TTMA IN THE NEWS
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) yesterday announced its leadership of trade mission to the Bahamas from yesterday to April 19. The trade mission comprises 15 local companies spanning diverse sectors including food and beverage, paint, printing and packaging, and chemicals. Supported by key stakeholders including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Export TT, and EXIM Bank, who are actively participating in the mission, the initiative underscores the collective commitment to driving economic growth and expansion opportunities for T&T's thriving manufacturing sector, the TTMA said in a news release yesterday. Read more here
NEWS
Third mother seeks answers after baby dies of infection
Another mother is seeking answers on the death of her baby at the Port of Spain General Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Relatives of the seven babies who died at the NICU between April 4 and 7 have initiated legal action against the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), citing medical negligence. So far, attorneys led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, have issued two pre-action protocol letters to the NWRHA CEO Anthony Blake. Read more here
Outpouring of support at vigil honouring Amarah
Scores of people from all walks of life turned out to a vigil in honour of murdered four-year-old Amarah Lallite in Fiver Rivers, Arouca, last evening. The vigil was organised by members of the Five Rivers Cultural Caravan to pay their respects to little Amarah, who was decapitated on April 8. But the organisers later admitted that they did not expect the turnout. From around 6.30 pm, relatives, residents and strangers assembled at Five Rivers Junction and began marching north, along Range Road towards 5th Street, where the home of Amarah’s mother Tricia Villaruel was located, and where the little child’s life was tragically ended. Many in attendance donned purple jerseys and carried candles which flickered in the evening breeze, illuminating signs of gloom on the faces of those in attendance. Read more here
POLITICS
Parray invited to 40 meetings by UNC groups in 6 months
While the UNC was having its regular Monday night meeting in Moruga/Tableland, a parallel private meeting of some UNC influencers was held simultaneously at the San Fernando Yacht Club. Among the main speakers at the large gathering of UNC supporters at the Yacht Club, were sitting MPs Rushton Parray, Anita Haynes and Rodney Charles – now branded as “dissidents” having spoken out on the need for change within the party, starting with the holding of internal elections in June. The private meeting was organised by the UNC's San Fernando West constituency group. Read more here
Kamla sends warning: Never take my kindness for weakness
Never ever, ever take my kindness for weakness!” That was the repeated strong warning from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night as she spoke at the UNC’s Monday Report in Moruga. “I serve you with notice—don’t say you were never notified,” Persad-Bissessar added, without calling names of her detractors. The UNC meeting occurred even as a meeting was also scheduled to be held last night at San Fernando Yacht Club by dissident MPs Mayaro Rushton Paray (Mayaro), Rodney Charles (Naparima) and Anita Haynes-Alleyne (Tabaquite) with party members. It was the latest meeting Paray has addressed. He recently led a challenge to Persad-Bissessar to have UNC national executive elections in June. It was confirmed yesterday that Paray was “invited” to speak at the Yacht Club, just as he was invited to address another meeting last week in Couva. Read more here
BUSINESS
Digicel Group gets new CEO
Digicel Group has announced Marcelo Cataldo as its new group chief executive officer, effective May,1. Digicel yesterday said Cataldo, originally from Paraguay, has diverse international experience having worked across Latin America, the US, and Europe. He joined Digicel from Tigo Colombia where he has served as CEO and President since August 2016. “On his watch, the company delivered communications services to 16 million customers in Colombia and is on a strong growth trajectory, with its postpaid base up by 21 percent and its corporate digital services up by almost 35 per cent last year,” Digicel said in a news release,. Cataldo takes over from Maarten Boute who has served as interim Group CEO since the completion of the restructuring in January and who will return to his role as group chief operating officer (COO). Read more here
Sabga: Indian market aware of Carib brand
Chief executive officer of ANSA McAL, Anthony N Sabga III, said the Indian market is already aware of the Carib brand through the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). However, what truly distinguishes the conglomerate’s entry into the Indian alcohol market is their love for Caribbean culture, he said. Speaking to Express at the Tatil Life Award ceremony on Saturday at the Banquet and Conference Centre, MovieTowne, Port of Spain, Sabga said, “We’re hoping to create a sizeable presence in the market. The brand and Caribbean lifestyle are already very attractive in India. The Indian people are lapping it up and they love Caribbean culture; we’re the sexiest thing on the planet for them; so what better brand to give them than Carib to introduce them to Caribbean fun?” Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana’s economy continues to be a magnet for investment
As the government continues to foster an environment that is conducive to business and investments, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Sector, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Monday, oversaw the signing of an agreement between the Inter-American Development Bank’s Private sector arm-IDB-Invest and Redstart Guyana. The simple signing ceremony which took place at the Ministry of Finance, was witnessed by both IDB and Ministry of Finance officials. The agreement is to the tune of US$25 million and will allow for the construction of a commercial complex at Farm on the East Bank of Demerara. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Jeremy Bowen: Iran's attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline
It wasn't many days ago that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under enormous pressure. After seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza on 1 April, US President Joe Biden seemed finally to lose patience with his troublesome ally. On the same day, Israel attacked the Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus, killing a senior general, at least six other officers, and violating legal conventions that prohibit attacks on embassies. Israel claimed, unconvincingly, that Iran had forfeited that protection by turning the consular building it destroyed into a military outpost. Iran promised it would retaliate, but previous attacks on senior commanders had generated more words than actions. Read more here
16th April 2024