NEWS
NCIC: Divali Nagar successful, incident-free
National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) president Surujdeo Mangaroo said he was pleased with the amount of people who turned out to the final night of the Divali Nagar, despite bad weather that led to a short period of flooding. Speaking to Newsday by telephone on October 20, he said he was surprised to see the number of people who turned out. “The Nagar was a huge success. I’m very happy and encouraged by the amount of young people, young children and families there, especially familys coming together. I felt pleased that we are doing something right, despite the weather challenges, everyone found their way to Divali Nagar yesterday. “Once again we had an incident-free Divali Nagar, and I really mean incident-free Divali Nagar, and we try to maintain that year after year. We always try our utmost best to provide a safe and comfortable environment for all our patrons and 2025 wasn’t different.” Read more here
Regional analyst warns T&T’s foreign policy in ‘dangerous territory’
Regional political analyst Peter Wickham has warned that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration may be venturing into dangerous territory, appearing to endorse extra-judicial killings as part of its crime-fighting strategy. Wickham was responding to the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s latest statement supporting US military actions in the southern Caribbean. The ministry warned nationals engaging in illegal activity between Trinidad and Venezuelan waters would be “at their own peril.” That statement, issued on Sunday, came five days after a US drone strike on a vessel allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela killed six people, including two Trinidadians. Neither US nor T&T officials have provided evidence to support the claim. Read more here
POLITICS
Ag CoP: Nothing suspicious around US offices last weekend
Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin says police have not detected anything suspicious occurring around the US Embassy in TT amidst a warning for its citizens to refrain from visiting any US offices over the Divali long weekend. "Our intelligence has not shown anything other than the advisory, which again, was there for the interest of the US citizens and so on. But we have not seen anything to create any form of panic or anything," Benjamin told Newsday in a phone call on October 20. At 5 pm on October 20, the US Embassy posted on its website and social media that it would be open on October 21. "Visa appointments and US citizen services will be held. Please tell your US citizen friends and family to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov so that they may receive these alerts and updates too." Read more here
Moonilal gets refinery report, promises ‘exciting news’ soon
Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has confirmed that he has received a preliminary report from the committee appointed to assess the feasibility of restarting the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery. Speaking with reporters at his Oropouche East Constituency Office in Debe during his Divali celebrations on Sunday, Moonilal said the report was under review, but the population could expect exciting news in the coming days. The Government had set up a 12-member team, led by former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine, including former Petrotrin refinery managers and representatives of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union, to assess the feasibility and cost of resuming operations at the refinery, which was shut down in 2018. Just last week, Opposition leader Pennelope Beckles, in her contribution to the 2025/2026 Budget debate in Parliament, accused the Government of going silent on the refinery issue — pointing out that Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo made no mention of it during his October 13 Budget presentation. Read more here
BUSINESS
CSO: Inflation eases to 1% in September
Consumers got a small reprieve in September as overall prices rose at a slower pace than in recent months, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The CSO said the inflation rate for September 2025 – the change in prices compared to September 2024 – was one per cent, down from 1.4 per cent in August. The comparative rate for the same period last year (September 2024 over September 2023) was 0.4 per cent. The CSO reported that the all-items index, which measures the average movement in the prices of goods and services purchased by households, stood at 125.4 in September, representing a 0.2 per cent drop from August 2025. Food prices, which make up one of the largest components of household spending, also fell during the month. Read more here
Business leaders split over Minister’s appeal to hold prices
Business groups in South and Central Trinidad have expressed mixed reactions to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s call for the public to push back against businesses passing on increased prices to consumers. Last Tuesday, Tancoo said while he anticipated that businesses - which will have to pay higher taxes following the national budget - will pass on costs to consumers, he advised the informed customer to “push back against passing the burden on”. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyanese urged to embrace compassion, unity
In a heartfelt Diwali message to the nation, President Irfaan Ali, on Monday, called on Guyanese to reflect on the deeper meaning of the Festival of Lights, urging citizens to embrace compassion, unity, and moral purpose as guiding principles in their daily lives. Extending special greetings to the Hindu community, the President described Diwali as ‘a treasured part of Guyana’s national life,’ symbolising the eternal triumph of light over darkness and goodness over evil. He reminded citizens that the true spirit of Diwali lies not in grand displays, but in the inner light of sincerity, kindness, and understanding. “Today, Diwali in Guyana is more than a religious observance. It has become a national celebration. Homes are illuminated with flickering diyas, motorcades are held to usher in the festival, and families gather to pray and share sweets. People of every background join in acts of goodwill and generosity,” the President said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
French ex-president Sarkozy begins jail sentence for campaign finance conspiracy
Nicolas Sarkozy has become the first French ex-president to go to jail, as he starts a five-year sentence for conspiring to fund his election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Not since World War Two Nazi collaborationist leader Philippe Pétain was jailed for treason in 1945 has any French ex-leader gone behind bars. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-2012, has appealed against his jail term at La Santé prison, where he will occupy a small cell in the jail's isolation wing. More than 100 people applauded and shouted "Nicolas!" as he left his villa in the exclusive 16th district of Paris, holding his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy by the hand. Read more here
21st October 2025