Thursday 6th March, 2008


Liat reborn?


The 51-year old regional airline bids to renew its image with T&T at the centre of a bold,

new strategy



BY COREY CONNELLY(Guardian Business)



Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, Leeward Islands Air Transport (Liat) stands on the threshold of a revolution.

And T&T is at the heart of the airline's new strategic drive.
Penny Gomez, Liat's
corporate communications specialist

"The T&T market, we believe, is still a very young one," Liat's corporate communications specialist Penny Gomez said last Wednesday.

"But we recognise Trinbagonians have very refined tastes and we believe that in terms of travel, that more and more, they are very travel savvy. We believe that they are also adventurous people."

Gomez was speaking to T&T journalists at the end of a one day visit to Barbados.

The visit highlighted the airline's interest in forging closer ties with Trinidad as it seeks to re-energise its operations throughout the region.

She said that to facilitate this thrust the airline was partnering with tourism authorities in various territories to give journalists a greater appreciation for the region's offerings.

During Wednesday's visit, Linda Christian Clarke senior business development manager, Caribbean and Latin America, Barbados Tourism Authority accompanied journalists on a tour of some of the island's popular tourist sites and eateries.

"March is the month for Trinidad. You will be seeing more and more of a presence in the market through promotions as we seek to forge a greater relationship with Liat and the whole Trinbagonian community."

A similar visit was also planned for St Vincent.

A former journalist, Gomez assumed the position of Liat communications specialist last October during a turbulent period in the airline's 51-year history.

Her responsibility was to change the commercial face of the airline with a view to making it an even more viable entity.

"We set up a new commercial office just over a year ago and it was really reflecting the new image of the company. We had a mandate to at least break even, if not to make a profit."

Apart from bringing several business analysts on board, the airline has also set up a new marketing department.

Gomez regarded the intervention as timely.

"There is a very focused approach to Liat at this time as we move into this next phase in its development."

Plagued by strikes and tardiness (in arrivals and departures), the airline has long been the target of criticism by passengers and shareholder governments (Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent) alike.

However, in January, Liat chairman Dr Jean Holder said the airline had erased more than EC$300 million in debt from its books and could be on the verge of realising a profit.

On that occasion, he also said it was the first time in the airline's history that the board was able to turn around its EC$5 million monthly operating loss.

Liat's chief executive officer, Mark Darby, had attributed the airline's success, in that regard, to a revised fare structure; one which reflected its operating costs.

Gomez reiterated that the fares being offered by the airline were in keeping with its costs, particularly in light of increasing fuel prices.

"It is not a matter of us, all of a sudden, trying to get rid of debt and that is why that fares are high. It's just that before the fares were not realistic fares. So, now the fares reflect the cost."

Gomez was non-committal on calls for a strategic alliance between Liat and Caribbean Airlines.

The idea had been raised during a meeting between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his Barbados counterpart David Thompson during Thompson's visit to this country on February 20.

"It (calls for an alliance) has not come to us (Liat) yet as far as I am aware, and certainly it is not at that level.

"Our shareholders are three governments: Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent and the Gernadines. Certainly, it will be discussed at that level."

She also discounted the perception that an alliance between the two entities would redound to cheaper fares.

"We do try to make fares very attractive by offering several promotions.

"We just came from one where we offered 50 per cent off. It wasn't just a gimmick. It was literally 50 per cent off."

She said if a passenger booked on-line way ahead of schedule "you will find that the fares are going to be really cheaper.

"So, we are encouraging more and more people to go to the Web site and book their fares.



Mark Darby, Liat's chief executive officer.

Country must prevail



By CLINT CHAN TACK Tuesday, March 18 2008(T&T Newsday)



PRESIDENT GEORGE Maxwell Richards yesterday warned TT could become a failed state and he appealed to the nation's children to "let TT be a state that prevails not a state that fails." Speaking after taking the Oath of Office at an open air ceremony at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the President defended the decision to hold the inauguration in the public domain.

Richards also committed himself to "impartiality, independence, evenhandedness and objectivity" as he begins his second five year term as President of the Republic.

Addressing thousands of schoolchildren and a large gathering of dignitaries which included Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and surviving former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke and Arthur NR Robinson, after he took his oath of office at 10 am, the President said failed states are defined as countries devastated by war, famine and social disaster. "We do not fit in that profile. However, there is evidence when we consider crime, education, youth alienation inter alia to lead us to recognise that the underpinnings of strong statehood are not as strong as they should be."

"One of these days they are going to recognise that indeed a failed state is one not failed to achieve its full potential. I charge this country to live to its potential," he stated. As the country continues to struggle with rising food prices, the President said: "In our situation, hydrocarbon money is supposed to be enough to save us from starvation and consequent social malaise but that is not so. Economic deprivation is a powerful provocation to the failure of states."

Stating that the warning signs for this country are "emblazoned in the media every day," Richards was deeply concerned about "educational malaise in which children who are not stupid become failures and consequently increase our population of those who are considered anti social."

Recalling that it was TT's first prime minister Dr Eric Williams who said the nation's children carried the future in their school bags, Richards said it was his "moral, political, social and patriotic duty, to reach out to the generation that carries school bags and say to them that I agree that the future of this country should be contained in your school bags."

The President said the current generation of leaders could not remedy the country's ills and "it is for this reason that this inauguration focuses on the generation that has to solve the problems that have been created."

Referring to the UNC Alliance's decision to boycott the ceremony, Richards declared: "It is a departure from tradition that has given rise to comments for and against. This is to be heartily applauded. It tells me that our democracy is alive and well. The decision to open this event to the general public was not taken lightly. I am firmly of the view that the nation as a whole must be more aware of the ceremonial and their meaning that are part of the decisional activities of our country. They are not, as some might suppose, useless pomp."

Richards suggested that the core problem which TT faces is "failure at social cohesion" in a country which has the potential to teach the world that persons from different cultures can live together in peace and prosperity. "I charge this country to live to its potential," the President declared to the cheers of the assembled school children.



HEAD OF STATE: A stern looking President George Maxwell Richards at his inauguration ceremony yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

PAST HEADS: Former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke (left) and Arthur NR Robinson were also at the Stadium for the ceremony.
[IMG]http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/7-

ROBO COP: This officer casts a menacing look, armed to the teeth, dressed in tactical combat uniform including bullet proof vest and knee guards, as he stood guard at the Hasely Crawford Stadium during President George Maxwell Richards' inauguration yesterday.

You have over 600 cut and paste articles on one thread. It's time you pay for the space you occupy.. Can you afford it.. pea brain.. ??

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
You have over 600 cut and paste articles on one thread. It's time you pay for the space you occupy.. Can you afford it.. pea brain.. ??

Why don't yuh come to Bramalea city center area and call me that yuh Pee Pee Pee jack...u know what!

I soon gonna change my name to Fineman.

Improved public service by 2010



Thursday, March 20 2008(T&T Newsday)



BY JANUARY 2010 citizens will be able to access a spectrum of services designed to provide ample infmation on government services and agencies through a Public Service Transformation Programme launched by the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA).

This was announced by Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, at a briefing on the Ministry's agenda for the next two years at the National Library, Port-of-Spain.

According to Swaratsingh, one of the main proposals under the MPA is the Transformation Programme which includes the development of two initiatives, the ttconnect Service Centres and the coordination of the implementation of the Community Access Centres (CAC). He stated that these centres also regarded as "One stop Shop" would allow citizens to conveniently access government information and services.

The ttconnect Service Centres would provide citizens with the comfort and convenience of having many services in one location, less travel to government services and shorter transaction time. These centres have already been successfully launched in St James and Princes Town and among the services provided to citizens are applications for computerised birth certificates, home improvement and purchase assistance and applications for employment in the public service.

It was further revealed that over the next four months, additional centres would be opened in Tobago, Rio Claro, Point Fortin, Arima, Couva and Sangre Grande.

Likewise the CACs provide residents in rural and remote communities with access to computers and internet services and a broad range of information.

He said that the promotion of the MPA's initiative depended on the development of the nation and the ability of the government to satisfy the demand for better quality service.

Swaratsingh said that in order for this to take place, technology needs to be developed to enable individuals to access information. Such reform is necessary because there are problems with job satisfaction in the public service due to unhappiness with promotion and the absence of motivation among other factors. Swaratsingh focused on the process of engendering change that is sustaining and developing a culture that encouraged effective service delivery. He said that part of their strategy to do this is to "engage in stakeholder dialogue".

Following the launch of the fast forward programme in 2003 the MPA was able to establish connectivity between government offices and make sure government agencies were online. Swaratsingh stated that the MPA is now embarking on phase two of that project in an effort to ensure that information as well as services are provided.

He said that the MPA would "spare no dedication, technology and finance to ensure they complete this programme".

SPEAKING: Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh

TT company puts business on Internet



Thursday, March 20 2008(T&T Newsday)



IN THIS age of technology, it seems unthinkable that a thriving company, big or small, does not have a website letting the public know about the company, or displaying its goods and services. Unthinkable as it seems, that is the case of many businesses in TT.

In order to set up a website, you need to register a domain, chose a reliable hosting service, create the web design and layout for the site, then add the content. Since most people do not have the technical knowledge to do this, they hire web designers. Also, if your business is one where you may need to change the photos or information occasionally, that too will cost you as web designers start at $150 an hour just to update a site.

With this in mind, Internet marketing company, E-marketers International and the Blue Phoenix Group, a Web and software design company, recently introduced a software solution called The Kaizen Platform.

The Kaizen Platform is part of a series of "E-initiatives" by the two companies which seek to help the country and its citizens enjoy the technological benefits of approaching developed nation status. With this E-initiative, they seek to tackle the need for businesses to use the Internet as a medium for sales, marketing and communication.

The campaign focuses on several issues, including:

"¢ The need for every member of every household to have access to a computer and the internet.

"¢ The need for every business to make information about its products and services available on the internet.

"¢ The need for businesses to put systems in place for consumers and other businesses to communicate with them over the Internet.

"¢ The need for businesses to set up and engage in e-commerce, etc.

The Kaizen Platform offers businesses a complete website at a low cost. Owners have full control over all the information that is kept on their site and they can securely access and modify their website in seconds. Businesses have the ability to communicate with customers, as well as sell items online.

Kwesi Stewart, architect of The Kaizen Platform said: "In my eight years of dealing with local and foreign businesses, I realised that the owners always wanted an easy way for their staff to create and modify information stored on their company website. This makes it as easy as sending an email and dramatically reduces the cost."

Elisha Le Maitre, President of E-marketers International said: "We created The Kaizen Platform because we believe that every business can and should take advantage of the ability to be present and sell online in a local and global market. We are the first in the region to make such a system easily available to the public and at a low cost."

The Kaizen Platform is being offered at a special introductory price of $1,500 to the first 100 businesses.

After this promotion, the cost for the basic package will be $2,500. Included in this price is a professional template of the client's choice from TemplateMonster.com. For more information about the Kaizen Platform, visit the website at www.kaizenproject.net.


Elisha Le Maitre (left) and Kwesi Stewart, the software innovators behind the Kaizen Platform.

Govt's corruption buster


By ROXANNE STAPLETON-WHYMS Friday, March 21 2008
(T&T Newsday)



GOVERNMENT has now included an anti-corruption clause as a standard element of all contracts for large scale projects, the acquisition of military hardware and similar goods and equipment.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne made this statement yesterday, on the closing day of the Caribbean Public Procurement Law and Practice Conference at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port-of-Spain.

Questioned by reporters, Browne did not rule out that the insertion of the clause could hamper future attempts by Government to procure certain goods or services, in light of it being the purported breaking point of talks between Caribbean Airlines and Bombardier for purchase of a private jet.

He said the clause will be one of the mechanisms in ensuring transparency and accountability in upcoming public procurement processes. "We have used the clause unabridged elsewhere, certainly in the procurement of the OPVs (offshore patrol vessels) and the fast interceptor craft," Browne said. He said public consultation is not necessarily required in matters involving the purchase of private jets and goods of that nature.

"If we're buying OPVs, are we going to consult the public in terms of the technical requirements of OPVs. I don't agree with that. There are some decisions that have to be made and that is why Government is empowered to act in a certain way. We need to balance the need for privileged information and sensitive information to be treated in that fashion," he stressed. Asked if everything was done above board with regard to the procurement processes in the attempted purchase of the jet, Browne answered in the positive.

"Yes, there is a standard procedure and there is a methodology which allows for a sole selective tender. In these circumstances there was an evaluation of alternative possibilities or opportunities, and the best equipment was chosen in the circumstances," he said.

Browne noted that in 1987, provisions were added to allow Government to procure goods and services without involvement by the Central Tenders Board in the event of an emergency, and in 1991 the Act was amended to allow for special ministerial tenders committee to procure arms, ammunition and equipment for the Defence Force, and protective services.


Mariano Browne, Minister in the Finance Ministry.

Sando students show off for Easter



Friday, March 21 2008(T&T Newsday)



STUDENTS of San Fernando Girls' Government Primary School dressed up in their Easter best for the school's annual Easter Bonnet competition yesterday at the school.

Flowery bonnets, lace gloves and baskets of flowers were plentiful as the students showed off before their proud parents, classmates and teachers.

Newsday South Bureau photographer NISAN SUPERVILLE was on hand to bring back these delightful images.


SPLENDOR: Natalia Hoston portrays "Tropical Splendor" at San Fernando Girls' Government School's Annual Easter Bonnet competition yesterday morning at the school's compound.

EASTER GARDEN: Shakia Proverbs in her outfit "Easter Garden".

CLASS: La-Quisha Cooper strikes a fashionable pose with her portrayal of "A local classic touch" which was made from brown cotton and all natural fibre.

BONNETS ON DISPLAY: Dressed to impress in their Easter bonnets, these young ladies participated in an Easter parade yesterday hosted by the Port-of-Spain City Corporation.

This pretty little girl is seven-year-old Mandisa Matthews at yesterdays' Easter bonnet parade.

Dressed as a Victorian Princess is two-year-old Morana Ramoutar.

Four-year-old Leanna Cadogan looks adorable as a Butterfly Princess, as she paraded in her Easter bonnet in Port-of-Spain yesterday.

Out of the basket: Renee Mike, left, and Chelsea Clarke proudly display their baskets at the Carapichaima RC School Easter bonnet parade.

Stepping out: Kair Clarke steps out in high-fashion style for the Easter bonnet parade at the Carapichaima RC School.

Top models: Shakeela Phillip and Ashaka Julien pair up to model their Easter dresses at the Carapichaima RC School Easter bonnet parade.

More Pics of POS Easter Bonnet parade

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eric's_Revenge,

Pt Lisas firm wins world certification


Tuesday, March 25 2008(T&T Newsday)



A manufacturing firm operating at the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate (PLIPDECO) has won international certification for its locally built offshore containers from Norwegian based Det Norske Veritas (DNV), one of the world's leading maritime classification societies.

The local firm Industrial Welding Equipment Sales & Rentals Limited (IWES) is the first manufacturer of offshore containers from Trinidad and Tobago to be awarded the prestigious level of certification, says its Senior Project Manager, Larry Drakes.

Several types of offshore containers built by IWES earned Type Approval Certification, listing them as compliant with worldwide industry standards DNV 2-71, EN 12079, as well as IMO MSC Circular 860.

According to Drakes, "this development clearly shows that DNV and IWES have built up a high level of trust over the years, due mainly to the constant striving for high quality workmanship throughout the IWES organisation."

Mervyn Waterman, IWES' President, believes that the Type Approval Certification will open doors for ready acceptance of locally made offshore containers in the global market and increase opportunities for growth of this local breakthrough industry.

Waterman said potential national benefits include greater local employment, transfer of foreign technology to nationals, a wider export market and greater earnings of foreign exchange, as well as worldwide recognition of TT as a producer of goods of international standard.

Offshore containers are used worldwide by the oil and gas sector for the safe transportation of cargo offshore and to protect the marine environment from pollution.

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is an autonomous independent risk management foundation whose Ship classification is a system for safeguarding life and property in the marine environment.


INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION: Workers at the Pt Lisas-based contracting firm, IWES, enjoy the honour of international certification granted for its offshore containers.

Bombardier open to new jet talks



Monday, March 24 2008(T&T Newsday)



CANADIAN company Bombardier yesterday indicated that it is willing to speak with Caribbean Airlines (CA) again about the acquisition of an executive jet despite the fact that talks with CA to purchase a $400 million executive jet "crashed and burned" on March 18.

The proposed CA executive jet service would have been used by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, government officials and corporate clients.

Contacted yesterday in Montreal, Bombardier media relations officer Danielle Boudreau told Newsday it was "a fair comment" to say that Bombardier maintains an open door policy and remained willing to speak with a particular client even if previous negotiations with that client were unsuccessful.

Boudreau said because of the confidential nature of discussions between Bombardier and its clients, she could not say whether or not the company has spoken with CA following the collapse of their talks last week. Boudreau further indicated she could not provide any information about why the CA-Bombardier talks failed.

On March 18, CA said in a statement it would not proceed with the jet's acquisition because "it has not proven possible to reach an agreement to the full satisfaction of the parties involved within the defined time frame."

The Global XRS jet which featured in those talks has since been released by Bombardier for sale to another customer.

At a post Cabinet news conference at Whitehall on March 6, Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert said the jet would not be acquired unless Bombardier agreed to the insertion of an anti-corruption clause in the contract.

Imbert told last Thursday's post Cabinet news conference that the same clause will be included in any final contract to acquire four fast ferries for the proposed national water taxi service. Cabinet has approved a US$40 million budget to acquire these new vessels and efforts are now underway to source interim vessels for the service. CA said it would return all of the money advanced to it by the Government for the jet's acquisition.

The sum has varied from US$65 million to US$54 million in conflicting public statements made by Imbert, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne and CA chairman Arthur Lok Jack.

Browne said the Government would support future efforts by CA to acquire an executive jet. With this country scheduled to host the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit next year, Imbert said the Government would be placing an increasing reliance on private jet travel over commercial jet travel.

Saturday 29th March, 2008



More Govt help for disadvantaged



By Raphael John Lall


Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development Rennie Dumas, said yesterday his ministry is seeking to use small and micro enterprises and non financial co-operatives for the benefit of disadvantaged groups in T&T.

Dumas made the comment at the 48th annual general meeting of the Employers' Consultative Association (ECA) at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

"The issues to treat with women, disabled persons and the unemployed as an avenue of creating employment and wealth is also taken into account," he said.

"One of the urgent priorities of the Ministry at this time is the implementation of the fair share programme which aims to level the playing field by the allocation of a designated share, ten per cent, of all Government purchasing and capital project spending including local government and state enterprises to qualifying small and micro-enterprises as well as by encouraging large private contractors to subcontract to small businesses," he said.

Dumas said his ministry was working on mechanisms to develop such programmes "while at the same time continuing to enhance the services provided by the Enterprise Development Division and the National Entrepreneurship Development Company Ltd. Complimentary to activities in the Small and Micro-Enterprise sector is work that has commenced on the revitalisation of the non- financial co-operative sector and the Co-operative Division of the ministry.

He said a number of recommendations would be implemented in the Co-operative Division.

"A recent assessment of this sector in the Co-operative Division has highlighted a number of recommendations that will be implemented to maximise the full potential of non-financial co-operatives and to re-engineer the division so as to deliver support for micro-enterprise development," he said.

Dumas said policies are currently being drafted in other areas such as HIV/Aids and child labour.

"You would be pleased to know that an HIV/Aids workplace policy has been drafted in consultation with the employers' and workers' organisations and is soon to be finalised.

"This policy seeks to address issues related to workplace education programs on HIV/Aids, workplace protection against stigma and discrimination and increased worker access to prevention, care, and support for treatment services," he said.

Dumas said that a similar policy was being drafted for the preve



©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

UTT launches Fashion Academy



Saturday, March 29 2008(T&T Newsday)



THE UNIVERSITY of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will be launching the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design (CAFD) on September 1.

With the collaboration of fashion professionals from Paris, New York and London, as well as key members of the TT fashion industry, CAFD is the first of its kind in the region.

Modelled after major international schools with notable fashion design programmes, CAFD will offer full and part-time diploma and degree programmes in Fashion Design and Fashion Management. With a view to expanding, developing and raising the standards in an already flourishing regional industry, CAFD aims to train young designers and marketers in the art and business of fashion.

Students opting for studies in Fashion Design will learn all areas of garment production encountered in a professional atelier including: design concepts, drawing techniques, textile design, theory and market research, as well as pattern drafting, draping, tailoring and computer aided design.

The Fashion Management programme addresses the business aspect of this industry.

Fashion marketing, merchandising, management, visual merchandising, presentations, public relations and the dynamics of product development are explored.

Students are imprinted with a basic marketing foundation while gaining comprehensive knowledge of the fashion industry and its cycles.

Further information can be found at: www.u.tt./fashion.

Liquid Litter a Biosafe Alternative to Chicken Manure



Saturday, March 29 2008(T&T Newsday Business section)



Caribbean Chemicals and Agri-Gro Marketing have recently introduced Liquid Litter in Trinidad and Tobago, a bio safe replacement to chicken manure.

The impact has been tremendous in the vegetable sector especially pumpkins, watermelons, corn, lettuce, celery and patchoi. This product was developed with the large Export Pumpkin Growers who traditionally use chicken manure in their production and who have expressed concerns as to the availability and quality of chicken manure. Liquid Litter now occupies much more than this traditional chicken manure sector, but as a "Real Safe Fertiliser" for organic farming and a product that increases the yields and quality of all crops.

Liquid Litter was trialed and tested on various crops during 2007 such as lettuce, patchoi, celery, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, caraili, hot peppers, melongene in Aranguez, Macoya, Cunupia, Orange Grove and Wallerfield. In pumpkin, the product was applied two weeks after transplanting as a Root Drench and the results were as follows; vigorous vines, thicker stems and bigger leaves. In Corn, applications as a side dress were extremely successful at the second and fourth week after germination; corn trees were taller with thicker stalks, lush green growth, bigger ears and better ear colour.

Rohit Ramcharitar, owner of Rohit's Garden Shop and a leading farmer, is a user and highly recommends liquid litter. "I've used this product once in my three week tomato as a drench and have gotten more pickings, larger fruits and healthier trees," he said. Liquid Litter is a High Energy Liquid Microbial product that combines the benefits of Compost with the soil building properties of Chicken Litter in an easy to use Liquid form. Unlike chicken manure, Liquid Litter is easy to apply and less cumbersome than applying chicken manure. Also, farmers do not have to endure the smell of chicken manure when using liquid litter since it is odourless.

Traditionally, farmers use approximately 100-200 bags of chicken manure per acre which must be incorporated into the soil. Liquid Litter can be applied as a side dressing or as a broadcast application at up to five to six gallons per acre.

The use of antibiotic in Chicken Rearing has had a negative impact worldwide on the safety of chicken manure since there is increasing awareness on its ill effects on the food chain. Liquid Litter is free from antibiotics as well as deleterious bacterial and fungal organisms making it a Bio safe alternative.

Liquid Litter contains Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Enzymes and Amino Acids that assists in rapid growth and development of plants. It contains "no free ammonia or soluble nitrate," does not burn plants and so can be applied to growing crops .

Liquid Litter is much more than Chicken Manure and provides numerous benefits to the soil by improving its fertility and health. It improves the soil structure by reducing compaction, increasing aeration, improves soil tilth, better drainage and improves water percolation. Liquid Litter is excellent on soils close to the sea since it results in lowering excess sodium making these soils less saline.

Liquid Litter also stimulates the soil microbial activity which increases the uptake and availability of soil nutrients and applied fertilisers by up to 80%. It also reduces the cost of fertilisers inputs and improves fertiliser efficiency.

With the phenomenal increases in prices of urea and other compounded fertilisers locally, Liquid Litter can be incorporated in any fertiliser programme as an effective fertiliser substitute.

Caribbean Chemicals has introduced Liquid Litter at an economical price and is available at all their distributors throughout TT. With the introduction of Good Agricutural Practices (GAP) protocol in TT for the development of safe healthy foods, Liquid Litter will no doubt be a perfect fit.

EWMC celebrates 10th anniversary



Saturday, March 22 2008(T&T Newsday)



TODAY IS the tenth anniversary of the inauguration of the Eric Williams Memorial Collection (EWMC), by former US Secretary of State, Colin L Powell, at The University of the West Indies (UWI) in St Augustine.

Williams, the country's first Prime Minister who died in office on March 29, 1981, was heralded by Powell as a tireless warrior in the battle against colonialism, among his many other achievements as a scholar, politician and international statesman. More recently in 2007, Williams was honoured with the posthumous conferral of South Africa's highest national award. Two months later, President Thabo Mbeki's authorised biography was dedicated to Williams.

The Collection consists of Williams' Research Library, Archives and Museum. In 1999, it was named to UNESCO's prestigious Memory of the World Register. At the time, the documentary heritage of only 47 other countries had been so designated.

Available for consultation by researchers, the Collection amply reflects its owner's eclectic interests, comprising some 7,000 volumes, as well as correspondence, speeches, manuscripts, historical writings, research notes, conference documents and a miscellany of reports.

A Museum containing a wealth of emotive memorabilia of the period; copies of the seven translations of Williams' seminal work, Capitalism and Slavery (Russian, Chinese and Japanese among them) a Korean translation will appear in 2008; as well as photographs depicting various aspects of his life and contribution to the development of Trinidad and Tobago completes this extraordinarily rich archive, as does a three dimensional re-creation of Williams' study.

Dr Tony Martin, Wellesley College, Massachusetts, states that "(The Eric Williams Memorial Collection at the University of the West Indies) is the most important development in scholarship in the Caribbean in recent years."

To date, four scholarly biographies of Williams either have been published or are in progress one dedicated to the EWMC. In the prior 17 years, nothing of note was written.

Several international book launches have been arranged by the EWMC, and the University of South Africa Press will soon publish two of his best known. In addition, the Collection has been the subject of several academic papers, lectures and books, and has been actively involved in supplying and being prominently featured in collateral materials for a "walking tour" Black Oxford: Untold Stories encompassing vignettes of the Black scholars who have contributed to Oxford University's academic reputation. In the future, the Collection will team up with Williams' alma mater at Oxford instituting a scholarship in his name in perpetuity.

All of these efforts have been amply promoted in the local, regional and international media from London's British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and the British Virgin Islands Island Sun to the Organization of American States' Americas magazine in both English and Spanish.

Thus, with all of its other endeavours, the EWMC is a model for the Caribbean, a means of demonstrating to its younger generation the vital connection to the past what that means for both the present and for the future.


Dr Eric Williams

Are you trying to compare Eric Willams to Cheddi Bharat jagan??
Eric williams like Burnham rigged all T&T elections with voting machines.. Millions went missing during Eric's reign and cannot be found up to now..

Wednesday 2nd April, 2008


Govt pushes for local investment in BpTT, BGTT



Participants at yesterday's symposium on the International Financial Centre.


The American Chamber of T&T (AmCham) is calling on Government to take the lead in lobbying for the passage of a bill in the US Congress seeking to extend the life of two important programmes which allow duty free access to the US market for products from Caribbean Community (Caricom) and other developing countries.

The two programmes are set to expire this year unless extended.

One is the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) which was established in 1983 to promote economic growth and development by stimulating investment in export industries.

The CBI allows preferential access on a unilateral basis to the US market. CBI is the collective term given to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA).

According to AmCham, these acts allow duty free access to a number of manufactured goods, including T&T's fastest growing exports fuel ethanol, methanol and petroleum products.

In fact, AmCham said in a statement that it is critical that T&T leads out in the campaign for the extension of the programmes, adding that T&T is the largest user of CBI within Caricom.

It said CBERA and CBTPA require a waiver approved by all other World Trade Organisation (WTO) members to operate legally under WTO rules.

The waiver on CBERA expired on December 31, 2005. AmCham said a renewal was sought, but Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka initially objected Paraguay is the only remaining objector. The CBEBRA (including CBTPA) will expire on September 30, 2008, unless the US Congress passes new legislation to replace it, AmCham said.

AmCham said a bill has been introduced by House Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles B Rangel, to extend certain trade preference programs including CBTPA. The bill proposes to extend CBI, GSP and the Andean Trade Preference Act to September 30th 2010.

The statement said, "It is important therefore that as a region we begin lobbying through the various channels open to us. It is at this stage that we can make an impact on the programme. We have the opportunity now to work towards shaping a bill that will benefit Caricom/Caribbean nations as most of the other recipients of the CBI are moving towards a free trade agreement with the US namely Panama. We must work together to expand the program to allow for services financial and professional; expand the list of products eligible for duty free access and make the preference program for Haiti permanent."

AmCham said it was willing to spearhead the effort to ensure the timely passage of the bill. "We look forward to the collaboration of all stakeholders and would welcome everyone's input in this regard," the statement said.

AmCham said as part of its campaign it will send letters to members of the US Congress from companies and business organisations benefiting from CBTPA. All corporations who are beneficiaries of the CBTPA are urged to contact AmCham so that their views could be fully represented.

"We must all work together and do our part in lobbying our Government and Caricom to get this bill passed. CBTPA must be extended so that we can continue to diversify our economies and our manufacturers and the US can benefit from a predictable market," AmCham said.



Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira chats with Samir Misra, a consultant with the firm Oliver Wyman, the consultant on the establishment of an International Financial Centre (IFC) in T&T. Misra was scheduled to make a presentation yesterday on the opportunities for T&T in setting up the IFC.
Photo: Shirley Bahadur