NEWS
Carapichaima contractor killed in double murder
A Carapichaima-based contractor was among two people shot to death on May 15. Details were sketchy with police saying the contractor was known only by the alias Mario. He was killed during what police believe was a home invasion. The incident took place around 2 pm at his Rodney Road home. Police have not yet identified the second victim and are still unsure of the relation between the two victims. Read more here
No refunds for property tax; TTRA scrapped, BIR to stay
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there will be no refunds for property tax already paid, despite earlier remarks by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo suggesting otherwise. Earlier this month, Tancoo said the tax would be repealed and that he believed refunds were in order for those who had already paid. However, speaking yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Red House, Port-of-Spain, Persad-Bissessar said she never promised that. “You have to talk to Tancoo. I think that’s the only person who mentioned refunds, I have never said that,” she said. “Let Tancoo tell me where he’s finding the money for refunds, he’s the Minister of Finance. Read more here
POLITICS
Foreign exchange cartel – PM demands report
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says government will compile a report on foreign exchange (forex) distribution and leakages over the last decade. The contents of this report will be made public. She made this disclosure at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Red House, Port of Spain on Thursday May 15. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, Planning Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh and Trade Minister Satyakama Maharaj have been given this assignment by the Cabinet. Read more here
WASA heads to roll: CEO Halliday stays but Govt targets 34 execs costing $30M annually
The planned restructuring exercise at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which was set to see the removal of hundreds of managers and them being replaced by 34 senior persons, has officially been scrapped. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Red House, Port-of-Spain, where she confirmed Cabinet had rescinded the People’s National Movement (PNM)-administration’s restructuring plan. In sealing the deal, Persad-Bissessar ripped up the existing transformation policy before her Cabinet colleagues and those on hand. Persad-Bissessar said, “Today, the Cabinet rescinded the previous cabinet decision of the PNM to brutalise, to demonise and attack WASA workers, WASA management and the mandate of WASA.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Government exploring deals with Proman
A team from the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism held meetings on May 13 with officials from energy company Proman TT, a post on the ministry's FB page has revealed. The post said that Minister Kama Maharaj together with Parliamentary Secretary in the ministry Dr Colin Neil Gosine, and acting Permanent Secretary Randall Karim met with officials from Proman TT at the ministry’s Port of Spain headquarters. The Proman delegation included Ricardo Mohammed, executive director Group Operations; Krishen Ramdeen, managing director, Continuous Improvement and Hanna Sukhu-Maharaj, director, Marketing. Read more here
Carib goes on sale in India
Carib beer, which is part of the ANSA McAL group, is officially on sale in India. ANSA McAL Group CEO, Anthony Sabga III, disclosed yesterday that Carib officially went to market in the subcontinent this week. “Not only is it in the works, the brand and manufacturing team just returned from Uttar Pradesh about a week ago, and the first production of commercially available new Carib has been released,” said Sabga, at the release of the group’s financial results for the quarter ended March 31 2025, at Samaan Estate, St Clair yesterday. “So our partner in that market, the Globus beverage organisation, is working with us in a joint venture and we have begun marketing Carib in India,” he said. In April last year, the group announced the partnership with Globus Spirits Ltd, aiming to bring the local beer to India, based on interest in the brand as a result of West Indies cricket. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana writes Venezuela over armed attacks on GDF ranks
NOW that Guyana has officially written to Venezuala following three separate attacks on Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks while they were patrolling the Cuyuni River between Eteringbang and Makapa, the international community will be apprised of the situation. This was made known by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement on Thursday. In condemning the latest attacks, the ministry said that the Guyanese authorities will continue to monitor the situation and will take appropriate action where necessary. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
How India and Pakistan share one of the world's most dangerous borders
To live along the Line of Control (LoC) - the volatile de facto border that separates India and Pakistan - is to exist perpetually on the razor's edge between fragile peace and open conflict. The recent escalation after the Pahalgam attack brought India and Pakistan to the brink once again. Shells rained down on both sides of the LoC, turning homes to rubble and lives into statistics. At least 16 people were reportedly killed on the Indian side, while Pakistan claims 40 civilian deaths, though it remains unclear how many were directly caused by the shelling. "Families on the LoC are subjected to Indian and Pakistani whims and face the brunt of heated tensions," Anam Zakaria, a Pakistani writer based in Canada, told the BBC. Read more here
16th May 2025