TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA selects new board at virtual AGM
The TT Manufacturers Association appointed a new board at its 64th annual meeting, which was held virtually on April 8. President Franka Costelloe of Lifetime Solutions retained the post of president, while Ryan Lewis and Tricia Coosal of Coosal’s Group of Companies were appointed vice presidents and Dale Parson of Kaleidoscope Group Ltd as corporate secretary. Coosal and Parson were two of three former directors reappointed, the third being Ian Mitchell of Ansa Polymer. Roger Roach of Lazuri Apparel Ltd and Emil Ramkissoon of New Wave Marketing were the other two selected. Read more here
TTMA: Technology critical during covid19 restrictions
The TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) hosted its first cyber annual meeting Wednesday virtually – on trend with the virtual meetings that have now become the norm as a significant portion of world’s workforce adapts to remote work during covid19 quarantines. Franka Costello, who returns for a second stint as the association’s president, in her speech to members, cited the “overnight shift to technological solutions” as a necessary and important step that has been propelled by the circumstances. Read more here
Government to consider joint Chambers’ proposals
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Goopee-Scoon has promised the joint chambers that their proposals for further relief from the government in light of the COVID-19 crisis will be discussed with members of Cabinet and a decision made on a way forward. Goopee-Scoon is the Chair of the Cabinet sub-committee on business and manufacturing set up by the government in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAMTT), Nirad Tewarie said he spoke with Gopee-Scoon yesterday about the situation. “We are optimistic that the government understands the need to support business to be able to support employment and I am also optimistic that they will consider other things, maybe some of the things that we have not proposed,” Tewarie said. On Tuesday the Joint Chambers comprising of AMCHAM, the Energy Chamber of T&T, the T&T Chamber of Industry & Commerce and the T&T Manufacturers’ Association, as well as the Confederation of Industry and Commerce issued a statement calling on the government to help them save jobs in T&T by establishing a tax credit on salaries for companies that do not make any profit over the next three months. Read more here
NEWS
New UK Labour leader visited TT in 2011
New UK Labour Party Leader and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer once spoke on human rights at Hugh Wooding Law School, St Augustine. Starmer succeeded Jeremy Corbin on April 4 after Labour’s loss in the 2019 general election, won by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In September 2011, he addressed a packed lecture hall at Hugh Wooding Law School, on the topic of the role of a prosecuting attorney. At the time he was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), heading the British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS.) He was DPP from 2008-2013, a role for which he was knighted by the Queen. Read more here
CoP: Police will do what they must
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will do what they “must” now that they lost the additional aid of the private security companies. When the Government announced on Tuesday that it had retained four private security companies-Amalgamated Security, Allied Security, Innovative Technologies and Protective Agencies Ltd- Griffith said that it provided additional eyes and ears for the TTPS. However, on Wednesday National Security Minister Stuart Young said the one-day-old initiative was cancelled. Read more here
POLITICS
Hosein: PPE given to corporation workers
Even as regional corporations bring relief to their local residents, the health of their staff must be protected during the covid19 pandemic, Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said in a statement on Tuesday. “It is imperative that, as we continue to serve the burgesses of our respective city, borough or region, we also properly equip our staff with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and required resources.” Read more here
BUSINESS
You can help provide a home
A home is one of the most important things a family can own. It provides shelter and peace of mind. It is where children learn some of their most important lessons and learn the basics of their family life. For most people a home is a safe place where they get their first lessons through their families on communication, relationships and love. But many people in TT do not have a proper home to live in, and some do not have a home at all. Read more here
No price decline
Closure of all restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 could lead to a glut of about 250,000 excess chickens a week on the local market, according to president of the T&T Poultry Association, Robin Phillips. Read more here
REGIONAL
Easter COVID curfew - Restrictions tightened for holy season, but will relax afterwards
Calling on Jamaicans to make a sacrifice to limit the spread of COVID-19 over the Easter holidays, Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday introduced tighter curfews and other restrictions, effectively clamping down on festivities during the holiest period in Christianity. Waxing ecclesiastical, the prime minister drew on crucifixion and resurrection symbolism to urge Jamaicans to forfeit pleasure and fellowship. “It is also a time when we acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the reflection of sacrifice. All of us must make a sacrifice for the recovery of the nation,” he said. Read more here
‘COVID-19 is real and a killer’
Guyana continues to feel the effects of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which, according to Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, has so far claimed the lives of six Guyanese and infected another 37. The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, from 33 to 37, and from five to six respectively, occurred within 24 hours, health officials say. “My brothers and sisters, COVID-19 is real, and it’s a killer. The only way you can protect yourself and save your life is to stay home. Just stay home!” Minister Lawrence appealed in a virtual update on the COVID-19 situation on Wednesday. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand reported a decline in new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day. The country is still tightening its border restrictions
New Zealand has managed to do something that many countries wish they could achieve: for four straight days, it has reported a decline in new coronavirus cases. On Thursday, the country reported 29 new confirmed and probable cases, bringing New Zealand's total to 1,239 -- including only one death. Of those cases, only 14 are in hospital -- and 317 have recovered. New Zealand, a small island country with a population of just under 5 million, is halfway through a month-long lockdown aimed at not only containing the virus, but eliminating it. Read more here
Stay home over Easter, UK public told
With a long weekend and more hot and sunny weather on the way, the government is instructing the British public to maintain the lockdown and stay at home this Easter. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC Breakfast the UK was "just beginning to see this strategy starting to work" and asked people to "stick with it". Temperatures are forecast to reach 25C (77F) in some parts of the country, according to the Met Office. Read more here
9th April 2020