TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA: Illegal wildlife trade serious threat to ecosystem
The TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) has called the illicit wildlife trade “a serious threat to local ecosystems and the survival of endangered and vulnerable species.” In a release Monday, the TTMA said wildlife trafficking is a major issue and is considered one of the most lucrative forms of illicit international trade. The illegal wildlife trade is typically transcontinental: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime noted that virtually every country in the world plays a role as a source, transit or destination of illicitly traded wildlife. Read more here
NEWS
One additional covid19 death, 1,661 active cases
An elderly woman with a pre-existing medical condition has died of covid19, the Health Ministry announced in its daily update on Tuesday. The death toll is now 93. The release said 11 new cases have been confirmed, so there are now 1,661 active cases. Read more here
Health experts see suicide spike among youths
Mental health experts in T&T say they are concerned about the increase in suicidal tendencies among young children locally due to adverse effects created by the COVID-19 lockdown. Secretary of the Association of Psychiatrists of T&T Dr Varma Deyalsingh yesterday claimed suicide was now the second highest cause of death in children aged 15 to 29. Read more here
POLITICS
Gopee-Scoon: Govt will be fair to car dealers
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said Government will be fair and transparent in its dealings with new and foreign-used car dealers as it seeks to plug the leakage of foreign exchange (forex) through the importation of cars. Read more here
Tancoo: $253 billion spent, but businesses still closing
Even though $253 billion was spent in the last five years, MP for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo says businesses are still going bankrupt because the government has failed to boost investor confidence. Delivering his maiden speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Tancoo said the government has shown insensitivity to the business community and a lack of understanding to the socio-economic challenges being faced by citizens. "Many small and medium-sized businesses who dutifully complied with the law, registered, and submitted their VAT returns on time were penalised by this Government’s withholding of their refunds," Tancoo revealed. Read more here
BUSINESS
ECLAC worries that regional women more hurt by pandemic
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) forecasts that 231 million people will slide into poverty in 2020 in Latin America, of whom 118 million will be women. In addition, 21 million women will be unemployed, and one out of every two will work in the informal sector, without social protection, it added. In a statement ECLAC noted that in Latin America and the Caribbean, women have more years of schooling than men, on average (10.3 versus 9.8 in the population between 18 and 24 years of age); however, their labour participation rate is just 51.3 per cent versus 74 per cent of men. Read more here
Business leaders agree Christmas sales look bleak
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago, many small and medium-sized businesses have been struggling to stay afloat, and there seem to be few tidings of great joy in the imminent future. Read more here
REGIONAL
G$42 trillion available to Guyana
Economic advancement on all fronts is expected in the near future, as several United States (US) agencies have offered, collectively, US$200 billion (approximately G$42 trillion) in financing for businesses interested in investing in Guyana. Guyana, a fledging oil state which sits on the edge of South America, is anticipating massive development in the coming years, with the bridging of Suriname and Guyana; a deep water harbour; a new Demerara Harbour Bridge across the Demerara River and consistent revenue from a growing oil and gas sector. Read more here
PNP Disciplinary Committee To Investigate NEC Fracas
The People’s National Party (PNP) has asked its disciplinary committee to investigate the fracas that unfolded during last month’s meeting of its National Executive Council. PNP chairman Fitz Jackson acknowledged reports that “some very unfortunate remarks and gesticulations” were made during the incident at the Jamaica Conference Centre, but said it is up to the disciplinary committee to determine culpability. According to reports, the dispute involved Papine Division Councillor Venesha Phillips and a delegate from the National Workers’ Union. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Determined voters endure long lines to cast early ballots in historic election
Thousands of people, some braving hours-long waits, glitches and politically motivated obstruction, are flocking to cast early ballots and writing the story of a pandemic-era election that may change how America votes. Heavy turnout at early voting centers in Georgia and Texas comes as many voters elsewhere take advantage of mail-in ballots, defying President Donald Trump's misleading attempts to cast the election as the most corrupt in history. Another of the President's many misinformation efforts -- his claim that the Obama administration spied on his team -- suffered a serious blow on Tuesday when it emerged in a Washington Post report that a Justice Department probe into one key aspect of the conspiracy theory will end without even a public report. Read more here
Coronavirus: New Europe restrictions imposed to fight second wave
The Czech Republic has shut schools and bars, Dutch cafes and restaurants are closing and France could impose curfews, as European governments fight to keep a second wave of Covid-19 infections under control. The partial lockdown in the Netherlands comes into force at 22:00 (20:00 GMT). Two hours earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to detail new measures for Paris and other cities. Spain's Catalonia region is also considering its own temporary measures. Across Europe, infection rates are rising, with Russia reporting a record 14,321 daily cases on Wednesday and a further 239 deaths. Read more here
14th October 2020