NEWS
Met Office announces start of rainy season
The 2025 wet season has officially begun, and the Ministry of Local Government is moving swiftly to mitigate the effects of potential flooding, especially in historically vulnerable communities. The TT Meteorological Service (TTMS), in a statement on May 19, confirmed the transition into the rainy season after measurable rainfall associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) was recorded across parts of the country on that day. It said notable rainfall up to 2 pm on May 19 included 18.8 mm in Matura and 15.6 mm in Mayaro, along with 2.8 mm at Piarco, 1.3 mm at Signal Hill. Read more here
Business chambers want talks with Govt on flooding issues
As the Wet Season commences, some business chambers say they are willing to give the new Government a grace period on the issue of flooding. However, they have some suggestions in hand to mitigate the impact of flooding, which they are willing to share with the new administration. The Penal/Debe Chamber of Commerce told Guardian Media that regrettably, flooding has become a way of life in the community. President Motilal Ramsingh explained, “The location does not help because 60 per cent of Penal/Debe is under sea level, so that is the biggest challenge. When we face heavy floods, we usually get a double whammy because a lot of rain falls and then the tide is high. So, people here, they get flooded out, they try to take precautions and then you just try to get back to your life.” Ramsingh is, however, calling for the stricter enforcement of laws relating to building codes, as he claimed people are developing the land without proper drainage. Read more here
POLITICS
20 Senate seats still up for grabs
NO announcements have been made with respect to who will fill the remaining 20 seats in the Senate when the new parliamentary term begins on May 23. The Senate consists of 31 members – 16 government, six opposition and nine independent senators. On May 3, 11 people were appointed government senators. They were also appointed as ministers or parliamentary secretaries. They are Attorney General John Jeremie, Ravi Ratiram, Anil Roberts, Prakash Persad, Dominic Smith, Eli Zakour, Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, Leroy Baptiste, Kennedy Swaratsingh, Satyakama Maharaj and Phillip Edward Alexander. This means Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar can choose another five to fill the government bench. Two of these will not be ministers or parliamentary secretaries to allow them, in accordance with the Senate's standing orders, to be appointed Senate president and vice-president. Read more here
PNM members concerned over ‘rushed’ election convention, says Ford
Former People’s National Movement (PNM) general secretary Ashton Ford says members are concerned about the “rushed” June 29 election convention. He is also calling on the current leadership to reconsider the exclusion of party groups’ participation in the process. “The refusal to extend the timeline for the convention by even three months—until September—to allow party groups to participate suggests that the convention is being rushed to engineer a predetermined outcome. This appears to be yet another top-down manoeuvre ... ” Ford added in a letter to the newspaper yesterday. “I strongly urge the current leadership of our great party to reconsider this approach. Rebuilding must be inclusive. Party members should not be sidelined or selectively engaged. Our democracy—and our party—deserve better.” Ford added, “For the first time in the history of the People’s National Movement (PNM), the party will host a convention without the participation of its party groups. This was confirmed by the recently resurrected Public Relations Officer, Faris Al-Rawi, who stated that the General Council unanimously agreed to hold a Special Convention on June 29, 2025.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Regional tourism executives: Sandals a gamechanger for Tobago
Former Tobago Tourism Agency chief executive officer Louis Lewis is of the view that Tobago should seriously consider the Sandals Resort brand as it can be a volume generator. Speaking to reporters at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace forum in Antigua yesterday, Lewis said as it stands now, Tobago is not competitive as there is a lack of direct international connectivity with major source markets. “As a result of that, Tobago has not been able to take advantage of huge markets. To get around that, you must have an accommodation sector that is strong, positive, and can cause a flow of arrivals, and that is what a property like Sandals brings to the table. It’s a volume generator. It can help boost the economy,” he said. Read more here
T&T positioned to benefit
A SWEEPING rollback of US clean energy subsidies under proposed legislative changes may create a new opening for countries like Trinidad and Tobago to attract investment in green hydrogen and low-carbon fuels, The Energy Chamber of T&T has stated. And as such, project director of NewGen Energy Ltd Dr Dale Ramlakhan underscored the urgency for Trinidad and Tobago to capitalise on shifting global investment trends. Read more here
REGIONAL
Gov’t committed to expansion of opportunities, continued development for every Amerindian village – President Ali
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the development and empowerment of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples, whom he described as central partners in the country’s journey towards prosperity and sustainable transformation. The Head of State made this known as he delivered the feature address at the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal. President Ali told Indigenous leaders from across the nation that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government stands ready to support their aspirations through consistent engagement and targetted investment. “Once again, we gather to listen to your voices, to understand your challenges, to appreciate your specific circumstances, and through your individual voices as leaders of your communities, the collective voice of all our Indigenous people across this country,” he said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Jeremy Bowen: Goodwill running out as UK, France and Canada demand Israel end Gaza offensive
Israel went to war after the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 armed with an arsenal of weapons mostly paid for, supplied and then resupplied by the United States. Its other allies gave Israel something just as potent in its own way: a deep credit of goodwill and solidarity, based on revulsion at the killings of 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and the sight of 251 people being dragged into captivity in Gaza as hostages. Now it seems that Israel's credit has gone, at least as far as France, the United Kingdom and Canada are concerned. They have issued their strongest condemnation yet of the way Israel is fighting the war in Gaza. Israel, they say, must halt its new offensive, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says will destroy Hamas, rescue the remaining hostages and put all of Gaza under direct Israeli military control. Read more here
20th May 2025