NEWS
Rainfall affects WASA
State utility WASA (the Water and Sewerage Authority) is feeling the effect of four days of almost non-stop rainfall in the country. WASA, in a press release yesterday, said the rainfall has impacted operations at some of its water treatment facilities. This includes the shutdown of several Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) throughout North Trinidad due to a number of issues such as turbid river conditions, clogged intake screens and power failures. Read more here
Don’t sell flood-soaked crops
Farmers whose crops have been affected by recent floods are being urged not carry their produce to markets. This from Nirmala Debysingh-Persad, Acting Chief Executive Officer, National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) yesterday. “It is highly recommended that flood-affected crops do not enter the market place for sale and consumption. Produce affected by flood waters are at high risk of safety and quality,” she said by phone yesterday. Read more here
Mosquito Creek ‘almost dry again’
The motoring public began using South Trunk Road, in the vicinity of Mosquito Creek, yesterday as flood waters which had deemed the road almost impassable for almost three days subsided. A media release from the National Infrastructure Development Co Ltd (Nidco) stated that the area was free of flood waters. Read more here
POLITICS
Abdulah: ODPM head must go
Describing comments by Office of Disaster and Preparedness (ODPM) Deputy Chief Executive (CEO) officer Dave Williams as inappropriate and distasteful, leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah yesterday called for Williams’ removal. Abdulah said Williams had a duty to perform as Deputy CEO, but failed the country during a time of a natural crisis and for that he must be held accountable. Abdulah was yesterday speaking to reporters during a press conference at MSJ headquarters, St Joseph Village in San Fernando. Read more here
PM blasts ODPM for poor performance
Expect heads to roll at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) for its poor performance in alerting citizens of the flooding disaster which affected communities across eastern, central and southern Trinidad. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday the Government will be taking “firm action” to review the operations of the ODPM because of its repeated failure to respond to flooding disasters.
Rowley, accompanied by several government ministers, went to Sangre Grande and Mayaro yesterday to get a first-hand account of the plight of residents whose homes have been flooded for five days. Read more here
PM to take a tour...on Day 5 of the floods
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is expected to join a tour of the communities adversely affected by flood waters in Manazanilla. A media release issued on Sunday said that Rowley will join Minister of Works Rohan Sinanan and a technical team from the works ministry as they assess damages in the communities. Members of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray and Director of Highways Navin Ramsingh as also expected to be on the tour. Read more here
BUSINESS
Republic Bank ready to support entrepreneurs
As financial institutions continue to grapple with the downturn in the economy, experts believe the only way to progress is through innovative and bold moves to stimulate the market and attract clients. Heeding government’s call for new and emerging entrepreneurs to lead the diversification thrust, Republic Bank’s Marketing Manager, Damian Cooper revealed that the Bank had started consulting entrepreneurs to find out where they needed assistance. Read more here
Equity markets reward investors
This week we at Bourse take a closer look at the performance of international equity markets year-to-date (YTD). Most major markets across the globe traded in the green, with some indices reaching record highs. We highlight key market drivers and suggest ways investors can benefit from these gains. Read more here
REGIONAL
Editors' Forum | Gov't Right On HPV - Jamaica AIDS Support Backs Vaccination Programme
While agreeing with claims that the Ministry of Health failed to implement strategies that would properly sensitise the public about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, representatives of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) say that they remain in support of the programme as the country stands to benefit in the long run. The health ministry recently began administering the HPV vaccine in schools. Several principals, parents, and other stakeholders have complained about the lack of consultation ahead of the process. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Catalonia Spain: Officials 'won't follow orders from Madrid'
North Korea's illicit African connections
Heroes' Acre looms on a hill overlooking Windhoek, Namibia's tidy capital. Under a brilliant blue sky, a series of granite steps slope upwards in a wedge toward a triumphant bronze statue of an unknown soldier. In one hand the liberation-struggle soldier carries a Kalashnikov rifle. In the other, he's throwing what looks like a Soviet-era stick grenade. The communist-style design is no coincidence. Heroes' Acre was built by a North Korean firm. Read more here
23rd October 2017