By Renuka Singh
November 28, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Fresh internal conflict is threatening to break the United National Congress (UNC) apart in the build up to internal elections. With just days to go before the party elects its leader, the mostly clean campaign has suddenly turned nasty as one would-be deputy leader was threatened for taking sides against incumbent Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Continue reading UNC wracked by internal strife
By Seeta Persad
November 26, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
HINDUS across the country yesterday observed the religious event of Kartik with many going to the beach or river to hold pujas (prayers) and pray.
All Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) run schools were closed to allow for entire families to pray together. Kartik Snaan is the name given for the months of October/November in the Hindu calendar. During this holy time Nav Ratri, Divali and Ramleela are observed and celebrated.
Continue reading Hindus observe Kartik Snaan
Daily Express
November 24, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com
The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) has terminated its contract with Super Industrial Services Limited (SIS) for the construction of the $1 billion Beetham Water Recycling Plant. The decision was taken after SIS said it was unable to continue with the controversial project.
The following is the statement issued by the NGC on Tuesday –
Continue reading SIS’ billion dollar contract terminated by NGC
Newsday Editorial
November 24, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
THREE years after the fact, Parliament has only this month received the annual report of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC) for 2013.
That alone would be unsatisfactory were it not for the fact that the picture painted in the report is — to use an appropriate word — shocking.
Continue reading Shocking TTEC $612M loss
By Raffique Shah
November 23, 2015
The battle for leadership of the UNC has ignited a discussion on leadership in a broader context, with the party’s founder, Basdeo Panday, weighing in on the issue.
According to my columnist colleague Sheila Rampersad, Panday told her that Indians tend to seek a “pahalwan”-Hindi for warrior, strongman-to lead them. Sheila cited Panday himself as an example of the phenomenon. In 1973, he succeeded Bhadase Maharaj as leader of the sugar workers’ union, and in 1977 he succeeded in transforming the only organic inter-racial party ever (my view…I was a co-founder), the ULF, into an Indian party.
Continue reading The last ‘pahalwan’
By JANELLE DE SOUZA
November 22 2015 – newsday.co.tt
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will no longer build high-end housing units.
Instead, any future construction would be of more affordable units that meet the needs of the majority of applicants.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made the statement at the new Chaconia Crescent development, Four Roads, Diego Martin, yesterday during his feature address at the distribution ceremony of 120 keys for units at Chaconia Crescent as well as for Greenvale Park in La Horquetta.
Continue reading NO MORE UPSCALE HDC HOMES
‘I nearly joined Isis’
By Shaliza Hassanali
November 22, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Thirteen years after Umar Abdullah, leader of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah, also known as The Islamic Front, was sought by US and British Intelligence for supporting al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and jihad (holy war), he has admitted that he almost joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) as a frontline fighter.
Continue reading Islamic Front leader on T&T fighters in Syria
By Raffique Shah
November 16, 2015
I address two issues of public importance today. First is the emerging controversy over this country’s attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting to be held in Malta next week. And second, I join the chorus of frustrated voices crying out for something to be done to curb the dangerous, deafening din of explosives and fireworks that have become intrinsic to festivals like Divali.
Continue reading Boors will be boors
New EFCL board unearths secret operation
By Darren Bahaw and Renuka Singh
November 14, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
A secret contract millhouse was discovered at the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) in Maraval, and armed guards have been called in to secure a mountain of potentially damning evidence which points to the illegal manufacturing of backdated tender documents worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The discovery was made one day after the new board of the state-owned company suspended its Chief Executive Officer Kiran Shah and Chief Operating Officer Sharma Maharaj over claims of impropriety.
Continue reading Workers caught back-dating deals
November 13, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Malta accompanied by a small delegation including his wife Sharon, Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie said yesterday.
Continue reading Query over Sharon’s Malta trip