TTMA IN THE NEWS
TIC postponed to 2022
The much anticipated Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) put on by the T&T Manufacturer’s Association (TTMA) has been postponed until the first quarter of 2022. In a statement to stakeholders the TTMA explained that the postponement was done on advice of the Minister of Health, in keeping with the COVID-19 health and safety protocols at this time. However, the TTMA said despite the physical exhibition having to be rescheduled, the virtual B2B meetings and webinars will still take place from November 1 to 3, 2021. Read more here
NEWS
US$1m for robotics, telemedicine systems for Trinidad and Tobago's covid19 fight
A partnership between India and the UN Development Partnership (UNDP) Fund will see the introduction of robotics and telemedicine systems to Trinidad and Tobago. It is part of the covid19 pandemic management strategy. This funding will support the healthcare project “Bringing High and Low Technology (HALT) to Covid19 in TT,” which began in September. It was launched on Thursday at the office of UN resident co-ordinator in TT Marina Walter. Read more here
POLITICS
PM, AG dismiss Law Association’s advice on public statements
The Prime Minister has dismissed the advice of the Law Association which has cautioned against making public statements that could infringe upon the sub judice rule. The association was referring to comments made by Dr Rowley on a Court of Appeal matter which seeks to make murder a bailable offence. On Tuesday in San Fernando, at a virtual meeting of the People’s National Movement (PNM), of which he is leader, Dr Rowley declared he is not minded to take advice from the association, while Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, as titular head of the Bar, said the association’s commentary lacked balance. Read more here
BUSINESS
Push curfew hours to midnight
Business owners are calling on the Government to push curfew hours to midnight. They say the current 10 p.m. curfew has many workers waiting a long time for transportation to get home. Ryan Chin, director of the Dachin Group of Companies—which includes Texas de Brazil, Rizzoni’s Ristorante Italiano and Jaxx International Grill—told the Express on Wednesday that while business is moving in a forward direction, it is progressing slowly. Chin said the critical issue is the curfew. Read more here
REGIONAL
20.2 million barrels of oil produced during first half of 2021
During the first half of this year alone, Guyana produced some 20.2 million barrels of oil, which represents an increase of 65.4 per cent from the corresponding period last year. This was outlined in the half-year report recently released by the Bank of Guyana. The report said that the “petroleum and gas and support services industry expanded by 32.3 per cent,” and that the monthly average output per day ranged from as low as 84,026 barrels, which was largely due to the malfunction of a gas compressor on the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO), and surpassed capacity at over 124,941 barrels during the review period. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Biden says US will defend Taiwan if China attacks
President Joe Biden said the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked, in an apparent departure from a long-held US foreign policy position. But a White House spokesman later told some US media outlets that his remarks did not signify a change in policy. The US has a law which requires it to help Taiwan defend itself. But it pursues a policy of "strategic ambiguity," where it is deliberately vague about what it would actually do if China were to attack Taiwan. China has yet to respond to Mr Biden's comments. Read more here
22nd October 2021