NEWS
Woman escapes death after T&TEC pole crashes on to car
A woman narrowly escaped death on Tuesday morning when a TT Electricity Commission (T&TEC) pole with two transformers fell on top of her car while she was driving in Pleasantville. The woman who declined to comment on her near-death experience, appeared shaken at the scene in front of the Pleasantville Health Centre. She looked on in disbelief at the concrete pole lying on her car near which sustained extensive damage, mainly to the hood and shattering the windscreen. There were also large debris from the damaged pole on the car and nearby pavement. There were no reports of injuries and the crash caused a power outage. Read more here
US Ambassador donates 40-bed field hospital, ambulance to Tobago
US Ambassador Candace Bond gifted the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) with a 40-bed field hospital and ambulance yesterday as part of the embassy’s continued efforts to strengthen the relations between the US and Tobago. At a ceremony at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex Bond said this contribution will serve as a bridge between lifesaving medical care and those who need it. “This field hospital and ambulance will enhance Tobago’s emergency response capabilities. The field hospital is specifically designed to provide TEMA with the flexibility and the capacity to respond swiftly to crises and will provide emergency medical care to those in need.” Read more here
POLITICS
Senators, NCIC hit vandalism - STOP TEMPLE ATTACKS
Several senators, during the budget debate in the Upper House on Tuesday, condemned recent acts of vandalism perpetrated against Hindus and their places of worship, calling for an end to these attacks. In a separate release, the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) also condemned these attacks and called for respect and tolerance towards Hindus is society. (See story below) On Sunday, stones were thrown at the Pranavananda Ashram at Temple Street off Beaucarro Road in Freeport, where Hindus were holding a religious prayer meeting. Several vehicles belonging to the worshippers were damaged. An effigy of the demon King Ravan was burnt by vandals in Tarouba just hours earlier. The effigy is a critical element of Ramleela celebrations. Read more here
Farley: THA won’t pay for James’ private charter home
Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says the Assembly will not bear the cost of the private chartered flight organised by Assemblyman Trevor James from Martinique to Tobago over the weekend. In fact, Augustine said he is prepared to use his powers to give a strong rejection if James makes any request for reimbursement for the chartered aircraft. The latest controversy comes after James, the Secretary for the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries, and Urban Development, charted a jet to leave Martinique as the impending threat of Hurricane Tammy caused the cancellation of some flights out of that island. James had been there attending the Connectivity of the Greater Caribbean conference from October 18-20. Guardian Media reported exclusively that James chartered a flight for him, another THA official, and two Association of Caribbean States employees to leave the island on Sunday. The flight via the US-registered aircraft reportedly cost between US$5,000 and $9,000, and dropped James and his THA colleague off in Tobago and the two ACS officials in Trinidad. Read more here
BUSINESS
CariCRIS lowers NiQuan’s ratings
Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Ltd (CariCRIS) has lowered the assigned credit ratings of NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd (NiQuan) to CariB on the regional rating scale and ttB on the TT national scale, as well as jmB on the Jamaica national scale. In a release on Tuesday, CariCRIS said these ratings indicate "weak" creditworthiness of NiQuan, adjudged in relation to other obligors in the Caribbean and in TT and Jamaica. It added the lowering of the assigned ratings reflects NiQuan’s inability to attain full commercial operations at the nameplate capacity by September 30 (identified as a factor that could lead to a lowering of the rating in its March report) and the termination of the gas sales contract (GSC) by TT Upstream Downstream Energy Operations Company Ltd (TTUDEOCL), which has become subject to legal proceedings by NiQuan. Read more here
Chambers call for meeting on proposed electricity rate hike
Some business groups are calling for a meeting with the Government over the electricity rate increase proposed by the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC). The Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC) in responding to questions from the Guardian Media on the rate increase, said it would only serve to add severe stress and strains to the financial burdens already pressing the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector. The business group also said a rate hike would most likely lead to an rise in costs, which would be passed on to the end customer. Fyzabad Chamber of Commerce President and CRBC director, Angie Jairam, called on the Government, the RIC, and the country as a whole, to deeply consider the hardships experienced by the SMEs, the working poor, and the middle class when considering the proposed electricity rate hikes. Read more here
REGIONAL
US$40M wastewater treatment plant on the cards for Georgetown
With efforts underway to not only improve sanitation services but also the management of wastewater, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, announced that the government is pursuing proposals for a wastewater treatment facility in Georgetown, which is estimated to be US$40 million. The minister made this announcement during the curtain raiser for the 32nd Annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Conference and Exhibition, on Monday. “Currently, the estimated cost of constructing a wastewater treatment facility in Georgetown is approximately US $40 million and technical proposals are being pursued,” he related, adding that solid waste management is another area that needs more attention. “We need to improve… our consumption-driven society produces immense quantities of waste, but much of this ends up at landfills or pollutes the ocean,” Minister Croal said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Hurricane Otis smashes into Mexico's southern coast
Hurricane Otis has made landfall on the coast of southern Mexico, bringing wind speeds of up to 165mph (270km/h). It touched down near the popular Acapulco resort just after midnight on Wednesday (06:25 GMT), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Authorities have warned of a life-threatening storm surge and the possibility of landslides as heavy rain pelts the area. The storm has already begun to weaken as it moves inland. David Hall arrived at the Princess Mundo Imperial resort in Acapulco for a work conference hours before Otis made landfall. He told the BBC that the building had been damaged by the wind and rain. Read more here
25th October 2023