NEWS
Central Bank deputy governor, Stock Exchange CEO: Time for SMEs to join TTSE
Despite market shares being at its lowest for SMEs, especially in the wake of covid19 and other major shocks which have affected businesses worldwide, the TT Stock Exchange (TTSE) and Central Bank are saying now is the perfect time for SMEs to join the TTSE and have access to new revenues. Both entities, represented by the bank's Deputy Governor Dr Dorian Noel and the exchange's CEO Eva Mitchell spoke at the launch of the SME mentorship programme on Tuesday. Read more here
No more industrial, commercial waste at Guanapo Landfill
With the risk of the Guanapo Landfill becoming unusable within a year, the Solid Waste Management Co Ltd (SWMCOL) is now restricting industrial and commercial waste from the site. Companies that usually dispose of their waste in the landfill now have to go further to other SMWCOL sites. Earlier this month, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales revealed that the Forres Park, Beetham and Guanapo landfills had reached capacity. Read more here
POLITICS
Hinds: Government aware of crime challenges
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says the trauma left behind by recent murders have not been lost on him, as the police have been working to better secure different communities. He made the remark during the passing-out parade and ceremony for 106 police officers at the police barracks, St James, on Wednesday afternoon. Noting that the murder toll for 2022 was close to crossing 500, Hinds said he was aware of the challenge posed by murders and called on recruits to do their part in pushing back against crime. Read more here
UNC accuses AG Armour of hiding behind sub judice rule
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally yesterday accused Attorney General Reginald Armour of hiding behind the sub judice rule to avoid having to address the ongoing Vincent Nelson indemnity fiasco. “What before the courts is making this sub judice?” Rambally asked as he waved an online T&T Guardian article at a media conference at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port-of-Spain. The article was headlined, “AG Armour declines LATT disclosure request.” Posted online just a couple of hours before the media conference, it stated that Armour had declined a request from the Law Association of T&T or disclosure in relation to the collapse of the corruption case against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen. Read more here
BUSINESS
First Citizens partners with 70 schools in entrepreneurship programme
First Citizens has partnered with the National Secondary Schools Entrepreneurship Competition (NSSEC) programme to encourage entrepreneurship among youths. In a media release on Wednesday the bank said the partnership will be through an educational gamification model. The initiative, which was launched recently, saw students from over 70 secondary schools in a six-week programme aimed at exposing student teams to the rigours of setting up and running a business. Read more here
Microsoft to host DigiGirlz Day 2022 on Friday
DigiGirlz Day is Microsoft’s annual tech seminar aimed at educating and empowering secondary school girls in the Caribbean by giving them the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, connect with Microsoft employees, and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops via the Microsoft Teams platform. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2030, 77 per cent of jobs will require technology skills. “While there is a growing and unsatisfied demand in the STEM world, added to a great deficit of women in these areas. In the world only 35 per cent of STEM students in higher education are women, according to the UNESCO report. In the software industry, female representation does not usually exceed 10 per cent,” a release from Microsoft stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
Double strike
EXXONMOBIL, on Wednesday, announced two discoveries at the Sailfin-1 and Yarrow-1 wells in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, adding to its extensive portfolio of development opportunities. According to a press statement from the oil giant, the company has made more than 30 discoveries in the block since 2015, and it has ramped up offshore development and production at a pace that far exceeds the industry average. “Our unrivalled exploration success and accelerated pace of development in Guyana are a testament to our people, decades of experience, technology capabilities and steadfast focus on optimising all aspects of operations,” President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company, Liam Mallon said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine war: Russian tactics on eastern front 'crazy', says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian commanders of "craziness" in their efforts to capture the eastern town of Bakhmut. The town - which sits in the Donetsk region and had a pre-war population of 70,000 - has been the centre of Russian attacks for months. Despite a looming Ukrainian advance on the key city of Kherson, Mr Zelensky said the attacks continued in force. Taking the town would be a symbolic victory for Russia. "This is where the craziness of the Russian command is most evident," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address from Kyiv. "Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes." Read more here
27th October 2022