NEWS
Kalicharan Mas co-founder dies at 76
Kalicharan Mas co-founder Wendy Kalicharan, 76, passed away peacefully at her home around 1.30 pm on May 8 with her daughter Ayanna Kalicharan-Mahase at her side. Kalicharan-Mahase told Newsday her mother was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2020 and was undergoing treatment. She said her mother received chemotherapy in December 2024 and radiation in February 2025. "We're coping. I mean, she did have a long battle, she fought really hard, she did everything that everyone suggested that would help." Read more here
Gary resigns from NTA; will now focus on his family
Gary Griffith has resigned from the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), a party he founded in 2022. He said he will be stepping away from politics and focusing on his family, at least for now. In a statement from NTA’s communication unit yesterday, it was revealed that he resigned with immediate effect and several of his members have followed suit. Read more here
POLITICS
PM reveals true state of economy –– Trinidad and Tobago in $4.5b hole
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her government has inherited a $4.42 billion "hole" which needs to be filled in order to keep the country running. She pledged her government will find the money to do so. Speaking at the first post-cabinet press briefing at the Red House on May 8, Persad-Bissessar said her government had been examining the country's true financial state after being elected on April 28 and ministers and parliamentary secretaries were sworn in on May 3. Read more here
Kamla scraps state-funded housing for State officials
“You want house? Then pay for house!” That was the message Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had for her Cabinet members as she announced that she would put an end to state-funded housing for State officials. Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Persad-Bissessar announced, “I have requested a list of State officials supplied with state-funded housing to see how we could cut some costs.” She said she was informed that there are government officials from the last administration with three to four state-funded homes. Read more here
BUSINESS
Governance expert asks: Should state directors resign?
CEO of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI), Kamla Rampersad de Silva believes that there are pros and cons of political appointees and boards of state enterprises resigning after general elections. There has been a wave of resignations from state boards since the general election victory of the United National Congress (UNC) on April 28. Among those who tendered their resignations down was Sahid Hosein, who resigned as chairman of the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NP) one day after the election. Acknowledging his status as a political appointee, Hosein said it was “the right thing to do” to allow the incoming government to install its leadership. Read more here
Moonilal, Kesar meet with State energy heads
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal and Minister in the ministry Ernesto Kesar have met with the heads of all energy-related State enterprises in the country. The meeting took place at the Energy Ministry’s head office at the International Waterfront Complex in Port of Spain on Wednesday. Also attending were the ministry’s permanent secretary Penelope Bradshaw-Niles, acting PS Karinsa Tulsie, and acting deputy PS Marc Rudder. Read more here
REGIONAL
Gov’t welcomes IMF’s favourable assessment of Guyana’s economic policies, performance – Minister Singh
Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Thursday welcomed the favourable assessment given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on both the economic policies being implemented by the government and the strong performance of the Guyanese economy. In its latest Article IV Consultation, the IMF lauded Guyana’s exceptional economic performance, citing the country’s rapid oil-fuelled transformation and robust non-oil growth. The IMF declared Guyana’s economic outlook “highly favourable,” supported by strong fundamentals, balanced risks, and a resilient external position. “Guyana’s economic transformation is advancing strongly and broadening in scale,” the IMF said in a statement following the Executive Board’s review. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
The first drone war opens a new chapter in India-Pakistan conflict
The world's first drone war between nuclear-armed neighbours has erupted in South Asia. On Thursday, India accused Pakistan of launching waves of drones and missiles at three military bases in Indian territory and Indian-administered Kashmir - an allegation Islamabad swiftly denied. Pakistan claimed it had shot down 25 Indian drones in recent hours. Delhi remained publicly silent. Experts say the tit-for-tat attacks mark a dangerous new phase in the decades-old rivalry, as both sides exchange not just artillery but unmanned weapons across a volatile border. As Washington and other global powers urge restraint, the region is teetering on the edge of escalation, with drones - silent, remote and deniable - opening a new chapter in the India-Pakistan conflict. Read more here
9th May 2025