NEWS
Bankers' Association cautiously optimistic over budget
The Bankers' Association of TT (BATT) has welcomed the proposed 2024 national budget measures aimed at supporting economic growth and diversification. However, it remains cautious about attaining several of its objectives, given ongoing structural challenges. On digitisation, BATT said in a release it is encouraged by the Government's continued investment in the digital economy strategy, including expanding e-government. So it urged the Government to expedite the full proclamation of the Electronic Transactions Act and the Data Protection Act. Read more here
Security guard on duty at supermarket shot dead
A 61-year-old security officer was killed at his workplace in Chaguanas on Thursday night. According to police sources, Shami Soogrim, of Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, was on duty at Massy Stores' Brentwood branch around 9 pm when a gunman walked up to him and shot him in the head. Soogrim fell on the ground face down, where he died. Read more here
POLITICS
28 oil, gas firms show interest in Trinidad and Tobago's coastal waters
Minister of Energy Stuart Young expressed confidence in the 2023 shallow-water bid round launched on Monday, as several oil and gas companies showed interest in TT’s oil and gas acreage. At the official launch of the bid round held at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries head office at the Waterfront Complex in Port of Spain, on Wednesday, Young said companies were already excited about the bid round as it had been promoted locally and abroad since last year. “This shallow-water bid round has already sparked excitement at a number of promotional events or conferences. Notably over the past year alone we promoted this bid round at events at home as well as in Houston, Mexico City and Syria. Read more here
PM to lead team to Canada-Caricom Summit
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will lead a delegation to Ottawa, Canada, to attend the first-ever Canada-Caricom Summit later this month. Under the theme Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future, the summit will highlight Canada’s strong ties with the Caribbean, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and charting a better future. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne will not be part of the delegation to the summit, which will run from October 17-19, as he will be contributing to the Budget debate in the Senate during that period. However, Guardian Media understands that former minister and high commissioner to Canada, Dennis Moses, will be part of the envoy. Read more here
BUSINESS
Investment stimulation needed
While welcoming the new shallow-water bid round, the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday expressed doubts about its potential to deliver additional oil and gas before the 2030s, and said what is needed now is investment stimulation for supplying gas to downstream plants and the LNG facility. And one of the mechanisms to stimulate more investment is through fiscal reform,” the Energy Chamber stated. After a disappointing shallow-water competitive bid round in 2018, the Energy Ministry on Wednesday launched a new bid round offering 13 blocks, including the six previously offered five years ago. Read more here
REGIONAL
IICA signals support to Guyana, CARICOM in achieving food security targets
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has signalled its support for Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in achieving regional food security targets. According to a press statement from the Office of the President, Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali met with several officials in Costa Rica, where he led fruitful discussions on the region’s efforts to reduce its high food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. It was revealed that the Guyanese Head of State met with the World Food Prize Laureate, Dr. Rattan Lal, and one of the 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences recipients, Dr. Michael Kremer. The statement disclosed that Dr. Lal, a distinguished soil scientist, indicated his interest in working with Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on extending the living soils programme. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine cyber-conflict: Hacking gangs vow to de-escalate
The two largest hacktivist groups in the Ukraine conflict have vowed to de-escalate cyber-attacks and comply with new rules of engagement published by a war watchdog. On Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued the first list of rules for civilian hackers ever created. Dubbed a "Geneva Code of cyber-war", it was initially criticised as unworkable. But now Ukrainian and Russian hackers say they will comply with the rules. Since the invasion of Ukraine there has been a steady stream of disruptive cyber-attacks against public services in both Ukraine and Russia with varying degrees of impact. Read more here
6th October 2023