TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA lauds Phoenix Park opening
The T&T Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) has congratulated the Government and in particular eTecK, InvesTT and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on the completion and official opening of the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate (PPIE). A statement issued from the TTMA yesterday, noted that this development will act as a catalyst to grow the non-energy manufacturing base of this country and allow for increased employment opportunities, foreign exchange earning capacity for T&T. President of the TTMA Roger Roach stated, “The association welcomes this newest addition to the eTecK’s listing as we continue to do our part to grow the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the GDP of T&T. “The availability of this new, state-of-the-art space, will facilitate organisations who are seeking to invest, upgrade or expand into new technologically driven, best-in-class operations in light manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and other related growth industries.” Read more here
‘Ripe for international investment’
The recently opened Phoenix Park Industrial Estate (PPIE) has positioned Trinidad and Tobago as a country “ripe for international investment”, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) Roger Roach has said. And as such Roach said he is looking forward to the expansion of other industrial parks in this country. Read more here
NEWS
Missing Cocoyea man found alive with stab wounds in Rousillac
Southern and South Western Division police are investigating the circumstances of the stabbing of a 38-year-old PH driver from Cocoyea whose relatives reported him missing on Monday. Lessen "Leslie" Alexander was found at around 1 pm on Tuesday on the roadside under a bridge near Silver Street River, Rousillac, on the Archibald-De Leon Highway in the South Oropouche police district. He was taken for medical care at the hospital. Read more here
Sugarcane Feed Centre workers accept 4%
The All-Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (AGWTU) yesterday accepted the Government’s four per cent wage offer for the junior monthly paid, hourly, and daily-rated workers of the Sugarcane Feeds Centre. In a news release yesterday, the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) said the wage increase is for the periods January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2016, and January 01, 2017, to December 31, 2019. The release noted that in the agreement the Sugarcane Feeds Centre workers received a four per cent increase in salaries and wages for over six years. The parties also agreed to a one-time lumpsum payment of $4,000, which is to be tax exempted for junior monthly-paid employees and hourly and daily-rated workers who have retired compulsorily, voluntarily, with permission, or on the grounds of illness during the period January 01, 2014 to December 31, 2015. Read more here
POLITICS
Minister Browne meets with new PAHO/WHO country representative
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne received an introductory courtesy call from Dr Gabriel Vivas Francesconi – new country representative for the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). In addition to Trinidad and Tobago, Francesconi is also country representative to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Duirng the meeting, Francesconi presented his credentials signed by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general; and Dr Jarbas Barbosa Da Silva Jr., director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau. A ministry press release said Browne warmly welcomed Francesconi and assured that this country looks forward to continuing its robust and productive relationship with PAHO/WHO. Read more here
Young dismisses Kamla’s call for SoE
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young has dismissed the idea of a state of emergency (SoE). The call for a return to a SoE was made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the United National Congress’ (UNC) Anti-crime Town Hall Meeting on Monday night. Political Analyst Dr Indira Rampersad had initially broached the idea when she addressed the gathering and it was later supported by Persad-Bissessar, who noted that a similar initiative in 2011 by her People’s Partnership government had yielded results in the fight against crime at that time. However, speaking to members of the media last night at a People’s National Movement (PNM) mixer at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, Minister Young poured cold water to the idea of a return to such a scenario. He said when he woke up on yesterday, he read what was reported on the UNC meeting as it related to the calling of a SoE as a solution to the rising crime problem. Read more here
BUSINESS
Agostini Group reveals record profits for 2023
Agostini Group’s chairman Christian Mouttet has credited the conglomerate’s acquisitions in the past year for another record-breaking financial year. The group released its 2023 annual report, ahead of its annual general meeting on January 31 at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. Among the key highlights is a boost in sales by 14.3 per cent to $4.7 billion. Net profit for 2023 increased to $393,126 from $263,822 in 2022. This represented a 49 per cent increase in profits. Earnings per share increased from $2.76 to $3.31 before the net gain on acquisition. The return on equity improved from 14.4 per cent to 15.4 per cent. Read more here
Julien: Tackle ease of doing ‘green’ business in T&T
Before contemplating any new green energy projects in Trinidad and Tobago, one of the first steps we must take is to assess how we can improve the “ease of doing ‘green’ business” here, founder and chairman of Kenesjay Green Limited (KGL) Philip Julien has said. Speaking with Express Business, Julien said the growth of our local green economy already has a successful roadmap in the form of this country’s development of our ‘now world-class natural gas sector.’” Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyanese well positioned to build sustainable wealth
Targeted policies and careful planning have resulted in citizens being able to access and explore a plethora of new entrepreneurial opportunities that exist. This was according to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his presentation of Budget 2024 to the National Assembly, on Monday. Creating new avenues for Guyanese to have the ability to build and accumulate household income has been a focus of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) since being elected to office in 2020. The high demand for goods and services is a result of the fusion of the rapid expansion of both private and public investments, job creation and the increases in disposable income. Dr Singh explained: “Increased demand for goods and services means more business opportunities for both current and potential producers and suppliers.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
France's Macron shifts to right on schools and birth rate
French President Emmanuel Macron has come off the fence and opened the way for policies that are unmistakeably on the political right. That is the unanimous verdict after he gave a long, televised press conference on Tuesday evening. He promoted uniforms in schools, a crackdown on drugs gangs, and steps to boost France's declining birth rate. Left-wing commentators deplored his apparent shift from the crafted political balance of recent years. But they said they suspected all along the right was where his heart lay. Commentators on the right said they were delighted by his apparent conversion to their views, but suspected it was all a sham. Read more here
17th January 2024