NEWS
Residents accuse police, soldiers of harassment following Saturday’s
Five days after an arson attack razed the Telecommunications Service of Trinidad and Tobago’s (TSTT) scrap yard in Laventille, residents of Beetham Gardens have accused the police and soldiers of “tormenting” them over the last several days. Unwilling to be named when Guardian Media visited the community yesterday, several young men said, “Soldiers coming on dey own now... mask up and without the police. “They rushing we when they see we... dey cyar be doing dat. A man wake up and come out he house yesterday morning (Wednesday) and stand up dey doing nutting... jus so they take him and gone. He ain’t do nutting!” The men reported that residents of Phase Five, Beetham Gardens, were the ones being singled out following the October 24 incident, which reportedly caused some $20 million in damage to cables and other stored equipment. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla accuses unions of political and racial bias ahead of protest
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accused sections of the trade union movement of being politically motivated and harbouring racial animosity towards the UNC Government, as she urged citizens to avoid the route of today's planned labour march in Port of Spain. In a lengthy Facebook post yesterday, Persad-Bissessar criticised unions participating in the demonstration, accusing them of failing to protest against the former People's National Movement (PNM) administration during its ten years in office, when workers were awaiting salary increases and outstanding backpay. She claimed that the unions were now protesting against a UNC Government which, in 18 months, had begun paying outstanding backpay, updating salaries, offering 10 per cent increases and passing legislation aimed at protecting workers. Read more here
BUSINESS
McGuire: Do not expect gas boom in 2027
Energy economist Gregory McGuire has warned that talk of an impending energy boom in Trinidad and Tobago is premature, arguing that new oil and gas projects will largely replace declining production rather than deliver significant growth. McGuire also criticised the Government’s 2027 Budget for failing to advance economic diversification adequately, questioning the allocation of funding to cultural industries and agriculture while warning that the country cannot depend indefinitely on its hydrocarbon resources. Speaking on CNC3’s Morning Brew, McGuire, principal consultant of VSL Consultants Ltd and chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, maintained that increased gas production must be matched by sufficient demand from downstream industries. Read more here
REGIONAL
King Charles III arrives in Guyana
GUYANA welcomed His Majesty King Charles III with a distinguished display of military precision and diplomatic courtesy at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Thursday afternoon. The occasion marks the start of the British monarch’s two-day state visit. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, members of his cabinet, senior government officials and representatives of the country’s uniformed services formed the welcoming party. As His Majesty descended from the aircraft, the president greeted the British monarch warmly, as members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) stood in ceremonial formation and disciplined composure. The carefully coordinated military arrangements added distinction to the proceedings. The king’s first engagement is a meeting with President Ali at State House. Read more here
INTERTNATIONAL
Residents leave devastated Russian-occupied Oleshky as evacuation corridor opens
The evacuation of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky is under way, Russian and Ukrainian authorities have confirmed. A ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, has been in force in the entire frontline region of Kherson since Tuesday, allowing for the road out of Oleshky to be demined. The residents of Oleshky who wish to leave have a four-hour window to do so. An evacuation convoy of 25 buses will allow up to 750 people to leave Oleshky until 14:00 (12:00 GMT), along with ambulances for people with limited mobility. Read more here
30th October 2026