Republic Finance and Merchant Bank has obtained a US$8.6 million judgment in default against Sural CA, Government's joint venture partner in the aluminium smelting company, Alutrint Ltd.

Seven hours after the delivery of the Privy Council ruling which dismissed his appeal, Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma appeared in court to face a criminal charge of attempting to pervert the course of public justice.

Ken Julien, energy czar and the man leading the Manning administration's tertiary education policy, has emerged as a point man in several little companies with links to E Teck, government's latest development company and the National Energy Corporation (NEC).

Trinidad and Tobago is in the grip of a mafia culture and it is urgent that witness as well as jury protection be studied by a special task force and legislation presented to Parliament.

It is apparent the general perception in Trinidad and Tobago at present is that public officials on the average are more corrupt than last year. It is a statistic that we as proud citizens cannot and should not stand for in this age where transparency should be expected at all levels of the public and private sector.

Raul Gutierrez and Eduardo Hillman-Waller, agreed to repay US$24.5 million from proceeds of the Piarco Airport scandal in Trinidad and Tobago. The TnT Government are expected to collect up to US$6 million from the sum.

The aircraft was airborne, hidden amongst the gigantic white puffs; my vision was obscured by the billowing towers of fluffy white and grey masses of clouds. Then as the aircraft came out of the clouds what unfolded before my eyes was the southern coastline of my country, Trinidad, which seemed to be exploding with industrialisation.

Trinidad and Tobago, for years we boast of our God given land, our Eden (Paradise). Our country has been richly blessed with its beautiful flora and fauna, our natural flow ecology systems and marine resources.

It appears Raul Gutierrez Jr, president and chief executive officer of Calmaquip, and Eduardo Hillman-Waller, co-owner of Birk Hillman Consultants Inc, are expected to plead guilty today and also potentially testify in the Piarco Airport scandal trial in Trinidad.

Motorists stand to lose their driving licence for good if they incur two DUI convictions under the proposed breathalyser law, Works Minister Colm Imbert has said.