01 June

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Couva Children’s Home manager suspended after revealing abuse allegations

Manager of the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery Kerri-Ann Leon Sing has been suspended over breaching the terms of her contract and proceeding on unauthorised vacation leave from the facility. Despite this, Leon Sing, who spoke out on reports of sexual abuse at the home, involving a 12-year-old resident, said she does not regret her decision. Leon Sing was issued a letter from the home’s director Linus Rogers on Wednesday, which outlined an apparent breach of contract by divulging matters relating to an internal investigation at the home, referencing her appearance on CNC3’s newscasts. “This represents a direct violation of paragraph 5...

30 May

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Can middle-income earners afford homes in T&T?

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Challenges and opportunities: Can people with an average income between $6,000 and $10,000 buy a home in Trinidad and Tobago? Given the high cost of living and houses on the market costing over $1m, one single mother of two fears her dream of owning a home is moving farther away. And according to one economist, acquiring a home is becoming increasingly difficult for the middle class. However, one organisation argues that it is not all doom and gloom because while you may not be able to purchase your dream home there are other viable options. Similarly, Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank (TTMB) assures...

29 May

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Need to improve service industry: George on foreign investment

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Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George believes that for Trinidad and Tobago to get more foreign investment from tourism, improvements in the service industry and a repeal of the Foreign Investment Act for Tobago are needed. “We have a lot of work to do. Look at the quality of service that we get, our service industry, and how our staff treats us in restaurants or bars: we don’t understand that culture of proper service and quality service that you get in other islands. So, therefore, we are not just going to magically wake up and reach to that point...

22 May

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Deosaran calls selection of CoP ‘worst system in the world’

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Former Police Service Commission (PolSC) chairman, Prof Ramesh Deosaran, says Parliament should return to the 2006 model allowing it to appoint a Commissioner of Police (CoP), while the prime minister retains veto power. Speaking on the issue yesterday, Deosaran agreed with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that the current system did not lend itself to creating best practices. Deosaran described it as the “worst system in the world, noting it was convoluted, expensive, caused confusion and was a lengthy process which could be delayed.” He said even Rowley agreed the system was a mistake. Therefore, he called for bravery in Parliament to...

21 May

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George: Tobago Chamber willing to develop young people, curb crime.

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CHAIRMAN of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George says he is willing to work with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to create jobs in an effort to curb crime on the island. On May 17, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine held a media conference to address the recent upsurge of murders in Tobago. He said the administration would provide opportunities for young people to find employment within the private sector. He said, “We will look at the registering of all unemployed persons in communities with the aim of ascertaining their core skills, capabilities, and training option needs. While we are doing...

17 May

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Mixed views from Tobago business groups to THA reshuffle

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The Tobago Chamber of Commerce believes the changes in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Executive Council might help the economy get better, which would be good for businesses in Tobago. However, the island’s other business chamber said the reshuffle was a waste. On Monday seven THA members were reassigned with one secretary demoted and replaced by an assistant secretary. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine also announced that he will step down as Finance Secretary. Community Development and Sport Secretary Terance Baynes was moved to the Infrastructure Division as an assistant secretary and appointed deputy presiding officer. He will receive his instrument of...

15 May

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CoP now has an executive team to work with—Williams

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Former acting police commissioner Stephen Williams says now that Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has a full complement of deputies to assist her, judging her performance going forward will be more impartial. In a telephone interview with Guardian Media yesterday, Williams said policing was a team effort, and for her first year, she was without confirmed deputies and even acting deputies. Earlier this year, Parliament approved the positions of Deputy Commissioner of Police for Junior Benjamin, Suzette Martin, and Natasha George. “The organisation has a whole new executive leadership team just installed. It is not about one person; it is about a team. It...

10 May

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INEQUITY IN CIVIL LAWSUITS

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https://youtu.be/oW0E0KASJoI ...

09 May

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Chambers, Minority endorse THA e-tender platform

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TOBAGO stakeholders have welcomed the e-tender software platform being adopted by the Tobago House of Assembly. On Tuesday, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine launched an e-tender sensitisation initiative at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex. The initiative, he said is targeted at vendors, suppliers and contractors to change the way they tender for jobs and projects in the THA. The assembly is partnering with Emerging Services and Innovation (TSTT) to roll out the initiative. Speaking with Newsday on May 8, Head of the Tobago Division of the TT Industry of Chamber and Commerce Curtis Williams gave the initiative a thumbs up. “I endorse it 101...

08 May

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High Court upholds Prisons Commissioner’s challenge of promotions

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Acting Prisons Commissioner Deopersad Ramoutar has won another round of litigation against the Public Service Commission (PSC) over the filling of senior vacancies in the T&T Prison Service. In a judgment on Monday, High Court Judge Nadia Kangaloo upheld Ramoutar’s lawsuit, in which he challenged a decision by the PSC to “skip ranks” by seeking to fill the position of deputy commissioner without first addressing vacancies at the lower ranks of senior superintendent and assistant commissioner. Ramoutar, who has been acting in a position four times higher than his substantive rank of superintendent for more than two years, claimed the PSC breached...