NEWS
HDC: 3 held for trying to defraud contractors
Three suspects have been arrested for attempting to defraud the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and its contractors. An HDC press release said that on April 30, two contractors visited the HDC’s head office with fraudulent documents including the forged signature of HDC managing director Jayselle McFarlane. They presented the documents to the HDC’s head of security, who spotted the fraud and alerted police officers who were at the HDC’s premises. The officers later arrested two suspects in the HDC's carpark and a third who was in a parked vehicle. Fraud Squad police officers are now continuing investigations. Read more here
Dharmie ‘Moyo’ Deo celebrates 110
She has reached the remarkable age of 110, yet centenarian Dharmie Deo, affectionately known as Moyo, still does not wear glasses. It was only about ten years ago that her eyesight began to weaken, and only recently did she start to experience memory loss. No longer able to cook or clean, as her health declines, she reminisces about her childhood, remembering stories from her father, Joot, an Indian indentured labourer from Uttar Pradesh, about his journey to Trinidad on the Fatel Razack. Joot had been tricked into coming to Trinidad, and after he served his indentureship, he made his life in Trinidad, leaving Moruga to settle in Penal. Read more here
POLITICS
Senators: Bill should be more beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago
Opposition and Independent senators debating The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 Bill, 2024, on Tuesday, were disgruntled about having been given the 48-clause bill the night before the debate. They said the bill seemed to have several clauses which put the citizens of TT at a disadvantage. Leader of government business in the Senate Dr Amery Browne said TT has distinguished itself as an excellent convener and host of all types of events. He decried the criticism put forward by opposition senators that TT had not bid for enough matches. TT is hosting four first round matches and a semi-final match. “Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world. If we hadn’t gotten part of this tournament, we would have heard vitriol, but we are hosting and they come to sing out of the other side of their mouths. Why would they seek to denigrate the number of matches?” Read more here
Hinds: Premature to say if more SSA employees will be fired
It is premature to make any links to criminal conduct, or to say if any other Strategic Services Agency (SSA) employees will be terminated, since the review into the issues at the agency is ongoing, says National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds. Hinds gave the information in the Senate yesterday in response to Opposition Senator Wade Mark’s query. Mark, noting the March 2024 termination of nine SSA employees allegedly linked to serious criminal conduct, asked if any other terminations are anticipated at the SSA. Hinds noted the issues raised by Mark were very serious matters of national security and the Prime Minister, as National Security Council (NSC) head, had spoken publicly about these issues. Read more here
BUSINESS
Supermarket Association appoints new CEO
The Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT) has announced the appointment of Amrika Teelucksingh as its CEO. In a media release, SATT said, “Bringing over two decades of diverse experience spanning healthcare, higher education, media and technology, Teelucksingh is well-equipped to steer SATT towards continued success.” Speaking to Newsday on the phone, SATT president Rajiv Diptee said Teelucksingh’s appointment will enhance and grow the organisation. “We have strived to ensure the leadership of SATT contributes to the organisation making significant strides. This appointment is another one of those significant strides,” he said. “We have placed the ambitions of the organisation on the shoulders of Teelucksingh. Read more here
TCL secures four public concrete road paving projects
THE Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) Group reports an uptick in requests for concrete road paving in Trinidad and Tobago, with four confirmed public projects slated for this year. TCL’s managing director, Francisco Aguilera Mendoza, made these comments in the company’s annual report, which was posted on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday. “In Trinidad and Tobago, key engagement with government agencies and large contractors on concrete roads continues in public private partnerships (PPP) for 2024. In 2023, 13 private sector road construction projects were completed resulting in a converted cement volume of 330MT. Public sector dialogue and advocacy proved to be successful with four confirmed public projects awarded and will be executed in 2024. The first one commenced in Q1 on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway Upgrade project. In 2024, the targeted sales of cement for road construction of 200MT/year remains with the focus shifting to public sector projects,” Mendoza stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Interventions to improve lives of public servants extend beyond wages, salaries’
Recognising that workers serve as the bedrock of Guyana’s development, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has vowed to continue striving to ensure that all lives are improved. In a Labour Day message, streamed live on his Facebook Page, the President stressed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is committed to uplifting the lives of the poor and vulnerable. May 1 is known in Guyana and other countries as Labour Day. Since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C government has gone above and beyond in its quest for betterment for all Guyanese, and this has resulted in the creation of more jobs and thriving sectors among other positive developments, according to the Head of State. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Crackdown or compromise? A tale of two US campus protests
The police arrived in force at dawn on Saturday, with orders to clear "infiltrators" from the Gaza war protest camp at Northeastern University in Boston. Within an hour, more than 100 people were under arrest, students and non-students alike, and many of their tents flattened or removed. A large counter-protest then formed, as officers from the state police in tactical gear hauled off their suspects. The scene was one of confrontation, and chaos. Northeastern campus administrators said they were compelled to call police as infiltration by outsiders "led to a clear escalation in tensions" and that an antisemitic slur had been heard - something the protesters deny. Read more here
1st May 2024