NEWS
Break-in at Church of the Assumption
Criminals broke into the Church of the Assumption in Maraval during the early morning hours on Tuesday and also tried to break into the nearby parish office. Parish priest Fr Ashton Pierre, according to a release sent out by The Catholic News, confirmed that he was physically unharmed and that no sacramental items were taken or damaged by the intruders. The release said Pierre was awakened by the sound of breaking glass around 4 am and immediately contacted the St Clair Police. Upon further inspection, he found that the front windows of the parish office were shattered and the intruders also attempted to pry open its burglar-proofing. Read more here
Two elderly men perish in separate house fires
Two senior citizens’ lives ended in tragedy yesterday after they perished in separate house fires—one in Point Fortin, the other in Malick. Their deaths bring to five the number of elderly people to die in house fires for the year so far. Yesterday, despite valiant attempts by residents of a gated Point Fortin senior citizens community to save their neighbour trapped in his burning apartment, 75-year-old pensioner Michael Cornum died. While the cause of the blaze was still being investigated up to late evening, residents believe the fire started in the kitchen where Cornum’s charred remains were later discovered by firefighters. David Cornwall, 70, who lived in the apartment adjoining Cornum’s at Techier Village, recalled that he was awakened by a noise shortly after midnight. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla: Put THA whistle-blower into witness protection
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is demanding that the State put Akil Abdullah into witness protection following allegations contained in a newspaper story of attempts being made on Abdullah's life. Abdullah is embroiled in a controversy involving the Prime Minister, Tobago PNM leader Ancil Dennis, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher and other senior TTPS officials. These allegations were first raised publicly by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during an emergency sitting of the assembly last week. At the sitting, Augustine played recorded conversations as he made certain allegations against Dr Rowley, the top cop, and others. Read more here
Blows for Jack from Gonzales, Devant
Lopinot/Bon Air West MP and Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales says that UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has once again destroyed T&T’s image in the eyes of the international community by embracing an alleged felon Jack Warner. Gonzales also warned that the UNC’s accommodation will go down in political flames. And former UNC minister and activist Dr Devant Maharaj has questioned Persad-Bissessar’s willingness to raise “the politically dead” to strengthen her party, describing it as a desperate grab for power. Both men spoke with Guardian Media by telephone yesterday following the UNC’s accommodation meeting on Monday with NTA leader Gary Griffith and ILP founder Jack Warner. Gonzales was chided by Warner. Read more here
BUSINESS
Trinidad and Tobago, Spain discuss energy security
Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young met with Ambassador of Spain Fernando Nogales, during a courtesy call on Tuesday at the Ministry of Energy head office in Port of Spain. According to a ministry release, the meeting focused on the energy future of TT and the region, with special emphasis on potential regional and neighbouring developments; and the use of additional renewable energy alternatives to assist the country in meeting its carbon reduction objectives. Conversations regarding energy relations between TT and Spain and by extension the European Union were also a focal point in order to strengthen energy security, foster economic growth and promote environmental sustainability. Read more here
Paula: Join T&T’s export thrust
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon is hoping the participants of the virtual event entitled “Welcome to the World of Export” will help continue the momentum generated by the non-energy sector in the past few years. The minister once again noted the growth in exports in the country since the COVID-19 pandemic and urged the participants to make the most of the event hosted by the Youth Business T&T and the EximBank of T&T. “To the entrepreneurs here today, I commend you for making the investment of time, not only in your business but also in making a commitment to contribute to the growth of our economy. It is to be noted that T&T experienced an estimated 69 per cent increase in exports, making it the best performer in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in 2022. Read more here
REGIONAL
Aggressive programme in place to address upsurge in dengue fever cases
With the recent spike in cases of dengue fever in Guyana, the Ministry of Health has launched a robust and aggressive programme to keep the situation under control. This was according to Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that there is also a spike in these cases worldwide. Over the last few weeks, health authorities have seen an increased number of persons coming down with dengue fever— a mosquito-borne infection. He said: “There is a spike in cases of dengue that is similar to the spikes in countries around the region such as Brazil, Venezuela and across the Caribbean.” Dr Ramsammy told this newspaper that authorities here have been testing for dengue as there is the capacity to do so. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
North Korea: China and Russia in first post-pandemic visits
A Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea, to be joined by a Chinese delegation later on Wednesday. They will attend Pyongyang's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, marked typically by massive military parades. The visits are the first of their kind to the North since it shut its borders to try to keep out the pandemic. It is unclear if this signals a change in Pyongyang's border policies. Reclusive North Korea had sealed itself off from all trade and diplomatic ties in early 2020, even with Russia and China, its main economic and political partners. They even cut off imports of essential goods like food and medicine. Read more here
26th July 2023