NEWS
Rowley: Proportional Representation might be repealed
Legislation implemented by the former People’s Partnership Government which introduced proportional representation into the local government elections could quite possibly be repealed by the People’s National Movement (PNM) government to give way to its own plans for local government reform. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley expressed his disdain for the system introduced in 2013, while speaking at a PNM public meeting at Market Square, Point Fortin on Wednesday night, and said that the government is considering repealing the system. “It was not genuinely any reform,” Rowley said. Read more here
Obama to help Trump succeed
Barack Obama and Donald Trump put acerbic rows and profound differences aside in a 90-minute transition meeting at the White House yesterday, hoping to quell fears about the health of the world’s pre-eminent democracy. The outgoing president and his successor met one-on-one and sat in high-backed chairs before the Oval Office fireplace for what Obama characterised as an “excellent conversation.” Read more here
POLITICS
PM at election meeting: Aluminium project may return
Citizens can expect to see an aluminium project restarted by the People's National Movement (PNM) administration once the “economics look good”. This is according to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who delivered the feature address at a local government election meeting in Point Fortin on Wednesday. Rowley said had construction of the Alutrint aluminium plant in La Brea not been halted as a result of a High Court order in 2009, it would have assisted in diversifying the economy. Read more here
Colm calms online-tax fears House passes Finance Bill
The Lower House on Wednesday night passed the Finance Bill (No 3) 2016 (and associated legislation) to effect certain tax-hikes proposed in the National Budget, such as on alcohol and tobacco. Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, in his wrap up addressed several issued raised by MPs. He said it is crystal clear how the seven percent online tax will apply, being chargeable only to end-user consumers as defined by the Electronic Transactions Act, passed under the former People’s Partnership (PP) regime. Accusing the Opposition of feigning ignorance over that Act, he said it is time to raise the standard of debate in the House. Read more here
BUSINESS
Amcham calls for offensive strategy
The only way out of the current economic crisis is through growth and this will happen with an offensive outlook rather than a defensive approach, American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) chief executive officer Nirad Tewarie says. “We cannot simply seek to take more from those sectors of the economy that are already producing and contributing. We have to allow those sectors to grow, and we have to create new sectors that would drive economic growth. To do that we have to redefine our roles,” he explained. Read more here
SALISES holds US election forum
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s US presidential election won by Republican candidate Donald Trump, the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES ) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) will host a forum on the “US presidential election 2016: Where do we go from here?” The forum takes place on November 18 at 10 am in Lecture Room 1, Institute of International Relations, UWI St Augustine Campus. Read more here
REGIONAL
Building bridges for better Caribbean business in Trump era
The Caribbean and Latin America are lapping-up the results of the most controversial US presidential election ever, which served-up what the world had been told was the most tasteless or distasteful candidate as the one Americans liked most. But long before his surprise election victory, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico had started taking steps to consolidate their business, trade, economic, cultural and political ties with their closest neighbours in the Wider Caribbean area. It’s still too early to say what effect the election of Donald Trump as the next US president will have on America’s relations with its neighbours, from borderline Mexico to Cuba, or from Jamaica to Guyana in the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. Read more here
No Worries! ... Gov't Tells Security Forces As US Suspends Gun Exports To Jamaica
National Security Minister Robert Montague has sought to give the assurance that the security forces will not be affected by the United States' decision to suspend the export of guns to Jamaica over foul-ups at the scandal-hit Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA). Even as Montague moves to quell fears, Peter Bunting, his opposition counterpart, said the security minister should be blamed and suggested he be removed from the portfolio. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Anti-Trump demonstrations hit second day; Portland police say protest is 'riot'
Thousands protesting Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election took to the streets for a second night of demonstrations and vigils in several US cities. The anti-Trump rally in Portland, Oregon, revved up as protesters confronted police. What started out as a peaceful march, with more than 4,000 people, quickly turned violent. Over the course of the evening, "anarchists" in the crowd threw projectiles at officers, vandalized local businesses and damaged cars, Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson said. Read more here
'Crazy' to say Facebook helped Trump win – Zuckerberg
Facing criticism that fake news on Facebook aided the rise of Donald Trump, founder Mark Zuckerberg has strongly defended his network. Speaking on stage at Techonomy, a technology conference in California, Mr Zuckerberg said Facebook should not be held responsible. "The idea that fake news on Facebook influenced the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea," he said. "If you believe that then I don't think you have internalised the message Trump supporters are trying to send in this election." Read more here
11th November 2016