TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA hopes ferry will connect islands
TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) president Roger Roach is awaiting more details of the proposed intra-regional ferry but generally welcomed more inter-island transport, especially after LIAT's recent demise, he told Newsday on Thursday. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the Galleon's Passage fast ferry now serving the Tobago-Trinidad sea bridge (along with four other vessels) will be used to move raw materials and fresh produce to areas of consumption and manufacturing among Guyana, Barbados and TT. However in his address at a Phoenix Park function, Dr Rowley gave no details of any legal/commercial contracts for the three countries to set up the new ferry service, nor mentioned funding or operational details such as routes, timetables, fuel consumption or technical support for the ferry service. Read more here
NEWS
Pennywise Ltd reverses unpaid lunch-hr decision
Pennywise Cosmetics Ltd will have a paid lunch-hour and a 15-minute break for its workers who are on minimum wage, after the company reversed an earlier decision to remove these provisions. A post in its Facebook page on Thursday said the company had reverted to the original terms and conditions of employment following queries raised by members of the public. "We wish to advise our valuable employees, and the concerned public, that we have decided to revert to the original terms and conditions as applicable. "This decision has been made following advice from our industrial relations consultant as we seek to continue to comply with the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act and other applicable labour laws," Pennywise said in the post on its FB page. Read more here
Gym owner ambushed, shot at Long Circular Mall
Business owners at Long Circular Mall, St James, are calling for heightened security following a shooting incident in the mall’s ground level car park yesterday. Around midday, owner and managing director of the D’Dial Fitness gym, Michael St John, was shot multiple times as he made his way to his parked vehicle. Upon investigation, CCTV footage showed that around 12.22 pm, a gunman, who was lying in wait in an SUV already parked near the loading bay area of the mall, ran out of the vehicle and opened fire on St John. According to police reports, St John was shot in the face. He was subsequently taken to the hospital where he was treated and warded in a stable condition. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC loses local govt election high court petition – Lengua seat still in a stalemate
The United National Congress (UNC) has lost its challenge of the local government election results for the district of Lengua/Indian Walk. Justice Marissa Robertson dismissed the UNC’s election petition in a notice to the parties. In her ruling, she said the EBC “acted correctly” in rejecting a disputed special ballot. “Accordingly, the disputed ballot cannot be counted in the determination of the results for the local government elections. This petition is therefore dismissed.” The UNC filed the petition on August 21, after two recounts which led to the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate Autly Granthume being announced the winner over the UNC’s Nicole Gopaul-Jones on election night, August 14. Read more here
BUSINESS
A new economic generator
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the newly opened Phoenix Park Industrial Estate (PPIE), in partnership with the government of China, is an investment in critical economic infrastructure for people and businesses in Trinidad and Tobago. Rowley made the point yesterday during his feature address at the opening ceremony of the industrial estate in California, Couva. “This milestone marks the inauguration of the most modern industrial park in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, and the creation of a new economic generator in our country,” he said. Read more here
REGIONAL
Budget 2024 has no new taxes
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday, said that Budget 2024 will not include any new taxes. Dr. Jagdeo, while responding to questions on plans for the fiscal year at his weekly news conference, said: “At the national level, there will be no new taxes.” He further said that this year’s budget will see the continuation of many infrastructural projects, both at the national and community levels. “You are going to see the continuation of infrastructure, as we said before, of different nature; you are going to see economic infrastructure continuing, projects that will expand our productive capacity. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Taiwan election: It's not war young voters worry about - it's jobs
Ziwei can still remember the months she spent huddling alone in a tiny shoebox apartment in Taipei. There was no window in the 10-sq-m studio, just a small vent near the ceiling. It perpetually stank of sewage, even after she stuffed her shower drain with plastic bags. And the walls were painted in just the oddest shade of orange. "With no windows, I felt so sad," the 32-year-old recalled. "I would stay out really late every night, and I would come home only to sleep." But it was all she could afford in 2019 after breaking up with her boyfriend and moving out. Though she was a civil servant - considered to be a good job - her monthly pay was NT$40,000 ($1,285; £1,011) at the time, well below the national average. Read more here
12th January 2024