Author: TrakkerNews

Roustan Job has been re elected as the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association. Job won a second term in office beating out opponent Amral Hosein. TTUTA held its elections yesterday with more than 10000 teachers eligible to vote. 
 

Works Minister is today commissioning the four new water taxis. The water taxis namely the ‘Paria Bullet’, Carnival Runner, Trini Flash  and Calypso Sprinter are to be unveiled in a ceremony at the Femmes Du Chalet this afternoon.
 

Chateram Sinanan has been named as the new Chairman of the Legal Aid and Advisory Board. Sinanan received his letter of appointment today from the Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry Christine Sookram. Sinanan has proposed making legal aid attorneys available to clients 24/7.

Street lights between Stockholm to Crabwood Creek, Fyrish to Tain and New Amsterdam to Palmyra are to be installed following the awarding of three contracts to light up the Corentyne Highway. According to the Ministry of Public Works, 190 photocell street lights will be installed along the 9.5 kilometres Stockholm to Crabwood Creek stretch at a cost of about $28M.

Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr had a murder charge dropped against him today.
Abu Bakr and Brent "Big Brent" Miller were both charged with the 1998 murder of Israel Sammy three weeks ago.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, today ordered that the charges against the duo be dropped because of lack of evidence.
Abu Bakr and Miller who both appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port of Spain Eight Magistrates Court today and were freed after Gaspard’s decision.

Hundreds of public servants took to the streets this morning calling for the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to resume wage negotiations. The public servants lead by Watson Duke, president of the Public Service Association(PSA) met outside the office of Finance Minister Winston Dookeran located at the Financial Tower on Independence Square. The vociferous  group  then marched toward the St Vincent Street office of the CPO. Duke says if negotiations are not reopened, next week Tuesday will be "Black Tuesday" with all public offices being shut down.

Prime Kamla Persad-Bissessar says business leaders who have signalled their intention to attend next year’s planned forum have all agreed to pay their own way. She says the forum, which is being planned, is expected to be held in the first quarter of next year. She however emphasized that the meeting will not be a "summit" like those hosted by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Speaking this afternoon, Persad-Bisssessar said the forum will not be a burden on taxpayers..

Education Minister Dr Tim Goppesingh says the security in this country’s school is abysmal. He made the statement today in response to two shocking incidents of school violence which surfaced this week. Gopeesingh says the Government is committed to correcting the flaws in school security as soon as possible. Six school boys were scheduled to appear in court today charged with the gang rape of a female pupil on a school compound earlier this week. In addition 16-year-old Kylie Garcia was fatally stabbed by a 15-year-old schoolmate earlier this week.