NEWS
Gun dealer Towfeek Ali challenges new FUL policy
Firearms dealer Towfeek Ali has joined the complaints over the new policy for the renewal of firearm user’s licences (FULs). Ali’s attorneys Anand Beharrylal, KC, Kiel Taklalsingh and his wife, Nyree Alfonso wrote to the commissioner on January 24. Alfonso, the holder of a FUL, previously wrote to Police Commissioner Erla Harewood–Christopher about the recent changes and has again questioned the legality of the move. She has written twice, calling on the commissioner to hold her hand on the new renewal policy. Read more here
Close to 100 officers warn CoP Erla over promotions fiasco
Close to two weeks after 93 police officers wrote to the Police Service Commission (PolSC) calling on it to rein in Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, 122 officers have threatened to sue her, over her handling of the promotions of over 800 officers. The lawsuit is the latest episode in the ongoing saga over the promotions of 893 police constables to corporals. The officers are represented by attorneys Jagdeo Singh, Keston Lewis, Karina Singh, Jasmyn Sargeant and Leon Kalicharan. In response to the attorneys, the PolSC said it will table a discussion on whether to discipline the top cop at the next sitting of its executive, scheduled for February 8. Read more here
POLITICS
Planning Minister welcomes 'rubber crumb' project
Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles-Robinson hailed the launch of a rubber crumb production facility at the University of Trinidad and Tobago's (UTT) San Fernando campus on Wednesday as a project that can have economic and environmental benefits for Trinidad and Tobago. Rubber crumbs are recycled rubber produced from automotive and truck scrap tyres. The project is a joint initiative between the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and UTT. According to its website, CARIRI said the project is the continuation of one which began in 2018, aimed at undertaking a pre-feasibility assessment for the establishment of both rubber crumb and rubber asphalt manufacturing facilities using locally available raw materials, such as asphalt and rubber crumb derived from end-of-life/waste tyres. Read more here
Gonzales: I know what it means to catch your tail for water
Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said this year 18 new wells will be drilled in the country which would lead to an improvement in the supply of water. Delivering the feature address at the sod turning ceremony for three wells in Mayaro yesterday, Gonzales dismissed claims of political and racial victimisation in areas that do not receive an adequate water supply. He said that even if water production is increased, but infrastructure is not improved, then five years from now there will be complaints about supply. Gonzales said in addition to the 18 new wells, six others will be brought to production under the Inter-American Development Bank Programme. He said plans are also afoot to refurbish major water treatment plants in underserved and unserved communities. Read more here
BUSINESS
Proman’s ambassadors getting international experience
Three talented young women continue to fly the flags of Proman and T&T high, using their knowledge and expertise to not only help take the company forward but also the energy industry. Safiyyah Ali, Leanna Hosein and Danielle Patrick spoke to the Business Guardian about their journey during day one of the recently-concluded energy conference which was themed “Accelerating Action” and hosted by the T&T Energy Chamber. The women are among nine of the Proman Ambassadors who continue to be recognised for their hard work and dedication, leading the next generation of international methanol and ammonia projects. Read more here
West tells of plan to cut Govt’s $276m rental bill
The Government is actively pursuing the acquisition of former TSTT and CLICO buildings to house Government ministries, departments and agencies. So said Minister of Public Administration Allyson West in a written response to a question from Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on Tuesday, on what were Government’s plans to reduce its property rental costs in the immediate future. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana ‘honouring’ commitment to Argyle Declaration
Guyana is honouring and fulfilling its role to maintain a peaceful region, as the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd, today leads a delegation to Brazil where a meeting will be held with Venezuelan officials, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said. The Head of State, less than 24 hours before the Joint Commission of the Foreign Ministers and technical persons meet, told a local journalist here during an interview on Wednesday that the continued conversations between the two nations will set the stage for another scheduled meeting with himself and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in keeping with the Argyle Declaration, an 11-point agreement that outlines a pledge from both countries to refrain from escalating the decades-old border controversy among the two states. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Asante Gold: UK to loan back Ghana's looted 'crown jewels'
The UK is sending some of Ghana's "crown jewels" back home, 150 years after looting them from the court of the Asante king. A gold peace pipe is among 32 items returning under long-term loan deals, the BBC can reveal. The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) is lending 17 pieces and 15 are from the British Museum. Ghana's chief negotiator said he hoped for "a new sense of cultural co-operation" after generations of anger. Some national museums in the UK - including the V&A and the British Museum - are banned by law from permanently giving back contested items in their collections, and loan deals such as this are seen as a way to allow objects to return to their countries of origin. Read more here
25th January 2024