NEWS
Messy problem closes Cedros port
Amid the uncertainty of the Venezuela political crisis came news in the Senate yesterday that the Government had on Monday closed the Cedros Port because of an overflowing cesspit. In reply to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark, Minister of National Security Stuart Young confirmed the port was closed on Monday. He said the disrepair had affected the operations of local police, immigration and customs officers. “When it was shut they were not able to take any inflow of persons through that legal port of entry,” Young said. “Until it is reopened persons cannot come in through that legal port of entry.” He could not tell Mark when it would be reopened, as he was awaiting an assessment by engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport. Young lamented the matter was highlighted by an official of the local regional corporation. Read more here
WASA moves to update water legislation
As T&T stares down the barrel of what officials describe as one of the country’s “harshest dry seasons”, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has begun the process to update the legislation which governs the body. It would see the increase of current fines as well as water rates. These updates acting WASA CEO, Alan Poon King said, on The Morning Brew, would help the body to better perform their duties. Speaking about the fines for wasting water, the CEO lamented that current laws are outdated. “The law we are under… was enacted in 1965. At that time, the grand fine of $75 was applied. Our law has not changed since then. We are now making steps to have those fines increased significantly but that has to go through a process,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
PM meets with US rep to the UN
The Prime Minister yesterday met with the US representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jonathan Cohen, during a bilateral meeting between countries to discuss the unfurling political crisis in Venezuela. Rowley’s meeting with the US representative followed a full day of meetings as part of a greater Caricom delegation that met on Monday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister said Rowley, on behalf of TT and as part of Caricom, outlined concerns about the volatility in Venezuelan and the “existential threat” it poses to the stability of the region. Read more here
Govt seeks advice on Dragon Field gas plan
Government is seeking advice to ascertain the effect on its Dragon Field gas plan of the US Government’s sanctions on Venezuela’s Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) oil company, Communication Minister Stuart Young has said. Young confirmed this in the Senate replying to Opposition questions after the US this week dropped sanctions on PDVSA, increasing pressure on the embattled Nicolas Maduro administration. The US is supporting Venezuelan National Assembly head Juan Guaido who declared himself President last week. As instability continued in T&T’s neighbour, the US State Department also increased its travel advisory on Venezuela to the highest level, warning citizens not to travel there due to “crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of US citizens. The US said it has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Venezuela. Read more here
BUSINESS
How close is the CLICO resolution?
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the news conference at the Central Bank at which then-governor, Ewart Williams, announced that the institution was taking control of CLICO Investment Bank (CIB), transferring the third-party assets and liabilities of CIB and CMMB to First Citizens and providing financial assistance to the insurance companies CLICO and British America Insurance Company (BAICO). Read more here
REGIONAL
Police Feud - Federation Boots Boss After Two Days Of Crossfire
Arlene McBean, the vocal police corporal who became the first female chairman of the 75-year-old Police Federation, has been sacked from the post, sending ripples throughout the Jamaica Constabulary Force. McBean was removed by the executive of the federation, the union for rank-and-file police, following a no-confidence motion. The decision came after two days of an extraordinary meeting with delegates of the body between Monday and Tuesday. A circular from the Police Federation obtained by The Gleaner said the body deliberated on “internal matters” during “frank, factual and clear discussions on the state of the Police Federation”. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
The US wants to halt Huawei's global advance. It may be too late
Huawei's rise as a global tech company is under threat as an increasing number of governments express concern that its technology could be used by Chinese spies. But the US-led campaign against the Chinese company may do little more than act as a brake on growth, given the dominant position Huawei has already built in fifth generation (5G) wireless technology. It has loyal customers in emerging markets and parts of Europe, and expects to become the world's top smartphone seller by next year. "This campaign will only slow Huawei's business growth in some countries in European and Asia Pacific markets," said Charlie Dai, an analyst with research firm Forrester based in Beijing. "But I don't think it's going to retreat from any market at all in the foreseeable future." Read more here
Brexit: EU 'united' on deal as Theresa May asks for talks
The EU is "united" over the negotiated Brexit deal, the bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier says, after the UK PM said she wanted to reopen it. Theresa May is expected to continue talks with the EU after MPs backed a plan to renegotiate her Brexit deal. MPs voted 317 to 301 in favour of changing the backstop plan - the bit of the deal designed to avoid the return of Northern Ireland border checks. But Mr Barnier said the EU stood by the existing withdrawal agreement. "The EU institutions remain united and we stand by the agreement we have negotiated with the UK," he said. Read more here
30th January 2019