NEWS
$684m profit for Scotiabank in 2022
Scotiabank boasted of a $684 million profit for the 2022 fiscal year ending in October, at its annual general meeting held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain. Chairman Derek Hudson, while addressing stakeholders, said the after-tax profit represented a 13 per cent increase when compared to the bank’s 2021 performance. He said one of the main highlights of the 2022 financial year was the overall loan growth of 10 per cent. Read more here
POLITICS
Trinidad and Tobago now has diplomatic relations with Vietnam
On February 1 Trinidad and Tobago established diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during a signing ceremony at the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, New York. In a release, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom affairs said TT and Vietnam agreed establishing diplomatic relations provides an excellent platform for further cementing relations between them, including strengthening co-operation on critical issues of global importance, such as international peace and security, tourism, food security, climate change, culture and sports and sustainable development. Read more here
'WE ARE PERSECUTED' – Kamla: UNC political target in corruption cases
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissesar has said the collapsed case in the Piarco Airport scandal was part of the People’s National Movement (PNM) playbook to hold on to political power by tarnishing the image of the United National Congress (UNC) and its members. She said the charges brought against former prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former minister Carlos John and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh, were a blatant case of political persecution to stay in power. “The case was never meant to succeed in court. All it was meant do was to drag out as long as possible to have the UNC seem as corrupt people,” Persad-Bissessar said at political meeting in Chaguanas East on Monday night. Read more here
BUSINESS
UTC head lauds mutual funds introduced in Jamaica
“We’re excited about what this will mean for the Jamaican people, the opportunities that it will open up, and what new vistas await.” This was the comment made by executive director of the T&T Unit Trust Corporation Nigel Edwards on Monday night as GK Capital Management, the investment and advisory arm of GraceKennedy Ltd, and the UTC officially launched their new Collective Investment Scheme—GK Mutual Funds at the AC Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. GK Capital Management unveiled the GK US Dollar Income Fund, the GK Jamaican-dollar Money Market Fund, and the GK Jamaican Dollar Growth & Income Fund—which will offer Jamaican investors “products focused on consistency and stability, with the goal of sustainable wealth creation.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Women integral to Guyana’s digital development
Women will be an integral part of Guyana’s digital development, especially as the country continues to identify and address existing gaps between males and females within the technology sector, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has said. “We are confident that by highlighting the existing gaps between males and females within the technology sector that greater efforts will be made to devise policies and programmes that would encourage more participation from women in the digital sector,” Dr Ali said in a message to commemorate International Women’s Day 2023, celebrated under the theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” According to the Head of State, Guyana shares and supports the aspirations of the international community in reducing gender inequality within the digital sector. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Georgians protest on streets and in parliament over 'Russia-style' bill
Georgians have taken to the streets to voice their anger at a controversial draft law that critics see as an attack on civil society and independent media. The government says the "foreign agents" bill will improve transparency. Read more here
8th March 2023