Melissa Doughty

Tobago

Senior Reporter at Newsday (Trinidad and Tobago)

Journalist and writer

Featured in: Favicon

newsday.co.tt

Articles

"Jobs safe in WASA transformation"

3 days ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

News MINISTER of Public Utilities Barry Padarath is assuring that while there will be transformation at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), this will be done without any job loss. He said so in response to Opposition MP Marvin Gonsalves’ claims that government might be unable to access Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funding if the authority was not transformed.
"Police search for 5 escaped immigration detainees"

4 days ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

News The police were up to Tuesday evening searching for five men who escaped from the Immigration Detention Centre, in East Trinidad. In a release on Tuesday, the TTPS said foreign nationals Christian Jose Rivero Parades, Samuel Eduardo Gonzalaz Rodriguez, Leirzer Omar Meza Font, Jhonatan Jesus Carreno and Miguel Sanchez had all escaped from the centre at approximately 3 pm. It said Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro visited the centre and co-ordinated a manhunt.
"‘Minister’ tells youth: Don’t be ‘Lucifer Puppet’"

4 days ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features RONALD “Minister” Henry wants his music to positively influence youth and aid in driving positive behavioural change. He hopes his newly-released single, Lucifer Puppet will help his cause. It was released on June 6 on all platforms. Minister dedicated his life to serving God and doing God’s will, using his musical talent to “reach the hearts of men,” a release said, adding that he describes the single as a song for this time.
"Renee Cummings to Trinidad and Tobago: Start the AI conversation"

6 days ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features TT-born AI ethicist, criminologist and University of Virginia assistant professor Renee Cummings’ trek to becoming one of the leading voices on the technology and its development began with disappointment and data. Cummings has received accolades and awards for her work and will receive another on June 27 at Caribbean Heritage Month celebrations in the US.
"WINAD wants women to be part of anti-gun violence action"

1 week ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features The Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) is doing its part to fight gun violence and, during the week of Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, it held a panel discussion – Countering Challenges to Small Arms Control: Local, Regional and Global Perspectives on June 5, at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.
"Mical Teja’s debuts album Home"

2 weeks ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features Road March winner 2024 Mical Teja released his debut album, Home, on June 13. On his Instagram page, Teja said it was finally here. “This is HOME. From Trinbago to the world, this is the soundtrack of where we come from and where we going (trini flag emoji and globe emoji),” he posted. The ten-track album features his award-winning single, DNA and his 2025 single, Energy. It also features his Coutain collab, Riddim.
"Tyla headlines Barbados’ Tipsy Music Festival"

2 weeks ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features South African Grammy-winning artiste Tyla will headline the 2025 edition of Tipsy Music Festival (TMF) in Barbados on July 20. Soca stars Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons are also expected to take the stage that day as well. The festival starts on July 19 and that day’s event will feature DJs, live sets and beachside vibes, a release said on June 13.
"Filmmaker urges creatives to embrace AI as useful tool"

2 weeks ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features Filmmaker, communications consultant and screenwriter Timothy Teemal believes AI could democratise the local film industry and aid in a content explosion. He sees his two short, AI-developed films as the start of this and he intends to train as many people on how to do it. The Eulogy and Tulsi are the first of many AI films he hopes to generate. “Everything in the films are AI – from the actors to the voices, background music. I did everything.
"Caribbean Film Festival premieres in Trinidad and Tobago"

2 weeks ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

Features Port of Spain will come alive with the colours, sounds, and stories of the Caribbean as the inaugural Caribbean Film Festival (CFF) rolls out five days of dynamic cinema, culture, and connection, from June 11-15. From glamorous red carpets and international premieres to industry mixers and immersive workshops, CFF marks a bold new chapter for regional storytelling – one that proudly places TT at the heart of the global cultural map.
"Al-Rawi: There are reasons for non-disclosures"

2 weeks ago | newsday.co.tt | Melissa Doughty

News OPPOSITION Senator and former attorney general and minister of rural development and local government Faris Al-Rawi, SC, said freedom of information needed to be balanced, even as he declined to speak on NiQuan Energy Ltd nor reasons for refusing to disclose an investigative report into the June 15, 2023 explosion which took the life of Allanlane Ramkissoon. Al-Rawi spoke at the opposition’s June 9 press conference.