Daily Brief - Monday 21st August, 2017

TTMA IN THE NEWS

TTMA tells Govt: Boost exports

The Government must do more to boost exports, said the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) in its pre-Budget submission on Thursday. Calling for export growth, the TTMA in a statement urged the creation of an enabling environment to create a much-needed expansion of the manufacturing sector, plus greater production, employment, export and foreign exchange earnings. The statement said Government and business sector have similar interests. “Both the Government and the manufacturing community agree wholly that the industry needs to take the lead in the diversification drive, and the urgent acceleration of this drive is crucial. Read more here

 

NEWS

Mom Tried To Help

An elderly mother risked her life to save one of her sons when she attempted to part a cutlass attack between her son and another close male relative at the family home in Penal on Saturday afternoon. Sadly, the efforts of 71-yearold Dhanrajiyia Thompson failed when her son Paul Mark Teeluck, 27, was brutally chopped to death by his attacker. The assailant also lived at the family’s Lachoos Road, Penal home. Teeluck, who was chopped to the chest and abdominal area, was pronounced dead at the San Fernando General Hospital. Thompson sustained a fractured arm when she attempted to wrest the cutlass away from the attacker. Up to late yesterday the 38-year old-suspect was being interviewed by members of the Homicide Region Three District. According to a police report, at about 6pm Teeluck and the close male relative were talking inside the house when an argument started. Read more here

More flights from CAL on domestic air bridge

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) says that it has increased its seat capacity to its domestic air bridge by over 40 per cent in the last six years. According to a media release yesterday, the airline said it was working closely with stakeholders to continuously improve the management of the service. The operations of the air bridge are carefully planned and take into consideration high activity times like public holidays and special events. Read more here

Toddler still in ICU: abuse probe ongoing

A two-year-old child, who is at the centre of an investigation of allegations of abuse, is still warded at the Intensive Care Unit of Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Mt Hope, for injuries sustained, including a ruptured colon. It is believed the toddler sustained these injuries on August 12 at her father’s home in Diego Martin, when she was in the company of a female friend of the parent. The father returned home that night and the toddler complained of feeling unwell. Read more here

 

POLITICS

Rowley meets Tobago stakeholders today

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will host a media conference at 4 pm today after his meeting with seabridge stakeholders at the Magdalena Grand Ballroom, Lowlands Tobago. This according to a statement yesterday from his press secretary Arlene Goring-George. A previous statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said the meeting will begin at 2 pm and will discuss the unsuccessful attempt to find a replacement passenger ferry to service the seabridge between Trinidad and Tobago. Read more here

All set for Tobago sea bridge talks

Stakeholders will gather today to give Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley a first-hand account of how the three-month breakdown on the sea bridge has been affecting the transport of goods and services to Tobago. Kay Trotman, President of the Tobago Unique Bed and Breakfast and Self-Catering Association hopes the Prime Minister will be ready to hear their plight of how badly they have been affected. The meeting today, scheduled to take place at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Lowlands, at 2 pm, invited stakeholders to speak with the Prime Minister after the cancellation of the contract for the latest passenger ferry the Ocean Flower 2. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

CTO calls for US-Caribbean strategic alliance on tourism

The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has called for a formal partnership between the region’s tourism sector and those responsible for implementing the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, known as H.R. 2939. The CTO said that the Act, which was passed in the United States Congress in December last year and signed into law by then US President Barack Obama, mandates a new long-term strategy to strengthen ties between the US and the Caribbean region. It said it is designed to increase the security, prosperity and well-being of the people of the United States and the Caribbean. Read more here

MASSY, AMCL earnings dip

This week, we at Bourse review the most recent financial results of two companies within the Conglomerate sector—Massy Holdings Limited (MASSY) and Ansa McAL Limited (AMCL). Both companies reported subdued earnings, primarily due to sluggish economic activity in its main operating territories. Read more here

 

REGIONAL

Guyana telecoms company accused of stealing another phone company's logo

The new logo that was unveiled by local telecommunications giant Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) in September 2015 has recently been placed in the spotlight by copyright infringement monitors who raised the possibility that the logo concept and colour theme of GTT seems to be a modified replica of a similar logo that already belongs to another international telecommunications service provider. A closer check of the monitors’ observations and the opinion of a UK trademark and patent firm has since concurred that there may be a case of copyright infringement by the local telecommunications entity, as it relates to the logo and theme concept. After all, the logo and theme have long been in used by GTT Communications, its website, and a wide range of promotional material long before the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. Read more here

UHWI Under Threat! - Overcrowding Could Cost Hospital Its Accreditation To Train Doctors And Nurses

Administrators at Jamaica's only teaching hospital, the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), are fearful that it may lose this designation because of the chronic overcrowding at the facility. The 579-bed facility is bursting at its seams, and up to last Wednesday when officials of the hospital spoke with our news team, the demand for beds was greater than the number available. According to chairman of the board of directors of the UHWI, James Moss-Solomon, the available beds are divided among the specialities at the hospital to maintain accreditation requirements. "We are accredited by an overseas body which grants us permission to give you a degree in nursing or medicine. So the requirements are that if you are teaching these speciality areas, then you must have the facilities to have the practice, as all of these things are not classroom based. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

10 US Navy sailors missing after destroyer collides with merchant ship

Ten US Navy sailors are missing after a US Navy guided-missile destroyer collided with an oil tanker east of Singapore early Monday, the fourth accident in Asian waters involving a US warship in 2017. The Navy's 7th Fleet said the USS John S. McCain collided with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while the destroyer was making its way to a port visit in Singapore. The collision was reported at 5:24 am local time, east of the Malacca Strait, one of the world's most congested shipping routes. The Navy reported significant hull damage to the McCain, saying there was flooding in berthing compartments as well as machinery and communication rooms. Read more here

Barcelona attack suspect named by police as Younes Abouyaaqoub

Spanish police have confirmed the identity of the driver suspected of killing 13 people in last week's attack in Barcelona. He is 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub, officials said, and the manhunt has been extended across Europe. New CCTV footage from the day of the attack appears to show him fleeing the scene on foot. One woman died in a second attack and officials have now confirmed a 15th victim, stabbed to death in his car. Three images in El Pais newspaper allegedly show Abouyaaqoub walking through La Boqueria market, wearing sunglasses, as he passes other people heading away from Las Ramblas. Police also released more images of Abouyaaqoub, and appealed for help in finding him. They say the suspect is dangerous and could be armed. Read more here

21st August 2017

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