TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTCSI / TTMA business survey results going to National Economic Recovery Committee
The Cabinet-appointed National Economic Recovery Committee will soon have the results of a recent business survey—conducted jointly by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA)—to add to its deliberations. A statement issued by the TTCSI indicates that the survey’s outcomes will help the Committee in its recommendations to strengthen the business community, in the post-COVID-19 period. Read more here
NEWS
Living Water head: Lines for food are mostly Trinis
Director and founder of the Living Water Community (LWC) Rhonda Maingot has responded to remarks by Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat that people lining up for food hampers were mostly Venezuelans. Maingot says almost all of the people in line at LWC were Trinidadians. Rambharat made the remarks in response to Opposition Senator Wade Mark during a Senate sitting last Thursday. Speaking with Newsday on Monday Maingot said, “We don’t have Venezuelans in the line outside the centre, this line is for Trinis. Read more here
MFO survey rates Govt COVID response high
Government has received high marks for its handling of COVID-19 and the economic and social fall-out from the pandemic. A recently completed Market Facts and Opinion (MFO) online survey found overall that citizens were satisfied with the Government’s response to the virus. The survey, published yesterday, found that eight out of ten people were satisfied with the Government’s response to treating with COVID-19. Read more here
POLITICS
Minister: Hundreds retrenched as Unilever ends production
Unilever is ceasing all production in TT and retrenching hundreds of employees, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus told the Senate on Tuesday replying to a listed question from opposition senator Wade Mark. Senator Mark had asked if Unilever intended to retrench 286 workers, in its restructuring, and whether the Government would intervene. The news came a fortnight after Unilever in TT reported a $54 million loss for last year. Baptiste-Primus gave figures to suggest some 382 employees in total were being retrenched, in tranches of 191, 184 and seven, respectively. Read more here
New THA Chief Secretary to be elected Wednesday
A new Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary is expected to be elected today during a special Sitting called by Clerk of the Assembly Cherry Anne Edwards-Louis. In a memo to all THA members yesterday, Edwards-Louis said, "I have been directed by the Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly to inform you that, in accordance with Standing Orders (16) 4 of the Tobago House of Assembly, a meeting of the Assembly shall be convened on May 6, 2020, at 3 pm. The business to be transacted at the Meeting is the Election of a Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly "The process was triggered after former THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles tendered his resignation last week. Read more here
BUSINESS
Nutrien temporarily shutters Pt Lisas ammonia plant
Nutrien Ltd has temporarily shuttered its second-largest ammonia production facility, the PCS 02 plant in Point Lisas, citing economic challenges. Nutrien Trinidad managing director Ian Walcott confirmed to Newsday that the plant will be shuttered for at least three months at this point. Workers will not be affected, as he added that at this time the company “does not anticipate any impact to Nutrien headcount.” The company, headquartered in Canada, has five plants in Trinidad, but Walcott said only P2 will shuttered while all the rest operate at normal rate. Read more here
Virgin’s crisis could be Tobago’s opportunity
As Virgin Atlantic has announced that it preparing to cut almost a third of its 10,000-member workforce and close its London Gatwick operations to survive the COVID-19 crisis, it can have an upside for Tobago. Tobago Tourism Agency (TTA) CEO Louis Lewis told Guardian Media (GML), “If it happens, there’s a whole new strategic direction for us.” Read more here
Govt to remove VAT on basic food items
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon has acknowledged a recommendation from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the removal of import duties and VAT on basic food items as part of the Opposition’s Economic Manifesto Plan. Read more here
REGIONAL
Jamaica among 12 countries fingered as money-laundering slackers
Jamaica has been added to the European Union's (EU) blacklist of countries that have been accused of being too soft on money laundering, but Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke is pushing back against the characterisation. “It is not good news that the European Union blacklisted Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas,” Clarke said yesterday as he weighed in on the issue. Back in February, Jamaica was among seven countries that were placed on a grey list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for gaps or failures in stemming the financing of terrorist groups or money laundering. Read more here
All set for recount’
Under heavy police presence, the National Recount will commence today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under the supervision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)–a process intended to bring an end to the prolonged electoral impasse. The journey to this point has been a long one. Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward, is hopeful that – with all systems in place – the recount of votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections will be smoothly executed. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump pivots hard away from fight against unvanquished pandemic
President Donald Trump wants to move on. "Wartime" leadership in a national crisis no longer fits his political timetable. No matter that coronavirus cases are rising in many states and that governors are ignoring his guidelines about when it's safe to open. Trump is shrugging off warnings by scientists that the easing restrictions taking place across the country could cause tens of thousands of deaths. The White House gave its clearest sign yet Tuesday, just less than six months from Election Day and as the US death toll topped 70,000, that it is moving from pandemic management to a message of revival and an aggressive pitch for a second term. And Trump is thwarting oversight efforts of how he and his administration responded to the pandemic that could reveal failures that worsened the outbreak. Read more here
Coronavirus mutations: Scientists puzzle over impact
Researchers in the US and UK have identified hundreds of mutations to the virus which causes the disease Covid-19. But none has yet established what this will mean for virus spread in the population and for how effective a vaccine might be. Viruses mutate - it's what they do. The question is: which of these mutations actually do anything to change the severity or infectiousness of the disease? Read more here
6th May 2020