NEWS
Ambassador Fang Qiu: China to boost investment in Trinidad and Tobago
TT and China have had a long history and bilateral relations. Chinese ambassador Fang Qiu in an interview with Business Day, discussed several matters about the two countries co-operation. Among those included recovery from the covid19 pandemic, trade and investment, the ease of doing business and the negative impact of the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war. Most notably is China’s interest in TT through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which has been expanded to the region. Read more here
POLITICS
Hinds to new SRPs: Do not yield to foolish temptation
Admitting that some law enforcement officers go rogue, the National Security Minister urged 49 newly-recruited special reserve police (SRP) officers to always do the right thing, on and off duty, and not be tempted otherwise. "It pains my heart, as a man, a father, as a former police officer and certainly as Minister of National Security when I hear or read about the weakness, the frailty, displayed by some of us law enforcement personnel yielding to foolish temptations," Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said. Some of these actions breached the criminal laws, he added. Read more here
Govt moves to effect Local Government reform immediately
The Rural Development and Local Government Ministry is planning the operationalisation structure for the implementation of the Local Government Reform Bill which was passed in the Senate on Tuesday and it’s intended the reform bill will be operationalised “with immediacy.” This is according to Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi. The Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill was passed without amendments. It involved changes to laws used in Local Government operations. Read more here
BUSINESS
Associated Brands brings US organic candy to local market
A new organic-based candy has been introduced to the local market by Associated Brands Industries Ltd (ABIL), which has led to the creation of several jobs in the manufacturing sector. ABIL recently acquired the US-based OCHO (Organic Chocolate) Candy and decommissioned its entire factory and moved it from Oakland, California to Trinidad and Tobago. The acquisition was completed in 2020. In an interview with Business Day, ABIL CEO and deputy chairman Nicholas Lok-Jack said the move came from the need to tap into a new segment of the market with a product that was tasty as well as affordable. Read more here
Oxford Business Editor: T&T got right tools to begin transition of clean energy
T&T has the right tools to begin the transition towards clean energy, but the country’s current dependence on fossil fuels in terms of revenue generation must be carefully managed. This was the assessment of Harry van Schaick, Managing Editor of the Oxford Business Group during a virtual event hosted by RBC Trinidad and Tobago titled Renewable Energy—Transition for Trinidad and Tobago which was recently held. Van Schaick noted that this country did have the resources to begin the transition, and could even adopt the model of operation taken by its Caribbean neighbour Barbados to begin the process. Read more here
REGIONAL
International CoI to investigate attempted elections rigging
The members of an International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) who will investigate the five-month period where attempts were made to rig the March 2, 2020 elections will be named next Tuesday, President, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali said on Thursday. The President made the announcement during the commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs at the monument site. “In honour of your sacrifices, I’ve committed that we will have an international CoI into the last elections,” he said adding: “We, particularly your President, promised an international CoI, so I say to all those who struggled and sacrificed; all those who worked in protecting the democracy that we have in your honour, before dawn on Tuesday, your President will name the members of that international CoI.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Julian Assange can be extradited, says UK home secretary
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to the US has been approved by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. Mr Assange has 14 days to appeal over the decision, the Home Office said. It said the courts found extradition would not be "incompatible with his human rights" and that while in the US "he will be treated appropriately". Mr Assange is wanted by the American authorities over documents leaked in 2010 and 2011, which the US says broke the law and endangered lives. The Wikileaks documents related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Australian is being held at Belmarsh prison in London after mounting a lengthy battle to avoid being extradited. Read more here
17th June 2022