NEWS
SRPs, Defence Force reserves called out
With the spiralling increase of crimes in T&T, particularly murders, the nation’s security agencies have launched an all out offensive to hunt down criminals and bring them to justice. Yesterday, at a joint press conference hosted by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, plans to strengthened the four main anti-crime pillars of prediction, deterrence, detection and prosecution were announced. Read more here
Solving Rachael’s murder a top priority
Attorney General Faris. Al-Rawi and Ag Police Commissioner. Stephen Williams yesterday. both committed to solving. the heinous murder of Brazil. schoolgirl Rachael Ramkissoon,. 16, found strangled last Friday. Al-Rawi said DNA testing could. solve Ramkissoon’s murder,. speaking at a news briefing at. Tower D, Wrightson Road, Portof-. Spain. “We are in discussion with entities. for the population of the DNA. register which will start with getting. samples and putting it onto. the database of the entire prison. population, and allowing for the. DNA sampling at law of arrestees. Read more here
6 of TT’s finest get President’s Medal
Six of this country’s finest young brains received the coveted President’s Medal for excellent performance in their examinations at both primary and secondary levels. They were honoured during a presentation ceremony for the 2016 Awards of National Scholarships and Awards System (Incentives to Excellence) at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) Chinese Restaurant in Port-of-Spain. Read more here
POLITICS
AG: I’ll defend it in court
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is prepared to go to court to defend the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill 2016, which was passed in the Senate on Tuesday night without the support of the Opposition and one Independent senator. The Attorney General has amended the bill so that it required a simple majority for passage and not a three-fifths majority. In this way, the support of the Opposition would not be needed for the bill’s passage when it reaches the House of Representatives. Read more here
Kamla: Constitution undermined
Making it clear she believes the legal age of marriage should be 18, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accused Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi of undermining the Constitution by changing the requirement for passage of the Marriage Bill to a simple majority. In a release, Persad-Bissessar called on the Attorney General to disclose the legal advice he received to make this move. Read more here
BUSINESS
MovieTowne C3 ciniplex opens
The Movietowne franchise shows no sign of slowing down in its continued expansion with the grand opening on Tuesday of its fourth cineplex at the C3 Centre, Corinth in San Fernando and an announcement of the start of construction of its fifth cineplex in Guyana before the end of this year. The Movietowne C3 cineplex was designed with an easily identifiable Times Square, New York theme, with a replica of the statue of liberty hanging over the main entrance to greet you as you enter. Read more here
REGIONAL
Seven years after devastating earthquake, 47,000 people still live in camps in Haiti
Following the earthquake in January 2010, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) undertook the implementation of a monitoring system of displaced persons in camps in Haiti, named the displacement tracking matrix (DTM), in partnership with the government of Haiti, through the Directorate of Civil Protection. It is a tool to monitor the movements of displaced persons and to provide information on living conditions in IDP sites and camp-like settlements, HaitiLibre reported. The last DTM published by IOM reports that 12,001 IDP households or 46,691 IDP individuals still reside in camps and camp-like settlements in Haiti, 31 displacement sites are still open, 45% are tent and makeshift shelter sites (14 sites, 5,241 households, 20,313 individuals), 55% are t-shelter sites (17 sites, 6,760 households, 26,378 individuals). No IDP sites was closed between 1st October 2016 and 31st December 2016. Rental subsidy programs are ongoing in two sites in Delmas. Read more here
Obama, A Friend To Jamaica - Holness
Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has expressed good wishes to outgoing United States President Barack Obama, telling him to do good deeds and keep in touch with the nation that has come to love him. In a message yesterday, Holness commended him for demonstrating an exemplary family life, raising his young children in the public glare of the world. "Personally, as a father of young boys, I have always been struck at the grace with which the Obamas managed their two terms in office, especially with two young daughters. Their grace and poise serve as examples for many families in the United States and here in Jamaica," Prime Minister Holness wrote. According to him, Jamaica and the United States have historically shared a special bond, describing the last eight years as a productive relationship with the Obama Administration. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Italy avalanche: 'Many missing' in Rigopiano hotel in Abruzzo
Iran: Tehran building collapses after blaze, dozens trapped
Dozens of firefighters are injured and more are feared trapped after a multi-story commercial building in Iran's capital, Tehran, collapsed following a fire, Iranian state media reported Thursday. A spokesman for Tehran's medical emergencies department said that nearly 40 people, including firefighters, had been injured, according to Iran's state-run Fars news agency. Press TV reported that more than two dozen firefighters were injured trying to put out the blaze, which raged through the upper stories for hours, and that some were trapped inside the building. Read more here
19th January 2017