NEWS
Deadly gunplay
Twelve hours after a triple murder in Laventille sent shockwaves across the country, gunfire erupted in Siparia on Saturday night, leaving two men dead and residents fearful. The bodies of Kwame Parris, 29, alias “Six,” of Coconut Alley, Siparia and Teshawn Baptiste, 25, also known as “Blackboy,” of Lowkie Trace, Penal, were discovered in Sennon Village after residents reported hearing loud explosions around 9 pm. The pair were liming by a house when the gunshots rang out. Both men ran, but Parris did not get far. He was found lying face down near the bathroom area of the house, bleeding from gunshot wounds. Baptiste was chased as he ran through the community, but eventually collapsed near a drain along Railway Road. Police recovered more than 25 spent 9mm and 5.56mm casings, along with several rounds of ammunition, from the scene. The latest killings have brought renewed concern over escalating violence in Siparia, which falls within Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s constituency. Read more here
Eight IDC escapees still at large
Eight Venezuelans remained at large yesterday after 14 detainees escaped from the Immigration Detention Centre in Arima on Saturday afternoon following an assault on detention officers. According to police, the incident occurred at about 3.40 p.m. when a detention officer on sentry duty detected smoke coming from the Male Housing Unit and alerted a supervisor. Read more here
POLITICS
Robinson-Regis rejects claims of PNM neglect in Maloney
Former housing minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Trincity/Maloney Camille Robinson-Regis is firing back at Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander after he blamed the previous administration for what he described as deteriorating conditions in Maloney. Rejecting his claims of neglect by the People’s National Movement (PNM), Robinson-Regis said projects were moving forward before the change of government last April. She added that the United National Congress (UNC) Government must now answer to the people. She said the Government should stop making excuses and playing the blame game and start delivering. Read more here
Sobers calls for global unity against political terrorism
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers has called for a united international response to the growing threat of political terrorism. He declared that terrorism must be confronted regardless of ideology while urging stronger intelligence-sharing, regional cooperation and protection of critical infrastructure. Sobers delivered the message while representing Trinidad and Tobago at the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism, hosted by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC, where senior government officials from across the Western Hemisphere, Europe and Asia met to strengthen international cooperation against politically motivated violence. Read more here
BUSINESS
Region banking more on renewable energy
The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLADE) on Friday said that Latin America and the Caribbean electricity generation grew 4.5% in April 2026, with renewables supplying more than 60% of the grid. It said that the LAC continues to strengthen one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world and that in April 2026, the region generated 164 TWh of electricity, 67% of which came from renewable energy sources. OLADE said that this figure underscores the structural dominance of clean energy despite climate-related fluctuations that affected hydropower generation. Overall, regional electricity generation increased by 4.5% year-on-year. Read more here
REGIONAL
Management team responsible for loading, dispatch of MV Barima suspended as probe intensifies
The entire management team responsible for the loading, dispatch and overall management of the MV Barima has been suspended from duty as the Government intensifies its investigation into Saturday night’s maritime tragedy, which claimed lives, left several passengers missing and exposed serious operational failures. The MV Barima was en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized approximately seven miles offshore in the vicinity of the Pomeroon River late Saturday night after departing the Kingston Goods Wharf earlier that afternoon. As of Sunday evening, 67 people had been rescued, two bodies had been recovered and search and rescue operations remained ongoing for those still unaccounted for. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced the suspension in a Facebook post on Monday, saying the move was necessary to ensure a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
‘Everyone's afraid to die’: Struggle to recruit soldiers in Ukraine turns violent
Vasyl Krupych knows what it is to fight for Ukraine. He describes terrifying scenes from battles in the eastern Donbas region where, sometimes praying, sometimes crying, the machine gunner somehow survived the onslaught by Russian troops. But last December, by then serving in the rear, Krupych was attacked by his own countrymen whilst out searching for draft dodgers. He says two men ignored demands to show their documents and fled. When his patrol gave chase, Krupych was badly beaten with a crowbar. He spent six weeks in hospital. "He broke my rib, I was lying there and couldn't breathe," the veteran recalled in a recent interview. Read more here
20th July 2026