By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
JAMAICA — TWO POLICEMEN SHOT AND KILLED IN ST. ANDREW
Jamaican authorities have identified the two policemen who were shot and killed on Walton Park Road in St. Andrew on Thursday evening.
The deceased are Corporal Charles Stewart of the Spanish Town Police and Constable Jamari Gordon of the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime (CTOC) Unit.
Reports indicate that the officers were off duty at a business establishment around 7:30 p.m. when a confrontation occurred. Shortly after, gunfire erupted.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force has since launched a high-level probe into the double murder as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO — ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR SLAMS GOVERNMENT VENUE BAN
Turning to Trinidad and Tobago:
With an estimated 100,000 people expected to lose work tied to Carnival events, entertainment industry stakeholders are questioning the government’s decision to ban the use of UDeCOTT-operated venues for Carnival fêtes.
The Trinidad & Tobago Promoters Association has described the move as “a death knell to the country’s entertainment industry.”
In a strongly worded press release titled “Death of the Carnival Entertainment and Tourism,” the association’s president, Robert Tomsan, questioned the government’s true intent behind the ban.
Stakeholders warn that the decision threatens the nation’s tourism sector, cultural economy, and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on Carnival for income.
INTERNATIONAL — U.S. TO REMOVE TARIFFS ON KEY IMPORTS FROM LATIN AMERICA
And finally, on the international scene:
The United States announced on Thursday that it will remove tariffs on selected food and agricultural imports from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador, under new framework agreements that expand U.S. access to those markets.
The reduced tariffs are expected to lower U.S. consumer prices on products such as coffee, bananas, and other food commodities.
A senior U.S. administration official expressed optimism that American retailers will pass on the savings to consumers, particularly at a time of rising food costs.
