NEWS
Bond for Arouca TikTok user who threatened PM
AN Arouca woman who appeared in a TikTok video calling on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and pleaded guilty before a Chaguanas magistrate was put on a $20,000 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years. When she completes the bond, no conviction would be recorded against her. If she breaches the bond, she would be brought before the court for sentencing. Arianna Samaroo, 30, of Laurel Hill Extension, Five Rivers, entered the plea on December 3, when she appeared before Magistrate Marissa Gomez. She was sentenced on December 18. Read more here
Political scientist after recent visit to Caracas
As diplomatic tensions intensify between the United States and Venezuela, fuelled by sanctions, military posturing and increasingly sharp rhetoric, political analyst Derek Ramsamooj says the reality on the ground in Venezuela tells a very different story, one not defined by fear or uncertainty, but by Christmas lights and seasonal celebration. Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday after a recent return from Caracas, where he participated in Venezuela’s People’s Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace of our America: Venezuela Chapter 2025, Ramsamooj said despite the growing hostility surrounding recent US actions, Venezuelan citizens are not living in a state of alarm. Read more here
POLITICS
Mickela writes open letter to Kamla on US-Venezuela tensions
Patriotic Front political leader Mickela Panday has pressed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to clarify whether the State has concrete plans to protect citizens and critical infrastructure if tensions escalate between the United States and Venezuela. In an open letter shared on Facebook yesterday, Panday said without seeking sensitive national security details, the public is entitled to “basic reassurance” on how the Government will handle any possible fallout. She questioned whether there is a plan in place should Trinidad and Tobago come under attack, and whether the Prime Minister can assure the country it will be kept safe. Panday also asked what arrangements exist to protect the nation after any foreign military assets eventually leave, warning that repeated assurances without clear explanations risk undermining public confidence. Read more here
BUSINESS
Digicel gets CIPS accreditation
The Digicel Group has become the first company in the Caribbean to be awarded the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethical Procurement and Supply Kitemark. The Digicel Group operates across 25 markets in the Caribbean, Central and South America including Trinidad and Tobago. In a news release on December 15, Digicel said it is now a member of an elite group of organisations worldwide recognised for excellence in ethical procurement and supply chain integrity. The award was presented last week at the first CIPS Caribbean Conference and Awards at the Hyatt Regency in Trinidad, where Digicel’s Procurement team accepted the distinction. Read more here
EOG Resources gets CEC for offshore exploration
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has issued a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to EOG Resources for the offshore exploration of two gas wells, TG1 and TG2, within the NCMA 4 (a) Unlimited Block, located off the North Coast of Trinidad. In a release yesterday, the EMA stated that the approval marked a significant milestone, as it is the first CEC that has been issued under the newly appointed board of directors for the oil and gas sector. Read more here
REGIONAL
Over 13,000 Disciplined Services members to get one-month tax-free bonus -President Ali announces
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that a one-month tax-free bonus will be paid to members of the Disciplined Services, placing an additional $2.1 billion into the hands of more than 13,000 personnel for the holiday season. Speaking at the Christmas Luncheon at the Guyana Defence Force’s Base Camp Stephenson on Thursday, President Ali highlighted the history of the bonus programme, noting that “in 2020, we restored the bonus and expanded its coverage in 2023 to include civilian employees of the Guyana Defence Force.” He added, “Over the past five years, we have placed over six billion dollars in the hands of our disciplined services through this bonus. Six billion dollars.” He said the latest payout would further recognise the sacrifices and dedication of service members. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Stigma of Ukraine's forgotten soldiers who 'died the wrong way'
Kateryna cannot talk about her son, Orest, without tears. Her voice trembles with anger as she explains how she found out the news that he had died on the front line in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine in 2023. According to the official investigation by the army, he died by a "self-inflicted wound", something Katernya finds hard to believe. Kateryna has asked for her and her late son to remain anonymous due to the stigma that surrounds suicide and mental health in Ukraine. Read more here
19th December 2025