TTMA IN THE NEWS
Honours for Coosal, Roach
Described as the “epitome of the term self-made man”, businessman Sieunarine Coosal was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association’s President’s Dinner and Award Ceremony on Tuesday night. Coosal was bestowed with the award alongside businessman Langston Roach, executive chairman of Langston Roach Industries Ltd. During their acceptance speeches at the Hyatt in Port of Spain, both businessmen congratulated each other. Read more here
Non-energy businesses, SMEs taking over exports
While recognising the achievements of businesses–small, medium and large–Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon on Tuesday night spoke of the country’s transformation in the export sector with non-energy taking the lead. Speaking at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) President’s Dinner and Award Ceremony at the Hyatt in Port of Spain, she said, “We’re (the Government) very proud coming from $100 million (in 1968). In 2023, our export contribution to output was $15.7 billion and that is significant.” Read more here
NEWS
Two teens killed as gunmen spray parlour with bullets
What should have been a quick and uneventful trip to a parlour on Tuesday night ended in death for a schoolboy and a Bon Air teenager, who were gunned down by rifle-wielding killers. Police said officers from the Arouca CID were on patrol in Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, at 10 pm when they heard gunshots coming from the direction of Emerald Circular and Skylark Crescent. The officers went to the scene, where they found the lifeless body of Anim Persad, 15, and Olun James, 18, bleeding nearby. The officers rushed James to the Arima Hospital where he was declared dead. A district medical officer visited the area and declared Persad dead. Read more here
POLITICS
Gonzales meets with new TSTT CEO
One day after TSTT’s new acting CEO Kent Western appointment, he met with Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales and Digital Transformation Minister Hassel Bacchus. A release from the Public Utilities Ministry said during the meeting, Gonzales emphasised the need for TSTT to be transparent, truthful and forthright with the population. It also said Gonzales urged the new CEO that the company needs to “move with dispatch” on the investigations into last month's hack of its customer database, as it may have national security implications. “What is critical at this point in time is restoring the public’s trust and confidence in the company,” he said. Read more here
BUSINESS
ANSA Coatings tops the charts
When people look for paint to spruce up their homes for the Christmas season, for redecorating or to complete a project, they look for specific things – mostly they want long-lasting colours that are vibrant and bring their homes, projects and cars to life. In the Caribbean, that means that paint would have to withstand heat, rain, mould and other factors that would cause it to fade, while providing rich colours that appeal to the tastes of the people of the region. Because of this combination of factors, saying all brands are the same would be painting with a broad brush. This is why for close to 70 years, ANSA Coatings has been perfecting its products to give people in TT and the region the best-quality paints at affordable prices. Read more here
REGIONAL
ICJ to rule soon on Guyana’s request for provisional measures
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to rule soon on Guyana’s request for provisional measures to prevent Venezuela from proceeding with its planned referendum on the unlawful territorial claim to the Essequibo region. Guyana is also seeking from the court an order preventing Venezuela from taking any action to seize, acquire, encroach upon, or assert or exercise sovereignty over the Essequibo region or any other part of Guyana’s national territory, pending the court’s final determination of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the land boundary between the two states and the final and binding nature of that boundary. The court will announce a date for its decision on Guyana’s request to block the referendum.
During the second day of the hearing at the Peace Palace in The Hague, representatives of Venezuela addressed the court, and seemed to focus more on Guyana’s bilateral relationship with the United Nations, United States, and oil company, Exxon Mobil. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US and China agree to resume military communications after summit
The US and China have agreed to resume military-to-military communications in an effort to ease rising tensions, President Joe Biden says. "We're back to direct, open, clear communications," he said following a rare meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in California on Wednesday. It was the first time the pair had spoken in person in more than a year. But there were still signs of tension between the two - Mr Biden repeated his view that Mr Xi is a dictator. China's foreign ministry later criticised the remarks, but they do not appear to have taken the shine off what both sides are portraying as a largely successful meeting. Read more here
16th November 2023