TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA commends Government on its Illicit Trade Fight
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association Tricia Coosal believes that the Government is headed in the right direction thus far in its fight against illicit trade. In response to the various media articles, she said, “The TTMA is cognisant of the various seizures of items by the different regulatory and law enforcement agencies during the past few months, which demonstrates to the local manufacturing community that the Government is serious about reducing the prevalence of illicit trade”. These items include alcohol, cigarettes, footwear, wrapping paper, inhalers, electronics, illicit drugs and cash. Kudos must be given to the Multi-Agency Task Force, which is led by ACP Haynes of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and comprises key members of the Customs and Excise Division, the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division, and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards. Additionally, the creation of the Anti-Illicit Trade Task Force (AITTF) and its various Working Groups signals to the private sector that there would be meaningful interventions to address this scourge on society. Read more here
More business groups back Griffith
More members of the business sector are voicing their support for the stance taken by Acting Police Commissioner Gary Griffith on firearm users licences (FULs). Griffith has defended his processing of FUL applications, saying under the law persons who meet certain requirements are eligible for a licence. In a statement yesterday, the Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT) said in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the wider retail sector is considered a high-risk bubble in the “frontline” environment, which may make them “easy targets” in the eyes of criminals. Read more here
NEWS
TTPS urge pedestrians to be more careful
Police are cautioning pedestrians about walking on the road and crossing at busy areas. In a media release issued on Saturday the police said there have been 53 deaths for the year compared to 65 for the same period last year. Most recently, Cindy Blanc, 43 was killed on August 31 after she was hit by a 5 tonne flatbed wrecker along the Eastern Main Road Wallerfield. The media release stated that while there is an 18 percent decrease in the national road fatality figure, Blanc’s death took the pedestrian death toll to 21, an increase of 31 percent compared to the same period last year. Read more here
POLITICS
MSJ blames PNM and UNC for NGC 'mess'
Both the PNM and UNC are to blame for the "huge mess" that the National Gas Company (NGC) has found itself in, during their respective tenures in office. Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) political leader David Abdulah made this statement during a virtual news conference on Sunday. Referring to a Trinidad Guardian report which alleged that NGC could lose $440 million regarding the resumption of operations of Atlantic Train One and its board writing Finance Minister Colm Imbert seeking indemnity on this matter, Abdulah said, "It is quite clear in our view that the (PNM) Government has been making some fundamental policy decisions which have had major negative consequences for the country." Read more here
BUSINESS
NGC board supports Loquan
Wholly State-owned National Gas Company (NGC) yesterday assured all of its stakeholders that its president, Mark Loquan, and the leadership team of the company have the full support of the board. In a news statement issued yesterday, NGC also assured stakeholders that all decisions taken about Atlantic LNG Train 1 adhered strictly to its governance process. Read more here
REGIONAL
Legislation being developed for “free zone” in Region Nine
President, Dr Irfaan Ali met with members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday afternoon, where he discussed his government’s plans for Region Nine and encouraged them to form themselves into consortiums. The Head of State, who was also in Lethem for the Regional Toshaos Meeting, said that his government is aware of the desire to have parts of Lethem as a free zone. “The declaration of areas as designated areas here in Region Nine, Lethem, as a free zone — was a major issue that was raised. What I can say to you is that we are presently drafting the legislation. I received some options from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Attorney-General is doing the draft legislation.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Six Palestinian prisoners escape Israeli jail through tunnel
Israeli authorities have launched a massive manhunt after six Palestinian prisoners escaped from one of the country's most secure jails overnight. The men are believed to have dug a tunnel from their cell over several months that led to a road outside Gilboa Prison's walls. Officials were alerted by farmers who noticed them running through fields. The fugitives include a former leader of the militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and five Islamic Jihad members. An Israel prison service official described the escape as "a major security and intelligence failure"; Palestinian militant groups hailed it as "heroic". Read more here
Taliban claim victory in Panjshir, but resistance forces say they still control strategic position in the valley
The Taliban have claimed victory in Afghanistan's Panjshir province, with a spokesman saying the region had been "completely conquered" following two weeks of fierce fighting with a resistance group. Panjshir was the last remaining hold-out among Afghanistan's 34 provinces to resist the Taliban. If the claim is true, it would mean the Taliban now control every Afghan province. Read more here
6th September 2021