrative leave, following an incident at the Princes Town District Facility which a woman named Pearly Graham claims caused the death of her twin babies. He made this statement in response to questions in the House of Representatives on Friday. While the SWRHA did a report on this matter, Deyalsingh said he appointed a three-member independent team led by the ministry’s director of women’s health Dr Adesh Sirujsingh to examine the SWRHA’s report. Deyalsingh said this team has submitted its report to him. Read more here
Rowley: $1.6b transformation coming for Sando
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says a major $1.6 billion transformation is coming for San Fernando which will make the city “unrecognisable” in the next four to five years. Speaking at the opening of the upgraded $131 million Skinner Park in San Fernando yesterday, Rowley expressed joy that the facility was finally open just in time for Calypso Fiesta, which will take place this weekend. The Park was closed for repairs in 2019 and faced multiple construction setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Dr Rowley said now that Skinner Park is reopened, more projects are on stream for the city to the tune of $ 1.6 billion. Explaining why the city was being given this hefty financial injection, Rowley said since the restructuring of Petrotrin there had been a huge economic fallout. Read more here
BUSINESS
Supermarkets want staggered rate hikes
The Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT) has recommended that the electricity rate increase proposed by the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) be incremental and staggered across a period of several years. Kicking off public consultations with the groups for the price review for the electricity transmission and distribution sector, RIC met yesterday with the Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Farmers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) and the Poultry Association of Trinidad and Tobago at Hilton Trinidad. Read more here
REGIONAL
Construction progressing on 100 low-income houses at Great Diamond
Construction works are progressing rapidly on 100 new low-income homes at Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, on Monday, during a walkabout exercise at the construction site, said that a number of projects will be rolled out to meet the growing demands of the housing market. “During our budget speech and even announcements by our President, we would have alluded to a number of houses being constructed and that is to respond to the market,” Croal said. Further, he said there will a renewed focus on targeted home constructions rather than just allocating house lots. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Turkey earthquake: Survivors in streets as rain hampers rescue
Rescuers are battling heavy rain and snow as they race against the clock to find survivors of a devastating earthquake in south-east Turkey. More than 5,000 people were killed and 15,000 injured in Turkey and over the border in Syria when the quake struck in the early hours of Monday. The World Health Organization has warned the toll may rise dramatically as rescuers find more victims. As day broke, rescue teams stepped up their search for survivors. Heavy machinery worked through the night in the city of Adana, with lights illuminating the collapsed buildings and huge slabs of concrete, in scenes repeated across southern Turkey. Occasionally the work stopped and a call of "Allahu Akbar" rose up when a survivor was found, or when the dead were recovered. Read more here
7th February 2023