NEWS
Shanghai left hospital project over 'poor project management, increased costs, delayed payments'
The Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) had vowed to quit its contract to build the new Central Block at Port of Spain General Hospital owing to grouses such as an unexpected extra US$9 million in freight costs plus the financial fallout of bureaucratic delays blamed on a project official, said a November 5 letter from SCG head Michael Zhang to Udecott CEO Tamica Charles-Phillips. The delays had doubled the construction period from 22 to 44 months. A delay in steel imports has idled 40 workers for four months. Read more here
Disaster management agencies get better assessment equipment
Disaster management officials across various state agencies are now better equipped to conduct damage assessment (DANA) and needs analysis if a disaster strikes Trinidad and Tobago. On Thursday, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) handed over 18 tablets to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government (MoRDLG) and two to the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). Read more here
POLITICS
THA Chief Sec orders forensic audits into five PNM programmes
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has ordered forensic audits into five initiatives managed under the former PNM-led THA administration during the period October 2019 to November 2021. Delivering a lengthy statement on the THA’s financial situation at Thursday’s plenary sitting in the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, Augustine said the projects are the emergency restoration works programme; the road restoration programme; the road resurfacing programme; the emergency infrastructure rehabilitation project and the agricultural access roads programme. Read more here
BUSINESS
Massy cross-lists on Jamaican stock exchange
Massy Holdings Ltd on Thursday announced that it has been initiated onto the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) and now trades under the symbol Massy with an open list price of J$2,463.08. In a media release it said the cross-listing represented a critical transaction and the decision at this time was a major step in building a more regional capital market. Read more here
‘Blacklisting’ of T&T getting ‘highest level of attention’
The head of the European Union delegation in Trinidad and Tobago has said the matter of the “blacklisting” of this country is receiving “the highest level attention” and a solution is imminent. Ambassador Peter Cavendish told the Express during an interview at his office last week the matter has been receiving “the highest level attention”, and that it is “close to achieving agreement”. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana aiming to become global leader in environment, agriculture
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana is working on an international agenda that will propel the country to become a global leader in several areas, including the environment and agriculture. The Head of State made this announcement while delivering the feature address at India’s 72nd Republic Day Anniversary reception at the National Cultural Centre, on Wednesday. He said that the country would look to emulate India’s leadership qualities, especially through Guyana’s expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy and its current international commitments on environmental management. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Downing Street parties: Confusion over Sue Gray report after Met police statement
There is confusion over when Sue Gray's report into No 10 lockdown parties will be published after a statement from the police on their investigation. The Met said on Friday it had asked for "minimal reference" in the report to events they are investigating to avoid prejudicing its inquiries. Many in the Cabinet Office, where Ms Gray is based, were taken by surprise by the Met's statement, sources say. The report was due to be sent to Downing Street this week. Boris Johnson's premiership is potentially at stake, as Conservative MPs wait to see the outcome of Ms Gray's inquiry before deciding to call for a vote of no confidence in him. In a statement on Friday morning, the Met said: "For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report. Read more here
28th January 2022