NEWS
Another baby dies at Port of Spain General Hospital neonatal unit
Another baby, unrelated to the deaths recently, has died at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). Speaking on TV6 on April 22, head of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Dr Marlon Timothy said the baby had died at 2 am that day. Timothy said the baby had "contracted a possible bacterial infection, which is an isolated case, and then add other compounding issues in how the baby would respond to infection, antibiotics etc, and unfortunately had a significant, difficult trajectory, and unfortunately passed away this morning (Monday)." Read more here
Hannah’s family in the dark on DNA result
The family of Hannah Mathura said yesterday that they learnt of the DNA confirmation of her remains from the media yesterday. When contacted, one of her male relatives indicated that was the first time he had heard of the DNA confirmation, adding he was not in a position to comment at the time. “We have instructed our lawyers to obtain more information from the police,” he said. Guardian Media yesterday reported that the DNA tests conducted on the skeletal remains found buried in the backyard of the family’s Valsayn home one month ago, he confirmed it was indeed Hannah. The DNA results were received by police last week and they sought advice from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard on the matter. Investigating officers said confirmation of the remains allowed police to dismiss the suggestion that it was a male body. The DNA tests were done on the bone marrow and biological tissue-like cartilage remaining from decomposed skeletal remains and cross-referenced with that of her siblings. Read more here
POLITICS
Imbert: Govt received $2.1b from NGC
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said the National Gas Company (NGC) has paid approximately $2,126,789,101 in dividends to the Government from 2018 to 2023. He made this statement in response to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on April 22. This figure comprised dividend payments of $664,619,327, $192,940,990, $109,930,015, $109,705,282, $529,749,625 and $519,843, 862 for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,2022 and 2023 respectively. Imbert said to place the data into perspective, it was noteworthy that between 2010 and 2015, under the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition government, "the NGC paid the government a total of $13,785, 709, 500 (in dividends)." Read more here
BUSINESS
Clico credit union embracing innovation
Clico Credit Union (CCU) has just under $500 million in assets and a dividend payout of 4.5 per cent, coupled with a 7.5 per cent loan rebate payout. This was announced by CCU’s re-elected president, Ashraff Ali, at its 75th annual general meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel last week. Ali emphasised CCU's journey of evolution since its inception in 1946, emphasising the institution's agility and commitment to delivering value to its members. Read more here
NGC releases first updated energy map since 2017
The National Gas Company (NGC) Group released its first energy map of TT in seven years on Monday and its first-ever "green map." The maps, NGC said, were designed to sensitise the nation about TT's energy infrastructure, exploits and the company's green-energy agenda. On Monday, NGC presented a copy of the two maps to Energy Minister Stuart Young at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. NGC chairman Joseph Ishmael Khan said the maps do justice to TT’s complex and expansive energy infrastructure. Read more here
REGIONAL
Gov’t signs mineral agreement with Canadian company
The Government on Sunday announced the signing of a mineral agreement with Reunion Gold Corporation— a gold exploration and development company—headquartered in Toronto, Canada. This agreement signed between the company and the Guyana Geology and Mine Commission (GGMC), aims to establish stable fiscal and operating conditions for the Oko West gold project in Region Seven, which is owned entirely by the company’s Guyanese subsidiary. According to a statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources, key components of the mineral agreement include royalty payable to the government for gold produced from the operations, as established under the fiscal regime for mineral agreements. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Mass arrests made as US campus protests over Gaza spread
Protests over the war in Gaza have taken hold at a handful of elite US universities as officials scramble to defuse demonstrations. Police moved to break up an encampment at New York University (NYU) on Monday night, making a number of arrests. Dozens of students were arrested at Yale earlier in the day, while Columbia University cancelled in-person classes. The wave of demos has been marred by alleged antisemitic incidents, which have been condemned by the White House. Read more here
23rd April 2024