TTMA IN THE NEWS
Joint chambers, trade ministry to send relief to Windward Islands
The Joint Chambers – Amcham, the Energy Chamber, TTMA and the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce – plan to purchase and transport relief items to St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada from proceeds of its joint relief efforts to islands affected by Hurricane Beryl. TT Chamber president Kiran Maharaj said the joint chambers have a list of items requested by both countries and were working to fill the list. “We have been in connection with our colleagues to better understand by tomorrow what else they are in need of so we would be able to secure it.” Read more here
NEWS
Trinidad and Tobago responds to Windwards hurricane disaster: Homeless children welcomed
The Prime Minister has opened up TT to child victims of Hurricane Beryl and is organising to send relief supplies to Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) after Hurricane Beryl devastated both countries. In a Facebook post, PM Dr Keith Rowley said Caricom Heads met in a virtual session on the morning of July 2 and received updated reports by Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell and SVG PM Ralph Gonsalves. Hurricane Beryl left four dead and millions of dollars in damages but Caricom countries were banding together and were in the process of providing aid to the beleaguered countries. Read more here
T&T opens door to hurricane victims
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has announced that children from hurricane-ravaged regions in Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines will be allowed to enter T&T and seek refuge with their families. The decision was made yesterday in reaction to the pressing need to help and support the hundreds of individuals in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation and deaths on the islands. Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines faced significant devastation. “Given the level of total devastation experienced on these islands, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledging the deep familial ties between these islands and Trinidad and Tobago, has offered to allow school-age children from the devastated zones to be allowed into Trinidad and Tobago if they have family here who may wish to house them during the school holiday period that is upon us at this time,” the PM said. Read more here
POLITICS
Imbert: Probe coming into repeated damage to port scanners
An investigation will be launched into repeated damage to the container scanners at the Port of Port of Spain, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said. His revelation came in the Senate on July 2 after a follow-up question by independent senator Paul Richards. Providing a status update on the scanners at the port during his initial response, Imbert said the pallet scanner at the container examination station was almost 20 years old and had not been working for the last ten years. He said an accelerated procurement process was undertaken for a modern, fit-for-purpose pallet scanner. He said other scanners worked intermittently, requiring frequent repairs, because they were "somehow easily damaged by errant forklifts." Read more here
Kamla: Denying bail not the answer to fighting crime
While the Opposition supported the Government’s Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, says denial of bail was not the answer to fighting crime and that it was not even an anti-crime measure. “While we support the bill, it’s clear this isn’t a plaster on a gaping wound,” Persad-Bissessar added in Parliament on Monday in her contribution to the debate on the bill. It was passed with unanimous support from the Opposition, as well as Government MPs. In supporting the bill, Persad-Bissessar had brushed off picong, saying that it was not a “rubbish” bill. “This is a bill which remedies some deficiencies in law which, because of the (Privy Council’s) Akili Charles judgment, does give us that balance of proportionality, so we’re prepared to support it; this has to do with the public interest of the people of T&T,” she said. Read more here
BUSINESS
Prestige profits rise 16%
Prestige Holdings Ltd yesterday reported profit after tax of $23.26 million for the six-month period ended May 31, 2024, an increase of 16 per cent compared to the prior year. In comments accompanying the financial results, Prestige Holdings chairman Christian Mouttet identified the standout performers in the franchise restaurant chain. “While all brands contributed positively to the top line in the half year, our Pizza Hut and Subway brands remained the standout performers into the second quarter, driven by improved efficiencies and input costs,” Mouttet said. He explained, “Group sales increased by 3 per cent to $665 million from $637 million, and profit before tax improved by 16 per cent to $35.1 million from $30.3 million when compared to the prior year. Cash flow from operations was $83 million and we ended the half year with $97 million in cash.” Read more here
What are leaders’ roles in digital transformation?
The need for digital transformation is becoming more urgent as time and technology progress, said Stuart Franco, president of the American Chamber of Commerce for T&T (Amcham T&T), as he emphasised its importance, particularly when striving to enhance services without additional resources. Speaking at the chamber’s Tech Hub Islands Summit at Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) Port of Spain, Franco said technology becomes crucial when stakeholders or management require the organisation to take its “sag”, and improve its “top line” for a better “bottom line”. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana sends relief items to hurricane-ravaged Grenada
In the wake of significant damage and infrastructure destruction, and reports of fatalities, Guyana’s President and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Irfaan Ali on Tuesday morning convened an emergency response meeting with regional leaders to evaluate the initial losses incurred by Hurricane Beryl. This came a day after Dr. Ali, in noting the destruction the Category 4 storm has already caused, called for regional solidary and a coordinated response that involves the private sector. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Grief and anger after India crush kills 121
A day after 121 people were crushed to death at a religious event in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, families of some of the victims are still searching for their loved ones. The incident took place during a satsang (a Hindu religious festival) organised by a self-styled preacher called Bhole Baba. Police said that massive overcrowding at the venue in Hathras district led to Tuesday's crush - they have registered a case against the event's main organisers. It's one of the worst such tragedies for many years in India, where accidents involving large crowds are often blamed on lax safety measures and crowd management. Read more here
3rd July 2024