 Two (2) men are dead and a third critically wounded following a shooting incident in Point Fortin last night (Monday 2nd October 2023). The deceased have been identified as Azard Ali of Warden Road and Keith Roberts of Spring Trace, Warden Road. According to reports, Officers on patrol were notified of a shooting at Warden Road around 9:20 PM. Upon arrival, they found Ali already dead behind the wheel of a Ford Laser. He was said to have been shot in the chest. Roberts was found dead outside of the vehicle. The third wounded man was taken to Hospital by Municipal Police Officers.
No motive for this shooting has yet been established. ASP Mathura, Insp. Corrie, Ag. Insp. Joseph-Taitt and Sgt. Deo also visited the scene. Investigations are continuing. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Trinidad Express]  The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is advising customers in parts of Central and South-West Trinidad that emergency repairs to the Caroni South transmission pipeline, at Endeavour Road, Chaguanas, were completed at approximately 7:45 PM on Sunday (1st October 2023).
WASA said the supply has since been restored with the transmission and distribution systems currently being recharged towards normalization. Customers are, however, advised that it may take up to forty-eight (48) hours for the service to normalize to some areas, in accordance with established water supply schedules. Customers in affected areas are advised to check the Authority's social media pages: @ WASA Trinidad & Tobago on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), for details on temporary amended schedules resulting from the disruption. Customers in parts of Chaguanas are further advised that additional repair works are ongoing in the same area, and as such, the supply to the following areas was expected to be restored by 11:00 PM last night (Monday 2nd October 2023):
Customers are further advised that they may experience some discolouration in their water supply as the service is restored. The Authority will be engaging in system flushing exercises, to minimize such occurrences. However, customers experiencing any discolouration in supply, should allow their water to run until it clears. Customers are reminded that a limited truck-borne service is available upon request. This can be requested through the following self-service options:
Alternatively, customers requiring direct assistance or further information can contact WASA’s Customer Call Centre, toll free at 800-4420 or 800-4426. The Authority thanks customers for their patience and understanding.  Three (3) men, believed to be responsible for the brutal quadruple murder of the Peterkin children in the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, on 21st September 2023, are now in Police custody. The men were held on Monday evening (2nd October 2023) during a joint Police exercise in the Heights of Aripo, Arima, which involved a large contingent of heavily armed Officers from the Northern Division and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region II. Among the men held, one is believed to be the main shooter.
According to reports, Officers also seized an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and an assortment of ammunition believed to have been used in the murders. Officers are said to have monitored an abandoned house at the Heights of Aripo and subsequently surrounded and breached the house around 3:00 PM. The three (3) suspects were found inside the abandoned structure. 10-year-old Faith Peterkin, 14-year-old Arianna Peterkin, 17-year-old Shane Peterkin and 19-year-old Tiffany Peterkin, were all killed in a hail of gunfire when three (3) gunmen stormed their home on 21st September 2023 and shot everyone in sight. Four (4) other relatives were also shot but managed to survive, including a couple who used their bodies to shield their two (2) babies during the shooting. Investigations are continuing. More on this as it becomes available. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: CCN TV6]  The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued a Hot Spell Alert (Yellow Level) for a total of twenty-eight (28) days. The Alert began at 9:04 AM this morning (Tuesday 3rd October 2023) and will remain in effect until 4:00 PM on Tuesday 31st October 2023 for Trinidad and Tobago.
A previous Hot Spell Warning (Yellow Level) was issued on 15th September 2023. According to the Met Office, the month of October is the last month of Trinidad and Tobago’s Heat Season and over the next four (4) weeks, daily temperatures are expected to reach near 34°C or greater in Trinidad, and near 33°C or greater in Tobago. The hottest time of the day is between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. In cities, urban and built-up areas, maximum temperatures are expected to be higher than 34°C and “feel-like” temperatures will likely range between 34°C and 44°C. These elevated temperatures, coupled with tropical moisture and light winds, are the primary drivers of intense, isolated daytime thunderstorms. Additionally, rainfall events associated with Tropical Waves or the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), though not expected to be frequent this month, may still provide brief relief from the intense heat. However, hot conditions are likely to return once these events pass. Citizens are advised to wear appropriate clothing, stay hydrated at all times, and keep out of direct sunlight to avoid sunburn. Open appropriate windows, vents and doors in your homes to ventilate at times. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.  Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, announced at the 2024 Budget presentation this afternoon (Monday 2nd October 2023) that the minimum wage will be increasing by 17%, or $3.00 per hour, from $17.50 to $20.50 per hour — effective from 1st January 2024.
Minister Imbert notes that this measure will benefit approximately 190,000 persons in the workforce and will require an amendment to the Minimum Wages Act, Chapter 88:04 via a Minimum Wage Order. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.  UPDATE (03/10/23): A day after his 4-hour long Budget presentation, Minister Imbert said on social media: “I was happy yesterday to finally be able, after 8 years of economic strain, to present a Budget with no new taxes or increases and instead to be able to help people at the lowest end of the income scale with a $3 increase in the minimum wage, $1,000 book grant and $1B in back-pay.” Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, presented the 2024 Budget in Parliament this afternoon (Monday 2nd October 2023).
Below are the key points discussed today by Minister Imbert:
If you missed the 2024 Budget presentation, you can watch it here in its entirety. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: Newsday]  Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, announced at the 2024 Budget presentation this afternoon (Monday 2nd October 2023) that the Government has determined that an increase in the retirement age from sixty (60) to sixty-five (65) years will support pension adequacy and the system's sustainability. The Government is now in the process of completing consultations with stakeholders on the retirement age increase.
Minister Imbert said, “ The gap between benefit spending and contribution revenue has widened an aging population and generous benefits. In the context of evolving worldwide standards, we consider a higher retirement age would be appropriate. Through actuarial assessment, we have determined that an increase in the retirement age by five (5) years, from sixty (60) to sixty-five (65) years, will support pension adequacy and the system's sustainability. We are now in the process of completing consultations with major stakeholders on the increase in the retirement age.” Watch the live stream of the ongoing 2024 Budget presentation here. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.  Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, announced at the 2024 Budget presentation this afternoon (Monday 2nd October 2023) that property taxes will be collected in 2024. Minister Imbert said, “I wish to advise that the collection of property taxes will be effective in the financial year 2024. On proclamation and operationalization of the relevant sections of the Local Government legislation, residential taxes will be collected by the two cities, five boroughs, and seven corporations, to benefit our citizens within the 14 municipalities.”
The Minister said he received the Residential Property Valuation Roll, which will be sent to the Inland Revenue Division which will set the procedural framework for the collection of residential property tax. According to Minister Imbert, property owners and occupiers will soon begin to receive notices stating the amount of property tax they are required to pay. He noted that when they see the actual rates for themselves, this will bring the charade perpetrated by those opposite, to an end. Minister Imbert said the property tax calculation is based on the Annual Rental Value (ARV). “The Board of Inland Revenue will calculate the property taxes based on the Annual Rental Values, discounted by 10%, with an application of 3% of the discounted ARV. For example, with an Annual Rental Value of $24,000, the property tax will be $54 per month. Based on progress in the compilation of the Valuation Roll, I expect that at least 50% of all residential properties and quite likely more than 50%, will pay property taxes somewhere between $540 and $1,080 annually,” he added. The Minister also announced that payment of taxes will be facilitated online. He said, “We're developing an online payment ecosystem for collecting taxes as a key component in our drive to create a digital economy. We have engaged the Development Bank of Latin America to provide technical consultancy services to undertake the project. We anticipate the project with comprehensive recommendations, will be completed and implemented by March 2024.” Watch the live stream of the ongoing 2024 Budget presentation here. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.  During the period July - August 2023, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said it collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to have the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) undertake a mass medicals exercise.
According to a Media Release from the MOE on Saturday (30th September 2023), 3,319 teachers were listed for assessment, and to date, 2,055 have been completed. Minister of Education, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, said, “This step demonstrates how critical it is for Government agencies and statutory authorities to collaborate on transformative measures to the benefit of our stakeholders.” The MOE said that through the support of the MOH, and the various RHAs, these teachers, who have already worked the mandatory two (2) years of continuous service, are now eligible to receive their Certificate of Fitness, based on this medical assessment and a favourable staff report. The MOE notes that it has already begun the next phase of preparing the relevant documentation for the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to facilitate confirmation of appointment for these teachers.  Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, will present the National Budget for fiscal 2024 at today's sitting of the House of Representatives at 1:30 PM this afternoon (Monday 2nd October 2023), in the Parliament Chamber at the Red House in Port-of-Spain. This will be Minister Imbert’s ninth consecutive National Budget presentation. Individuals who earn over $1 million a year will likely have to pay more in taxes from January 2024. An increase from 30% to 35% is expected to be announced today for this tax bracket for high-income earners, aimed at raising an additional $90 million in tax revenue for the country. Apart from imposing this increased tax, the Minister is also expected to announce an increase in the country’s minimum wage from $17.50/hour to $19.50/hour, in order to assist those on the other end of the wage spectrum. The increase in the minimum wage is expected to benefit approximately 193,590 persons. Meanwhile, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) has suggested that the wage be increased to $30/hour while Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for it to be raised to at least $25/hour. Minister Imbert may once again increase prices at the gas pumps. When the People’s National Movement (PNM) administration, led by Keith Rowley, was elected into office in 2015, the price of super gasoline was $2.70 per litre and the price of diesel was $1.50 per litre. In his first Budget presentation on 5th October 2015, Imbert increased the price of super gasoline by 15% to $3.11 per litre and similarly the price of diesel by approximately 15% to $1.72 per litre. Following increases in subsequent Budget presentations, the price of super gasoline now stands at $6.97 per litre, while the price of diesel is $4.41 per litre. The price of premium gasoline, which was $5.75 in April 2022, was increased twice by Imbert during the past year and currently sits at $7.75 per litre. There is also the looming possibility of an increase in the online tax, following Imbert’s announcement that this country’s forex challenges are being fueled in part by “an explosion in online shopping over the last several years.” In his Budget presentation on 30th September 2016, Imbert introduced a 7% tax on online purchases. Watch the live stream below of the presentation of the National Budget for fiscal 2024, when it begins at 1:30 PM. |
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