New T&T President Christine Kangaloo: “I will fight to the end to make the office better for all of us”

AGuard of Honour comprising sharply-dressed members of the Defence Force signalled the start of the process to install a new President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Scores of onlookers, including schoolchildren in uniform, looked on from the Grand stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah as Presidentelect Christine Kangaloo and her husband, Kerwyn Garcia arrived at the venue.

Their arrival was followed by Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Mrs Archie; Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife ,Mrs Sharon Rowley. The final major dignitary to arrive was President PaulaMae Weekes to participate in the ceremonial handing over of the reigns of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The breaking of the Presidential Standard was next, followed by the Presidential Salute, while the National Anthem was played simultaneously.

Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez of the Santa Rosa First People and President of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Pandit Mookram Sirjoo did the invocation.

A musical interlude by the Southernaires Choir performing Melanie Hudson's “I will always be there for you”

Antigua and Barbuda has also sent off samples of sargassum to Finland for testing in regards to its potential uses for fertiliser,

This massive seaweed bloom, which has doubled in size every month from November to January forming a belt wider than the continental United States, is expected to reach the Caribbean in late June and early July. It has already been seen washing up on beaches.

The seaweed also creates a number of other en -

The floating algae that bears berry-like bubbles filled with oxygen that keep it buoyant provides a habitat for countless species of marine wildlife that may prove to become invasive upon entry to the region. When the seaweed reaches shore, it decays in the sun and releases hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs and can aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Venezuelan Oil Minister resigns, Police arrest officials in corruption sweep

Venezuelan Oil Minister Tareck

El Aissami said on Monday he would resign and at least six officials were arrested following investigations by Police into corruption, including at State-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

"In light of the investigations that have begun about serious occurrences of corruption at PDVSA, I have taken the decision to present my resignation as Minister of Oil, with the intent to support, accompany and totally back this process," El Aissami, who has been Minister since 2020, said on Twitter.

Venezuelan anti-graft police arrested a Mayor, two Judges and three government officials, at least two of whom are connected with PDVSA, State television and sources familiar with the matter said earlier on Monday.

Arresting government officials for corruption is rare in Venezuela, which rights groups such as Transparency International have described as opaque.

El Aissami has been under US sanctions since 2017 for alleged connections to drug trafficking, which he denies.

According to sources familiar with the case, the arrested officials include Colonel Antonio Perez, a former Vice President in charge of commerce and supply at PDVSA, and Colonel Samuel Testamarck, General Manager of PDVSA's maritime arm PDV Marina.

One source said the

PDVSA arrests were linked to an investigation into oil cargoes leaving the country without due payment to the company, and that other executives have been suspended from their posts.

PDVSA suffered heavy losses last year as tankers left Venezuela without proper payments being made for cargo. New PDVSA boss Pedro Tellechea ordered an audit and suspended oil supply contracts shortly after taking over the role in January. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US flags arbitrary killings, torture in Ortega's Nicaragua

entertained the attendees before the swearing-in ceremony took place, administered by the Chief Justice.

In her first act as the seventh President of Trinidad and Tobago, Kangaloo received a Presidential Salute accompanied by the National Anthem and a Twenty-One Gun Salute.

In her inaugural address, Kangaloo thanked former President Weekes and paid tribute to the country's past Presidents.

She then assured that "as your President, I will fight to the end to make the office work better for all of us."

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

The US State Department cited credible reports of arbitrary killings, arrests and torture in Nicaragua, as well as harsh and life-threatening conditions in the country's prisons, in an annual human rights report released on Monday.

Under the increasingly authoritarian regime of President Daniel Ortega, an extended clampdown on dissent has been enforced by security and judicial forces under his control, including the jailing and subsequent ex - pulsion of more than 200 Government critics just last month.

The State Department's 2022 human rights report pointed to "numerous reports that the Government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings".

Ortega's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The report described Nicaraguan prison conditions as potentially "life threatening", citing overcrowding, poor sanitation and medical care as well as violence among prison - ers.

It also criticised the apparent failure of Ortega officials to investigate crimes allegedly committed by Police and other security forces related to anti-Government protests that erupted in 2018 and left at least 355 dead.

The unrest of five years ago marked one of the biggest challenges to Ortega's entrenched government, and was met with what rights groups assail as widespread repression across the Central American country.

(Reuters)