NEWS
Venezuelan refugee boxer in Trinidad punches Olympic ticket
Venezuelan Eldric Sella has achieved his dream of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. However, Sella, who resides in Trinidad after seeking asylum in 2018, will not be representing his native country. The 24-year-old is one of 29 refugee athletes, competing in 12 disciplines, on the second-ever refugee Olympic team. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said their participation in Japan sends a powerful message of solidarity and hope to the world this summer, bringing further awareness to the plight of over 80 million displaced people worldwide. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla tells PM: Do like Boris in UK – call inquiry into covid19 handling
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will write to the prime minister on Tuesday, asking for a commission of inquiry to examine the government’s management of and expenditure on the covid19 pandemic. Speaking at the United National Congress’s (UNC) Monday night Virtual Report, Persad-Bissessar noted the UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson’s recent concession to calls for his government to set up an inquiry. Read more here
BUSINESS
Heritage to almost double production in four years
State-owned Heritage Petroleum expects to increase its crude oil production by 80 percent over the next four years according to its Chief Executive officer Arlene Chow. Speaking yesterday at day one of the Energy Chamber’s Energy conference 2021, Chow explained that the time had come for the company to get its reserves out of the ground. She said, “In our projections we will have 50 per cent growth based on the plan I have shown you, in production in our operated assets, and along with out LO (Leasse Operators) and FO (farm outs) and in our total barrels of 80 per cent in the next five years....How will we do this? Increase in capital spend with a focus on base stabilisation and in organic growth to reduce the accumulation of existing resources. We need to get the oil out of the ground.” Read more here
REGIONAL
‘We’ll help you get back on your feet’
Preside, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing the needs of all communities affected by the ongoing floods. More importantly, he said that these support initiatives will come in the form of short-term, medium-term and long-term interventions. The President made this commitment during an assessment visit to Big Biaboo located in Mahaica Creek, Region Five, on Tuesday. “We’ll be having a comprehensive assessment; our priority is to see all possible ways in which we can get the water off this land as quickly as possible,” Dr. Ali told the residents. He said that the medium and long-term issues relate to persons being able to get back into their farms and other means of livelihood. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Halo Trust: Afghanistan mine clearance workers shot dead 'in cold blood'
At least 10 mine clearers working for Halo Trust in Afghanistan's northern province of Baghlan have been shot dead, and more than a dozen wounded. Afghan officials blamed the Taliban, saying militants "started shooting everyone" in the compound. But Halo Trust CEO James Cowan told the BBC that "the local Taliban... came to our aid and scared the assailants off". The Taliban has also denied the attack. Violence has surged as the US began to withdraw its last troops on 1 May. The departure of international troops comes amid deadlock in peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Read more here
9th June 2021