NEWS
TTPost, postal union square off over 24% offer
The TT Postal Corporation (TTPost) and the TT Postal Workers Union (TTPWU) were at loggerheads over salary negotiations on February 20, with the corporation rejecting the union's demand for an 24 per cent hike. In a statement, TTPost said it rejected the counterproposal from TTPWU which first proposed an 18.6 per cent salary increase for the periods, 2014-2016 and 2017-2019. After TTPost refused the initial proposal, the union returned with an adjusted 24 per cent. In an immediate counterclaim, TTPWU president David Forbes accused the management of being disingenuous, and negotiating in bad faith, denying such proposals were discussed. Read more here
TTPS gets diving experts to help in criminal probe into Paria tragedy
Independent experts, both local and international, who specialise in best practices for commercial diving, will assist the police as they investigate Paria Fuel Trading Company for alleged corporate manslaughter. Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin told Guardian Media yesterday that this was one of the updates given to relatives of four divers who died in the Paria diving accident three years ago, during a meeting with officers at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain. Benjamin said he did not want to divulge much information as the matter was at a sensitive stage, but explained that expert assistance plays a pivotal role in the investigations. Read more here
POLITICS
EU, UN urge Caricom: Push for peace, climate
EUROPEAN UNION (EU) President Ursula von der Leyen and UN head Antonio Guterres both urged Caribbean nations to unite in advocating for peace and for steps to take against climate change, speaking on February 19 at the Caricom 48th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government in Barbados. Earlier outgoing Caricom chairman, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell had vowed, "I am not going to live on Mars," as he urged a partnership for action against climate change. Saying the region has been used as a lab experiment, he said, "This is not a time to allow for might is right and for the powerful and wealthy to say they can take what they want, when they want, where they want or how they want." Read more here
Annisette endorses trade union alliance with UNC
Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union (SWWTU) president Michael Annisette has endorsed the decision by two union leaders to contest seats with the United National Congress. On Wednesday, the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) presented Clyde Elder and Ernesto Kesar as candidates for La Brea and Point Fortin respectively. Elder was the former secretary general of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), while Kesar is now the vice president of the OWTU. Speaking in Barbados on Wednesday, where he was attending the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government in his capacity as general secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, he said he saw no issue with the alliance as politics and trade unionism go hand in hand. Read more here
BUSINESS
Axcel and Term Finance partner for digital lending
In an effort to expand online lending, Term Finance and Axcel Finance have entered into a novel arrangement to enhance customer-service offerings. Under the agreement, Term Finance has taken over certain loan portfolio assets of Axcel Finance. This will expand Axcel Finance’s customer service to encompass online lending, which will reduce costs and accelerate approval to the benefit of the public. A press release from Axcel Finance said since 2011 it has disbursed over US$85 million in loans to more than 28,000 customers. It also recognised Term Finance as having revolutionised digital lending across the region. Read more here
5 roles to be impacted in T&T
The Digicel Group says that only five roles based in Trinidad and Tobago will be impacted by the decentralisation plan, which aims to keep the company “relevant and competitive”. In an e-mail responding to questions from the Express, Digicel confirmed that the consultation period for staff began last week and is expected to last 45 days. Earlier this week, Trinidad and Tobago was identified as one of seven countries where the Digicel Group confirmed that jobs would be made redundant as part of the decentralisation plan. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana to pump $791.4M into key renewable energy initiatives
TO accelerate Guyana’s transition and solidify its role as a global leader in sustainable energy production, the country has outlined ambitious plans to invest $791.4 million in renewable energy projects over the next three years. This was revealed by Guyana’s Prime Minister Brigadier Ret’d Mark Phillips during a presentation at the ongoing Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Thursday. Prime Minister Phillips highlighted that the investment will focus on a variety of large-scale renewable energy projects, including the installation of 21 solar mini-grids that will benefit over 240 public and community buildings across Regions One (Barima-Waini), Three, Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Man disguised as lawyer kills gang leader in court
A notorious gang leader has died after he was shot inside a courthouse in Sri Lanka by a gunman disguised as a lawyer, say police. Police say the gunman used a revolver which was smuggled in a hollowed-out book by a female suspect, who remains at large. Gang leader Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne had been escorted to court to face proceedings when he was shot. Police say he was a suspect in multiple murder cases. The shooting in the capital Colombo is among a series of killings by rivalling gangs, which has persisted as authorities vow to crack down on gang violence in the country. Read more here
21st February 2025