ALLEGED gang leader and murder accused Rajaee Ali will have to face a new trial on a charge of possession of the carcass of a protected animal outside the hunting season. On April 24, Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon and Malcolm Holdip allowed the State’s appeal of a magistrate’s decision to free him of the 2014 charge. They have ordered a new trial for Ali before another magistrate. The State had contended that Debby Ann Bassaw got it wrong when she upheld a no-case submission in Ali’s case in April 2019. In their ruling, the judges held that the prosecution had made out a prima-facie ..read more

PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has described the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020 as a “sham exercise.” That bill and the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021 are before a parliamentary joint select committee. The Prime Minister has promised the two pieces of legislation will be brought back to Parliament this year. At a news conference on April 24 at the party’s headquarters in Scarborough, Duke wondered why the island’s scholars have not spoken openly about the limitations of the legislation. “It is a hoax, it is a setup, and I am ..read more

ONE senior Central Division ASP is insisting no special treatment was given to local entertainer Ravi “Ravi B” Bissambhar to help find his stolen dog. On April 23, the singer posted to social media saying his dog Lily – a Samoyed – was stolen from his Cunupia home. CCTV footage of the incident was also posted to social media by neighbours. Bissambhar had offered a reward for his pet's safe return. Later on April 23, a relieved Bissambhar posted a photo to social media with him hugging Lily while standing next to two police officers. He wrote, “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped in t ..read more

After the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD), which brings together the main Venezuelan opposition political parties, announced Edmundo González Urrutia as its presidential candidate, Venezuelans in TT were optimistic about political change in their country. On Friday night, González Urrutia was announced as the coalition's candidate to face Nicolas Maduro in the July 28 election. This followed the disqualification of leader María Corina Machado, who won the opposition primary elections in October 2023. The social media of Venezuelans in TT were filled with comments. Newsday corroborated the opi ..read more

ST JOHN’S: All-rounder Nyeem Young will lead West Indies Academy on a reciprocal tour of Ireland in June, Cricket West Indies has announced. The highly regarded 23-year-old led the development side during the just concluded West Indies Four-Day Championship and will now oversee a series against Ireland’s Emerging Men comprising three one-day matches and two four-day “Tests” from June 8-29. Emerging Ireland toured the Caribbean late last year for an identical series. “Nyeem’s leadership qualities have been evident throughout his tenure, notably steering the academy team during the Super50 and ..read more

THE EDITOR: In the vibrant tapestry of Trinidad and Tobago's society, discussions on gender equality have been steadily gaining momentum. Yet, amidst this progress, it is crucial to shine a spotlight on a pressing issue often overshadowed – the imperative for equal opportunity for men, particularly concerning fatherhood and child custody within our legal framework. Trinidad and Tobago, like many other nations, grapples with a legal system that sometimes favours mothers over fathers in matters of custody, parenting, and familial rights. This imbalance not only infringes upon the rights of fath ..read more

HYATT Regency Trinidad has handed over part proceeds of Lime – the ultimate Carnival Experience event, to two non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The donations were distributed to United Way TT as well as Kids In Need of Direction (KIND), said a media release. “We are always pleased to work with and assist our communities in need, and thank United Way TT for their continued partnership in supporting the needs of various organisations,” said Richard Westell, general manager, Hyatt Regency Trinidad. A cheque was presented at the hotel to Gail Sooknarine, CEO, United Way TT and another to Kar ..read more

Across the globe, including the Caribbean, the mandate for companies to produce "true and fair" accounts is not just a legal formality but a cornerstone of corporate integrity and accountability. This requirement is enshrined in the corporate laws and regulations of several nations, ensuring that financial statements provide a genuine representation of a company's financial health to protect investors and the public interest. Social contract of corporations and society The concept of true and fair is deeply intertwined with the social contract between corporations and society. Historically, t ..read more

Stanley Julien, Trinidad-born recipient of this year’s UWI Toronto Benefit’s Vice Chancellor Award, believes there is nothing more important than education and mentorship for young people. Julien, who was presented with the award last Saturday at the benefit’s black-tie event, spoke to Business Day before receiving the award. He said he hopes organisations such as UWI and the Negro Community Centre (NCC), where he spent a significant part of his youth, continue to inspire young black people to go into the financial sector. “Simply put, I hope that we continue to build a pipeline where young b ..read more

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Under-15 boys’ team were swept 3-0 by Puerto Rico in the team semi-finals at the Caribbean Youth Table Tennis Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 24. Alexander Perez bettered Shekel McIntosh in the first game 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 11-5, 11-1. Alexander Tejada beat Josiah Joseph 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 in the second and Dariel Del Roasario trumped Jonathan Cottoy 11-4, 11-1, 11-5 to seal the win. Earlier on, TT clawed back from two matches down to emerge 3-2 victors over Jamaica in their group one opener. After McIntosh and Joseph went down to Jamaicans Log ..read more