TTMA IN THE NEWS
Trade Minister meets with Ghanian delegation
A 13-member Ghanian delegation met with Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon at the Ministry’s office at Nicholas Towers on March 7. A release from the ministry said the courtesy call included the Trinidad and Tobago honorary consul to Ghana Hilton John Mitchell along with leaders in finance, business and industry. The release said the minister was pleased with the growing positive relationship between both countries. Read more here
NEWS
Sea Lots 'peace treaty' signed, Snr Supt unsure all parties were involved
Sea Lots resident Jada Morris said as of March 8, there is a peace treaty following tensions in the small community that forced 35 women, herself included, to march to the Police Administration Building on March 5 to plead for help. The women sought assistance after alleging a series of attacks on J'Ouvert morning. The women alleged a lack of police action regarding their complaints that they had been badly assaulted by men from the nearby Beetham Highway community on March 5. Morris thanked Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Junior Benjamin and the police for their intervention. Read more here
Rising Youth Suicides in T&T - Part One
Mental health practitioners in T&T are sounding the alarm as youth suicide rates climb, fuelled by bullying, socio-economic struggles, psychological distress, and a critical lack of awareness among families, friends, and peers. Childline Trinidad and Tobago has reported that over the past year, reports of physical bullying have increased by 66 per cent while reports of verbal and cyber-bullying have doubled. The Suicide Prevention hotline meanwhile reported to Guardian Media that 1,851 distress calls were received from October 2024 to January 8. Read more here
POLITICS
Lee calls for transparency on Nigerian bidder for refinery
UNC whip David Lee is calling on the government to be more transparent about Nigerian company Oando Trading DMCC, which was selected to lease the former Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre. Lee was speaking at a UNC press conference in Chaguanas on March 9. He began by saying TT is facing "the most critical question and challenge to emerge in decades." This, he said, is: Who do you want in charge of your economic, social and human development? Read more here
Foster brushes off Watts’ defection to UNC
The margin of victory for the People’s National Movement (PNM) in La Horquetta/Talparo in the 2025 general election will be even greater than it was in 2020, says incumbent PNM MP Foster Cummings. But Curtis Cuffie, the brother of former PNM La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie, has criticised Cummings’ operation in the seat. Both spoke yesterday after the United National Congress’ La Horquetta/Talparo candidate Phillip Watts—the PNM’s former constituency executive chairman in the constituency—did walkabouts in the community last Saturday. Curtis Cuffie and his brother Dexter were among those supporting Watts, whom Cummings will be battling in the forthcoming general election. Read more here
BUSINESS
Breaking barriers for women entrepreneurs
Government says it is committed to dismantling barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing economic opportunities and is continuing to advance inclusive programmes to enhance the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs at all levels of the economy. This was the message from Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon as she spoke at the SheTrades International Women’s Day Seminar and Trade Show, held at the National Racquet Sports Centre in Tacarigua, on Saturday. Read more here
REGIONAL
$156B invested in women’s empowerment – President Ali
With targeted investments and policies, Guyanese women have been the bedrock of the country’s growth and transformation. This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who, while addressing an event over the weekend, disclosed that some $156 billion has been invested into several initiatives aimed at empowering women. In sectors ranging from agriculture to education, women are being supported to thrive in all sections of Guyana’s society. “The women in our society are the foundation on which this nation will stand and grow. And our duty as men is to protect that foundation, to nurture that foundation, and to safeguard that foundation,” Dr. Ali said before emphasising that women should be protected by their counterparts. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
The 'anti-Trump' numbers man who may force the UK to take a side
Mark Carney's elevation to the top job in Canada is of particular significance at this moment when his country is at the frontline of a North American trade war. He becomes the "anti-Trump" on the US president's doorstep. The former Bank of England governor chose to lean strongly into resisting Donald Trump's policies at his acceptance speech. He said the US president had brought "dark days" from "a country we can no longer trust" and that he was "proud" of Canadians resisting the US "with their wallets". While on trade specifically Mr Carney vowed to keep the retaliatory tariffs "until Americans show us respect", it was clear that the general threats against Canadian sovereignty are equally as important in his thinking. Read more here
10th March 2025