NEWS
Following last weekend’s triple and double homicides: TTPS boasts of reducing murders
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Administration Junior Benjamin is boasting about the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s ability to keep the murder rate at lower levels than last year. This despite a triple murder in Laventille and a double murder in Siparia over the weekend. Speaking with reporters during a tour of the 1990 exhibit of the TTPS Museum on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Benjamin reported that there were seven fewer murders for the year thus far compared to the same corresponding period in 2025. Read more here
Mourning Selvon
Relatives and friends yesterday held a “lime” in remembrance of slain Morvant resident Selvon Jack, whom they labelled an innocent, good-natured man. “Imagine, you live your whole life, not being in trouble, not being into criminal activities and it is so you had to dead,” said Jack’s younger brother Sean. Jack was one of three men killed in a gun attack at a Laventille gas station on Saturday morning after he was caught in the line of fire and struck by a bullet. Read more here
POLITICS
NPUPS workers demand outstanding pay
Workers of the National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces (NPUPS) are demanding their pay after working for several fortnights without compensation. Speaking with Guardian Media in St James yesterday, NPUPS employee Mary Ramoutal said mounting bills and the lack of information, on top of not being paid, is troubling. “It didn’t have to reach to this, but they keep playing us games. You cannot be playing games with big people, so we decided to come to the media, to let them know that we’re serious. All we need to do is get paid. That’s all we want; we pay.” She added that the lack of payment is making the Government look bad. Read more here
REGIONAL
MV Barima tragedy…Vessel located, search and rescue operation remains in effect
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, has stressed that the national response to the tragic sinking of the MV Barima remains a search and rescue operation, even as authorities confirmed that 27 bodies have been recovered and 83 people remain unaccounted for. PM Phillips made this known while addressing a press briefing on Monday evening, when he indicated that the government’s priority has not changed since the distress signal was first received. “Our focus, from the time we received the distress signal to now, is on rescuing the passengers and the crew from the boat. That remains our focus,” Phillips said. The latest figures he said following the initial investigation indicate that authorities believe there were 179 persons aboard the vessel, including 18 crew members. Of those, 69 have been rescued, 27 bodies have been recovered and 83 persons remain missing. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump slaps 50% tariffs on Canada and Carney vows to 'intensify' trade talks
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he called "unequal treatment" of US cars, dairy and alcohol. Everyday consumer items like wine and hockey sticks and industrial goods such as cement are among the goods targeted. However, several key exports will be spared, such as energy, potash, critical minerals and fish. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by saying Canada stood ready to "intensify" trade talks with the US in the coming weeks. The White House said the duties would take effect in 30 days. It marks a major escalation in trade tensions between the North American neighbours. Read more here
21st July 2026