TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA's TIC outgrowing Centre of Excellence
Since it was launched in 1999, the T&T Manufacturers’ Association’s (TTMA) Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) has generated US$1 billion as of 2024 in trade. This was revealed by TTMA’s president Dale Parson during a sit-down interview on Tuesday. Starting with 15 booths and with only T&T companies, the TIC has evolved over the years, with 330 booths from 15 countries represented as sellers and 27 countries represented as buyers. “We’re expecting approximately 30,000 visitors this year. We have registered, so far, a little over 25,000 and over 3,000 international buyers.” Parson noted that the physical space for TIC is much larger this year with the exhibition occupying the entire Centre of Excellence auditorium and main floors.Parson, who has spoken about wanting TIC to be moved to its own home, explained that a big part of the problem the association is having with Centre of Excellence is that every year the exhibition is growing, with more participants and more booths, so the space becomes cramped. Read more here
NEWS
Mechanic found dead in garage
Vernon Guischard, 67, of Lopinot Road, Arouca, has been killed. A police report says Guischard, a mechanic, was found dead in his garage on July 8 around 4 pm. He died from a wound to the head. A metal chisel was recovered at the scene. Police said that morning Guischard sent someone video footage of a man intruding on his property. A motive for the killing has not been determined and no arrests have been made. Police are continuing investigations. Read more here
POLITICS
Griffith supports increase in legal age for alcohol, marijuana, gambling
Former police commissioner Gary Griffith has expressed support for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s proposal to raise the legal age for gambling and marijuana use to 25. He also endorsed the proposed increase in the legal drinking age to 21. However, Griffith stressed the first step should be the effective enforcement of existing laws. Speaking at a UNC public meeting in Penal on July 7, Persad-Bissessar said her government intends to tackle what it believes is a growing problem of gambling, marijuana, and alcohol addiction by increasing the legal age for participation in these activities. Read more here
BUSINESS
What keeps a CEO up at night?
Digital security, data privacy and the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) usage on human creativity aren’t just buzzwords – they are real-world issues that jolt CEO's out of bed in the dead of night. At the American Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Amcham TT) Tech Hub Islands Summit at the Hilton Trinidad, Port of Spain, on July 2, top executives pulled back the curtain on the high-stakes concerns shaping today's boardroom decisions. Read more here
beware of ‘finfluencers’
As financial advice on social media becomes increasingly common, the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) is urging the public to be cautious of so-called “finfluencers”. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana partners with U.S. giant to develop landmark regional food hub
In a significant step towards strengthening food security and transforming Guyana into a regional leader in agri-business, the Government of Guyana, on Wednesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with renowned United States (U.S.)-based company Blumberg Grain and Logistics.
The agreement, inked at the Ministry of Agriculture’s main boardroom on Regent Street, paves the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art regional food hub at Yarrowkabra, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Offering brief remarks, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said the signing of the MoU is “testament to the Government’s commitment in making Guyana a food-secured country.” He added, “We’ve moved away from that kind of labour-intensive form of production to a more modern and scientific form of production…We are now bringing that expertise to Guyana to transform the development that started since 2020.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Children queuing for supplements killed in Israeli strike in Gaza, hospital says
At least 15 Palestinians, including eight children and two women, have been killed in an Israeli strike near a medical point in central Gaza, a hospital there says. Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital said the strike hit people queueing for nutritional supplements in the town of Deir al-Balah. Graphic video from the hospital showed the bodies of several children and others lying on the floor as medics treated their wounds. The Israeli military said it targeted a "Hamas terrorist" in the area. It said it "regret[ted] any harm to uninvolved individuals" and that the incident was "under review". Another 26 people were reportedly killed in strikes elsewhere in Gaza on Thursday, as Israeli and Hamas delegations continued negotiations for a new ceasefire and hostage release deal at indirect talks in Doha. Read more here
10th July 2025