NEWS
Women in Leadership conference tackles toxic workplaces: ‘Workers burnt out, overwhelmed’
Leadership development coach Pamela Cournoyer has raised concerns about the damaging effects of a toxic workplace culture, which she says is often marked by stress, burnout, poor leadership and low morale. Cournoyer explained that such a culture is defined by harmful behaviours, attitudes, and practices that hurt employee well-being, lower morale, and reduce productivity. She added that it also comes with a significant financial cost to organisations. “If you are spending all of your day putting out fires, then you are in a toxic workplace culture.” Read more here
POLITICS
Minister: Public to be consulted on CSME free movement
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers says the government is considering consulting with Trinidad and Tobago nationals before implementing the proposed upgrade of free movement under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). Speaking at the post-cabinet media briefing at the Red House, Port of Spain, on July 10, Sobers said if people wanted to move throughout the Caribbean currently, they had to get a CSME skills certificate from the Ministry of Foreign of Caricom Affairs. Read more here
Alexander urges police to embrace technology in crime fight
Homeland Affairs Minister Roger Alexander says the Police Service must embrace technology as a key tool to tackle crime. He made the statement during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Red House in Port-of-Spain. Alexander, who recently attended the 49th Regular Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, highlighted that Jamaica’s police have integrated technology into their operations, resulting in a reduction in serious crimes. He noted that T&T’s National Operations Centre is under-utilised and needs to be revitalised.
“We need to incorporate it fully into the system,” Alexander said. “There must be collaboration between the joint command, the command centre, the police command centre, and all command centres in the police divisions. That’s how I see technology fitting into this. A man who does not see technology in policing is not really a police officer.” Read more here
BUSINESS
PriceSmart T&T raising up to US$65M in debt
Facing a tight foreign exchange market, PriceSmart’s Trinidad businesses have turned to the Jamaican capital markets and Trinidadian banks to source up to US$65 million for the construction of its distribution centre and settlement of its outstanding payables. The information was revealed in PriceSmart Inc’s third quarter report for the period ending May 31. PSMT Trinidad/Tobago Limited (PSMT TT) has tapped GK Capital Management Ltd in Jamaica to arrange a US$16 million bond which will be issued in Jamaican dollars and indexed to United States dollars (USD). PSMT TT could potentially place an additional US$13.5 million equivalent of this bond which will bear a 7.25 per cent interest rate and a four-year tenure. PSMT TT will pledge a TTD equivalent of 1.05 times the principal amount (US$16.80 million) in a money market mutual fund at the Trinidad & Tobago Unit Trust Corporation or an entity approved by the lenders. PSMT TT will allocate a minimum of US$1.875 million to a sinking fund, to be maintained with GK Capital. The debt facility will be backed by a corporate guarantee from affiliate company PriceSmart Jamaica Ltd. Read more here
Heritage CEO resigns
ERIK Keskula has resigned as chief executive officer of Heritage Petroleum Co Ltd, just days after a new board of directors was installed at the State-owned oil and gas company. Keskula’s resignation takes effect on September 30, just over two years after he was appointed to the role. On Monday, Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal appointed former Urban Development Corporation of T&T (UDeCOTT) CEO Kurt Ramlal as chairman of Heritage. Keskula was present at the appointment ceremony. Read more here
REGIONAL
GDF boosts air power with new $711M Tecnam P2012 aircraft
President Ali says investment aims to position army as a regional first responder, support rapid deployment, surveillance, humanitarian assistance. ADVANCING the transformation of Guyana’s airspace defences, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday afternoon commissioned the Tecnam P2012 aircraft at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s hangar at the Eugene F. Correia Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
In the country with the world's lowest birth rate, fertility clinics are booming
When she started in vitro fertilisation (IVF) last November, Kim Mi-ae knew it would be a gruelling test of patience - something she had already endured when she conceived her first child three years ago. But what shocked her this time around were the "crazy" waits at the fertility clinic. "When I went in January, it felt like everyone had made a New Year's resolution to have a baby! Even with a reservation, I waited over three hours," says the 36-year-old Seoul resident. While South Korea continues to struggle with the world's lowest birth rates, fertility clinics are in growing demand - a bright spot in the country's demographic crisis. Read more here
11th July 2025