NEWS
Dennis: Marriott hotel, development won't end up like Sandals
A $500 million first-class hotel and property development, bearing the Marriott brand is to be constructed in Tobago in 2023 to boost significantly Tobago’s struggling tourism sector. Estimated time of completion is 2025. Evolving Technologies and Enterprise Development Co Ltd (eTecK) chairman Imtiaz Ahamad made the announcement at a news conference on Tuesday at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands. He said the proposed development, which is being undertaken by Superior Hotels Ltd, will be built at Rocky Point on approximately 28 acres of land on the western side of Grafton Road and south of Pleasant Prospect. Read more here
Fewer than 10,000 students vaccinated in line for return to physical school
So far just over 8,000 Forms Four to Six students have been vaccinated and are expected to return to the classrooms come October 4, when physical school resumes. In a release yesterday, the Ministry of Education advised that only vaccinated students in Forms Four to Six would be allowed to return next month. Officials said, “This would remain in effect for both teaching and practical sessions.” “Arrangements to facilitate teaching and learning at these institutions are ongoing, and the Reopening Guidelines will be made available to Principals within the coming week. Teachers and fully vaccinated students of this cohort are expected to report to schools physically for classes.” Read more here
POLITICS
Public will know of ‘high-handedness’ in 24 hours– Moonilal
Yesterday’s Police Service Commission (PSC) meeting may have been the last straw? After yesterday’s resignation of Courtney McNish from the commission, there was subsequent silence from other members Susan Craig-James and Roger Kawalsingh on whether they might resign also. But UNC MP Roodal Moonilal has called on both to say if they supported the commission’s decision to ‘suspend’ Gary Griffith. “And I call on PSC chairman Bliss Seepersad to say if the ‘suspension’ was her decision or that of Prime Minister Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds,” he added. Read more here
BUSINESS
Invest TT and CEDA to collaborate for global investment forum
Investment promotion agency InvesTT and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) are set to host a global investment forum which is expected to attract more than 350 international businesses. An InvesTT release said the forum is expected to be held from November 2 to 3, and will include key contacts in manufacturing, maritime services, logistics and distribution, business process outsourcing, agro-processing, hotel resort development, ICT and creative industries. The agency said participants could also set up business meetings before and after the event. CEDA and InvesTT is scheduled to launch the forum on September 29. Read more here
Petroleum Company of T&T, AV Oil settle arbitration dispute
The Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago will not be going to court to try to set aside the results of an arbitration with A&V Oil and Gas. Instead, it has settled the arbitration dispute with A&V Oil and Gas Ltd (AV Oil), avoiding the payment of millions of dollars in damages, its successor company Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd said in a statement yesterday. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana’s profile has risen tremendously
Poised for massive transformational development and modernisation, Guyana’s potential as a global powerhouse has not evaded the attention of the international community. As a matter of fact, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that, based on the feedback received from the ongoing 76th United Nations’ General Assembly, being held in the United States, Guyana’s profile has undoubtedly “risen tremendously.” “There’s a great interest from private entities, major CEOs [Chief Executive Officers] and other countries on what is happening in Guyana,” Dr. Ali related in an update on Guyana’s participation at the General Assembly. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Europe's gas crisis is also a renewables crisis, but there are ready solutions
European natural gas prices have soared so high that hundreds of millions of people could be facing cold homes or inflated energy bills over winter. There's also fears of a knock-on impact as carbon dioxide used in food production — a byproduct of fertilizer made with natural gas — also gets more expensive. Politicians are blaming the surge in prices on an increase in natural gas demand as the world wakes up from the pandemic, supply disruption caused by maintenance, and a less-windy-than-usual summer that saw a drop in wind-generated power. But really, Europe's crisis is in its renewables sector. The region has invested heavily in renewables, such as wind and solar, but it can't get enough of this green power to the people who need it. Read more here
Joe Biden plays down chances of UK-US trade deal
Joe Biden has played down the chances of a post-Brexit free trade deal between the US and UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House. The US president said he would discuss the issue "a little bit" with the UK prime minister, adding: "We're going to have to work that through." Downing Street said a direct deal with the US remained the "priority". But UK ministers are pondering joining an existing North American trade pact instead, the BBC understands. Mr Biden and Mr Johnson also discussed Northern Ireland, climate change and Afghanistan during the 90-minute meeting. The UK is keen to strike free trade deals around the world in the wake of leaving the European Union's single market - including with the US, with which annual trade was worth an estimated $273bn (£200bn) in 2019. Read more here
22nd September 2021