NEWS
WASA line ruptures – most of south Trinidad without water
As Hindus continue preparations for Divali next Monday, almost all of South Trinidad will be without pipeborne water over the next 48 to 72 hours, after one of WASA’s transmission mains ruptured along the Mosquito Creek, La Romaine on Tuesday afternoon. Based on preliminary assessment, and given the extent of the collapse, WASA is anticipating repairs may take between two to three days to be completed. In the interim, customers in Gulf View, Bel Air, Green Acres, La Romaine, Woodland, San Francique, Avocat, South Oropouche, Union Hall, Palmiste, Duncan Village, Sunkist, Esperance, Debe, parts of Penal, Quarry Village, Cocoyea, Pleasantville, Vistabella, Marabella and San Fernando are all affected. Read more here
No positive ID yet on men found dismembered
The two men, whose body parts were found in garbage bags in a stream in Cunupia on Monday, are yet to be identified by relatives. Guardian Media understands their remains were not taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday. It is, however, expected that they will be turned over to officials today. The gruesome find just after 1 pm on Monday at Mon Plaisir Road, sent shockwaves through police and the public alike, as news spread that the men had been gutted, cut up and dumped. Read more here
POLITICS
Business Chamber to THA: Make crime your top priority
The Tobago Business Chamber is urging the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to make safety and security the island’s top priority. The chamber’s chairman, Martin George, made the appeal on Tuesday as the association welcomed the THA’s plan to set up a department of safety and security to address crime and criminality. Tobago has recorded eight murders so far for 2022, most of which have been gun-related. There have also been a number of shootings recently, including in Signal Hill. Read more here
UNC reveals Scotland acted on behalf of Nelson against Faris
Government MP Keith Scotland had filed the civil matters in February on behalf of King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson against former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, according to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Persad-Bissessar revealed this at the party’s Monday Night Forum, where she read a letter purported to have been from Nelson to Scotland. Persad-Bissessar and her team doubled down on “Nelsongate” the crisis enmeshing the Dr Keith Rowley administration, stemming from Nelson’s indemnity claim against Government. This follows the discontinuation of corruption charges against former UNC AG Anand Ramlogan and senator Gerald Ramdeen. Read more here
BUSINESS
Scotia introduces new digital payment acceptance solution
Scotiabank has announced a new digital payment acceptance solution for businesses called Scotia eCom+. “We’re really excited to launch Scotia eCom+™, enabling clients to start accepting credit and debit card online payments from anywhere in the world” said Cristina Abreu, director, global transaction banking, Caribbean South & East, Scotiabank. Read more here
Pepper roti a hot seller
What’s the most sought-after food at Divali Nagar? Pepper roti, of course! Delicious slices of pepper roti, with dollops of roasted coconut chutney, and colourful Indian clothing like saris were among the hot sellers at the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) Divali Nagar site, Narsaloo Ramaya Marg, Endeavour, Chaguanas, on Monday night. However, scenes like the bumper-to- bumper convoys leading to the venue were absent. In the festive background, illuminated with artificial lights and transparent balloons, patrons were not spotted jostling each other for the best bargains, like in previous years. Read more here
REGIONAL
CCJ to rule on election petition case today
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will today deliver its ruling in the case challenging whether the Guyana Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal filed to challenge the dismissal of APNU+AFC’s Election Petition 99 of 2020. The Trinidad-based court will deliver its ruling at 10:00 hours, via video conference, which will also be live-streamed on its YouTube page. Attorney-General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., and Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo as the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are the applicants in the case. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Sweden ditches 'feminist foreign policy'
Sweden's new foreign minister has ditched its pioneering "feminist foreign policy", saying the label has become more important than its content. But Tobias Billstrom said "we will always stand for gender equality". The previous left-wing government launched the policy in 2014, becoming the first in the world to put gender equality at the heart of its dealings with other nations. The self-labelled "feminist government" had ruffled feathers globally. Mr Billstrom announced the radical policy shift moments after Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristerrson, presented his new government appointments on Tuesday. Read more here
19th October 2022