TTMA IN THE NEWS
Gopee-Scoon: Let Caribbean pool its production resources
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon urged manufacturers across the Caribbean to pool resources for their mutual benefit, addressing the virtual signing ceremony of the Caribbean Manufacturers Association (CMA) on Wednesday. “These are very difficult times. Foreign direct investment is reducing. “For our survival we need investment by our private sector.” Read more here
NEWS
Issues still with PSA voters’ list
The Voters’ list for the Public Service Association’s executive election is still not satisfactory. At a virtual hearing on Wednesday, the list presented to Justice Nadia Kangaloo was said to be still not satisfactory. The PSA’s election committee has been given another week to publish a satisfactory final list before they return to court next Monday. If the issues with the list are not rectified, the court may have to get involved. Read more here
Lack of refugee policy big issue for T&T Govt
Trinidad and Tobago does not have a refugee policy. That means that people who have been forced from their country by war, persecution and/or a natural disaster, have no way of accessing shelter here. Specifically, it means that the Venezuelan migrants who are getting into boats, braving rough waters and pirates to land here because they simply cannot continue to live in their home country, can only be classified as illegal migrants, regardless of how good their reasons are for leaving Venezuela behind. Read more here
POLITICS
Maha Sabha objects to ministry's proposal: No to sex ed
The country's largest Hindu organisation – the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha – through its attorney Dinesh Rambally, has written to the Education Minister expressing concern over a proposal to introduce sex education within the primary school curriculum, including schools run by denominational boards. The topic would be part of a broader Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) format. The proposal on the HFLE came up for discussion during the ministry's online National Consultation on Education 2020 series. Read more here
No word yet on Maduro meeting with T&T officials
No official request from Venezuela for a meeting with Government was received by the Foreign Affairs Ministry up to yesterday evening. This was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne yesterday. Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza had on Wednesday issued word that he had been instructed by President Nicolas Maduro to convene a meeting with T&T officials. Read more here
BUSINESS
Ministry warns over E coli contamination
The Health Ministry has advised of a recall in the United States of the Tanimura & Antle brand of packaged single-head romaine lettuce, due to possible E coli bacteria contamination. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Blood Out Of Stone’ - $1 Trillion To Fix Jamaica’s Roads; NWA Chief Says Agency Doomed To Fail
The $1-trillion bill to efficiently upgrade Jamaica’s roads requires a paradigm shift in construction and maintenance policy and provision of a credible budget, National Works Agency (NWA) Chief Executive E. G. Hunter has said. The state agency has been heavily criticised for its maintenance standards and oversight systems, particularly since rainstorms in October and November plundered swathes of its road and bridge infrastructure, tagging the Holness administration with a bill of nearly $8 billion. Read more here
Cementing links, expanding trade
For decades, Guyana and Brazil have discussed the possibility of linking the two nations through the construction of a paved road, and while there has been more rhetoric than action on this front, there seems to be a clear path now, as both nations have agreed to restart tangible discussions on this project. Guyana is linked directly to Brazil through Lethem, which lies just on the edge of the border between the nations. The journey from Lethem to Georgetown takes as many as 13 hours depending on the state of the road. It recently became impassable. But, once paved, the projection is that the trip will take no more than five hours. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump says for first time he'll leave office if Electoral College votes for Biden
President Donald Trump said for the first time Thursday he will leave office if the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden but made clear he's not prepared to concede. "Certainly I will, and you know that," Trump said when asked by a reporter about leaving the White House if Biden is declared the winner on December 14. "I will and, you know that." "It's going to be a very hard thing to concede because we know there was massive fraud," Trump said without evidence. Read more here
Pig guts fly as Taiwan lawmakers brawl over US pork imports
Taiwan's opposition legislators have thrown pig guts and exchanged blows in parliament amid a heated row over the easing of US pork imports. They say a recent government decision to allow the import of US pork containing ractopamine - an additive banned for pig use in Taiwan and the European Union - is a health threat. The ruling party denies the charge and called for a return to rational debate. It is not uncommon for brawls to erupt in Taiwan's parliament. Read more here
27th November 2020