NEWS
Integrity Commission chairman: I made no statement on funding
Integrity Commission chairman Prof Rajendra Ramlogan told the Prime Minister that he did not issue any press release on funding for the commission. Ramlogan made this comment on Thursday in response to a Facebook post by Dr Rowley on Wednesday. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commission said it has initiated legal action in the High Court to determine the State's obligation under the Integrity in Public Life Act (IPLA) to provide it with adequate financial support. The commission said it sought the opinion of the Solicitor General "as to its understanding of its mandate as well as its understanding of the State’s obligation in providing adequate financial support to enable it to discharge same." Read more here
Local singer threatens to migrate because of crime
Local entertainer Akhenathon “Yung Bredda” Lewis is calling out citizens, in particular fellow artistes, for their silence on the crime situation. He said the violence had become so frightening that he may consider leaving this country and taking his family and talents elsewhere. During an Instagram live earlier this week, the Ambiance singer said it seemed like his team was the only one promoting positivity. “Nobody ain’t doing nothing boy ... where all the rest of people who God-fearing boy, why allyuh (sic) not standing up boy ... where all the rest of artiste and them boy, why they not standing up boy, nobody doh care about Trinidad awa,” he asked viewers disappointedly. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: Parliament will vote on Tobago bills this year
The Prime Minister has said the Parliament will be called upon this year to vote on two bills designed to give Tobago greater internal self-government. Dr Rowley made this announcement at the funeral of former Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Hochoy Charles at the Shaw Park Complex in Tobago on Thursday. The congregation included President Christine Kangaloo, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and UNC deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal. Charles, 77, died on December 31, 2023. Rowley said the Tobago Self-Government Bill and the Tobago Island Administration Bill are still before a parliamentary joint select committee. Read more here
TTUTA: Disrespect and disdain for nation’s educators
The T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) believes the silence from the Ministry of Education on the payment of outstanding backpay to its members is a blatant form of disrespect to this nation’s educators. In a membership advisory sent to teachers and the media, TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin said the union is deeply disappointed, not only with the Education Ministry but also the Division of Education, Research and Technology in Tobago. “TTUTA finds it regrettable that not only was the stipulated timeline not met, but there has been a glaring absence of correspondence and communication. The ineffective hotline and email system exacerbated an already volatile solution,” the advisory signed by Lum Kin stated. “The disrespect and disdain meted out to the nation’s educators and the recognised majority union in this matter is duly noted.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Trade Ministry: 54% increase in exports for 2023
It was a year of growth in the non-energy sector, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s year in review posted on its website. Among several achievements, the ministry said total exports from Trinidad and Tobago increased by 54 per cent from the year before. According to the review, exports in 2022 were $55.3 billion. In 2023, exports increased to $89.1 billion. Non-energy exports increased 15 per cent, from $15.6 billion in 2022 to $17.9 billion this year. The review also highlighted billions in foreign investment, noting $3.2 billion in closed and operational investments and $1.4 billion in reinvestments by the manufacturing sector. The review added that for 2023, 2,907 jobs were created. Read more here
Govt raising US$100M to repay maturing bond
Government is looking to raise US$100 million on the local capital market, with Republic Bank Ltd and First Citizens Bank Ltd named as the co-lead arrangers, according to a term sheet for the bond that was seen by Guardian Media Ltd. The term sheet was being widely circulated to high net-worth individuals, mutual funds and pension plans yesterday as the funds need to be in the Government’s account by the middle of January. The bond is partially amortising, meaning the semi-annual payments would be a combination of principal and interest. The principal on the bond will be made in five equal, semi-annual principal payments of US$10 million commencing in July 2024. As a result, bondholders will receive a US$50 million bullet payment at maturity in January 2027. Read more here
REGIONAL
Development model geared to generate sustainable wealth for Guyanese
Defending his government’s economic strategy to create wealth for Guyanese and further develop the country, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has a “skillfully crafted” development model. The Head of State, during a live broadcast on Thursday evening, in response to recent criticisms of the government’s methods of economic development, said the development model is one that is built to meet the needs of the country’s social and economic transformation. “The type of analyses that I’ve been seeing are self-created to convey a message that the transformational benefit of the investment by the government is completely ignored in the propagandistic messaging of those editorials and those analyses,” he said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli minister outlines plans for Gaza after war
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has outlined proposals for the future governance of Gaza once the war between Israel and Hamas is over. There would, he said, be limited Palestinian rule in the territory. Hamas would no longer control Gaza and Israel would retain overall security control, he added. Fighting in Gaza continued alongside the plan's publication, with dozens of people killed in the previous 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due back in the region this week. He is expected to hold talks with Palestinian officials in the occupied West Bank and Israeli leaders. Read more here
5th January 2024