TTMA IN THE NEWS
Running a business today nerve-wracking
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) President Franka Costelloe’s long-term goal is to see T&T’s exports double between 2019 and 2024 even as businesses try to survive COVID-19. Read more here
NEWS
2,400 out of work as firefighting NGOs axed
About 2,400 workers employed through non-governmental organisations who help contain bush fires are now on the breadline. Contracts for 65 of these NGOs have been terminated, and they were given a month’s notice to fire their staff. The move is aimed at restructuring the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme. The 65 NGOs that employ them are now questioning the timing of such a move, especially in the peak of a dry season that is hotter than usual. Read more here
Forms for COVID-19 relief grants made available online
The negative impact of COVID-19 on the pockets of thousands in this country is evident in the long lines of people at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS). However, the entire process can be done online, reducing the need for long lines outside of government offices. For those going the online route, application forms for accessing the grants are available on the websites of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development( https://www.molsed.gov.tt), the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (http://www.social.gov.tt) and TTConnect (http://www.ttconnect.gov.tt).The grants being offered by the government at this time are income support, food support, and rental fee support. Families whose children are registered with the School Feeding Programme and are not in receipt of a food card will be eligible for receipt of a temporary food card for a period of three months. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: Caricom unites against covid19
The Prime Minister said Caricom leaders agreed on Wednesday on a common health and common border protocols as the region closes ranks to battle the covid19 pandemic. Dr Rowley made these comments after Caricom leaders held their first ever virtual heads of government meeting to continue developing strategies to deal with all aspects of the pandemic. He said regional leaders accepted that the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) “is the virological expert”. Rowley said there was also agreement that the decisions of Caricom governments to fight covid19 must be driven by the protocols established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and CARPHA. He explained that decisions will not be made arbitrarily but be driven by science. Rowley said while approaches may differ in some ways from one Caricom country to another “there is commonality to a large extent”. Read more here
Govt eyes TTFA hotel as COVID step-down facility
The controversial Home of Football, which was deemed unusable by former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association president William Wallace back in November, is now one of the venues Government is considering for use as a step-down facility in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) following a visit yesterday.Minister of National Security Stuart Young led a party of officials from the Ministries of Health, National Security, Fire Services and FIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Robert Hadad on a tour of the facility.Guardian Media confirmed this with Hadad late yesterday and he revealed it was an option being considered for a while. Read more here
BUSINESS
Businesses struggle to pay rent
The country’s first craft brewery, Tommy’s Brewing Company, was set to hit its second anniversary on a high come August. But in March, sales at the 3,500-square-foot MovieTowne spot in Mucurapo plummeted as a result of the covid19 pandemic, propped up only by a few sporadic takeaway orders. Then, by virtue of the Government’s extended public health orders, the restaurant and bar shut down completely two weeks ago. The loss of revenue has been so bad, owner John Tannous told Business Day April's rent is now past due, and even with the significant discount, his landlord is offering he won’t be able to make a payment. Read more here
TTNGL profits decline significantly
Trinidad and Tobago NGL Ltd (TTNGL) has posted an after-tax profit of $129.5 million for the year ended 2019. This represents a 48.79 per cent decrease from the net profit of the corresponding period of $252.9 million. In the company’s financial statements, the chairman Conrad Enill indicated that the share of profit from the company’s investment in its underlying asset Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd (PPGPL) was $90.3million compared to $242.6 million in 2018.“Performance at PPGPL was adversely impacted by lower Mont Belvieu product prices, coupled with lower Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) production and an increase in feedstock costs.” Read more here
US$50m COVID loan for T&T
Caracas-based Development Bank of Latin America, also known as CAF, yesterday confirmed that the hemispheric lending institution has approved a US$50 million loan to T&T to mitigate the COVID-19 health crisis in T&T. Read more here
REGIONAL
COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ triggers spike in domestic violence
“WHAT I’ve seen in the past three weeks I’ve actually managed in three months,” said activist and founder of United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM), Bonita Montague addressing a recent spike in domestic violence cases. Montague has spearheaded the organisation for some 28 years, actively seeking out ways to meet the social and physical needs of individuals and families. On Wednesday, she told this newspaper that the efforts of her organisation are being stretched thin, due to the numerous challenges that have arisen due to COVID-19-induced lockdown. The day before, the activist said, she received nine reports of domestic violence incidents in just three hours. Read more here
US blocks Ja test kits - Holness Gov’t snubs Cuban antiviral drug
The Jamaican Government says it will not be using the Cuban antiviral drug Interferon Alpha 2B to treat persons battling COVID-19. The disease has killed five persons, with another 120 testing positive. This development comes even as Washington blocked a supply of test kits destined for Jamaica, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton reported yesterday. Jamaican authorities had said that they would have discussions with their Cuban counterparts to get more details about the antiviral drug, which is one of several being used by the Chinese to fight the new coronavirus. The drug is said to have proven effective for viruses with characteristics similar to those of COVID-19. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
As governments fumbled their coronavirus response, these four got it right. Here's how.
Like a line of dominoes, country after country has been shut down by the novel coronavirus. Despite signs the threat was making its way across the globe, there was a clear pattern of response in many parts of the world -- denial, fumbling and, eventually, lockdown. In our globalized world, it's puzzling that so few lessons were learned in the early weeks of each country's outbreak, when the chances of containing and stopping the virus were highest. Now the focus is on flattening the curve, or slowing the virus' spread, to keep death tolls from climbing further. As much of the world mulls gradually lifting lockdowns, there are still lessons to be learned from these four places that got it right. Here are 12 of those lessons. Read more here
'We are all in this together' – Gates
"Covid-19 anywhere is Covid-19 everywhere," Melinda Gates said as she called for global co-operation to beat the pandemic. The philanthropist was speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 Live after President Donald Trump announced the US would stop funding the World Health Organization (WHO). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - the second-largest funder of the WHO - has pledged a further $150m (£120m) to fight Covid-19, but she said they did not expect a vaccine to be available for 18 months. Read more here
16th April 2020