NEWS
New UWI principal aiming to improve lives
Pro vice-chancellor and campus principal of UWI St Augustine Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine is ready to take UWI to the forefront of innovation and healing TT’s society. In her inaugural address, during her induction ceremony at the Daaga Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine, on Saturday night, UWI’s first female principal and first principal out of the law fraternity said, at the end of the day she wanted people to remember the “humanistic, intellectual force” of UWI. “I intend to place this (social justice and rights) at the centre of what we do at the UWI, St Augustine. For me, the meaning of civil liberty, like equality, resides in economic and social rights, enshrined in education, health, work, water and the environment.” Read more here
CAL launches ‘Welcome Home’ campaign at Adam Smith Square
Caribbean Airlines launched its “Welcome Home” campaign at Adam Smith Square, Ariapita Avenue, on Saturday with cultural performances, workshops, food and the song/jingle “Welcome Home” recorded by Machel Montano/Voice/Agent Sasco and Travis World. It was a family atmosphere when Guardian Media visited “D Square” filled with Carnival and culinary workshops, Caribbean Steelpan Connextion Ensemble, tassa, tamboo bamboo, riddim sections, moko jumbies, revellers, face painting, wire bending Maracas bake and shark vendors, chow, and other food vendors, sugar cane juice and snack vendors. There was a large mural commissioned by the airline and members of the public were invited to paint on the wall. Read more here
POLITICS
Opposition MPs rubbish claims of move to oust leader, rift in UNC
Opposition UNC MPs, on Sunday, denied there was any rift in the party over three of its members not voting for UNC presidential nominee Israel Khan, SC, in the Electoral College on January 20. They also rejected a social media post which alleged there was a move within the party to remove UNC political leader and Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar as Opposition Leader. The post claimed Oropouche East MP and UNC deputy leader Dr Roodal Moonilal got the signatures of eight Opposition MPs and six Opposition senators on a letter to send to President Paula-Mae Weekes, and that they had lost confidence in Persad-Bissessar as Opposition Leader. Read more here
Rowley warns of difficult days ahead
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is warning citizens to prepare for difficult days ahead. He made the statement at the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA) yesterday as he delivered remarks for the People’s National Movement (PNM’s) 67th-anniversary celebration. Taking the stage to much fanfare, the Prime Minister spent some time praising the party’s founding members and listing its achievements over the years. Read more here
BUSINESS
Bolt sparks concern in Jamaica, but T&T not as worried
It is often said the key to securing your wealth is through investment. However, last week the investment banking sector in Jamaica found itself with major questions to answer when news broke that the fastest man in history Usain Bolt could not find US$12.7 million which had been in his account at the Kingston-based private investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited. Bolt had seemingly done the right thing to avoid the trap many successful athletes fall prey to following the end of their careers, holding on to a significant portion of his wealth through investment as opposed to exhausting his wealth on a lavish lifestyle. Yet despite by most conventions, doing the right thing, Bolt’s account which once read US$12.8 million now reportedly only has US$12,000. Read more here
Angostura gets new CEO
The new chief executive office of Angostura Holdings Ltd—the Eastern Main Road, Laventille manufacturer of rum and bitters—is expected to be officially announced today. The company’s new CEO is Laurent Schun, who comes to T&T’s publicly listed spirits company after spending 28 years employed with Pernod Ricard, the multinational French company that is among the top ten largest spirits companies in the world by revenue. Read more here
REGIONAL
New $61M sand-mining operation for Canal #2
Due to the increasing demand for building materials such as silica sand, loam and stone, Castle Point Incorporated plans to invest some US$292,000 (or GY$61 million) in a new viable and environmentally-compliant silica sand and loam mining operation at the Canal #2 backlands, West Bank Demerara (WBD), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). A project summary was recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review. According to the project summary, there would be an annual operating cost of US$260,183 and the mine would produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of silica sand and 10,000 tonnes of loam per year for construction and industrial purposes over the life of the mine, according to a project summary. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Germany won't block export of its Leopard 2 tanks, foreign minister says
Germany's foreign minister Anna Baerbock has said she "would not stand in the way" of Poland if they were to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Ukraine has called on the West to provide the German-made tanks which they say will help them defeat Russia. But Germany is yet to provide the armoured vehicles, and its export laws prevent other countries from sending theirs. On Sunday, Ms Baerbock said Poland had not yet asked for export permission. "For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way," she told France's LCI TV on Sunday. Read more here
23rd January 2023