NEWS
More guards for Rowley
The security arrangements of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley have been significantly enhanced as a result of “intelligence” that a “serious” security threat to his life exists. Informed sources told the Express yesterday the security forces were alerted to this threat following the jailbreak from the Port of Spain prison two weeks ago. Consequently, Rowley's security entourage has been increased. On Tuesday night at the public meeting in Diego Martin, the Opposition Leader noticeably did not engage in the normal crowd-mixing activity which has become customary after such public meetings. This is as a result of some of the restrictions imposed on him by security personnel, both in the State and private sector, as they attempt to minimise his exposure to any adverse possibilities, sources said. Sources said Rowley's security advisers are cognisant of the threat in the context of an election campaign where he is required to make frequent public appearances. It is understood that while State security is involved in the beefed-up arrangements “in a major way”, Rowley has brought in a layer of private security as well. Read more…
Ramadhar: Guards receiving training in prison scanners
Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar says prisons officers have already started receiving training on portable scanners which will be implemented soon. Ramadhar also said he had given instructions to the Commissioner of Prisons to use his discretion to arm prisons officers. Ramadhar was speaking to reporters following the launch of the Digital Legislative Library by his ministry, an online resource containing all the existing laws of T&T. “The portable scanners are already here and the training has already started to ensure that it goes into operation as soon as possible,” Ramadhar said. He said that was in addition to upgrades to CCTV’s in the Port-of-Spain prison. Ramadhar said it would be reckless to give additional information on the equipment but said everything would be implemented within the two-month time frame he had given last month. “If one appreciates the time frame for procurement in the country I think we have done incredibly well from the time I took responsibility as minister,” he added. He said although work had been engaged long before, it was a highly technical thing but was relieved they were here. Read more…
Motorcycle ride to death
Two days after collecting a major trophy which represented his outstanding performance in all 11 races, even clocking the fastest time on the Frankie Boodram Racing Circuit in Wallerfield, motorcyclist Lex Chunilal, 28, is dead. On Tuesday night, Chunilal, an operator of Coora Road, Siparia, was killed in a head-on collision outside First Citizens Bank (FCB) on High Street, Siparia, police said. Yesterday, his grieving peers said it was not speed that was responsible for Chunilal’s tragic death but discourteous driving from others. “They always blame the biker,” distraught biking colleague and close friend Darren Date, 51, told Newsday. “But I can tell you, persons who witnessed the accident will tell a different story. We are not respected on the road and he was not wrong. Right now we are in total shock because Lex was a very responsible and experienced rider despite his relatively young age.” Chunilal was a motorcycle sport enthusiast for the past seven years and rode to his job in Point Fortin. According to a police report, Darrel Joseph, 28, of Palo Seco informed investigators that at about 9.05 pm on Tuesday he was driving his Nissan Navara van in a westerly direction along High StreeT, Siparia, when on nearing the First Citizens Bank, he stopped to enter the carpark. A taxi had stopped to allow him to make the turn, the police report further stated. at this time, a black Kawasaki motorcycle ridden by Chunilal overtook the taxi and crashed head-on into Joseph’s van before veering off the road and slamming into a light pole. Chunilal died on the spot. Read more…
POLITICS
‘No money no vote’
Minutes after Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan opened a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art Nephrology (kidney) Unit at the Port of Spain General Hospital yesterday, he was greeted by vociferous employees who demanded outstanding monies be paid to them before September 7. Among those present at the function to open the unit were North-West Regional Health Authority personnel, including chief executive officer Judith Balliram, chairman Dr Andy Bhagwandass, and head of the Nephrology Unit Dr Emille Mohammed. Earlier on, Khan cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque to declare the centre open. Both Khan and Bhagwandass acknowledged citizens were in dire need of dialysis and each year about 450 new people seek the treatment. During his feature address, Khan joked: “You know you are doing something right when you have all the PSA (Public Services Association) members outside applauding you. Not only are they applauding you, they have chosen to prevent obesity in this country by moving around and decreasing the obesity.” Chants for money After Khan began touring the facility and had made his way to an area designated for HIV patients, he walked into the corridor. Read more…
Marlene: No VAT hike from PNM
Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene Mc Donald has scoffed at claims by the People’s Partnership )PP) that the People’s National Movement (PNM) will increase value added tax (VAT) to the tune of $5,000 per household annually if it gets into government. “I am PNM deputy political leader and have never heard of any proposal to increase VAT,” she told a meeting of her party in Four Roads, Diego Martin on Tuesday night. “It is a pure fabrication, hatched in the UNC camp, to cause confusion,” she added. She also accused the Government of stealing PNM ideas, pointing out for example that a causeway from Chaguaramas to Port-of-Spain as proposed by the PP on the campaign trail is mentioned in the 2010 PNM Manifesto. Mc Donald challenged UNC campaign manager, Rodney Charles, to state the day, month and year that PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley ever proposed any such VAT increase. Likewise, Mc Donald denied any PNM plans to make any cuts in the Health Service or in Education, challenging the PP once again to state when was such ever stated by Rowley. She pointed out the PNM has a legacy in education: of promoting free education at nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Read more…
BUSINESS
Nestle to create 3,270 jobs
Nestle T&T Limited plans to create 3,270 jobs for young people ages 16 to 29 years by 2017. In pursuit of that objective, the company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of T&T (UTT) for training initiatives. Country manager Michel Beneventi said Nestle is committed to helping prepare T&T’s young people for the workforce and plans to partner with government agencies, universities and professional associations to facilitate their development and employment. Speaking at the launch of the Nestle needs YOUth initiative at the Courtyard Marriott in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Beneventi said the initiative focuses on four pillars: Get Hired, Get Skilled, Get Support and Get More Opportunities. “While the youth unemployment rate in T&T is just six per cent versus total unemployment of three per cent, Nestle recognises that our youth are the future of our country and in turn, our business,” he said. “Without the proper training and development opportunities our young nationals, our children, will not be equipped to make a sustainable contribution to our society.” Read more…
Major milestone for outsourcing firm
The first local company to solely offer outsourcing services in T&T, Aegis Business Solutions Limited, recently celebrated its 14th anniversary. The company, which is 100 per cent home grown, first opened its doors in 2001 and continues to innovate and build a reputation among local and foreign investors. Aegis was originally formed to legally separate the accounting outsourcing, corporate secretarial and payroll divisions of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Practice leader of corporate secretarial services, Joanne Webb, who has been with the company since its inception and has seen its growth, said: “We were not sure how the business community would have responded to Aegis, as the concept of outsourcing was relatively new in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001. However, 14 years later, our corporate secretarial division is the largest of its kind in the country. It has been a rewarding journey.” In addition to providing accounting outsourcing, corporate secretarial and payroll services, Aegis has expanded its offerings to include human resource advisory, internal audit and financial advisory. Additionally, the corporate secretarial division now offers minute taking and work permit services. Read more…
T&T’s first cocoa-processing facility launched in Centeno
The thrust to make cocoa king again has taken a new direction with the official launch of Trinidad and Tobago’s first cocoa-processing facility, the Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company Ltd Factory. The factory, located at La Reunion Estate in Centeno, was established through a public-private partnership between the Government and 41-year-old Trinidad-born businessman Ashley Parasram. Local cocoa farmers could benefit from the venture, as cocoa beans will be bought from them and processed into cocoa liquor (unsweetened baking chocolate), which would then be sold exclusively to UK-based Artisan du Chocolate to be made into fine chocolate products with six flavours. The factory can process 50 metric tonnes of cocoa beans per year and has the potential to process up to 150 metric tonnes by 2017. Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the factory at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said it was the first venture which sought to monetise the cocoa industry. “We research cocoa to death in this country. There are shelves and shelves of research packed away when we were not able to monetise that research,” he said. He said while the country boasts of producing one of the best cocoas in the world, cocoa farmers are still going home with less money. Read more…
REGIONAL
Time to change measures against Cuba, says New York Times
The laws and coercive measures implemented by various US administrations against Cuba remain frozen in time and it's time to change them, points out an editorial on Monday in The New York Times. The article entitled Growing Momentum to Repeal Cuban Embargo, describes as a failed attempt the use of coercion to try to change the course of history and influence the decisions of the island. Similarly, it emphasizes that with the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a significant majority of US citizens and the vast majority of Cubans want the lifting of the US embargo. It is time for Congress to help change the policy towards Cuba, underlines the article. The editorial refers some of the actions carried out by US lawmakers to rethink US policy in this regard, such as Republican Tom Emmer and Democrat Kathy Castor, both of them from Florida, who last week presented a bill in the House of Representatives, for the lifting of the embargo. Earlier last month, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed amendments that would allow US citizens to travel to Cuba freely and ease some commercial interactions. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Pfizer and Flynn Pharma accused of overcharging by CMA
Pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have been accused by the UK's competition watchdog of charging "excessive and unfair" prices for an anti-epilepsy drug. Phenytoin sodium capsules, used by 50,000 people in Britain, are made by Pfizer and sold by Flynn.Pfizer said it was co-operating with the Competition and Markets Authority.When Pfizer made the drug under its Epanutin brand name, the NHS spent about £2.3m on the drug, the CMA said.This amount soared to £50m in 2013.The CMA said Pfizer sold UK distribution rights to Flynn in 2012, but continued to make and supply the drug to the company. This is a provisional report, with allegations made by the Competition and Markets Authority. The companies now have a chance to give formal responses and a final ruling may not be made until next year. But it comes at a time of intense debate about NHS finances, as patient demand and the cost of treatment rise faster than budget increases. NHS England is grappling with the need for ambitious efficiency savings. It has been under fire for reducing the number of treatments available to patients through the Cancer Drugs Fund. So today's provisional findings, with renewed scrutiny of drug spending, are the last thing the pharmaceutical industry needs. Read more…
6th August 2015