NEWS
Beetham residents protest water crisis, ammonia stench
Beetham residents are raising alarms over an ammonia stench that has left many feeling ill. The problem began on June 21 when employees at the Coconut Growers Association (CGA) in Laventille identified a chemical leak coming from company’s refrigeration system. Eight employees were hospitalised as a result. CGA, Success Laventille RC School and other businesses were forced to close early. Read more here
Migrants trickle in to register children for school
Migrants living in southwestern Trinidad faced a slight setback yesterday when they were sent to an abandoned building to register their children to attend school for the new academic year. The Education Ministry’s release on the registration of migrant children said registration was to be held at the St Patrick Education District Office on Farah Street, San Fernando, but that building has been condemned and overgrown with vines for several years. Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly admitted the error, saying registration took place at the Victoria Education Office on Sutton Street, San Fernando, instead. She said a sign was placed directing migrants to the correct location. But despite this setback, fewer than a dozen migrant children registered at the Victoria district office by 4 pm on the first day of the process. Some migrants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend school. Nairilis Marin said the process to register her son, Gabriel Duque, went smoothly. Read more here
POLITICS
Ragbir stands by decision to support whistleblower law
Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir's vote in favour of the PNM's Whistleblower Protection Bill in Parliament on June 21 has been met with stinging criticisms from many of his supporters and colleagues, but he remains unfazed. "I wish to remind my party, as well as the nation, that the primary reason I voted in favour of this bill is the numerous concerns expressed by individuals regarding certain actions within the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation (SGRC)," he said in a statement on June 25. "Many people were afraid to report these matters to the police. I have no doubt that this legislation will benefit the people of Cumuto/Manzanilla and the entire country." Read more here
Kamla wants Govt to come clean on Jindal
UNC Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called out the Government on Indian businessman Naveen Jindal, questioning if it was “the Venezuelans” who put the Government on to Jindal to get the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery. “This Government is taking T&T down a dangerous path,” she claimed regarding the refinery deal, querying if Jindal was a “go-between” for the Venezuelan and T&T governments Persad-Bissessar spoke on the issue at Monday’s UNC meeting at the party’s Chaguanas office. She slammed the Prime Minister’s statements that he was unaware Jindal was on alleged corruption charges. “Who is vetting these people?!” she asked. Persad-Bissessar based her concern on articles in India’s press concerning Jindal, including January 2024 in the Deccan Herald Indian newspaper. Read more here
BUSINESS
Young: T&T’s Dragon deal not with PDVSA
T&T’s 30-year agreement with Venezuela to develop the Dragon Gas Field is not with that country’s state-owned energy company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), this country’s Energy Minister, Stuart Young, said in the Senate yesterday. Responding to a motion on the adjournment by Opposition Senator Wade Mark, requesting an update on the Dragon gas arrangements, Young said, “Fortunately once again, for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, it was an intelligent, confident and competent PNM government that negotiated the licence for Dragon. That same 30-year licence is not anywhere related to PDVSA.” Young said the 30-year licence is with the Government of Venezuela, which is a sovereign entity. Read more here
Business loan activity grows ‘robustly’ for 2023
Business loan activity grew “robustly” last year, the Central Bank has stated in its latest Annual Economic Survey. And according to the Central Bank, the growth in demand for business loans in 2023 was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including the payment of outstanding VAT refunds and the encashment of VAT bonds (likely sources of collateral), the return of major seasonal events and pickups in non-energy sector activity. Read more here
REGIONAL
PPP/C Gov’t using oil & gas sector to ‘maximise’ benefits for Guyanese
AS the government remains firm in its tracks to write a compelling narrative of development, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that the oil and gas sector will continue to be used to create betterment for the Guyanese people. As the nation’s energy landscape continues to expand under the current administration, Dr Ali highlighted some of the steps taken so far to achieve this goal and to reverse the effects of the former APNU+AFC government’s policies and heavy taxation that restricted the growth of the nation. He made these comments during a press conference last week at State House, when questioned about the transparency within the rapidly evolving sector. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US journalist in court as spy trial starts in Russia
For nearly fifteen months, Evan Gershkovich has been locked away in a Moscow jail. Today the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter went on trial a thousand miles from the Russian capital in Yekaterinburg: the city where he was arrested on espionage charges while on a reporting trip for the Wall Street Journal. We were among the group of media allowed into a courtroom to see him before the start of proceedings at the Sverdlovsk Regional Courthouse. Head shaven, and wearing a check shirt and jeans, Mr Gershkovich stood in the metal and glass cage known in Russian courtrooms as "the aquarium". He smiled to cameras, but made no comment. Read more here
26th June 2024