NEWS
Regional task force rescues children from human trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago was one of the Caribbean and Latin American countries where nine minors were rescued from human trafficking during a joint task force that took place over five days at the end of May. The joint exercise was conducted by the Caribbean Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Impacs), and the Central American Integration System (Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA)) between May 22 to 26. Read more here
POLITICS
Seepersad weighs pros and cons of arbitration, Senate passes bill
Independent Senator Charrise Seepersad urged an update in TT's arbitration laws to attract foreign investment, but also weighed the benefits and the shortcomings of arbitration relative to formal legal proceedings, speaking on Tuesday in the Senate debate on the Arbitration Bill 2023. The bill was amended at committee stage and passed by the Senate, and will head to the House of Representatives. While arbitration is separate to court proceedings, an arbitrator can seek a court-input or alternatively a court can refer a matter to arbitration, Seepersad said. Read more here
Ex-UNC frontliners blast Kamla’s ‘desperate’ unity call
Former UNC frontliners and MPs, who in 2019 unsuccessfully attempted to get party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to have unity talks with other parties, have “dissed” the call she made on Monday for unity with smaller parties. During a meeting in Sangre Grande, Persad-Bissessar said the UNC was open to unity arrangements with other parties to contest the upcoming Local Government Election and talks were on with some. She projected that if successful for the LG election, that could be the first step to removing the PNM in the general elections. Read more here
BUSINESS
Coosal's dynasty: Father and daughter lead construction giant
Almost everyone knows the name Coosal whether they have sought out products and services from the Coosal’s Group of Companies or seen the transport and cement trucks on the roads – it is a name that is hard to miss. Coosal's has been an active name in the construction sector with it being established over 70 years ago, in which Sieunarine Coosal was appointed CEO of Coosal’s Construction Co Ltd in 1991. Coosal’s operations focus on asphalt, blocks, concrete, civil engineering and infrastructure development and quarry operations. The company also takes its corporate social responsibility seriously and upgrades its plants and equipment to eco-friendly systems. It is also engaged in minimising its carbon footprint, keeping wastage to minimum and proper treatment of waste disposal. Read more here
HSF recovered from 2022 decline
On Monday, Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, issued what he described as the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) fact sheet, in which he responded to an article in the Sunday Express that cited the Fund’s 2022 annual report.The annual report for the financial year ended September 30, 2022, was laid in Parliament by Mr Imbert on February 3. The annual report was posted on the website of the Ministry of Finance on June 7, 2023. Also posted on June 7, was the HSF’s first quarter report for the period October 1 to December 31, 2023. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana, EU sign EUR$4.6M agreement for coastal mangrove restoration project
President Dr Irfaan Ali described the European Union as one of Guyana’s strongest partners in protecting its sea defences, speaking in context of Guyana and the EU signing an agreement to utilise part of a €4.6 million grant for a mangrove protection and restoration project along Guyana’s coastline. The signing ceremony Wednesday evening was attended by Frans Timmermans, the First Vice-President of the European Commission (EC), who is on a two-day visit to Guyana, and Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, signing on behalf of Guyana. The project will involve the monitoring of mangroves, seedling planting, and the rehabilitation of existing mangrove forests. The project will be executed by the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) and the sea defence authority. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Taiwan sees MeToo wave of allegations after Netflix show
Taiwan is being rocked by a wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations - sparked by a Netflix show which many say has ignited a local MeToo movement. More than 90 people have spoken out in the past fortnight, accusing people across the island. The allegations at first centred on politics and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - where several senior officials have resigned. But they have spread across Taiwanese society, with allegations being made against doctors, professors, sporting umpires and YouTubers. On Saturday, a Polish diplomat was accused of sexual assault by a think tank researcher. Read more here
15th June 2023