NEWS
He wasn’t on any badness–relative of construction worker killed at Plannings
A relative of murdered construction worker Kevin Jack says he left the safety of his home after he was promised cash by someone he knew. Jack, 43, was shot dead at Nelson Street Plannings, Port-of-Spain, at around 3 pm on Tuesday. Officers of the Port-of-Spain Task Force received a report of a body on the second staircase of Building 38-41. They responded and found Jack’s body. Speaking with Guardian Media Ltd at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, one of Jack’s relatives said people in the neighbourhood remembered him speaking on the phone to someone who promised to meet him and give him money. Read more here
POLITICS
Sinanan announces plan to reduce Chaguanas traffic
The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced a three-phase plan to alleviate traffic in Chaguanas, including a long-term plan of expanding the Sir Solomon Hochoy highway. Works Minister Rohan Sinanan told Newsday the designs were complete, but most of the work still had to be tendered out, so he could not yet calculate the cost or give a time frame for the work. “The project is being done in three phases, and right now we are into Phase I. That is the widening of bridges and existing roads and removing some turns to make it easier.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Bakery chain to maintain prices
Prices of bread, pastries and desserts will remain the same at Linda’s Bakery, despite the country’s major flour producers lowering the cost of their products. Peter George, the owner of the 63-year-old bakery operating in 15 locations in Trinidad, said its supplier, National Flour Mills (NFM), did not notify commercial bakeries of any adjustment in flour prices. Commercial bakeries use large sacks of flour, which were not subjected to price adjustments. George said there was a notification to retailers of the lowering in the cost price of one and five pound bags, so consumers should see those adjustments at supermarkets but not bakeries. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana poised to continue its exceptional growth
GUYANA has undergone a remarkable economic transformation, experiencing a threefold increase in its economy since 2020, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali during a press conference on Wednesday. The news of Guyana’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) surging from $1.1 trillion in 2020 to an impressive $3.1 trillion by the end of 2022, has positioned the nation as the fastest-growing economy in the world. The Head of State said that the momentous growth can largely be attributed to the successful commencement of oil production at the Lisa Unity FPSO, marking a new era of prosperity for the country. President Ali’s announcement during the press conference highlighted the significance of this milestone in Guyana’s economic trajectory. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Cerberus heatwave: Hot weather sweeps across southern Europe
A heatwave is sweeping across parts of southern Europe and north-west Africa, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C (104F) in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. In Italy, temperatures could reach as high as 48.8C (119.8F). A red alert warning has been issued for 10 cities, including Rome, Bologna and Florence. On Tuesday, a man in his forties died after collapsing in northern Italy. Italian media reported that the 44-year-old worker was painting zebra crossing lines in the town of Lodi, near Milan, before he collapsed from the heat. He was taken to hospital where he later died. "We are facing an unbearable heatwave," Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni tweeted. Read more here
13th July 2023