NEWS
Port of Spain boy, 6, dies, relatives detained
Police are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy in Port of Spain on Tuesday night. They said Zakariah Charles was taking a bath at the home of relatives on St Joseph Road, East Dry River at around 7 pm when a relative saw him lying on the floor of the bathroom. A male and female relative took Zakariah to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was declared dead at round 8.37 pm. Read more here
Taxi drivers divided on increasing fares
Taxi drivers from South Trinidad are divided over whether taxi fares should increase because of the impending hike in fuel prices which take effect from next week. Guardian Media spoke to several taxi drivers plying various routes including San Fernando to Chaguanas, Princes Town to San Fernando, Curepe to San Fernando, Point Fortin to San Fernando and Claxton Bay to San Fernando. Out of these five routes, drivers from three routes revealed they will not increase their fares, while the Chaguanas and Curepe drivers said an increase is imminent. Read more here
POLITICS
Ramnarine: Not enough to compare fuel prices
Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine said it was not good enough for Finance Minister Colm Imbert to compare fuel prices in Trinidad and Tobago to those in other countries, to justify increases in fuel prices that will take effect on April 19. Imbert announced the fuel price increases in the House of Representatives on April 8. Current prices per litre for premium gasoline, super gasoline and diesel are $5.75, $4.97 and $3.41 respectively. Read more here
OWTU dismisses Imbert’s fuel hike defence
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) is rubbishing Minister of Finance Colm Imbert’s fuel hike defence that T&T has the second-lowest fuel prices in the Caribbean, saying that citizens of those countries enjoy a better standard of living. At a news conference in San Fernando yesterday, OWTU president general Ancel Roget accused Imbert of deceit following an announcement that the Government would increase fuel prices on April 19. It is the same day most parents send their children back to school for the first time in over two years. Data compiled by OWTU showed that while T&T has a minimum wage of $17.50, several other Caribbean islands were higher. Converted to TT currency, Antigua and Barbuda pays $20.76 per hour. Read more here
BUSINESS
Hydrogène de France acquires 70% in NewGen project
Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has acquired a 70 per cent majority stake in the NewGen project in T&T. Kenesjay Green Ltd, the project developer, will retain the remaining 30 per cent of the share capital of NewGen, which will be jointly owned by KGL and an investment vehicle that will allow for the inclusion of additional local investors. When completed, the US$200+ million NewGen plant will be the world largest clean hydrogen producing facility of its kind, using a smart combination of solar and energy efficiency-sourced power, it stated. Read more here
More outsourcing jobs for T&T
Teleperformance, one of the world’s largest business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, is expanding its operations in the Caribbean and has started operations in Trinidad and Tobago. Headquartered in France, the company offers solutions design, business optimisation strategies, front-office customer support, and back-office services. Last week, Teleperformance started operations in Trinidad and Tobago with 60 employees, making it the 88th country in which the company has a presence. Read more here
REGIONAL
Big boost for agriculture
Some 18,000 acres of land in Region Six are expected to come under cultivation as government strengthens focus on agriculture to increase production, create jobs and enhance income for residents of the region.
Twelve thousand acres of those lands will be put under cultivation in Skeldon by scores of private cane farmers who were forced to close shop when the Skeldon Estate was closed by the APNU+AFC Government in 2017. Aside from the 1,700 sugar workers who lost their jobs when the estate was closed, scores of private cane farmers who supply GuySuCo were put out of operation. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine War: Biden accuses Russian troops of committing genocide in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has accused Russian forces of committing acts of "genocide" in Ukraine. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to "wipe out the idea" of a Ukrainian identity. Mr Biden has previously stopped short of references to genocide, instead accusing Moscow of "war crimes". French President Emmanuel Macron later told French TV he was reluctant to use the term and warned against an "escalation of rhetoric". Speaking to the public broadcaster France 2, the French President said he would be "careful with such terms today because these two peoples are brothers." Read more here
13th April 2022