TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA leads trade mission to Antigua
To foster greater trade ties with its Caricom countries, the T&T Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) will be hosting a private sector delegation on a trade mission to Antigua and Barbuda from today to December 1, 2023. The mission will be led by Dr Mahindra Ramdeen, the CEO of TTMA and will comprise 14 companies with more than 20 people in attendance from various sectors inclusive of transportation, shipping and logistics, printing and packaging, banking and finance, apparel and safety wear, chemicals and non-metallics, construction and building matters, food and beverage and other manufacturing and related industries. Noting that Antigua and Barbuda is a major trading partner for T&T, the TTMA said some of the main exports from this country to Antigua and Barbuda include beverages, toilet paper, flour, cereals, tobacco, ice-cream, tomato ketchup and many others. Read more here
NEWS
Cops hunting two suspects in Licensing arson attack
Fire and police officers returned to the Licensing Division head office at the Caroni South Bank Road yesterday, as they continued investigations into an arson attack that resulted in 16 impounded vehicles being burnt on Sunday. After poring over CCTV footage obtained from security cameras installed around the compound, the investigators said they were searching for two suspects who were seen jumping an adjoining fence and tinkering with one of the impounded cars, minutes before the explosion that sparked the massive destruction of the vehicles. Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke and other senior officials of the Licensing Division and the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) met with investigators to conduct a valuation exercise yesterday, as they tried to determine the value of the damage caused. Read more here
POLITICS
Way clear for Government, Opposition collaboration - GRIFFITH OUT OF CRIME TALKS
After weeks of speculation about whether crime talks between Government and the Opposition would happen, former police commissioner Gary Griffith says he is clearing the way for the discussions by bowing out of the Opposition’s team. On Monday, Griffith issued a press release which accused the Prime Minister of “seeking excuses” and making him the scapegoat in stalling crime discussions. The political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) said, “Politics should be in the best interest of the people, not personalities.” “I am a patriot first, and I always put my country above everything else. This is why, after consultations with Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar,...I have agreed to forgo my inclusion in anti-crime talks with the government.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Labidco partners with Nedco for business accelerator programme
The La Brea Industrial Development Company Ltd (Labidco) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Entrepreneurship Development Company Ltd (Nedco) to be a partner institution for the Business Accelerator Programme on Friday. A release from Labidco said the partnership is expected to attract and provide support for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with growth potential in the community of La Brea and enable sustainable businesses to develop and grow. “Successful participants will also be given the opportunity to access competitively priced and readily available commercial space on Labidco’s industrial estate for small and micro sustainable-type enterprises,” the release said. Read more here
Venezuela’s acts of aggression have impacted Guyana economy
International relations practitioner, Dr. Raymond Mark Kirton, says Venezuela’s acts of aggression against Guyana over the years have impacted the economy of the English-speaking, South American country. Kirton, who is Guyanese, made the point at a forum hosted the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies, Valsayn last Monday on the Venezuela and Guyana border dispute. Kirton, a former Ag. Director, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies (UWI) accused Venezuela of attempting to sabotage Guyana’s economy. Read more here
REGIONAL
EU increases forest-management funding for Guyana to €$3.8M
The Ministry of Natural Resources on Friday signed an aide-mémoire with the European Union (EU) under its Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), which is a critical component of the Forest Law and Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan. The signing agreement was facilitated by Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat at the second Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC) meeting held at the Guyana Forestry Commission. Minister Bharrat assured those at the meeting of the government’s continued commitment to the VPA, as it sees great value in what it has contributed thus far, and its benefits in the future. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
'Granny, I've been shot,' said Palestinian student targeted in Vermont
After being ambushed and shot in the spine on a US street at the weekend, Hisham Awartani called police. Then the Palestinian-American student phoned his British-born grandmother. "Granny, I've been shot," the 20-year-old said, his uncle told the BBC. Mr Awartani was targeted on Saturday in Burlington, Vermont, along with two fellow Palestinian-American students. He and the other victims - Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Aliahmad - are expected to survive. All three are recovering from their injuries in an intensive care unit at hospital. But for Mr Awartani, who was most critically injured, the road to recovery will be long, his uncle said. "The bullet is lodged in his T2 vertebra against his spine," Rich Price said. Read more here
28th November 2023