NEWS
Tobago Chamber of Commerce concerned about island's economic progress
Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Diane Hadad says the organisation is deeply concerned about the island’s economic progress. She made the statement on Thursday, hours after Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke resigned as THA Deputy Chief Secretary. However, he remains the party's leader and the assemblyman for Roxborough/Argyle. Duke's resignation as Deputy Chief Secretary was the latest development in a public feud between him and THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine over the assembly’s response to the plight of some 27 members of the Roxborough Folk Performers who had gone to New York to perform at Labour Day celebrations. Read more here
After killing of Venezuelan baby by Coast Guard:Family relocated to Canada
The family at the centre of the tragedy in which the T&T Coast Guard shot at and killed an infant at sea, has now been relocated to Canada. This was confirmed by international media and locally through attorney Criston Williams. In February, Coast Guard officers fired upon a Venezuelan migrant vessel and killed the baby, identified as Yaelvis Santoyo Sarabia. Now, his mother, Darielvis Sarabia, her husband and second son have found a new home. “To the young lady in question, she has been settled. She has been resettled from Canada,” Williams told Guardian Media in a phone interview. Read more here
POLITICS
Rowley meets US VP Kamala Harris
The Prime Minister and other Caricom leaders met US Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday in Washington, DC, to discuss energy, finance and food security, said a statement on the Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Those present included Caricom Chairman Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader. The OPM said, "With respect to energy security, the potential of the hydrocarbon resources in the region was discussed with a focus on how these resourcees can be part of the solution to the current global difficulties." Read more here
PNM Minority leader not worried about Duke yet
The People’s National Movement’s Minority Leader in the Tobago House of Assembly is observing the situation after Watson Duke’s resignation as THA deputy chief secretary - and Duke’s signal that he’d occupy a new seat away from Assemblymen. And the national PNM party is silent on Duke’s bid to challenge them in Port-of-Spain for Local Government elections. This was among feedback yesterday after Progressive Democratic Patriots leader Duke gave up the post of THA deputy chief secretary, following his running battle with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine which broke out openly recently. Duke, among comments, said he’d continue as Assemblyman for Roxborough/Argyle and occupy a seat in the THA away from Augustine’s side and away from the PNM. Read more here
BUSINESS
Endeavour Holdings report improved profits
Endeavour Holdings Ltd (EHL) has reported a gain of $44M on the acquisition of the Massy Properties (Trinidad) Limited (MPTL). According to the company’s financials, for the quarter ended July 31, 2022, the acquisition resulted in increasing EHL’s net profit for the period to $53M. On July 8, 2022, EHL completed the acquisition of 100 per cent of the issued shares of MPTL for $45M which was financed by a temporary loan from a related party. A long-term bank loan is in the process of being finalised to replace this related party debt, the company said. It added its operational profit after tax has increased by $5M from $3.9M in July 2021 to $8.9M in July 2022. Read more here
Abdool-Richards praises HR professionals during pandemic: Unsung heroes
The Ministry of Health’s Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards yesterday praised human resource (HR) professionals as “unsung superheroes” for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic. She compared their contributions to that of frontline healthcare workers. Kicking off day one of the two-day XXIV Annual Conference of Human Resource Managers of Central Banks in the Caribbean Region under this year’s theme of “Celebrate! Rebirth... Re-engage...Rejuvenate” held at the Central Bank in Port of Spain, yesterday, Abdool-Richards commended HR executives for being able to manage the unexpected pressures of amending human resource policies, dealing with different types of leaves due to Covid-19, scheduling shifts for employees to work remotely versus in office, establishing additional health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus at work, among other things. Read more here
REGIONAL
Region gets US$28M to boost food security
GUYANA and Caribbean nations will benefit US$28M from the US to increase food production in the region, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced on Thursday. The President made the announcement following a meeting with US Vice-President Kamala Harris in Washington. According to President Ali, the funds will be available immediately for short-term activities to support the increase in regional food production and bettering agriculture in the region. Guyana has the responsibility of chairing the United States-CARICOM-Dominican Republic sub-committee on food security and agriculture. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Queen's lying-in-state: China blocked from Westminster Hall
A Chinese government delegation has been banned from attending the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II, according to parliamentary sources. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is understood to have refused a request for access over Chinese sanctions against five MPs and two peers. Queen Elizabeth will lie in state in Westminster Hall until she is buried on Monday. China says it is still considering whether to attend the funeral. A high-ranking official from Beijing had been expected to be amongst the guests, but a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said earlier on Friday that no decision had been made. Read more here
16th September 2022