TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA leads trade mission to New York
A host of 19 companies will engage in the TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) trade mission to New York from September 15 to 19. In a release on September 15, TTMA said this mission is the first to take a multi-sectoral approach, bringing together stakeholders in food and beverage, chemicals, logistics and services, among others. The mission’s agenda will include business-to-business meetings, site visits, seminars and networking events. Leading the mission is TTMA's CEO Dr Mahindra Ramdeen. Read more here
NEWS
Flooding in San Fernando, Penal, Port of Spain
Parts of Port of Spain, San Fernando and Penal were under water as bad weather battered the nation on September 15. The TT Meteorological Office (Met Office) had issued an adverse weather (yellow) alert from 11.15 am to 5 pm on September 15 as a result of the heavy rains. The Met Office said there was a high (80 per cent) chance of heavy showers and thunderstorm activity associated with rainy season conditions, but the bad weather has caused unstable conditions mainly over the island of Trinidad. “The most impactful weather is expected over, but not confined to, western parts of Trinidad. Gusty winds are possible in the vicinity of heavy downpours.” Read more here
Shake-up in TTPS
A reassignment of executive portfolios by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro yesterday sent shockwaves throughout the T&T Police Service (TTPS), leaving both senior and junior officers stunned by the action. In the surprise action, Guevarro sent Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Central and South-West Divisions, Wayne Mystar, on 16 months accrued vacation leave, effective Monday, and transferred Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin, Suzette Martin and Natasha George to new portfolios. Benjamin was moved from Operations to Administration; Martin from Intelligence to Operations; and George from Administration to Intelligence and Investigations. However, apart from the transfers, questions are now being asked about why Mystar was sent on leave in the heart of the current State of Emergency (SoE). Read more here
POLITICS
Maduro slams Kamla for US support – Treat Venezuela with respect
Even as he questioned who she was being influenced by and criticised her for supporting US military aggression against his nation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday called for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to renew bilateral relations with his country, but added this must be done with respect. He however also vowed to continue to strengthen Venezuela's defences to protect its sovereignty. Maduro spoke at a press conference in Caracas on September 15, hours before the White House announced that US military personnel had bombed a boat in international waters which it claimed was a narco vessel from Venezuela. Three people on board were killed. Read more here
PM: Relations ‘good’ but Venezuela must take deportees back
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she is “not concerned” about comments by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, saying, “the US has never requested any access to our territory for any military action against Venezuela.” She said Trinidad and Tobago has “always had good relations with the Venezuelan people and will continue to do so.” The Prime Minister was responding via WhatsApp to questions from Guardian Media following Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s media conference, where he questioned who was influencing the Prime Minister to practically declare war against Venezuela. Persad-Bissessar added that she supports a respectful relationship with the Venezuelan government, but the relationship will improve significantly when they begin to cooperate with T&T on repatriation matters. Read more here
BUSINESS
Global supplier: Drop in prices could threaten LNG stability
The chief executive of a global integrated energies company is warning of an imminent threat to the LNG industry’s stability. Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, highlighted the market’s trajectory towards oversupply, which could lead to a drop in the price of LNG. Pouyanné was speaking at Gastech 2025, an international conference and exhibition for the global energy sector in Milan from September 9-12. His statement was taken up in the energy magazine for the local energy chamber, Energy Now. Read more here
Unilever to sell off Breeze, Radiante
UNILEVER PLC is set to sell its laundry detergent portfolio in the Caribbean and Central America, which includes household names Breeze and Radiante. The move comes just two months after the company divested its local ice cream operations, and follows the December 2022 sale of its Champs Fleurs property. “Unilever plc has taken the decision to divest its laundry brands in the Caribbean and Central America, subject to the satisfactions of certain conditions precedent, including the receipt of regulatory consents in relevant jurisdictions,” Unilever stated in a Notice to Shareholders published in today’s newspaper. Read more here
REGIONAL
Load testing commences on new Demerara River Bridge
Load testing has commenced on the new Demerara River Bridge, one of Guyana’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, which is nearing completion.
On Monday, the series of tests designed to verify the bridge’s structural integrity began, and according to Project Manager Patrick Thompson, the testing followed strict international standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Thompson told the Guyana Chronicle that not every bridge is built the same, and thus, the load testing, conducted by China Railway Construction Corporation, involves applying controlled loads to a bridge to measure responses, ensuring that the bridge can handle expected service loads without unacceptable deformation or damage. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, UN commission of inquiry says
A United Nations commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. A new report says there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023: killing members of a group, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births. It cites statements by Israeli leaders, and the pattern of conduct by Israeli forces, as evidence of genocidal intent. Read more here
16th September 2025