TTMA IN THE NEWS
Apprenticeship Programme For Non-Energy Manufacturing Sector Coming Soon
With the aim of adding capacity and increasing this country’s competitiveness within the non-energy manufacturing sector, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon, has announced the approval of an Apprenticeship Programme. Read more here
NEWS
Regiment recruits urged – 'Don't instigate wrongdoing'
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds is urging new soldiers to take their responsibility seriously and strive to improve their communities rather than terrorise it. Speaking at a passing-out parade for the regiment at Teteron Barracks, Chaguaramas, on Thursday, Hinds said the recruits' entry into the Defence Force came at a time when TT is in need of protection from external and internal threats. Read more here
Relief for pupils as SEA finally over ... 44 miss exam due to COVID-related issues
The end of yesterday’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam prompted a collective sigh of relief from teachers and parents as pupils exited exam rooms yesterday. As almost two years of online teaching and learning culminated in the three hours and 20 minute-long exam—many pupils admitted to being overwhelmingly grateful that the life-changing exam was now over. In an update almost two hours after the exam, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, said, “After monitoring the day’s operations, I am happy to report that the examination was implemented without any major disruptions.” Read more here
POLITICS
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon: $32m to train 300 youngsters
Government has committed $32 million to train 300 youngsters in tech/vocational skills to boost the local non-energy sector. This was confirmed by Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon as she addressed the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's on Thursday. Participants, who must be 17-25, will each receive a $3,000 monthly stipend, she said. Read more here
Morrison arrives April 18 to work on Paria tragedy CoE
Justice Dennis Morrison QC is expected in the country on April 18 to be sworn in to begin the work of the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the deaths of four divers at the Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd back in February. Energy Minister Stuart Young announced this at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Earlier yesterday, legal counsel to the CoE, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, had said he was waiting on Cabinet to set the terms of reference for the CoE. Read more here
BUSINESS
$29m profit for OCM
One Caribbean Media Ltd (OCM) has reported a 22 per cent increase in profit before tax and impairment from TT$24.1 million in 2020 to TT$29.4 million in 2021. The Express newspaper and CCN TV6 are part of the OCM group. In its audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2021 published today, OCM chairman Faarees Hosein said the Group also reflected growth in its Total Assets of seven per cent and Earnings per Share increased from TT$0.05 to TT$0.27 in 2021. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana to house first World Trade Centre in CARICOM
Guyana is set to become home of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM)’s first World Trade Centre (WTC), following successful negotiations between the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the World Trade Centre Association (WTCA), which is headquartered in New York. According to a press release from DDL, the company, after months of negotiations, secured a licence to establish the WTC in Guyana. The plan, as outlined by DDL, is to transform its building at High Street, Kingston, into the centre, which will provide a range of opportunities for local businesses and organisations to enhance their networking capabilities globally. Work on the interior redesign of the building has already begun. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
War in Ukraine: Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil depot
An oil storage depot is on fire in a Russian city just north of Ukraine after what the local governor said was an attack by two Ukrainian helicopters. A video shared on Twitter shows a blaze near apartment blocks in Belgorod, some 40km (25 miles) from the border. Some clips appear to show rockets hitting the oil depot. However, Ukrainian aircraft have not struck targets in Russia previously. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's claim was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials. Later President Vladimir Putin's spokesman also blamed Ukraine for the fire and said the "air strike" did not create comfortable conditions to continue peace talks with Kyiv. So far those talks have made little progress. Read more here
1st April 2022