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  • 2 days ago

The PSA signed off on an agreement with the CPO, but did not settle on how and when the monies will be paid

A former US General questioned whether T&T had any involvement in a possible war crime

And the Finance Minister introduced some new fiscal measures
Transcript
00:00good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six i am runessa cutting has what made the news
00:23this past week the psa signed off on an agreement with the cpo but did not settle on how and when
00:30the monies will be paid a former u.s general questioned whether tnt had any involvement
00:36in a possible war crime and the finance minister introduced some new fiscal measures as per usual
00:43if it was happening it was on six let's get right into it signed sealed and awaiting delivery at
00:52least that was the impression given by the public services association after supposedly signing off
00:58on wage negotiations with the cpo last week the ball is now in the finance minister's court
01:05after the psa and the cpo signed off on the 10 wage increase for public officers according to a release
01:13from the psa advance honoraires are to be paid on or before december 23rd just in time for christmas
01:21as promised new salaries and allowances will take effect in january notably however a release from
01:28the cpo says commander daryl dindial is to continue discussions with the psc with respect to the
01:35methods and timelines for the settlement of outstanding allowances and payment of arrares of salaries tv6 news
01:43asked finance minister devendranath tanku whether this means that a partial payment will be made to
01:49public servants in december however he referred us to the psa calls and messages to psa president
01:57felicia thomas went unanswered despite agreeing to terms and conditions last week the psa and the cpo
02:05finalized the signing of the agreement at one this morning a process the cpo described as memorable
02:11at this time discussions continue on other terms and conditions of employment including meal allowance
02:18traveling housing and transfer allowance motor vehicle loan among others cost of living allowance
02:26has been consolidated for both periods 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019 totaling a net 15 percent increase
02:37for public servants the settlement is expected to cost the state approximately 3.8 billion dollars in
02:43back pay and an additional 420 million dollars annually in recurrent expenditure meantime the national
02:52nurses association is healing the psa for setting a fresh precedent for negotiations the association is yet to
03:00settle negotiations for the periods 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019 we wanted to see what the public services
03:12association would got would have gotten um to inform ourselves of what the government can afford and the
03:21government has indicated clearly lucidly that they can afford a minimum of 10 percent so we are so
03:30thankful for that and so thankful that the public services association has now set the minimum the minimum
03:41salary increase that any union any union would accept going forward and with one government minister
03:50insinuating that only politically aligned groups will benefit as the psa did the ttna is issuing this
03:58advisory because this is our money let it not be confused that this is private funds that psa is getting let it
04:09not be confused that a government can decide who and who would not benefit from state resources let it not be
04:20confused this is your money while the very next date was revealed that there is still no agreement
04:28as to how the back pay is to be settled as the cpo and the psa president got into a public back and
04:35forth over whether the balance would be satisfied by a non-cash options but the prime minister sought to
04:42assure public servants that they will be getting some money before christmas negotiations now have to focus
04:49on the initial cash advance and destructed payment of the remaining arrears including any lawful
04:57mutually agreed formula so minister finance is instructed and mandated for the negotiations to continue but more
05:05important the minister is instructed and mandated to pay this first brand this first set of money before christmas
05:12don't touch a button we'll have more news when we return
05:25welcome back a retired u.s army lieutenant general questioned whether trinidad and tobago had any
05:32involvement in what is now being framed as a possible war crime general hurtling made the comment on the
05:39don lemon show as a top u.s navy official appeared before congress to give his testimony world war crimes
05:47committed when the u.s navy took the decision to kill two survivors of the first boat strike on alleged
05:54narco traffickers on september 2nd while that determination will be made based on the testimony of admiral frank mitch
06:02bradley commander of u.s special operations who appeared before lawmakers in a closed door session today
06:10meantime retired u.s army lieutenant general philip hurtling is questioning whether trinidad and tobago
06:17had any involvement hurtling was speaking on the don lemon show somebody pulled that trigger if that was
06:25it it doesn't appear to me to be a drone strike i may be wrong but if they're saying it was a missile shot
06:31from the island of trinidad that tells me it was a laser guided missile and you had a laser spot from that uav or
06:41aircraft that we see the film of if you have another laser guided missile coming into that site to hit that boat a second time
06:49time you have to have video of it because you have to paint the ship with a laser from another location so there are films there are audios and there are probably unless they've been destroyed and there are a lot of senior officers who know exactly what happened tv6 news asked former director of t t's national
07:10coastal radar surveillance system commander normal dindyal to give his opinion on the retired general's comments
07:18it would mean that the u.s vessel would have been sailing in our territorial waters so they would have
07:25been given permission by trinidad and tobago or they would have used a missile battery or personnel actually
07:36stationed on land so online is highly improbable so this is what the admiral the general was was alluding to
07:43that according to his information that he has right now he's saying the um the missile strike either
07:51came from trinidad and tobago territory or the guiding of the missile came from trinidad and tobago territory
07:56but it will all be left up and in the investigation where those things came from now either or if any of
08:04those things came from our territory the missile strike or the laser guided strike it means that we have aided
08:11the u.s in that strike um against civilian and against the geneva convention it has been reported
08:18internationally that u.s defense secretary pete hegseth had given an order to quote kill them all
08:25rhetoric which tnt's prime minister kamala posad besessa herself used following the strike with questions
08:32now circulating with respect to a possible breach of the geneva convention thereby constituting a war crime
08:39commander dindal says tnt may have questions to answer and that is where it gets a little ticklish
08:45with the u.s themselves um they don't answer to the geneva convention but this is why the u.s are looking
08:53at this particular piece of information because the u.s has incorporated this article of the geneva
09:00convention in their local domestic law so it will hold so they will be prosecuted under u.s domestic law the
09:07u.s the u.s the u.s participants the other participants will be under international law so if
09:13we are found culpable we will be under the international criminal court of justice as for
09:19what could happen to u.s participants if found guilty american analysts believe they'll get a tap
09:26on the wrist our pardons in the mix here yeah yeah but is it would that further divide uh something
09:35that we call the civil military relationships oh absolutely over 80 people have been killed in the
09:41strikes to date well tv6 news reached out to prime minister kamala posad besessa and minister of defense
09:49wainsturge for responses but we're still awaiting their replies in other news a major crackdown on
09:56illegal gambling operations is coming in the form of a new offense the government is hopeful the
10:02measures will act as strong deterrence to perpetrators but feeling that it will put some
10:07extra cash in the state's coffers in keeping with the advice of the protective services the police
10:15service in particular clause 6 will introduce a new offense under section 33 of the national lotteries
10:23act relating to persons who conduct gambling activities that rely on the draw results of the nlcb's
10:32online play i am advised by the police mr speaker that this is the most popular form of illegal
10:41gambling in trinidad and tribunal this new section mr speaker makes it an offense for any person who is
10:50not an authorized agent of the nlcb to print sell distribute receive or possess tickets or to engage in any
11:00related actions associated with online lottery draws in addition mr speaker this new section penalizes
11:09authorized agents who receive a play issues a ticket or pays out any money pursuant to the results of an
11:18online draw and fails to remit the proceeds to the board this is also necessary mr speaker because the
11:27information that the ministry of finance has received is that this illegal gambling is also being
11:34facilitated by licensed agents mr speaker these offenses carry strong penalties for both offenses 250 000
11:47and three years imprisonment on summary conviction and for both offenses three million dollars and seven
11:53years for imprisonment on indictment amendments have also been made to allow the government to better avail
12:02in itself of lottery proceeds clause six also amends section 23 of the act to require the nlcb to make
12:10deposits into the consolidated fund on a quarterly basis as opposed to an annual basis which currently exists
12:18increased fines increased taxes and a significantly increased borrowing limit were the key features of the
12:25finance bill which was presented in parliament on friday here's more as the country grapples with a 3.8
12:34billion dollar deficit the government has moved to further increase the borrowing limit in the face of
12:40constrained revenues this amendment increases the extend the existing statutory limit on external borrowing for
12:48general development purposes for general development purposes clause 14 increases the statutory ceiling to 45 000
12:55million trinidad and tobigo dollars from the thirty thousand five from the thirty thousand five thousand
13:02million as a 500 million as at least now mr speaker this amendment is being brought in a similar manner that
13:10the former administration brought when it doubled the borrowing limit under this very same act in 2015.
13:17the bill also sees the implementation of an electricity surcharge but residential customers will not be affected
13:26under this part a surcharge of five cents per kilowatt hour will be charged on electrical energy consumed by
13:34commercial and industrial customers this surcharge will be collected through the existing billing system
13:40of t and tech with commercial and industrial customers paying the surcharge along with their regular electricity bill
13:47mr speaker the surcharge will not apply to public schools health care facilities the supply of electricity for
13:55public purposes or other additional categories as the minister may by order prescribe formalization of the
14:03landlord sector will also occur in 2026 as indicated in the budget strong offenses have also been created to prevent
14:12non-compliance including collecting rent from unregistered premises unknowingly supplying false information
14:19to the board these offenses carry a penalty of 250 000 and three years of imprisonment this new part
14:30ensures that the landlord sector is formalized transparent and accountable fines for offenses such as driving without
14:39valid insurance and valid insurance and permits have also been increased we are doubling maximum penalties
14:45across key provisions of this act mr speaker for the main purpose for the main offense under section 3 2
14:53which penalizes persons whose drives without a policy of insurance or such security in respect of
15:01third-party risks the maximum fine is increased from 7 500 to 15 000 and a maximum term of imprisonment is
15:13now going to be increased from two years to four years mr speaker this is the past seven days on six we'll be right back
15:23thanks for staying with us the prime minister gave her word that a final feasibility and restart
15:33recommendation will be submitted early next year for the restart of the state-owned refinery in point of
15:40air which has been out of operation for the past seven years but the prime minister's office said quote
15:46any restart must meet rigorous health and safety protocols to ensure the protection of human life
15:53environment and assets prime minister kamla pasal besessa says that her administration will restart
16:00the muck-balled state-owned oil refinery in point of air on the social media platform x the prime
16:06minister said that the refinery restart committee's interim reports findings are clear restarting the
16:13wakara refinery is technically commercially and financially viable even after seven years of closure and neglect
16:21prime minister president said she has directed the ministry of energy to evaluate the report
16:27and present the best restart options for cabinet consideration the prime minister then announced
16:34that a final feasibility and restart recommendation will be submitted early in 2026 official photos show
16:42that on thursday december 4th prime minister pesad besessa received the interim report from the refinery
16:49restart committee which is chaired by former energy minister kevin ramnerine also present were energy
16:56minister dr rudal munilal and minister in the ministry of energy honesto kisar the refinery was closed when
17:03the state-owned oil company was restructured from petrotrin to trinidad petroleum holdings limited in late
17:102018 by the former pnm administration then led by dr keith rowley
17:15at that time then prime minister rowley said in an address to the nation that petrotrin will require
17:22an immediate 25 billion dollar cash injection just to stay alive and that there was no way that the
17:30company can find this money as no financier will lend it because the company simply will not be able to
17:36repay such an additional loan in a statement on friday the office of the prime minister the opm said the
17:43refinery restart committee noted that in the year of closure 2018 the refinery was making an operating
17:51profit before hiving off its revenue to satisfy what it called the era of multi-billion dollar debt
17:58under its then chairman the deceased malcolm jones a company led by the oil fields workers trade union the
18:05owtu was unsuccessful in its bid to restart the refinery following the former pnm administration's
18:12announced intention to sell or lease it neither occurred before the uncn's coalition of interests
18:18which includes the owtu won the 2025 general election in her latest post on the matter on x prime minister
18:26pesad besessa said that a restart will create major jobs contractor opportunities foreign exchange and
18:32revitalize fence line communities and added that trinidad and tobago can once again become a leading
18:39regional supplier of refined products the opm said the closure of the refinery for seven years has led
18:46to degradation of the units and supporting facilities and offsites but the committee concluded that the
18:52newer plants which were part of the gasoline optimization program were in relatively good condition
18:59the prime minister said the committee confirms that time is of the essence as further deterioration could
19:04make a restart on economic and that the ulsd or ultra low sulfur diesel plant is critical to capturing
19:12strong regional demand the opm added that the committee's report recommends four phases to the restart process
19:19based on favorable economics ease of repairs availability of resources and availability of capital expenditure
19:27the opm also noted that the prime minister considers the health and safety framework of paramount
19:33importance as any restart must meet rigorous health and safety protocols to ensure the protection of
19:40human life environment and assets jewel brown tv6 news in other news srps walked out of a meeting with
19:51ttps ttps execs following comments made by one acp nobody nobody is owed anything nobody is owed anything
20:03even even a sub-adaption attorney attorney police service is not owed the right to walk into the ttps
20:10this comment by acp code simon led to a walk out by special reserve police during a meeting with senior ttps
20:32members yesterday however acp simon is standing by the statement as he notes there are certain criteria to
20:39become a member of the ttps which cannot simply be satisfied or replaced by tenure persons will have
20:46to really sit down closely and and ponder this because i am aware of persons who are trying to
20:52qualify themselves at higher levels of education that's by doing degrees in criminal justice criminology
21:00different it subjects and so on in a bid to get into the service to go in that direction that the
21:06service has been propagated itself to be heading the police service is currently in the process of
21:11absorbing 800 srps in accordance with a cabinet note however tenure is not a consideration in the
21:18absorption which is a major source of contention for the srps then we might as well we might as well
21:26abort the the entire law that states how a person is supposed to become a a a police officer in the
21:34trinidad tobago police service and just have a lot of traits and and for for perhaps absorption and then
21:41that would mean that persons citizens would would lose their their ability to apply to the police service
21:50meantime president of the trinidad and tobago police service social and welfare association asp ishmael
21:57pitt says the association is in active talks with the homeland security minister towards improving the
22:04terms and conditions for srps of which there are just over three thousand from an association perspective
22:12we looked at we looked at things as um length of length of service in terms of tenure um we looked
22:19at um the performance uh appraisal in terms of the officer's performance on the job we also um looked at
22:29the the area of medical in terms of the officer's sick leave and things like that um you know those
22:35were the areas that we advanced in terms of having the absorption process sport is up next keep it here
22:51in sport the west indies earned a draw in the opening test against new zealand in christ church
22:58the black caps required another six wicket on the last day whereas the windys were chasing an
23:03improbable 531. instead the men in maroon got to 457 for six with justin graves scoring 202 not out
23:13here's a look back at how it all went down sat a mammoth 531 to win the west indies began day
23:20five of the first test against new zealand in christ church on 212 for four and away before
23:28she hope resumed on 116 and justin graves 55
23:32with the two putting on a vital stand of 196. maybe just a little bit too much width hope was
23:38magnificently caught by captain tom latham to give jacob duffy his third wicket the barbadian made 140
23:44standing from latham more trouble as tevin imlak was out lbw to zach forks for four given quickly
23:51given by umpire rifle many thought it was all over for the westernies but new batter kemal roach
23:57and graves had other plans to close out that over graves got his sentry right after lunch with this
24:04single it was the second at test level and he was pleased with his effort what a moment for justin
24:10graves and you can see how much that means to him and his team but he wasn't done and continued to
24:17frustrate the home team out in the middle that'll be four more overpitched and then too short both
24:23batters were determined to see the west indies not lose the match here graves got to 150 with this
24:29single keeps on keeping on another wonderful moment then roach reached his milestone which happened to
24:37be a maiden test 50 the two are grinding it out for the visitors with age his first graves hit 202 not
24:46out of 388 balls and roach was unbeaten on 58 of 233 deliveries the two had an obdurate unbroken
24:54partnership of 180 as west indies closed on 457 for six to draw the match jenna nawani tv6 sport
25:03and that's a wrap on the past seven days on six i am runessa cutting if you didn't catch this segment in
25:09its entirety you can find it on our website www.tv6tnt.com and you can find all these stories
25:18and more on the tv6 mobile app thanks for choosing tv6 and do have a great evening
25:39you
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