Without oil T&T would be worse than Hati. Even with the oil they fail to improve the standard of living of the common man. People still live in abject poverty in T&T while the politicians fill their pockets with the oil dollars.

Trinidad and Tobago Order Passenger Ferry Fleet


14 September 2009 source

Water Taxi to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Travel Times


In its third significant commercial order for the year, Austal will design and construct four 41 metre high speed passenger catamaran ferries for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.


Designed to carry 405 passengers at a speed of approximately 37 knots, the aluminium vessels are intended to help reduce road congestion in Trinidad and Tobago by establishing a water taxi service between San Fernando and Port of Spain in southwest Trinidad.

The water taxi service is part of the Trinidad and Tobago Government’s “Vision 2020” strategy plan, which aims for an efficient, integrated, multi-modal public transport system. When fully operational the water taxi service is expected to facilitate the transport of approximately 8,000 to 12,000 passengers in a normal working day and will be integrated with other transport systems.

Construction of the four ferries will be shared across Austal’s Tasmanian and Western Australian shipyards, with delivery scheduled for late 2010. Included in the contract is a maintenance and training package which will see Austal deliver crew familiarisation and planned maintenance management.

Austal’s latest contract continues a recent run of commercial orders for the company, which has included two large high speed vehicle ferries for leading European operators Nordic Ferry Services and Virtu Ferries.

Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said recent orders had underlined the importance of diversity within the company’s product range and production facilities.

“Considering the current global economic climate, this achievement is a fantastic endorsement of Austal’s commitment to fulfilling its customer's commercial needs with affordable, quality products,” he said.

“By offering a diverse range of commercial products from passenger ferries such as these to the larger vehicle ferries ordered earlier in the year we now find ourselves in the position of having a steady workload across all of our Australian shipyards,” he said.

Mr Browning said Austal’s Tasmanian shipyard, which specialises in small to medium size vessels, was well suited to facilitating the order following the recent completion of three 22 metre catamarans for the Queensland Police Service.

The vessels will be owned by Trinidad and Tobago’s National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) a government statutory authority and operated by external consultants. The international tender process undertaken by NIDCO called for proven vessels that could be customised to best meet the proposed service and be delivered within 12 months of contract effective.

Austal’s design is based on its 41 metre catamaran platform, two of which have been successfully operating in Norway with leading operator OVDS since 2003.

With a combined capacity of 1620 passengers, the four Austal high speed catamarans will reduce travel times between North and South Trinidad by almost two thirds. The reduction in the number of cars on the road will also deliver environmental benefits including reduced vehicle exhaust and noise emissions, and reduces the need to maintain and expand major roads and highways.

Austal Director Global Sales and Marketing, Andrew Bellamy, said the order reaffirmed Austal’s commitment to the passenger ferry market.

“Experience from more than 80 similar ferry deliveries along with specialised facilities such as our Tasmanian shipyard allows Austal to facilitate the fast delivery of quality, smaller vessel fleets at an affordable price,” Mr Bellamy said.

“This order is also a reminder of the ability of high speed commercial ferries to provide an important public transportation service, increasingly relevant for countries seeking environmental and logistical solutions for key urban centres,” he said.

Passenger seating onboard each vessel is split over two levels, with the main passenger deck featuring four passenger entry points, a central kiosk and dedicated baggage compartment and bike racks. The vessels will be powered by four MTU 16V2000 M72 engines driving Kamewa waterjets and will be fitted with Austal Ride Control to ensure passenger comfort.

As well as performing an important water taxi service, the ferries will provide emergency backup for the existing inter-island service between Trinidad and Tobago. To meet this secondary function, Austal configured all four vessels with the capability to retrofit a forward mounted T-foil ride control system at short notice, allowing the vessels to operate in open, unprotected seas.

The four vessel order is set to expand Austal’s presence in the Caribbean country, which currently includes the design and construction of six fast patrol craft for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, due for delivery in early 2010. Attached to the fast patrol craft order is a comprehensive five year maintenance and training package to be undertaken by Austal’s Trinidad and Tobago based service representatives.

Austal also has a further five vessels operating in the greater Caribbean region, including four high speed ferries in Guadeloupe.


Vessel Specifications

Length Overall - 41.2m

Length Waterline - 38.2m

Beam Moulded - 10.9m

Hull Depth Moulded - 4.3m

Hull Draft - up to 2.0m with ride control fitted Passengers - 405

Crew - 8

Fuel - 7,500 litres

Engine - 4 x MTU 16V2000 M72

Gearbox - 4 x Reintjes VLJ730 HL/HR

Waterjets - 4 x Kamewa 56A3

Service Speed – approx 37 knots

Classification - Det Norske Veritas, X1A1 HSLC Passenger R2 EO Passenger A


video link

Tobago set to export gas to region



Juhel Browne



Saturday, October 24th 2009


http://www.trinidadexpress.com...le_news?id=161548103
powering up: Prime Minister Patrick Manning, third from left, and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London, third from right, unveil the plaque to officially open the Cove Power Station at the Cove Eco-Industrial and Business Park at Lowlands, Tobago, yesterday. Looking on, from left, are T&TEC area manager in Tobago Anthony McIntosh, Minister of Public Utilities Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, chairman of T&TEC Prof Clement Imbert and acting general manager Glenford Cyrille. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK



Tobago is poised to export natural gas to northern Caribbean countries by mid-2011, due to the establishment of a new $485 million power station which will be fed by a new gas line from Trinidad, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday.

Manning made the announcement during the commissioning ceremony for the Cove Power Station at the Cove Eco-Industrial and Business Park at Lowlands, Tobago.

The event was attended by several Cabinet members, Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London and senior Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission executives, led by their chairman, Clement Imbert.

The "dual fire" power station, which will be able to produce 64 megwatts, can operate on both natural gas and diesel as a back up and was provided by Power Plants Wartsila which is based in Finland.

Trinidad and Tobago earns most of its revenue from the export of the nation's bread and butter, liquefied natural gas (LNG), derived from natural gas reserves and generated by the four Atlantic LNG trains located in Point Fortin, Trinidad.

Manning, however, indicated that the natural gas exports from Tobago could be used for the proposed Eastern Caribbean Natural Gas Pipeline, which has been on the drawing board for several years now.

"The availability of gas in Tobago now places Tobago in a position where, to the extent that we take the decision to export gas to the islands north of Trinidad and Tobago, especially Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines and as far north as St Lucia by compressed means, it means that Tobago will now become an exporter of natural gas," Manning said.

He said this will all be due to the new power station at Cove Estate, commissioned yesterday, which will receive the natural gas critical to its operations "from the east coast of Trinidad", adding, "The Natural Gas Company (NGC) has embarked on the construction of a facility neighbouring the power station."

"And the gas line is expected to be completed by mid 2011. This (gas line), together with this new power plant, means that Tobago will no longer need to import LNG from Trinidad. It is, therefore, an important step in strengthening the autonomy that the island must enjoy within the unitary state of Trinidad and Tobago," Manning said.

He noted that the new power station will provide several benefits, including "the reduction of present transmission losses and reduced dependence on diesel fuel when it operates on natural gas, with a lower heat rate", which translates to a more economic production of electricity.

Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said the new power station at Cove will provide electricity to Tobago, along with the Scarborough power station, which has a generating capacity of 21 megawatts.

Abdul-Hamid also said the Public Utilities Ministry is now in discussion with the Works and Transport Ministry "for a site for a 720 megawatt power plant at Sea Lots, Port of Spain, which replaces the existing power station at Wrightson Road, and a new power plant is being contemplated for Wallerfield by 2013 as the demand for electricity by 2020 will be 2,460 megawatts".

"All told, the total generation capacity to 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago will be 3020 megawatts," Abdul-Hamid said.

CHOGM patrol boats speeding to TT



Tuesday, October 27 2009(T&T Newsday)



THREE of six off shore fast patrol boats ordered by the TT Coast Guard (TTCG) from Australian shipbuilder Austal have begun a 33 day trip across the Pacific Ocean en route to this country and are expected in time for November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

According to a report on the Maritime Today website, the boats, half of a fleet expected to cost about TT$390 million, were recently subjected to sea trial runs in Western Australia.

“Ordered in 2008, half of the six-vessel fleet has already commenced a 33-day delivery voyage to Trinidad and Tobago, with the remaining three on schedule for completion at the end of the year,” the report read.

“The first three vessels TTS Scarlet Ibis, TTS Hibiscus and TTS Hummingbird departed Austal last month and are likely to be available for the 2009 CHOGM held in Trinidad and Tobago in November.”

The 98.4ft patrol boats are equipped with general purpose machine guns and a 20mm cannon. The lightweight vessels are capable of achieving speeds of more than 40 knots as well as small tactical diameters and short crash stop distances. They are designed to enable the TTCG to provide sustained surveillance in the country’s internal waters, the archipelagic territorial sea and its exclusive economic zone.

In the Maritime Today report the Director of Trinidad’s Defence Transformation and Integration Secretariat Garnett Best, said the TTCG has been impressed with the performance of the vessels so far.

Candid Camera


New laws to save criminal cases


Ria Taitt Political Editor



Wednesday, October 28th 2009 (T&T Express)



Government yesterday took a giant step towards ensuring that witness tampering and the changing of testimony by witnesses do not frustrate criminal prosecutions.

Attorney General John Jeremie piloted the Evidence Amendment Bill, which among other things would ensure that the threats and intimidation of witnesses, which have led so often to the collapse of cases, would no longer interfere with and hinder the prosecution and conviction of criminals.

Significantly, the bill would allow to be accepted as "evidence-in-chief" audio and video recordings of voluntary statements of all prosecution and defence witnesses, including statements from the accused which may amount to a confession. Where witnesses claim amnesia or that they were forced to give a confession, the judge can allow the video evidence to be admitted "in the interest of justice".

The bill would also allow bad character evidence (evidence of previous convictions to be admitted). And, in instances where people change their testimony, the bill would provide for their previous inconsistent statements, made by them to be admissible in court.

Giving strong support to the measure was Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, who said the bill was absolutely necessary for effective prosecution. She supported the Attorney General's contention that the bill did not require a special majority because it breached none of the entrenched rights of Section 4 and Section 5 of the Constitution.

Speaking in the Senate, Jeremie noted that there has been a marked increase in the number of criminal trials which have been aborted or discontinued where witnesses have refused to give evidence or recanted on previously given evidence or statement.

"Often, witnesses who have previously given statements to the police and given evidence at the preliminary enquiry absent themselves at the trial or having appeared recant their original version of evidence or feign lapse of memory... This immediately brings into question the veracity of the witness and the reliability of the evidence. Without oral evidence of these key witnesses, the prosecution is often forced to discontinue... This frustrates the criminal justice system and the Government is of the view that it cannot be allowed to continue," he said.

Jeremie also noted that the prosecution frequently encountered witnesses who were fearful because they have received direct or indirect threats that they or their family members would be killed or seriously harmed if they testify or they are fearful because they know the accused and his associates and know they have the capability to eliminate witness.

He added that many were reluctant to enter a witness protection programme because of the restriction of their freedom and the length of time they are inconvenienced. The bill would allow their statements made in documentary form to be admissible.

"We have had several cases collapse. I myself cannot speak but I am sure that we are all citizens of this country. And we know what trials we are speaking of...," he said.

Seetahal said there had been too many instances where people have given "solid" testimony and have changed their story. "And that is why the newspapers can report so many murders and no convictions," she said.

She said once there is an interval of several months, witnesses can be intimidated.

"We need this bill to save the criminal justice system," she said. She added that because of technology, people who threaten witnesses are difficult to find and difficult to bring before the court and witnesses are likely to change their mind all too frequently. So what we need to have is the putting before the jury both sets of evidence-the original statement and the 'I forgot' or 'it did not happen' statement," she said. "I have been involved in so many cases where that happened," Seetahal said.

Seetahal, like Jeremie pointed out that the bill had safeguards. She said there is the residual discretion of the judge to admit evidence or not admit the previous inconsistent statement if he/she thinks it is not right. She said the giving of audio and video did not prevent or exclude cross-examination. However, Seetahal did not agree with the use of audio evidence alone.

On the admission of 'bad character' evidence, she endorsed Jeremie's statement that the seven gateways to determining whether such evidence is admissible provided appropriate safeguards. These include: if it is important explanatory evidence, has substantial probative value, if it is giving a false impression of the accused or if the accused has attacked someone's else character.

Petrotrin fuels onshore production



By RORY ROSTANT Thursday, October 29 2009 (T&T Newsday)



PETROTRIN is awarding five contractors ten year licenses to operate fields in its eastern blocks. Petrotrin president Kenneth Allum said he anticipated an average production increase in the first year of about 200 barrels of oil per day (bopd), a total of 1,400 bopd annually from all seven fields. Petrotrin currently produces about 50,000 bopd.

The move to rejuvenate the fields by the State owned oil company comes at a time when oil prices are rebounding. Yesterday, oil traded at US$77.95 cents, dipping below the US$82 ceiling high on October 21.

The contractual arrangement will see Los Bajos Oil Limited, an affiliate of Trincam Oil Limited operating the Beach-Marcelle Block; Cameron Oil & Gas Limited holding the Goudron Block; Fram Exploration tagging the Innis-Trinity Block; AV Drilling and Workover Limited with the Catskill Moruga East Blocks while API Pipeline Construction Company will handle the Navette and Balata East Blocks.

The fields, which run from Princes Town to Mayaro and as far south as Moruga and Guayaguayare, range in depth from 5,000 to 7,500 feet.

RBTT will finance three of the operators: Fram Exploration AS, Cameron Oil & Gas Limited and API Pipeline Construction Company. “We see it as an opportunity to maintain our presence in the energy sector,” said Roger Mike, vice president, business banking.

Speaking at the signing ceremony to awards the sub licenses at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, Allum said the rationale behind stimulating onshore activity is the company’s constant quest for new sources of equity crude because of the high cost of shipping crude from abroad.

Given current favourable prices, “it is even more imperative that we increase the supply of equity crude oil and gas to our refinery,” he said.

For the six months of the financial year 2009, Petrotrin recorded a net loss after tax of $406 million compared to a profit of about $ 1 billion a year ago and was attributed mainly to falling commodity prices and refined products.

Allum said he expected the new onshore exploration thrust to rejuvenate the Guayaguayare fields which have been dormant and bring not only increased employment to the area but life to the associated service sector.

Contractors, Allum said, will be afforded the opportunity to work over existing wells and will be remunerated on the basis of each incremental barrel of oil or a million cubic feet of gas (mmcf).

The work programme involves conducting technical studies, reactivating idle wells as well as the drilling of new ones.

Energy Minister Conrad Enill said with onshore exploration being given a new lease on life, he expected oil production would improve in the short term. Enill said with Petrotrin ramping up its onshore acreages, the company was on target to increase its oil production in the short to medium term.

Belize group lists locally



10,000 shares traded on first day



Renuka Singh



Thursday, October 29th 2009 (T&T Express Business Section)



Local investors now have the opportunity to invest in a new company on the Trinidad and Tobago stock market.

But as a Belize based banking group listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange yesterday, chief executive of the exchange Wain Iton said local companies needed to show more interest in the development of the economy.

Iton made the statement as he welcomed the BCB Holdings Ltd to the TTSE listing for its first day of trading yesterday.

"Where are the T&T companies?" Iton asked at the welcome for the company, held at TTSE's head office at the Nicholas Tower in downtown Port of Spain.

He said the welcome of a regional company to the local stock exchange should force local companies to question themselves.

BCB was brought to the TTSE listings by local security and investment company Bourse Portfolio Management and is currently the owner of Belize's largest national bank.

Three trades were posted by the company in the first 40 minutes of the opening of the market.

By the close of the markets yesterday, BCB's stock opened at $12.38 per share, sold at $12.75 and traded a solid 10,000 shares in volume on its first day of trading.

"That is actually very good," said Subhas Ramkhelawan, director and lead broker at Bourse Portfolio Management. "It shows that people are interested in the company."

Lyndon Guiseppi, BCB's chief executive, said company stakeholders wanted to be listed on an exchange closer to home.

BCB is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Guiseppi said he felt there was a disconnect between the company and the foreign market.

After looking at several regional exchanges, BCB stakeholders decided to cross list on the TTSE.

"BCB Holdings was not known outside the home market. What better way to change that than listing on the TTSE?" Guiseppi asked.

He said they decided on Trinidad and Tobago because of its highly liquid market.


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TAKING STOCK: Lyndon Guiseppi (right) CEO of BCB Holdings of Belize stands next to TT Stock Exchange CEO Wayne Iton shortly after the announcement that BCB was being listed on the Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Why is it you fool that T&T don't cut a check to each and every citizen every month considering all that oil that they pulling out of the earth. Several Muslim nations take care of their people as they share the oil wealth. Why isn't T&T doing the same you creep!

quote:

Originally posted by BGurd_See:
Why is it you fool that T&T don't cut a check to each and every citizen every month considering all that oil that they pulling out of the earth. Several Muslim nations take care of their people as they share the oil wealth. Why isn't T&T doing the same you creep!

First of all T&T thank Allah is NOT a Muslim nation, second giving everyone a check would ONLY invite Gay anese coolies to relocate to T&T and put they hand out like that world famous begging Fagdeo, NONE $$$ fuh yuh and yuh teefing corrupt Indo gov't.(secret wish of Pee Pee Pee supporters Panday returns to office and gives multi billion $ loans to GT) yes we know Gay anese Indos love to vote UNC, during the last election many were pulled out of voting booths and beaten up had their fake voting cards taken away and DEPORTED back to Bharat land.

BpTT gas field ready



Thursday, October 29th 2009 (T&T Express Business)




The country's largest gas producer, BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT), has announced the start of natural gas production from the Savonette field offshore Trinidad.

Savonette is located in 290 feet of water, approximately 50 miles off Trinidad's southeast coast. BpTT holds a 100 per cent interest in the field.

Production from the platform is tied into bpTT's Mahogany B platform via a 26-inch diameter, 5.3-mile subsea pipeline where the gas is processed and then exported into bpTT's existing infrastructure.

Gas from Savonette will supply Atlantic LNG's liquefaction plant for export as LNG to international markets, as well as the domestic market, bpTT said in a statement.

With Savonette, bpTT now has production from 12 offshore platforms.

$19b highway project set to begin



Aretha Welch



Thursday, October 22nd 2009 (T&T Express Business)




Starting next month drivers can breathe a 'partial' sigh of relief, as the first phase of the $19 billion National Network of Highways Project is set to begin.

The project is to be the Government's biggest tool in this country's fight against the much bemoaned "bumper to bumper traffic" and "crater sized potholes" which plague motorists all over the country.

However the entire project will only come to fruition "just prior (to the year) 2020."

According to representatives of the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (NIDCO), this project is being set up to provide the citizens with over 400 kilometres of new and improved highways. The project was officially launched by Minister of Works Colm Imbert at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday.

The project will consist of three phases, which are all to "be developed prior to 2020." The process by which NIDCO will procure the necessary contractors for the project was made public during the launch.

During yesterday's launch the Government hired consultant who will be overseeing the project, AECOM, and over 100 prospective contractors were present.

Officials from NIDCO said of the more than 100 contractors present, showing their interest in the project which will call on the expertise of dozens of contractors, architects, engineers and workmen, 75 per cent were local.

According to Imbert, phase one will deliver 241 km of highway development and has been subdivided into seven packages.

The first set of Requests for Proposal (RFP) will be issued by NIDCO on December 15 for the San Fernando to Princes Town and Debe to Golconda leg, as well as the Princes Town to Mayaro section and the much publicised Causeway from Mucurapo to Chaguaramas.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Contractors' Association, Mikey Joseph, told reporters following the launch that while the project was indeed one of the Government's most "ambitious," he sees it as an opportunity for local players in the construction and design industry to get involved whether it be as solo players or via consortium and joint ventures.

Search on for T&T’s best high school chef


Cherisse Moe



Published: 2 Nov 2009(Trinidad Guardian)



Are you a high school student who always dreamed of pursuing a culinary career, but didn’t know how to turn that dream into reality? Well, here’s your chance to be crowned T&T’s Best High School Chef. The “T&T’s Best High School Chef Competition” is the first of its kind, and is open to all secondary schools. A media launch for the competition will take place at 10 am tomorrow at Pleasantville Secondary School. The event, to be launched officially in 2010, will give student teams the opportunity to show off their skills in the kitchen and find out first-hand what it takes to become a professional chef. Each team will be required to prepare and display a full breakfast, as well as a three-course lunch menu to be judged by a panel of professional chefs.

Points will be awarded for, among other criteria, taste and presentation. The team with the highest score will receive bragging rights and be crowned T&T’s Best High School Chef. Chef Kirk O’Neil Lewis, co-ordinator of the event, said the competition, endorsed by the Ministry of Education, would show students that a career in food and nutrition was, indeed, a viable option. “I wish there was something like this when I was in high school. T&T’s Best High School Chef is a powerful and effective way for students who want to enter the culinary world to see exactly what they’re getting into.

“This competition will show students that the food industry is a viable career path, with innumerable rewards.” O’Neil Lewis said competing against other schools would also afford students the opportunity to develop team spirit and school pride. “I can see that this event will be something all food and nutrition students look forward to each year.” The regional leg of the competition is scheduled between April and June, 2010. Three teams from each region will compete in the finals in September.

DEMAND FOR AMMONIA



Thursday, October 29 2009 (T&T Newsday Business)



With the worldwide demand for ammonia growing the recently completed Methanol Holding (Trinidad) Limited (MHTL) US$1.7 billion AUM Ammonia plant at Pt Lisas has started out even during the continuing global economic downturn, as a highly profitable venture.

As Methanol Holdings CEO Rampersad Motilal emphasised in an interview with Newsday, ammonia prices have rebounded and “we are able to gain profits”. He would add that his company had not feared losing out financially on the business venture, because of the current worldwide demand. In addition to exporting ammonia to the United States, Methanol Holdings, Motilal declared, also had markets in Brazil, China, Europe and India.

The demand has meant that the plant which was completed on March 30, three months ahead of schedule, has been operating at more than 150 tonnes above its 1,850 metric tonnes capacity, MHTL chairman Dr Euric Bobb pointed out.

While a weak US dollar has artificially created rising prices for crude and last week pushed oil prices to record highs for the year, the clear peaking of the cyclical demand for ammonia has resulted in the welcome rebounding of ammonia prices.

Dr Bobb noted that the AUM Ammonia plant, which provides three additional products to MHTL’s mix ammonia, urea ammonia nitrate (UAN) and Melanine would create 368 permanent highly skilled jobs when fully commisioned.

This is among welcome pluses for Trinidad and Tobago, including increased revenues and foreign exchange earnings.

Meanwhile, what has flowed from the continuing economic downturn has been not only that Trinidad and Tobago’ energy and energy based industries have been hard hit by the fall in crude oil prices but in demand as well.

The start up of production at the ammonia plant represents a complete reversal of what has happened with respect to crude oil and natural gas.

This country, because of the rebounding of ammonia prices receives an optimum price for its ammonia as well as a bonus in the form of demand for all of the ammonia it produces.

Methanol Holdings’ targetting of China, India and Brazil, as markets for its ammonia, in addition to North America and Europe, is of particular importance as China, India and Brazil are economic majors whose consumption of goods and services is on the rise.

In the meantime, because construction of the ammonia plant was completed three months ahead of schedule, MHTL has been able to take advantage of the favourable price and demand three months earlier than it would have done normally.

Yet another plus was that the ammonia plant was completed within budget in spite of what the MHTL Chief Executive Officer described as global trends of escalating project costs.

‘We will consider opportunities’



By Darcel Choy Thursday, November 5 2009 (T&T Newsday)



Former RBTT banker and BCB Holdings CEO Lyndon Guiseppi yesterday chose not to comment on whether the Belize based bank listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) had closed the purchase of Jamaican businessman Michael Lee Chin’s AIC Financial Holdings unit in Trinidad.

“I can’t comment on it,” he said during an interview yesterday at his office in Maritime Plaza, Barataria.

He did say though that the company was interested in setting up a base in Trinidad but did not elaborate.

Sources say that the purchase of AIC would give BCB a solid foothold in the banking sector in Trinidad and that BCB was close to finalising a deal with AIC.

“We are interested in setting up a base in Trinidad. We plan to follow that protocol. We are very much interested in doing business in Trinidad, we believe Trinidad is the most attractive jurisdiction of all the Caribbean and Central American territories from which to operate a financial services company.

“So any opportunities which may present themselves in Trinidad we would certainly consider it but with specifics of AIC I have no comment,” he said. For BCB to operate here, they will need to get Central Bank approval for a licence, he said.

In its 2009 annnual report, BCB produced a net income of $62.4 million, a $2 million increase over the $60.4 million net income a year ago. Shareholder equity stands at $$350 million.

Sources said BCB was looking at the banking possibilities in Trinidad and AIC seems to be the best option. On October 28, BCB Holdings, trading under BCBTT, put 273,716 of its shares on the local market at $12.50. Yesterday, the shares traded at $13.15.

Wendell Mottley and former Central Bank governor Dr Euric Bobb, Colonial Life Insurance Company (Clico) chairman are listed among BCB’s board of directors.

“We believe that there is tremendous opportunity to evolve into a large, deep significant financial player and we hope to play a role in that process,” Guiesppi said at the bank’s listing at Nicholas Towers, Port-of-Spain, last week.

According to reports, BCB chaired by British billionaire Sir Michael Ashcroft, is in advanced talks to acquire 75 per cent of AIC Financial, the financially troubled, non-bank financial institution owned by Lee Chin.

Salybia, jewel of the North East



By Joan Rampersad Thursday, November 5 2009 (T&T Newsday)



Fishing may be its main trade, but Salybia can now add eco-tourism and water sports to its livelihood. These new ventures are now possible thanks to the upgraded beach facilities which are now known as the Salybia Recreation and Water Sports Centre.

The lifeguard quarters have received a facelift and the refurbished washrooms now cater to the physically challenged. There is now a well equipped kayak centre, a car park, outdoor seating and proper signs to improve the quality of a visitor’s stay at Salybia beach.

“I am certain that the fine new beach facility will considerably enhance the tourism and recreational potential of Salybia, one of our undiscovered jewels along Trinidad’s north east coast,” Minister of Tourism Joseph Ross said before opening the facility on Tuesday.

The communities of Salybia as well as Matura played a hands-on role in the new facility and organisations such as the Salybia Ecological and Tourism Team (SETT), comprising Nature Seekers and the Turtle Village Trust, worked with the ministry to maintain a balance between tourism and the protection of the environment.

“Salybia is an area with enviable eco-tourism resources and is ideal for a wide range of activities. It has been described as one of the best natural kayaking sites along the pristine north east coast. In addition to kayaking, the area offers nature trails, waterfalls, sport and recreational fishing, good “sweet hand” food, boating, hiking, howler monkey treks and an escape for invaluable peace, relaxation and rejuvenation,” said Ross.

The Sangre Grande Regional Corporation’s development plan envisages the upgrade of facilities at all the main beaches and rivers in the region, he explained.

“I would like to encourage the corporation to work with this community to ensure that the fullest potential is realised from this facility, through adequate maintenance and upkeep of the facility and its environs. The success of this facility would certainly redound to the community in terms of jobs, incomes and the building of civic pride,” Ross said.

He commended Nature Seekers, under the chairmanship of Suzan Lakhan-Baptiste who has been nominated by CNN as a Hero of the Year, and noted the international publicity of the group’s work with leatherback turtles, adding they were well positioned to manage the Salybia facility.

Lakhan-Baptiste told guests companies will be offered the use of the facility for conferences and retreats, over the next few months, as part of the plan to make the venture sustainable. Toco/Sangre Grande MP Indra Sinanan-Ojah Maharaj, who also spoke at the opening ceremony, said the facility is a source of pride and satisfaction to her and its purpose of nature and environmental tourism represents a positive step.

She too noted Lakhan-Baptiste’s CNN nomination and publicly commended her for her dedication to protecting leatherback turtles and the environment.

“To a large extent, this facility is a testament to her drive, her willpower and her zeal for her non-profit, humanitarian gesture.”

Chairman of the corporation Ronald Boynes said the project represents economic diversification for the north east coast communities.


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70,000 vaccines coming by next week


Aabida Allaham



Tuesday, November 10th 2009 (T&T Express)




SEVENTY thousand H1N1 vaccines valued at US$675,000 will be here in time for this country’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this month.

However, everyone should not expect to get vaccinated.

Addressing members of the media at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Health’s Park Street head office in Port of Spain yesterday, Health Minister Jerry Narace said the H1N1 vaccine delivery programme will follow World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations based on priority groups, such as health care workers, pregnant women in their third trimester, children and obese people.

’This first batch will be administered to health care workers, security officers and front line personnel at ports of entry,’ he said.

On November 16, Trinidad and Tobago will be the first Caribbean country to receive 50,000 doses valued at US$7.50 each from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) following ’special negotiations’.

A second batch of 20,000 doses valued at US$15 each has been purchased directly from the European pharmaceutical company Novartis and will be delivered on November 17.

’We also expect delivery of the rest of 210,000 vaccines in the following weeks. A strategic plan towards their administration to population will be followed for all batches,’ Narace added.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Anton Cumberbatch said, upon arrival, there is a short process to ensure that the vaccines are safe before they can be dispatched to both the public and private health sectors for dispensing.

’When you take possession of the vaccines, there is an initial requirement and this is done all the time with vaccine delivery, because it is being transported so you have to make sure and establish that what you receive is in fact safe, is temperature controlled, and there are ways we do that. Once that is the done the vaccine will be distributed ... and in a matter of hours we can start,’ he explained.

And while the safety and the efficacy of the vaccine is still being questioned, PAHO representative, Dr Yitades Gebre, said these vaccines have been used in over 20 countries over the past several weeks and have proven to be very safe.

’These vaccines clearly can produce a good protective immune response and in fact one of the best surprises we have found to date, based on the studies done recently, is that one dose of vaccine rather than two is going to be enough for most people to develop a good immune response,’ he said.

Nevertheless, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association, Dr Solaiman Juman said while the vaccines are a welcomed move in light of the 215 confirmed swine flu cases and five related deaths, they hope the ministry has a plan to deal with the chaos that can ensue.

’In the United States, the distribution process has been very chaotic unlike the United Kingdom which has been very organised, so I hope they have some form of strategy in place to deal with it efficiently,’ he said.

PM's $480m PRIDE


National Academy for the Performing Arts a masterpiece, says Manning



Ria Taitt Political Editor



Tuesday, November 10th 2009 (T&T Express)



Prime Minister Patrick Manning could not hide his feeling of vindication and national pride as he opened the $480 million controversial National Academy for the Performing Arts yesterday.

There was vindication over his strategy of using UDeCOTT, its executive chairman Calder Hart and Chinese contractors, such as Shanghai Construction Group, in pursuing Government’s massive construction programme; and pride over what this has accomplished thus far.

Delivering the feature address at yesterday’s opening of the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Manning spoke of the ’slings and arrows’ he endured, the public scepticism and cynicism. But, he noted triumphantly, all this was changing to pride as the facilities were being completed.

He teased the ’doubting Thomases’ in the country who he said, never believed that they would live to see such a ’magnificent structure’ in Trinidad and Tobago. And he hit back at those who ’were upset that Government refuses to be part the ’lynch mob’ (against UDeCOTT and Hart), paying special tribute to UDeCOTT and particularly, Hart. ’Many can talk, but few can build. As the Bible says, ’By these deeds we shall know them’,’ Manning stated.

’So many of us like Thomas have to put our finger in the wound,’ he said. ’Many of you said ’Who is Manning trying to fool. They would never build that in Trinidad and Tobago’ when the design concept was revealed. ’Well,’ he stated, ’Manning was not trying to fool anybody, we have built it in Trinidad and Tobago’, he said to applause from the audience, which included the President George Maxwell Richards, former presidents Sir Ellis Clarke, ANR Robinson, the entire Cabinet and other dignitaries.

Among those absent were Opposition members and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley who boycotted the event.

Manning, undaunted, said there was a change of attitude from public criticism to praise when Government opened the Hyatt Conference Centre, and before the Prime Minister’s residence and Diplomatic Centre,’ he added. ’It appears as though many of us could not see the vision but as the facilities become available, things become clearer,’ Manning said, saying it would happen in San Fernando when the Performing Academy is opened next year.

The Prime Minister said that, step by step, the transformation anticipated by Vision 2020 was falling in place. It was never haphazard or random, he said. And in a dig at Rowley, Manning said it was clear for all present to see that the hotel at the Academy was not an afterthought, but was an integral part.

Manning said now that the physical transformation was in train, Government planned by next September to begin a nationwide highway programme. He said ’priority number two’ was water, then electricity and then Information and Communication Technology.

Manning who said when all the costs were added the two Academies for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain and San Fernando, amounted to US$130 million (TT$820 million). He said 60 per cent of this cost was expended on the Port of Spain facility.

Manning pointed that although Shanghai Construction Group built the Academy, some $100 million of the contract price was spent on local contractors, ’contrary to popular opinion’.

Manning said the next major construction would be the Cultural Centre at Queen’s Park Savannah and restoration of the President’s House.

’It is not a question of the President’s House not being done because somebody had a plan to do away with ....(the Presidency as we know it to make way for an Executive President),’ he said, his voice fading with the laughter in the audience.

Manning who said he initially came for war, but was giving way to the guidance of Almighty God and sticking to peace because of the ambiance and atmosphere. He thanked his Cabinet colleagues, past and present, for their support, provoking more laughter from the audience.

He said the design concept was the national flower the Chaconia and the shining skin was designed to make a connection to the steelpan. He said the stage was the only one in the world specifically designed for pan.

Planning Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who spoke before Manning, said that as she reflected on the controversy surrounding the facility compared the project to a ’woman announcing her pregnancy in a climate of antagonism’, enduring the ’pain, the ring of fire and then the joy of a successful delivery’. She said the Bible said there were a time for everything and today was the time to celebrate the ’delight of delivery’. She too ’celebrated’ Hart and ’prophesied’ the facility will take the arts to higher and higher development.





http://www.triniview.com/galle...php?g2_itemId=414660

Detention centre opens in Aripo



Joseph: Illegal immigrants to be kept until sent back home



Thursday, November 12th 2009(T&T Express)


http://www.trinidadexpress.com...le_news?id=161556289
containing illegals: National Security Minister Martin Joseph, centre, shares a light moment with, from left, Keith Renaud, director of the Office of Law Enforcement, security officer Gisela Grant, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security Jennifer Boucaud-Blake, and Curtis Belford, from the Office of Law Enforcement, National Security Ministry, following their tour of the Immigration Detention Centre at Eastern Main Road, Aripo yesterday. -Photo: ROBERTO CODALLO



ILLEGAL immigrants, beware.

This country’s first Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) was formally opened along the Eastern Main Road in Aripo, Arima, yesterday.

The establishment of the IDC is a significant step in the Government’s thrust to effectively arrest this country’s growing illegal immigration problem, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said during the ceremony.

While delivering yesterday’s feature address, Joseph said, ’Strengthening the nation’s capacity to detain illegal immigrants and other aliens subjected to deportation is a key component of the comprehensive strategy to deter illegal immigration into Trinidad and Tobago.’

’Illegal immigration can be defined as migration across national borders in violation of a country’s immigration laws. Persons found culpable of such acts are defined as prohibited immigrants,’ Joseph explained.

There are currently some 215 foreign nationals detained in prisons across this country, he said. Seventy three of them are prohibited immigrants.

Prior to the establishment of the IDC, located on the former site of the Social Development Ministry’s Aripo Remand Building, prohibited immigrants were detained at the Maximum Security Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca.

’While this short-term measure was not in keeping with international best practice, the maximum security prison as the nation’s most modern correctional facility was the best option available,’ Joseph said.

The IDC has the capacity to house 150 detainees, both male and female, and will be under the stewardship of the Immigration Division.

’It would only be operated as a means for short-term detention of non-nationals and will not be facilitated as a prison or correctional facility. The long-term aim is to ensure that these migrants can be successfully repatriated to their respective countries after due process,’ Joseph said.

Retirees from the prisons and police service, as well as immigration officers, make up the IDC staff. The first batch of detainees are expected to arrive at the IDC today, and within the next two weeks, the entire transition from the MSP will be completed, Joseph said. -JJ

UTC assets grow by $2.2b



Saturday, November 14th 2009 (T&T Express Business)




The Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) says it has defied a ’challenging’ economic environment and grown its assets under management by $2.2 billion in 2009.

In the first nine months of the year, UTC also increased its customer base by 16,000 and distributed more than $591 million. The figures were disclosed by UTC executive director Marlon Holder at the company’s appreciation event held at the Zen nightclub, Port of Spain, on Thursday night.

’The growth in our assets under management in the last nine months is twice what it was in 2008,’ said Holder.

UTC’s assets under management grew from $18.9 billion at the end of 2007 to $19.9 billion in December 2008 to $22.2 billion by the end of September 2009.

From June to December, the company experienced an asset growth of over $600 million and its active customer base grew from 500,000 to 516,000.

Holder credited the company’s success to a diversified investment portfolio.

’Diversified portfolios are particularly important in slow growth economies and low interest rate environments as you can never fully predict when and where the economy will turn around,’ Holder said.

Holder recalled the launch of the UTC’s U-online version 2.0, which offers customers 24/7 access to investments, the ability to open new accounts online, text messaging alerts and even online chat assistance.

The UTC online service currently has customers in over 120 countries.




Unit Trust gets new CEO



Curtis Rampersad Business Editor



Wednesday, November 4th 2009 (T&T Express)



The Unit Trust Corporation has a new chief executive officer.

Eutrice Carrington, who previously held the position of UTC vice-president, Asset Management, was appointed to the position of CEO, Financial Services, effective yesterday.

UTC board member Marlon Holder remains executive director of the Port of Spain-based financial institution.

He was appointed executive director of the UTC in December 2006 and has been involved in banking and financial services for about 25 years.

Carrington now has direct responsibility for the UTC’s asset management, merchant banking and group treasury operations.

Her promotion will allow for a ’more synergistic approach’ to the management of these key businesses to the benefit of customers, the UTC said in a statement following enquiries by the Express yesterday.

Carrington holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics and has 18 years’ experience in the area of asset management.

During her tenure at the UTC assets under management grew from $383 million to $16 billion while the range of mutual fund products increased from two to ten products.

Previously she also held the positions of manager, Investments, portfolio manager and security analyst at the UTC.

Carrington sits on the board of UTC Fund Services Inc, a United States registered investment adviser that is a subsidiary of the Unit Trust, the Corporation said.

Ames makes it second Miracle



Published: 16 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)




Stephen Ames won his second title in three years at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic yesterday, edging George McNeill and Justin Leonard in a playoff. Ames was calm and cool on greens that were too slick for most of the field on a sunbaked day at Disney World.

He finished with an eight under 64 for the clubhouse lead, watching as McNeill (67) and Leonard (67) failed to pass him. Leonard rimmed out a 16-foot putt for the win in regulation, even beginning to pump his fist in celebration only to watch the ball bounce off.

He twice left putts short when he was eliminated on the first playoff hole. Ames said after his victory, “I thought last night if I shot a 64 today that I would have a good chance.”

He shot the round of 64 by going three underpar on the front nine and then carding five birdies in his last seven holes to reach 18-underpar for the tournament. He then waited as the final groups finished up and he found himself in a three way playoff with Justin Leonard and George McNeill. On the first playoff hole, Ames and McNeill were able to par the 18th hole, but Leonard was eliminated when he three putted for a bogey.

The final playoff hole was at the par-three 15th hole, Ames found the green and two-putted for par and he won the championship when McNeill had his six-foot par-putt go in and out of the hole for a bogey. The championship is the fourth career title for Ames and it is the second time that he has won the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. “To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing,” Leonard said. “Obviously, I thought I made it by my reaction. I was surprised it didn’t go in.”

McNeill had a 6-foot putt on the second playoff hole trickle around the rim and pop off to give Ames the win. There were other rallies that didn’t end up on the leaderboard. Yesterday was the last day for players to secure a tour card for next year. Only those who finished the year in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments. For as much back and forth as there was throughout the week, in the end, there wasn’t a lot of movement. Former world No. 1 David Duval already had lost his full status by missing the cut. Robert Garrigus also missed the cut and was knocked out of full status for next year. (CMC)



T&T’s Stephen Ames, left, of Canada, holds the championship trophy with son, Ryan, ten, centre, and Mickey Mouse after winning the Children's Miracle Network Classic PGA golf tournament in the second hole of a sudden death play-off at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, yesterday.

Local police to guard the Queen



By VENUS HONORE-GOPIE Tuesday, November 17 2009 (T&T Newsday)



Security arrangements around the Carlton Savannah Hotel where Queen Elizabeth II and members of her royal household are expected to stay during the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 27-29 will be tightened for her visit.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Mariano Browne, said the Government has a number of special requests for the Queen but preferred not to disclose those requests.

Local police officers will provide escort and assistance to the Queen’s security entourage on her arrival and departure to the hotel.

Browne said there will also be a smaller presence of regional security officers because of the security adjustments. He was speaking with reporters at the launch of the Commemorative Stamp Issue for CHOGM by Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPost) at the Jetsam Room, Carlton Savannah Hotel, Cascade. He said he could not say the type of security measure that will be taken, since it will not be considered security.

A few persons will receive accreditation passes, as a result of the change in security arrangements. Browne said they still have the same database, and have reduced the level of accreditation requirements since it was now strictly for the island sites. “It is not the same number of people, and that is one of the reasons we are not hearing any complaints with regards to accreditation.

According to Browne they have reduced the zones since previously about 27,000 persons had received accreditation passes to get to their homes and business places during the Summit.

Security arrangements he added, will not be hampered since citizens will have the opportunity to shop and move about freely. Questions have been raised about the difference with the “less”security arrangements put in place for CHOGM than that of the heavy security arrangements for the Fifth Summit of Americas held in April.

Browne said the security arrangement was not less, but in fact “more complex” since the movement of persons will be handled differently. He said they don’t have the complication of putting security arrangements that were provided for the United States President Barack Obama during the Fifth Summit of the Americas and therefore “it has given us a little more room in how we handled it.”

He said they have learned from the Summit what they can and don’t need to do since the security measures put in place was the first hosting for the country, and they catered for all the “eventualities.

We took the decision that we will take the hardest route possible. We have reduced our security, or reduce all of what we consider unnecessary measures.”

However, Browne said the security zones’ remain around the Hyatt Regency Hotel and around the hotels where the delegates will be staying.

Previously he said there was a perimeter around the hotel and once a person gets through the perimeter they would then gain access to the hotel, but now there were two perimeters “the hotel is a perimeter itself as well as outside. The hotels have a different level of security so those are the sort of changes in place.” Sheldon Cyrus, TTPost’s managing director said the company which is responsible for mailing operations in Trinidad and Tobago has continued the tradition of issuing commemorative stamps.

Cyrus said the specially designed stamps will display the CHOGM theme in denominations of $1 International Financial Centre, Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain, $2.50 The Steelpan, $3.75 Pigeon Point, Tobago, $4.50 Queen Elizabeth II with Commonwealth Secretaries General at Buckingham Palace, $5.25 Scarlet Ibis and a $15 souvenir sheet with The Cenotaph, Memorial Park, Port-of-Spain will be available at all TTPost outlets and the CHOGM village from today.

Each of the 53 delegates will be presented with a token of the stamps and souvenir sheet from TTPost.

TTPost’s Chairman Anthony Hall said TTPost fully supports CHOGM, and was extremely proud to release the special stamp issue for the occasion.


http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,35916.html#foto
CHOGM STAMPS: These five commemorative stamps, marking the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) were launched yesterday in the Jetsam Room of the Carlton Savannah Hotel, Cascade.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,35913.html#foto
INFO CENTRE: As Trinidad and Tobago gets ready to play host to world leaders for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, signs, banners and pennants have been erected on almost every lamp post and building in Port-of-Spain and along the route leading to the capital city. At Excellence City Centre in downtown Port-of-Spain, a large banner informs the public of the CHOGM events.


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Where the world meets: Signs on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain welcome visitors for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference which takes place later this month.

Govt signs MOU with Microsoft T&T



DIXIE-ANN DICKSON



Published: 17 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)


Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, left, shakes the hand of Jean-Philippe Courtois, president, Microsoft International, at a news conference yesterday at the Old Fire Station building, Port-of-Spain, to inform the media about the memorandum of understanding signed between the government of T&T and Microsoft T&T Inc. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES



The information communication technology (ICT) initiative between T&T Government and Microsoft T&T Incorporation would soon allow citizens to have quick and ready access to government services, minimising the need to visit government offices. Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Microsoft T&T Inc would allow its expertise to fast track T&T’s ICT agenda from information to services. Swaratsingh was speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Old Fire Station building, Port-of-Spain.

He said over the next year, government plans to embark on the rolling out of the Kiosk, whereby the public would be able to access the government’s information and services, including the provision of birth certificates and driving permits. Swaratsingh said before this takes effect, there were two bills before Parliament Data Protection Bill and Electronic Transaction Bill, which he hopes will be passed by early next year. He said there were also two other pieces of legislation which need to be implemented: Cyber Security and E-payments.

“This would definitely help T&T to move to a climate of e-commerce and e-governance,” he said. Swaratsingh said youths would be the main beneficiaries and future proponents of developmental programmes to promote technological competitiveness and competence. Also speaking was Jean Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, who said despite the economic crisis, the company was committed to increasing and enabling the citizens of T&T to obtain their full potential. Courtois said that as part of the MOU, Microsoft would be offering a scholarship internship programme, implementation of a T&T student portal, entrepreneurial opportunities, which would allow companies free access to Microsoft programmes and software and a sustained growth within the ICT sector in T&T.

Obama names new Ambassador to TT



Wednesday, November 18 2009 (T&T Newsday)



A John Jay College of Criminal Justice alumnus has been nominated by President Barrack Obama as the new United States ambassador to the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago.

She is Beatrice Wilkinson-Welters who founded and chairs the AnBryce Foundation and the Vincent Wilkinson Foundation, which provides long term academic and leadership enrichment programmes for underserved youth, was named to the post Monday. Welters now faces confirmation by the US Senate.

She will replace Dr Roy Austin, who last served as US Ambassador under the George Bush administration. Welters donated $4,600 to the Obama campaign in 2007 and 2008, according to finance records but both her and her husband donated to both parties in recent years.

She founded the AnBryce Foundation in 1995 and also served as a trustee to the DC-based Brookings Institute, the Aspen Institute, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Jesuit Academy, and the Maret School.

Welters earned her undergraduate degree from Manhattanville College and her graduate degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She recently received an Honorary Doctorate from Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina.

She also worked at IBM from 1977 to 1991, where she held several roles, including systems engineer, Welters was also a past Presidential Appointee to the John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts serving on its Executive Committee. She continues to serve on the Library of Congress Madison Council.

Welters and her husband, Anthony, reside in Mc Lean, Virginia, with their son, Bryant age 19, a college student at Notre Dame, and Andre, age 17, a senior at the Maret School.



BEATRICE WILKINSON-Welters and her husband Anthony.

New $100 note for CHOGM



Published: 18 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)



A new $100 bill will be circulated to commemorate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will be held from November 27-29.

Joan John, deputy governor, operations, Central Bank, said the new bill will be in circulation within weeks and will be legal tender. “This is a normal circulation note, so it will be spent like a normal $100 bill. It will circulate side by side with existing notes after the CHOGM events are finished. We expect to put these notes into circulation over the next three or four weeks,” she said. John said this at the launch of the new note at the Central Bank, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. “Banks normally come into us and get currency and as they take $100 notes, they will be taking the new notes, and through the commercial banks, it will go out into the public,” she said. John said the next step will be getting the word out on these new notes to the public.

“We will be giving brochures and posters to banks, credit unions people who handle money so that they will know the features of the notes,” John said.

She said all the security features of the current $100 notes in circulation remain.

John said there are two changes to the front of the $100 bill.

• 60 years of the Commonwealth 1949-2009

• CHOGM logo in single colour

On the reverse of the note are the following changes:

• CHOGM logo in full colour

• Carnival sun image at the top of the note

• The Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre and the view of the city of Port-of-Spain in the background

• The oil rig has been shifted to the right of the note

• Larger $100 numeral at the top right of the note

• ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS in words at the bottom of the note.


NEW NOTE: Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Joan John points to the features of a new bank note issued to commemorate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 27-29, 2009. The $100 CHOGM Commemorative Circulation Note was unveiled yesterday at the Central Bank.

450 students learn all about CHOGM



Published: 18 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)

John Shaughnessy, vice principal, Maple Leaf International School, speaks to students during the Commonwealth Explosion 2009 at the school yesterday. Photo: Shirley Bahadur



With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) about one week away students of the Maple Leaf International School, Petit Valley, seized the opportunity yesterday to grasp all the information they could on the event.

The 450 plus students gathered in the school’s hall for the Commonwealth Explosion 2009. With flags of the 53 Commonwealth countries draped above their heads they listened attentively as CHOGM spokesman, Dennis McComie, informed them of the purpose of the meeting and its benefits to their future.

Hands shot up during a question and answer segment where students who correctly answered questions based on CHOGM and the Commonwealth were able to win prizes.

Questions included:

• What is the smallest country which will be participating in CHOGM?

• What are the top three matters which will be discussed during CHOGM?

• Which country will not be participating in the meeting?

Interesting enough there wasn’t one question that was not answered by the students.

Vice principal of the Canada based school, John Shaughnessy, said the event was aimed at teaching students to work together and also highlight the importance of CHOGM. “I really learned a lot and I’m better informed now and will better understand what’s going on when the function (CHOGM) starts,” said seventh grade student Stefan Navarro.

FRANCE, DENMARK FOR CHOGM



By SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, November 19 2009 (T&T Newsday)



Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon join President of France Nicolas Sarkozy as special guests of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port-of-Spain from November 27 to 29.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning last night announced the addition of the French and Danish leaders, whose countries are not part of the Commonwealth of nations, and Ban to the list of VIPs who will visit Trinidad and Tobago.

Newsday reported exclusively yesterday that Sarkozy was due to take part in the CHOGM and his interest stemmed from a climate change campaign he mounted with Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in Paris, recently.

Manning’s disclosure came in a televised ten minute address to the nation, in which he also reminded citizens that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will also attend CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth.

The trio of Rasmussen, Sarkozy and Ban are expected to throw their weight behind efforts to establish a Commonwealth position or positions on climate change, ahead of next month’s United Nations Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, from December 7 to 18. The talks are intended to continue efforts to rein in emissions of greenhouse gases which are widely considered to be causing global warming. Alluding to Copenhagen, Manning said, “This CHOGM in Port-of -Spain, under our chairmanship, therefore is the last international summit meeting before that critical meeting, and has become most important to the process. We have the opportunity to positively influence its outcome.”

He said Trinidad and Tobago is doing its utmost to advance the process that could result in a global agreement on this crucial matter affecting all of humanity.

“I should also advise you that our country has been at the centre of almost frenzied activity among leading nations from both the developed and developing world as we seek to ensure that we take the strongest possible position in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting.

“In this context, and as evidence of this, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark, the chairman of the meeting in Denmark and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon will be on official visits to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in this process.”

Sarkozy and Rasmussen are expected to meet early next week with German Chancellor Angella Merkel, after which Sarkozy is due to make a trip to Manaus, northern Brazil for a meeting of ten Amazonian countries before flying to Trinidad for the CHOGM.

Rasmussen, 45, has only been the Danish Prime Minister since April 5, 2009. Rasmussen previously served in the post of Interior and Health Minister in 2001, and in 2007 he was appointed Minister of Finance before succeeding Anders Fogh Rasmussen (no relation) as prime minister earlier this year when Fogh became NATO secretary general.

As Finance Minister, Rasmussen had negotiated funds for banks hit by the global financial crisis. As head of the youth arm of his party, the centre right, Venstre, he delivered educational funds to soviet occupied Afghanistan where he was photographed disguised as an Afghan, toting an AK47 rifle, sparking controversy in Denmark.

Sarkozy, 53, was elected French President on May 16, 2007, after beating socialist Segolene Royal. UN head Ban Ki-Moon is no stranger to Trinidad and Tobago having visited for last April’s Fifth Summit of the Americas.

Manning, in his address, also disclosed that forty of the 40 heads of state and their delegations have confirmed their attendance for CHOGM thus far.



Meet the press: Lars Lokke Rasmussen faces the media after he was sworn in as Prime Minister of Denmark in April 2009.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,35972.html#foto
FRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy

http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,35971.html#foto
UN SECRETARY GENERAL Ban Ki Moon

‘Iron Duke’ to protect the Queen



Friday, November 20 2009 (T&T Newsday)



BRITISH, Canadian, Colombian and Caricom security forces will be protecting Queen Elizabeth II, Commonwealth leaders, other Heads of State and dignitaries who will be attending next week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago. This was revealed by National Security Minister Martin Joseph at yesterday’s post Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.

“From Great Britain, the HMS Iron Duke is expected to arrive in port by November 25,” Joseph disclosed. The Iron Duke visited the country earlier this year. The frigate has a crew of 185 persons and an arsenal which includes two 30 mm guns, stingray torpedoes, sea wolf and harpoon missiles. The Iron Duke also has a Westland Lynx helicopter which has search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Joseph also said a Canadian warship will arrive in Port-of-Spain on November 25. The largest vessels which the Royal Canadian Navy has are Halifax class frigates which have crews of 225 persons. The armaments of these vessels include Honeywell MK46 torpedoes, sea sparrow and harpoon missiles and CH-124 Sea King helicopters. While Colombia is not a Commonwealth nation, Joseph said a seven member dive team from Colombia are “also in the country.”

The minister said 23 soldiers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force arrived in the country on Wednesday. A Barbados naval vessel will arrive in Port-of-Spain on November 24. A total of 77 Jamaican soldiers and 30 Jamaican police officers have either arrived or are in the process of arriving in TT. Guyana and Suriname are sending a combined contingent of 84 soldiers and 70 police officers. Belize will contribute 30 police officers while St Kitts and Nevis is sending 24 soldiers.

In total, 300 Caricom military personnel and 150 police officers will be in the country to support their local and international counterparts in providing security for CHOGM. Noting that traffic arrangements have been made public by notices published by the National Secretariat and Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert, Joseph said: “What is clear is that the restrictions for CHOGM are less restrictive than they were for the Fifth Summit of the Americas.”

Joseph said operational details about CHOGM security will be provided by CHOGM Gold Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.


Warship TT bound: The British warship HMS Iron Duke returns to TT to help regional and local security forces provide security for the world leaders at CHOGM in Port-of-Spain.

Two OPVs for TTCG almost ready



Thursday, November 19 2009 (T&T Newsday)



TWO Offshore Patrol Vessels being built by BAE Systems for the Government will this week take a step closer to completion.

Employees at the Portsmouth Naval base, in the United Kingdom joined in the celebrations yesterday when the first vessel was formally named Port-of-Spain, while the second ship was set to be launched and named Scarborough, on the Clyde today. The two 90-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are part of a £150 million contract to build, integrate, test and commission (up to sea trials) three ships for the Government.

Under the programme the defence company will also provide training and a five year in service support package, while the UK Ministry of Defence is providing advice to the Government and operational sea training to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard crews.

Shellanne Archer, of Scarborough, Tobago, who will launch the second vessel and name her Scarborough during the celebrations on the Clyde, said: “These ships provide the capability to enable our Coast Guard to protect the territorial waters of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region.

Together with my husband, the Captain Designate, I look forward to a long association with Scarborough as she fulfils her vital role in delivering future maritime security to our region.” Scott Jamieson, Trinidad and Tobago Programme Director at BAE Systems, said: “The contract with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago demonstrates our position as one of the world’s leading exporters of naval ships.

Developing international markets not only ensures that we can deliver future naval capability to our overseas customers, but it also secures the long term sustainability of the maritime industry in the UK.” Lord Davies, Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, said: “I am delighted that the UK is able to provide Trinidad and Tobago with these highly capable ships.

The first of the ships is being constructed at BAE Systems’ Portsmouth facility, while the second and third vessels are being built at its yard at Scotstoun on the Clyde.


ARRIVING SOON: One of the two Offshore Patrol Vessels expected to arrive in Trinidad shortly.

Jet centre meets CHOGM deadline



Dixie Ann Dickson



Published: 21 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)

Works and Transport Minister, Colm Imbert, right, listens to Louis Frederick, General Manager Ag as he demonstrate where the Heads of State will be arriving for CHOHM at the formal opening of an Executive Jet Centre at the South Terminal of Piraco International Airport, yesterday. Photo: Jennifer Watson



Heads of State arriving for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be the first to experience the new Executive Jet Centre which is the first phase of a $300 million International Aviation Business Park.

So said Works and Transport Minister, Colm Imbert during the formal opening of an Executive Jet Centre at the South Terminal of the Piraco International Airport, yesterday. Imbert said the Executive Jet Centre also known as the Fixed Base of Operations (FBO) is intended to provide a full range of primary services to operators of non commercial aviation aircraft and increase business development.

He added that the $52 million phase one project is to provide first class experience for corporate and executive travellers and to become the preferred destination in this part of the world. He said this would allow users to arrive and transit the airport within ten minutes of arrival time. Caribbean Airlines was approved by Cabinet for the management role of the Jet Centre. The Centre has the capacity for the handling of 13 aircraft including five wide body positions equipped with in ground fuel pits, Imbert said.

“This would also facilitate private and corporate jet traffic which would avoid the current incompatibility with scheduled and charter commercial traffic,” he added. He noted that the Executive Jet Centre is a fully self-sufficient and stand-lone facility which is not intended to form part of the general commercial airline operations at Piarco Airport.”

Asked if there were plans for the Prime Minister or any minister to acquire a jet, he said “there were no plans at this time to acquire any jet.” Making reference to the economic downturn, he was asked if the Centre would attract a substantial amount of businesses, Imbert said one of the main purpose was to use the facility as a hub and we expect to attract those in the region.

He said cabinet has also given approval to the Airports Authority of T&T for funding to begin infrastructural works such as drainage, electricity and new roads for the continuation of the International Aviation Business Park.

Stage two of the project, he said would include aviation fuel bunkering facilities, independent link with meteorological office and air traffic control. Also in attendance was Planning, Housing and the Environment minister, Emily Dick-Forde, Executive Chairman of UDecott, Calder Hart and CEO of Caribbean Airlines, Ian Brunton. Hart came in high praise from the Ministers for the quick delivery of the facility. The initial project was completed in 42 days by Shanghai Construction.

Facilities include Arms inspection room, two full VIP rooms, two executive grade lounges, meeting rooms, Port Health and Detention room

Services include Fuelling, hangar storage, customs, flight planning, same day and overnight accomodation, ground handling, immigration, conference rooms, internet services.

A taste of local cuisine, culture...



People’s Space opens at the Savannah today



Michelle Loubon


Published: 21 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)



Pastelles, black cake, sorrel and ginger beer. Foreigners and CHOGM delegates will get an opportunity to sample a variety of local Christmas cuisine at the People’s Food Court at the People’s Space, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

The People’s Space which costs $4 million and is cut in the shape of the steelpan will be officially opened by Marlene McDonald, Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs at 5 pm today. At a press conference at La Fantasie Road, St Ann’s, yesterday, Mc Donald boasted about the “big hearts” which led to her ministry spending $48,000 on 404 booths for the “small man.”

Mc Donald said: “The cost is about $4 million. We have registered the booths at $48,000. Nobody talks about the good we do. It is a good working collaboration. We have big hearts...big hearts.” She also said it would be an opportunity for children to learn about the Commonwealth which comprised 53 countries. Mc Donald also said culture must be seen as a magnet for tourism and foreign investment.

Parang, too, the indigenous musical expression synonymous with greats like the late Tito Lara and Daisy Voisin will enchant the November air. People’ Space will comprise eight pavilions. Among them are: Written and spoken word: Focusing on bringing poetry and literature. Our Commonwealth: Dedicated to imparting knowledge about the Commonwealth via exhibitions, tours, documentaries, films and discussions. The Liming Spot: For the presentation of acoustic entertainment, in a casual environment.

Vintage: Present the popular and folk culture of years gone by. People’s Food: Expose all the finest in local cuisine. The Panyard:

Showcasing national instrument, the steelpan. Masala: Exposing the culture brought to T&T by the descendants of indentured labourers; featuring Nritanjali Theatre and artistes like Rooplal G and classical singer Dr Ruby Mallik. Admin and Media Centre: Disseminating information to the public and services to the media.

Govt hopes to reap $1b in investments



Kristy Ramnarine



Saturday, November 21st 2009 (T&T Express Business)



One billion dollars is the targeted goal for investment and business opportunities from the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF).

Mohan Kaul, director general of the Commonwealth Business Council for the Commonwealth Business Forum, made the disclosure at a media conference at the International Financial Centre in Port of Spain yesterday.

’This business event has helped to get investment into the country where CHOGM is organised,’ he said.

’We have already fixed about 50 meetings with investors on various projects oil and gas projects, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects and agriculture. We hope during the Forum we will have meetings which will result in partnerships in the future. (One billion dollars) That’s our aim and that’s what we have set as out target.’

Minister of Trade and Industry Mariano Browne said around 893 business people have confirmed their participation in the Forum.

He said: ’Approximately 390 (participants) come from Trinidad and Tobago and the other 500 are from different parts of the world from the Commonwealth as well as from the Americas and other parts of Europe. We have quite a wide selection.’

The Forum promotes practices and policies for the enhancement of global trade and investment. It provides new opportunities for business networking and partnerships, drawing on the Commonwealth’s comparative advantage in areas such as services, information and communications technology, banking and financial services, manufacturing, agriculture and natural resources.

The last two CBFs were held in Malta (2005) and Uganda (2007), and each constituted the biggest business conferences ever held in those countries.

The CBF in Trinidad and Tobago will be held on the cruise liner, Serenade of the Seas, from November 23-26.

Confirmed speakers include Prof Joseph E Stiglitz, the 2001 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics; President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni; UN-Habitat executive director, Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka and Dr Anthony Hayward, chief executive, BP Group.

Manning: CHOGM to aid Copenhagen



By SEAN DOUGLAS Monday, November 23 2009 (T&T Newsday)



PRIME Minister Patrick Manning yesterday said he was optimistic this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) could overcome the pessimism surrounding next month’s United Nations Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He was giving the feature address at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth People’s Forum at Queen’s Hall.

“Fortuitously our meeting in a few days is the last major gathering of world leaders before the meeting in Copenhagen, about which there is some pessimism regarding any significant result. As Chair of this CHOGM, Trinidad and Tobago is working assiduously with other nations, in and out of the Commonwealth, to attain a position that is strong enough to advance the process toward a global agreement on this critical matter affecting all of humanity.”

He said the fact that United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders outside the Commonwealth (reportedly French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen) are attending CHOGM is an indication of the intensity of the efforts on climate change.

He underlined the need to tackle climate-change, saying a recent UN Summit of world food security had found escalating mass starvation and malnutrition, with the world having one billion starving people.

“Six million children die of hunger every year, seventeen thousand every day. Much of this tragedy and trauma is taking place in the Commonwealth...”.

Saying the world must grow more food and must tackle climate change, Manning said: “Therefore it would be disastrous for everyone if we are not able to advance at Copenhagen in December the process towards a realistic, fair and legally enforceable agreement for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”

He said the Commonwealth with its diversity is a microcosm of humanity and reflects diverse positions on climate change.

“We are therefore in a very good position to lead the way forward on this matter.”

Manning urged the People’s Forum to let their views be known on climate change and on the global financial crisis. He blamed the latter crisis on a violation of trust between citizens and the bureaucracy which he said must be loudly condemned.

“The fact is that selfish excesses and irresponsible adventurousness remained essentially unregulated and largely undetected for far too long, and eventually led the world to the precipice of financial collapse”. He said the regulatory systems in industrialised countries failed to protect the savings and investments of ordinary people, noting that governments have a supervisory role on the economy.

The Prime Minister said a society’s best resource is the innovativeness of its people, who must all have equality of opportunity.

“There is no true democracy with it (equality of opportunity). There must be no discrimination based on race, religion, gender, physical disabilities, social status or political affiliation.”

Such equality, he said, is vital for economic growth. Hailing entrepreneurship and small businesses, he said: “The wealth and opportunity must always permeate every nook and cranny of the society.”

Inviting comments from the People’s Forum on small business and other issues, Manning told the gathering: “The voice of the people must be heard on every issue of concern.”

Manning said democracy is more than a periodic visit to a voting booth: “It is an unending process that must always deepen the involvement of the citizenry in national affairs. The voice of the people must continuously be heard, and its influence felt.” He said the direction adopted by a nation must be in accordance with the wishes of the people.

“Democracy must therefore be guarded and nurtured by all stakeholders. Civil society is fundamental to this process.”

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma hailed the role of civil society, saying it was one leg of a three legged stool comprising society and also made up of the Government and the business sector.

“All three need each other,” he said, adding that there is supposed to be creative tension between the trio which each have their own constituencies.

Sharma said the People’s Forum contains the voice of the people and it must be heard. He said the global economic downturn had hit civil society groups both by reducing donations and by increasing demands for their services. He added that civil society acts both to protest, cajole, criticise and hold accountable, but can also advise, support and partner.

Commonwealth Foundation chair, Simone de Comarmond, also gave an address in which she said people in the world who have been traditionally vulnerable have now been even worse hit by the global economic crisis.


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TSTT WiMAX for CHOGM



By VENUS HONORE-GOPIE Tuesday, November 24 2009 (T&T Newsday)



TSTT (Telecommunications Services of TT) yesterday launched WiMAX technology to support this weekend’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the first instance and then be made available to the wider public next year.

John ‘Jay’ Alvi, TSTT executive vice president (Enterprise Services) speaking at TSTT House in Port-of-Spain yesterday said that in April, the company was awarded to deploy the WiMAX technology based on an “advanced IEEE 802.16e” standard. He said TSTT provided all voice and data communications during the April Summit of the Americas which was hosted in TT.

Alvi said TSTT wanted to ensure the latest state of the art technology as well as critical backup in case of an emergency at all locations for CHOGM. Over the past seven months the company has invested more than $100 million in providing this network, working closely with equipment suppliers learning the systems and building the first phase of TT first broadband network on a 4G wireless technology. Alvi said coverage for CHOGM includes all of the key venues for the events as well as areas in Port-of-Spain and environs where delegates are staying. “TSTT has always seen its role as supporting the development goals of our people and the country as a whole. WiMAX access at CHOGM complements all of the other technology driven services available to delegates that are in line with what they would expect at any major developed city in the world,” Alvi said.

The first part of the network Alvi said was tested and activated to serve the needs of CHOGM delegates and the media covering the event. WiMAX is a broadband wireless technology which works like a combination of the mobile network and WiFi. It distributes wireless broadband access over a large geographic area from a centralised WiMAX tower.

Alvi said the company is using the WiMAX equipment on all TSTT’s cell towers which is many times faster than WiFi and its signal covers a much larger area.

He said there was no need for running cables along poles and connecting droplines from homes to cables “We see this as positively impacting our ability to deliver BlinkBroadband service so that customers can benefit from WiMAX access speeds of up to four megabytes.” Customers can obtain three types of services when the company will officially launch in January 2010, customers can request the service for a fixed location, also the modem can be switched off in one place and the device can be kept in use as a person moves around the country for superior mobility.


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PM makes a pitch: T&T open for business


Published: 25 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)



Gail Alexander



Trinidad and Tobago is open for business, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday, making a strong marketing pitch on behalf of T&T to an international audience.

“Distinguished members of the local and international business community, I want to wish those of you who are visiting a pleasant and memorable stay. “T&T is open for business and looks forward to welcoming you to participate,” Manning added, during the launch of yesterday’s Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF). He was addressing local, regional and international captains of industry and leaders, plus representatives of academia aboard the Serenade of the Seas one of the two cruise ships hosting events for this week’s Commonwealth meeting.

The CBF is a key networking event involving private sector and governments in the series of activities leading up to the 21st Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting later this week. Manning said: “In much the same way as T&T was pleased to host the Fifth Summit of the Americas, we are delighted to be host to the present coming together of the nations of the world.”

Addressing his high level international audience, Manning strongly pitched T&T as an investment locale, adding: “We are a small archipelagic state but one with a significant and critically important difference. This country is highly industrialised with the exception of Tobago, which is tourism-oriented. “Our high level of industrialisation has been based primarily on our exploitation of our hydro-carbon resources.” Manning offered T&T as an investment friendly climate with a strong financial position and on going, as well as upcoming, projects over the next five to six years. Stating that T&T is a contradiction to what is expected, Manning noted in T&T today unemployment stood at 5.1 per cen; and inflation, as of last month, at 2.7 per cent. Manning added: “This is a country that has been able to weather the economic storm currently overwhelming the international community.

“And may I say that whereas most countries are experiencing a shortage of cash in the domestic financial system, we in Trinidad and Tobago are battling against a liquidity problem, with the Central Bank having to intervene to keep matters on an even keel.” He added: “Our doors are open and we are willing to partner with foreign investors as long as their policies are in accord with that of the Government and are in the best interest of the people of T&T.”

Manning noted the following new projects ahead:

* Commencement of construction of an aluminium smelter;

* construction of a second iron and steel complex within two years;

* arrangements being concluded for construction of a complex for production of polypropylene from natural gas and spin-off downstream possibilities;

* establishment of a major dry-docking facility and later, a shipyard;

* construction of a pipeline to bring natural gas to Tobago’s new Cove Industrial Estate;

* construction of six new highway systems;

* an additional and entirely new system for the transmission and distribution of water;

* development of eight non-energy areas, including research into development of herbal products;

* further reduction of the 25 per cent corporation tax contemplated;

* provision of fibre optics to all T&T by 2014;

* construction of four new desalination plants; and,

* contemplation of second oil refinery.

Economics Nobel Prize winner:

T&T’s doing better than United States

Published: 25 Nov 2009(Trinidad Guardian)

Prof Joseph Stiglitz


Gail Alexander



If Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s data for T&T is correct, it means the country is doing much better than the United States, at least in the area of jobs, Nobel Economics Prize winner, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, has said.

A former adviser to both the Presidents Clinton and Obama administrations, Stiglitz made the comment during his feature address at yesterday’s Commonwealth Business Forum on board the Serenade of the Seas cruise ship ,which is docked in Port-of-Spain.

Stiglitz, a former World Bank vice-president, said everyone “is in the same boat” of a recession “made in the US and exported all over the world.” He said it would take a global partnership to get out of the situation.

Critical of the US origins of the situation and some subsequent handling on that end, Stiglitz said governments had not engaged in preventative medicine or implemented enough restrictions to ensure people did not end up “in hospital.” Noting projections that it may take a year or two before the US emerges from the recession, Stiglitz said right now, goods could not be sold and one out of six US citizen could not get a job.

Stiglitz made his comment about Manning’s data at that point. Manning had earlier said that in T&T today, unemployment stands at 5.1 per cent and inflation, as of last month, at 2.7 per cent. The global crisis however, Stiglitz said, has brought the “blessing” of revealing the failures of ideologies and rethinking the business rules of the game.

For instance, Stiglitz said, the situation raises the issue of how some banks will compete with US banks which are receiving hundreds of millions in subsidies. “So the global landscape has changed in a fundamental way... the international community will have to address some of these questions... there will be rethinking by governments and markets and there is a very important role for governments,” Stiglitz added.

He warned of a new risk in emerging markets of “speculative bubbles,” also noting that jobs cannot be created with money coming in and out of a situation “overnight.” Stiglitz said: “The basic lesson is that we are going to have to think through the balance between markets and governments.” He said the crisis called for examination of issues, such as partnership as well as fairness and trust in partnerships.

He said the crisis clearly brought out the aspect of unfair partnerships. Stiglitz said the US had the rule of law and legal frameworks but that did not suffice to prevent the situation that led to the crisis. He added that US banks had been engaged in deceiving regulators, and eventually themselves and the credit system failed it.

Stiglitz said trust was abused in the situation and a part of that financial system was very innovative but in ways of figuring out how to exploit poor people. US homeowners eventually lost millions of dollars in homes and the US now has a social as well as economic problems, Stiglitz added, also being critical of comments by former Fed chairman, Alan Greenspan.

The situation therefore calls for a sense of ethics and business responsibility, Stiglitz said, urging institutions to adopt a trend of treating others as they would have others treat them. “The kind of predatory lending the (US) financial institutions engaged in, I think, was deeply immoral,” he added. On global warming, Stiglitz said countries were not properly pricing one of the world’s scarcest commodities the atmosphere.

Leaders fly in for CHOGM



By Clint Chan Tack Thursday, November 26 2009 (T&T Newsday)



THE LEADERS who will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) have been arriving in the country since Monday. The CHOGM’s opening ceremony takes place tomorrow at the Port-of-Spain Academy for the Performing Arts at 9 am tomorrow.

The CHOGM’s plenary sessions, where discussions are expected to focus heavily on climate change and the world financial crisis, will begin at noon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Centre. The meeting concludes on Sunday.

Grenada Prime Minister (PM) Tillman Thomas was the first leader to arrive in the country on Monday. Barbados PM David Thompson and Papua New Guinea PM Sir Michale Thomas Somare also arrived on Tuesday.

Piarco International Airport was a beehive of activity yesterday as the Crown Prince of Brunei Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Bahamas PM Hubert Ingraham, Malaysian PM Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in quick succession. In fact, Museveni’s private jet arrived minutes after the Royal Brunei aircraft bearing the Crown Prince arrived at about 6 pm.

Museveni waited aboard his aircraft while the Prince disembarked and was greeted on the tarmac by Social Development Minister Dr Amery Browne and Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport Roger Joseph.

He was escorted down a red carpet lined on either side by members of the Coast Guard to a waiting sports utility vehicle which transported him to the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, under the protection of a security detail on the ground. As the Prince’s convoy arrived in Port-of-Spain, a helicopter from the Special Anti Crime Unit maintained aerial surveillance.

Museveni received similar treatment when he alighted from his plane. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Swaziland PM Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini and Anguillan Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming were also expected to arrive last night.

On his arrival at the Hyatt last evening, Ingraham told Newsday, “It’s very good. It always feels good to be in Trinidad and I’m looking forward to the days to come.” Ingraham was expected to give the keynote address at a dinner aboard the Serenade of the Seas as part of the Commonwealth Business Forum.

A total of 22 Commonwealth leaders are due in the country today. New Zealand PM John Key, Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Saiele Malielegaoi, Tonga PM Dr Feleti Sevele, Vanuatu PM Edward Nipake Natapei and Kiribati PM Anote Tong will be arriving on board a New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 jet.

Problems with the lights at Tonga’s International Airport yesterday, preventing the departure of commercial flights, prompted Key’s plane to divert there to pick up Sevele. A technical problem with the aircraft caused it to divert to Honolulu, Hawaii for repairs.


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Green Queen



By SEAN DOUGLAS Friday, November 27 2009 (T&T Newsday)



HER Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is here.

Her British Airways Boeing 777 jet airliner touched down yesterday at Piarco International Airport at exactly 2.44 pm, after a four hour flight from Bermuda. After a 15 minute wait at the end of the runway, in which time local dignitaries including President George Maxwell Richards and Prime Minister Patrick Manning took their positions on the tarmac, the plane taxied up to the red carpet.

British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Jenkinson, and local Chief of Protocol, Reitha Toussaint, ascended the stairs and entered the craft. A senior British military officer descended to join the waiting party at the foot of the stairs.

At 3.02 pm, Her Majesty appeared at the door of the aircraft, followed closely by her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen looked extremely well for someone who had just had a four-hour flight, completed a State visit in Bermuda and who is an 83 year old grandmother. She did not exude any air of imperial regality but just seemed to be quietly going about her duties with her trademark of handbag and hat. Given Her Majesty’s small stature and her advanced years, the boarding steps seemed very long indeed, with there being no safety provision on them in the event that Her Majesty should slip.

Indeed, halfway down the dozen or so steps, Her Majesty did slightly stumble for a split second but quickly regained her poise. She was dressed in a light green, loose fitting dress. With golden sunshine, blue skies, Her Majesty’s dress, fluttering in the invigorating breeze, fitted in perfectly to the tropical mood.

The Queen’s choice of this naturalistic green also reflected the “green” or ecological theme central to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which she opens today, a fortnight ahead of next month’s United Nations Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In the brief welcoming ceremony at Piarco, Her Majesty was calm yet dignified. Apart from a slight hunch, many observers must surely have wondered at her poise and presence, and asked themselves, is Her Majesty really 83 years old? The whole tone of her arrival was subdued, it lacked the loud brashness of other State visits.

There were no crowd lined avenues to meet the Queen, and at Independence Square in Port-of-Spain itself, not a Union Jack flag to be seen. Roads stayed unblocked. There was no red zone, unlike the Fifth Summit of the Americas last April.

The whole mood may also have been in keeping with a report yesterday from a think tank which questions the future of the Commonwealth.

At Piarco, there were the usual ceremonial formalities military band, ranks of soldiers and a line of Cabinet Ministers but somehow the whole organisation of the event seemed deliberately low key. While many local and British officials fussed for a few frantic moments ahead of her arrival in trying to get everything just right for Her Majesty “Is my tie straight?”, “Can we shift the red carpet closer to the aircraft?”, the Queen was a picture of serenity, throughout.

When the Royal Couple disembarked they were met by President Richards and his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards who wore a simple but bright blue dress, and Prime Minister Manning and his wife, Mrs Hazel Manning, sporting an earthy, brown dress. The Royal Couple then came into view of dozens of primary school children who burst out in a loud cheer. Her Majesty mounted a dais to take the salute.

Soldiers presented arms, while the Defence Force band played the British national anthem, “God Save the Queen”, and the TT anthem, “Forged from the love of liberty”. Her Majesty inspected the front rank only of the assembled soldiers, as the Defence Force Band played the late Ras Shorty I’s “Who Jah Bless”. Also on the tarmac, about 60 children from four nearby primary schools enthusiastically waved red, white and black flags (and a few red, white and blue flags) for Her Majesty.



The Royal Couple: Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip disembark from a jet on their arrival at Piarco International Airport for a State visit yesterday.


SCHOOL CHILDREN wave British and Trinidad and Tobago flags to welcome the Queen.

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QUEEN ELIZABETH II touches a wreath before it is laid at the cenotaph of Memorial Park,Port-of-Spain yesterday.

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QUEEN ELIZABETH II inspects the guard of honour at Piarco Airport.

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QUEEN ELIZABETH II gives a warm smile as she is greeted by President George Maxwell Richards on her arrival at Piarco International Airport for the start of a State visit yesterday. Atright is Mrs Jean Ramjohn-Richards, wife of the President.

Her Majesty praises Trinidad and Tobago



By Andre Bagoo Friday, November 27 2009 (T&T Newsday)



HER MAJESTY, Queen Elizabeth II, last evening paid tribute to Trinidad and Tobago, toasting top sportsman Brian Lara and even the Government’s GATE programme, as she assured that Great Britain remains ready to assist this country in the security sector and its reforms of the judiciary.

Wearing her royal diamond tiara and a white gown with national emblems such as the national flower the Chaconia and national bird the Cocrico embroidered on them, Her Majesty singled out star batsman Brian Lara as “one of the finest ever to have played the game”, described the University of the West Indies as “a centre of academic excellence, providing a benchmark for educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth” and singled out Government policies as being “impressive.”

“Mr President, in recent years Trinidad and Tobago has made great strides,” the Queen said delivering a speech at a gala banquet hosted by President George Maxwell Richards at President’s House, St Ann’s.

“Your Government’s leadership on regional security has been rightly praised, particularly its pioneering efforts to encourage the sharing of good ideas and techniques in counter narcotics co-operation throughout the Caribbean.”

“My Government remains ready to assist in the security sector and in the reforms of judicial process,” Her Majesty said.

“You have also placed an impressive emphasis on providing the people of Trinidad and Tobago with good quality education and opportunities for further development. Today every citizen has access to tertiary education through the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) scheme.

The Queen also praised, “the cultural achievements of your authors, painters and photographers” and noted that this country was “the birthplace of calypso music and the steel pan.” In addition to Lara’s achievement in cricket she said, “in athletics you have achieved impressive results in recent Olympic and Commonwealth Games.”

“We look forward to welcoming your teams to London in 2012,” the Queen said.

And while Trinidad and Tobago has suffered setbacks in its tourism industry because of a spate of crime, the Queen noted that, “in tourism, Tobago continues to be a byword in the United Kingdom for Caribbean hospitality.”

“Some 50,000 British tourists visit the island each year; and I hope people of all ages will continue to travel between our two countries and learn about each other, whether working, studying or visiting as tourists,” Her Majesty said, noting that Prince Philip, who has accompanied her on this visit to Trinidad and Tobago, will today tour Tobago.

Her speech was the high point of a gala banquet under white tents on the grounds of President’s House.

Queen advocates T&T motto to Commonwealth:


Together we aspire, together we achieve


Richard Lord



Published: 28 Nov 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)



Head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port-of-Spain yesterday, advising that this country’s motto Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve could assist member nations in their bid to achieve sustainable and equitable development. “There could be no better description of the Commonwealth’s ethos and no better guideline to achieve this CHOGM stated goal of a more equitable and sustainable future,” she said, before formally opening the 20th CHOGM at the multi million dollar National Academy for the Performing Arts, Queen’s Park East, yesterday.

Among those in the audience were Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, former chair of the Commonwealth Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and new chair T&T’s Prime Minister Patrick Manning. The Queen said the 60 year old organisation must now “prove its relevance beyond its own borders and develop a truly global perspective.” She said the Commonwealth could be proud of the fact that over the past 60 years it has shaped the international response to emerging global challenges.

But she insisted the body should not be complacent. She said on the eve of next month’s UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Commonwealth had “an opportunity to lead once more.” Admitting that the threat to the world’s environment was not a new concern, the Queen said it had become “a global challenge which would continue to affect the security and stability of millions (of citizens) for years to come.” She added that many of those affected were among the most vulnerable and many of the people least able to withstand the adverse effects of climate change lived in the Commonwealth. The Queen said another area of opportunity for the Commonwealth was nurturing its young people.

She said the future of the Commonwealth lies with the one billion (people) who were under 25 years of age. “The Commonwealth must show that it is relevant to, and supportive of our young people who need to be convinced that the Commonwealth can help them to realise their ambitions,” she stressed. In expressing her pleasure to be back in the Caribbean state of T&T, The Queen said: “This region is dear to the Commonwealth.” She said the past 12 months had been a stern test for member states and great resourcefulness had been shown in order to meet the challenges. She advised the Commonwealth that it must remain committed to building resilience among its smaller members.


The leaders at the 20th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting pose for the official photo at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Pool Photo


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Sarkozy: Set up world body to deal with climate change


Raphael John-Lall (Trinidad Guardian)


Published: 28 Nov 2009

French president Nicholas Sarkozy.



French President Nicolas Sarkozy is calling for a World Environmental Organisation to deal with climate change and environmental topics. “We must develop a world environmental organisation...There must be a new world governance in Copenhagen,” he said. Sarkozy, who is the first French President to attend a British Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), made the call at a news conference yesterday at the International Financial Centre, Port-of-Spain.

Commenting on the United Nations Climate Change Conference to take place in Copenhagen in December, he said it will be a historic event for countries to make important decisions. He said: “Either we succeed or we fail in Copenhagen. If we fail we lose out. It’s a historic challenge. In the lead-up to Copenhagen, things have not moved fast enough... important decisions will be made there.” “If decisions are not made in Copenhagen then it will be a historic failure...Either we take all the decisions or we take none,” he added. Responding to questions about small states like T&T and the decisions they had to make regarding industrialisation and the environment, he said it was possible to do both.

He said: “T&T has important resources and a high standard of living. But we want sustainable growth without carbons. The whole point of the meeting is that we are not asking countries to choose between growth and the environment. That is looking at things the way they did in the 20th century.” Responding to questions about criteria for determining carbon emissions per capita and its relations to countries like T&T, he said he did not think that a small country like this could severely affect world carbon emissions. “I don’t think that T&T risks upsetting world balance in terms of emissions. I don’t know enough about T&T. Although I saw T&T’s oil wells from my bedroom window,” he said.

All Hail T&T


Leaders sing PM's praises after successful CHOGM


Ria Taitt Political Editor



Monday, November 30th 2009 (T&T Express)



Trinidad and Tobago and Prime Minister Patrick Manning received lavish praise yesterday.

This was the unanimous view expressed by attendees at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Port of Spain, as the curtain came down on the event at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain.

Climate change dominated the talks, but as Commonwealth leaders bade farewell, the spotlight was favourably placed on the people and Government of Trinidad and Tobago and there was an expression of satisfaction from big and small countries alike.

The conference was deemed to be an unqualified success because: a) the Commonwealth welcomed a new member to its family Rwanda b) accord was reached on climate change, which, to quote Manning, would have ’more than a small influence’ on the summit in Copenhagen c) there was a reaffirmation of the principles and values of the Commonwealth and d) for the first time the Commonwealth associated itself with non-Commonwealth personalities who came to Port of Spain for the event. These included French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said the conference gave the lie to the claims of the sceptics that the Commonwealth as an institution was no longer relevant.

’This CHOGM has truly answered that...I go home with a feeling that the Commonwealth can meet the global challenges...and that there is so much camaraderie...making this summit hugely successful,’ he said.

Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed, saying that the level of camaraderie, the give and take in the Commonwealth, was not easily replicated in other international organisations. But he noted, ’The challenge is to apply that great spirit, goodwill and preparedness to speak with one single voice and the spirit of collaboration...to the great challenges of global politics, global security...global economic management and financial reform, trade as well as development and the great and overwhelming challenge of climate trade.’

Said Rudd: ’The task is to take this credible institution...and apply it to the global agenda of the day.’

He stressed that that was successfully done with the PoS Climate Change Consensus document.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key noted that the meeting ’was extremely well run, so I want to congratulate you, (Manning)’, though he noted the Commonwealth faced new challenges in relation to countries like Fiji and Zimbabwe.

South African President Jacob Zuma hailed the manner in which the Commonwealth dealt with climate change issues, pointing to the presence of non-Commonwealth leaders at the meeting. Noting that he had been asking what impact the Commonwealth was making (before this meeting held), he said: ’I am very happy... Small, middle and big were able to hammer out views...with a communique that captured our feelings. This CHOGM has responded to issues very correctly. We go home very happy indeed.’

Papua New Guinea President, Sir Michael Thomas Somare, said the meeting was good for island states of the Caribbean, West and East Africa and the Pacific and South East Asia.

’There are nations in the world who may not be serious about what is happening to us. In Papua New Guinea, ...islands are coming under the water ... This conference made it possible for our voice to be heard. So I am going with a very happy mind... PoS will go down in history,’ he said, adding that this was one of the best CHOGMs he had attended.

Manning got kudos from all for his chairmanship of the meeting.

Rudd spoke of the ’quality’ of this chairmanship, while Samoa Prime Minister. Tullaepa Lupesaolal Sallele, thanked him for his ’inspired’ choice of the group of wise men to hammer out a draft text on the climate change issue, for his ’gentle persuasion and appeals to common sense’ and ’when all else failed’, for his ’laying down the law’. He also praised the cultural show at the opening, saying that the ingenious use of the discarded steel drum was a good example of recycling, as well as a good way to help young people develop an appreciation for group involvement.

Manning himself thanked all for their kind sentiments and he expressed his appreciation to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

This is Trinidad and Tobago’s second international conference this year. Though its declaration was signed only by Manning, the chairman, the Fifth Summit of the Americas was hailed by participants for ushering in a new spirit of cooperation among the states of the Americas, particularly the US and Latin America. The Commonwealth meeting was equally hailed for the consensus on climate change.

ORDER OF AUSTRALIA FOR BRIAN LARA



By Jada Loutoo Monday, November 30 2009 (T&T Newsday)



LEGENDARY middle order batsman Brian Charles Lara has been appointed an honorary member of the Order of Australia as an acknowledgment of his record breaking career.

The retired West Indies cricket star yesterday received the golden insignia from Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a simple ceremony at Australian High Commissioner Phillip Kentwell’s residence, at Coblentz Avenue, Cascade.

The Order of Australia was instituted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1975 and was established as “an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service”.

Lara, who is also the holder of the Trinity Cross, was also toasted by Her Majesty during her visit to Trinidad for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Rudd said yesterday the decision to honour Lara was an easy one since the world record holder was one of the game’s greatest achievers.

“His achievement in international cricket is unmatched,” Rudd said.

The Australian Prime Minister was in Trinidad for the CHOGM, which he said had been a great success having achieved solutions for the global challenges the world faces, including the worrying issue of climate change.

Rudd also acknowledged both Australia and Trinidad and Tobago’s shared heritage and great passion for the game of cricket.

As he lauded Lara’s prowess in cricket, both on and off the field, Rudd joked that the batting legend had surpassed his own personal successes in the game.

“I am waiting for my own game to develop,” he said, as he also singled out Lara’s 13 year old daughter, whom he called from the back of the room to join them for the formal ceremony.

Sydney is named after the cricket ground where her legendary father made his maiden test century.

Although now in retirement, Lara is still closely involved in the game which has brought him honours around the world and in the West Indies, by participating in the Australian Sport Outreach Programme, which facilitates intensive training programmes for young cricketers with top Australian coaches.

And this participation, his sportsmanship and his service to cementing Australian Caribbean relations did not go unnoticed by the Australian Prime Minister, who said Lara was a hero to many Australians.

Of receiving the Australian honour, Lara said, “I am blessed with this distinction and proud... But it was not bestowed only on me but the game of cricket and will only serve to strengthen the relationship between our countries. It is a great honour but it is more representative of the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indies and Australia.”

Lara admitted having had “fierce competition” from the Aussies during his game, although he teased that it was the English style of bowling that he loved.

“...And the Australians did copy our style of cricket,” he joked.

He said he looked forward to seeing Roy Frederick and Allan Border both Australian cricket legends on the field and styled his batting after theirs.

He also told of how he got his nickname the Prince of Port-of-Spain during a tour by the Australian cricket team to the West Indies in 1999 and of his trying to convince partner, Leasel Rovedas, to name their daughter after one of his favourite grounds, the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he scored his first test century the highly acclaimed 277 in 1993.

“I am very proud of Sydney,” he said, looking over fondly at his shy, but beaming daughter, dressed in a stylish brown dress with golden accents.

He also praised the Australian government for lending assistance to nurture young cricketers to “ensure our youngsters get what is available to Australians.

“Australia has showed us how to take our personal game from one level to the next,” he said.

The Australian High Commissioner, who spoke first, said cricket was one of three key ingredients which served to shape Australia’s relationship with the Caribbean and that that country’s prime minister wanted to identify this relationship in a meaningful way.

“This ceremony is the first pillar of this bond by the Australian Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago,” Kentwell said.

The 40 year old Lara, during his17-year cricket career, averaged more than 50 runs an innings against Australia while scoring nine centuries. He still holds the record for the highest test score of 400 not out and highest score in a first class match of 501 not out. He has to his record 11,953 test runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar of India.



DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL: Although star batsman Brian Lara was the toast of the day after he received the Order of Australia, it was Lara's now-all-grown-up daughter, Sydney, second from left, who stole the show as she holds her own in conversation with Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, left, and his wife Teresa Rain, at the residence of Australian High Commissioner Phillip Kentwell at Coblentz Avenue, Cascade, yesterday.

Malaysian minister: Sunway here to stay



Published: 2 Dec 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)



Malaysia’s Sunway group is here in T&T to stay, says Malaysian Foreign Minister YB Dato Sri Anifah bin Hj Aman.

Speaking to the Guardian during a Government promotional tour of Tobago on Monday, Aman said his Government was impressed with T&T’s investment potential and the Sunway company intended to do more projects in T&T.

Aman was accompanied to Tobago by a large Malaysian media delegation. Aman said: “I told my Prime Minister, if I didn’t go to Tobago, my visit would not be complete and he said ‘please go and take the media people with you and write good things about T&T,’ so the media team with me has been taking a lot of photographs and video.”

Aman praised Prime Minister Patrick Manning, saying a deepening of Malaysia/T&T ties was in the offing. On the Malaysian contribution to T&T so far, Aman said: “We have Sunway and other companies . I had dinner with the Sunway people and they told me about the building they have done here and they’re very happy with it.

They are here to stay.” Aman added: “They intend to do some more projects in T&T. They say they are very happy with the Government and bureaucracy. They said it is very smooth and they did their project ahead of time. “What they have told my Prime Minister and myself is that they’re very happy here, even though it is so far from home. “It is worthwhile for a Malaysian company to come here and say those kind of things. It must be very good here,” he said.

He said Sunway would be involved in quarrying in T&T. The company’s other lines of work overseas include hotel management. Aman said: “Malaysian companies are also very strong on infrastructural roads and bridges so I think there is a lot we can co-operate on.” He said Malaysian projects for T&T could include construction. He also noted his country had a “well established oil company.”

Noting a world shortage of cocoa, Aman said that could be one area of T&T/Malaysian co-operation, with emphasis on Tobago. He said: “We have about the same tropical climate and forests and fruits. There are even some Malaysian fruits which can grow here so we’ll be looking to have discussions on this with the departments of agriculture and where cocoa is concerned we can perhaps send one or two scientists here or T&T can send people to us.”



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'TOBAGO GETS OUR VOTE: Delegates from Malaysia, who were here in Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, give the sister isle their vote after a tour of the island on Monday. Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Dato' Sri Anifah Aman, front row centre, joined the group at Speyside.

Enill: Smelter viable, feasible



By Leiselle Maraj Saturday, December 5 2009 (T&T Newsday)



Alutrint is not backing down from an aluminium smelter plant in La Brea after signing a partnership agreement with Brazilian mining and processing company, Votorantim Metais Ltda, yesterday despite protests as well as a court challenge to the certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) awarded to Alutrint for the project.

Energy Minister Conrad Enill again defended the project saying the feasibility study done on the Alutrint project proved the smelter plant will be economically viable, technically feasible and environmentally compliant.

“One would get the impression from some of the commentary that the Government basically got up one morning and decided this was the preferred course of action and did not take into account any of the issues. We have and our proposal is that, insofar as this industry is concerned, on the matters of health, safety and environment the project as we have developed it to date, as we have conceptualised it, will take into account all of those issues,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after the official proceedings at Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, Enill said the signing of the agreement did not go against any of the issues raised in court.

“This particular signing does not in any way move the project forward. It simply puts in place something that was there before. There was a process which Alutrint went through and as a result, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) granted that organisation a CEC so that there was a basis for going forward. There are certain elements of the CEC the court considered not to be appropriate but on all other elements the court agree. Those two issues which the court has an issue with, representations are being made to address it,” he said.

In his prepared speech, the minister expressed optimism for advancement of the smelter project because of the present stabilisation of global markets after a period of volatility. He said Government is aware that the aluminium industry has recurring periods of highs and lows and Government’s investment in the industry is occurring while entry costs are low.

Enill explained an environmental impact assessment study (EIA) commissioned by Alutrint in July 2005 show the design engineering stage of the project will ensure the application of the best available pollution prevention and control technology to avoid potential major impacts.

He added that Alutrint’s other partner in the project, China, the world leader in primary aluminium production, is in charge of design and engineering of the project. The project’s engineering procurement construction (EPC) contractor is the China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC).

A technical development centre will be established in Trinidad to develop new aluminium technology for wheels and parts for the automotive industry, Enill said. He commended the Votorantim Group for their new role as an equity investor in Alutrint and in the establishment of the integrated aluminium complex in La Brea which includes the controversial smelter.

Alutrint chairman Leroy Mayers said, “We parted ways with one partner due to its own internal issues but gained a new resilient an resourceful equity partner. That we are at this point today, is due to the enduring support of our many stakeholders, such as the La Brea community, the Government, our EPC contractor CMEC, our financers, the China Eximbank and the Government of the People’s Republic of China and our new equity partner Votorantim Metais.”


Shake on it: Energy Minister Conrad Enill, left, and Marco Antonio Palmieri of Votorantim Metais congratulate each other after signing an agreement for the Alutrint aluminium smelter project, Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain yesterday.

State nets $30m from Piarco



Juhel Browne



Tuesday, December 8th 2009 (T&T Express)



A settlement between the Government and two parties involved in the $1.6 billion Piarco International Airport terminal building project has resulted in a payment of $30 million to the State.

This latest payment now means that more than $250 million has been recovered by the Government from the project which had been the subject of a Commission of Enquiry as well as a forensic audit which led to court cases in this country and the United States due to the work of Attorney General John Jeremie, SC.

While suspects have pleaded guilty and served time in the US court cases, there are still cases in the matter ongoing in this country.

A release from the Ministry of the Attorney General yesterday stated that ’$30 million was recovered by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as repayment compensation in the Piarco Airport fraud investigation from a court order issued last Monday’

’This brings the total sums recovered, frozen or under Government control thus far from the Piarco Airport Development project to, in excess of a quarter billion dollars,’ the Ministry stated.

It revealed that the latest instalment ’follows a settlement reached in a Miami, Florida, court on Friday’.

’The Government through its Attorney General John Jeremie, SC, Portuguese firm Grupo Soares and its Florida subsidiary, Soares Da Costa Contractor Inc, agreed to the settlement of a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organisations Act) and fraud civil lawsuit filed by the Attorney General in the Florida courts,’ the Ministry stated.

It added that the matter is a continuation of what it stated was Jeremie’s ’quest to recover sums defrauded from the Trinidad and Tobago government by firms and individuals involved in the Piarco Airport Development Project.’

Yesterday, the Ministry recalled that in January 2007, this country was awarded a total of $38.626 million ’by way of restitution from those who pleaded guilty in the Southern District Court of Florida, USA.

’Those convicted at that time also submitted letters of apology to the Government and the people of Trinidad and Tobago,’ the Ministry stated.

Eric, Way to go T and T, More young blacks being killed everyday, by now you must know the count.

What a shame that an oil rich nation still got problems with fraud. This goes to show that the govt of T&T putting all that oil money in their pockets and don't allow any to trickel down to the masses. They now have to resort to fraud and kidnappings to make ends meet.

quote:

Originally posted by RALPH:
Eric, Way to go T and T, More young blacks being killed everyday, by now you must know the count.

Check them out in action.

http://www.triniview.com/galle...php?g2_itemId=426037

Ex-Caroni workers to pay for lots in 90 days



Ariti Jankie South Bureau



Wednesday, December 9th 2009(T&T Express)



Some 1,500 ex-workers of Caroni (1975) Ltd have begun collecting their letters of offer for residential lots, part of the separation package given when the company was shut down seven years ago.

Officials at the Land Distribution Office at Brechin Castle, Couva, said most of the former workers had already made contact and were anxious to accept the land.

The residential lots given to workers who did not own their own homes when the company closed its doors in February 2003. The offer formed part of the Voluntary Separation of Employment Package (VSEP).

Some ex-workers with stable jobs are able to pay the required $3,000 to $4,000 downpayment, and between $20,000 and $30,000 in 90 days.

But others are calling on the Government to remove the time barrier. An ex-worker said, ’I live on a meagre salary earned from construction work and it would be very difficult for me to find the money within this short time.’

He said that he had three children attending school and paid a rent on a house in which he lived.

Akash Ragoonanan of Barrackpore said that he was making efforts to pay for the land he received at Felicity but will not be able to start construction for another two years.

Chief executive officer of Caroni, Deosaran Jagroo, urged ex-workers to apply to the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company for loans which carry a two per cent interest rate.

The 1,592 ex-workers whose residential lots are ready for construction have 90 days to pay the full sum of between $20,000 and $30,000 and will receive official leases within six months of the final payment, Jagroo said.

Central Bank fines for insurance fraud



By Clint Chan Tack Friday, December 11 2009(T&T Newsday)



INSURANCE companies that break the law will be fined by the Central Bank. These companies will also have to maintain certain levels of capital based on the levels of risk in their operations.

This was disclosed by Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams when he addressed a public consultation on the Draft Insurance Bill at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday.

This was later reinforced by Inspector of Financial Institutions Carl Hiralal who said the legislation would also treat with cases of fraud in the insurance industry. Hiralal said the fines for individuals and companies found guilty of fraud would be up to a maximum of $10 million and $20 million respectively. He also said the legislation included whistle blower provisions for persons who detect questionable practices in insurance companies and anti-money laundering measures.

Recalling that the bank has had regulatory oversight for insurance companies since 2004, Williams said the insurance sector has $40 billion in assets and is a major contributor to the economy “second only to the commercial banks which account for $88 billion in assets.”

Recalling that in early 2009, the bank intervened “in two insurance companies and an investment bank in the same group,” Williams said, “The legislation seeks to give some authority to the Central Bank to promote compliance. It thus proposed that the bank be given the authority to propose timely corrective action and a system of fines to encourage compliance.” “The most important reason for upgrading our insurance legislation is to protect the policyholder. That is why the draft requires an increase in capital for insurance companies. Obviously, something must be wrong when companies are required to hold between $1 to $3 million in capital while they mobilise policyholders’ funds totalling hundreds of millions or billions of dollars,” Williams declared.

Williams said the bill also seeks to ensure that insurance companies correctly value their liabilities “so that they could hold adequate reserves to protect policyholders.”

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High speed cable for Tobago, offshore platforms


Peter D Neptune



Published: 11 Dec 2009(Trinidad Guardian)



Government stands to boost its estimated tax intake by more than US$35 million annually, while improving the reliability of the country’s gas production, with the launch of two new offshore fibre optic communications networks linking the offshore energy sector. The Trinidad Offshore Fibre Electronics (TOFFE) Project, spearheaded by Canada-based Windward Telecoms, will link all the country’s major offshore oil production platforms, allowing for more reliable remote management as well as connectivity via voice and data links and communications to onshore resources.

With a landing site planned for Crown Point, Tobago, the project will also facilitate high speed fibre optic cable communications for Tobago. This development will allow residents of Tobago to benefit from low cost, high speed Internet access for the first time. Windward Telecoms received approval for the project from the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) last year. Deployment of the system will begin on the north ring of the system in July next year. The cable for the second phase of the project, which will link oil and gas production platforms on Trinidad’s eastern coastline, is scheduled to be laid on the seafloor in October 2010.

At the launch of the new facility on Tuesday at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, chief executive Douglas Cunningham, said although the project is currently owned by its Canadian financiers, the plan is to divest a significant portion of the equity to local institutions by the second quarter of 2010 to raise local interest and participation in the project. He said the new fibre optic undersea line will feature the latest technology, including self-healing capabilities for physical and electronic security.

“The unrepeatered 12 pair design provides superior uptime and stability with little maintenance for more than 25 years. The cable will connect onshore at Macqueripe, Galeota and Crown Point, Tobago. Cunningham said the network was intended to be an independent communications provider, thus local telecommunications providers of connectivity for data, voice, land and wireless communications can access the facility, or they can use it as a back-up for their current services.

US business looks to TT Land of opportunity



By Clint Chan Tack Thursday, December 10 2009(T&T Newsday)



TRINIDAD and Tobago’s hosting of the Fifth Summit of Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) may already be starting to pay some dividends.

Small and medium sized businesses in the United States are looking for business partners in this country to help them survive the continued onslaught of the world financial crisis.

Should these partnerships take root, local business persons could be able to exploit emerging opportunities in the US through their new American partners.

In an interview with Business Day at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Centre in Port-of-Spain last Thursday, Kim Jones, president of Maryland based Jones International outlined the reasons why she was part of a new trade mission from Washington DC which was in the country last week. Jones explained that her company is an international development company.

“I work with a lot of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and small companies to help expand their businesses and their capabilities,”she stated

“I have been working with this mission for about a year now. The intent was to identify some small and emerging companies, minority owned and women owned that could take advantage of an opportunity outside of the borders,” Jones added. The seven member delegation of which Jones was a member were all from the Washington DC region.

“We all represent different business areas. The delegates represent telecommunication, info technology, medical fields, hospitality. There is a film maker who is particularly interested in looking at filming opportunities in both Trinidad and in Tobago. We are little bit all over the place,” she said.

Jones is no stranger to TT, having visited this country 12 years ago to work with a non-profit organisation that was doing some work in the area of violence prevention. “I swore that I would come back,” she said. Jones said one of the reasons why she decided to return to TT is because

“it’s always an easy process because our economies are very similar.”

“The ways of doing business are very similar. I knew that this would be an easy way to build relationships as opposed to another country in the Caribbean,” Jones stated.

She added the fact that Government is seeking to diversify the economy away from the traditional energy sector which remains the main revenue earner for this country.

Against this background and knowing the seven fields in the non-energy sector which have been identified as part of Government’s economic diversification thrust, Jones said the mission’s organisers tried to locate business persons in the US who work in these fields.

The non-energy areas identified include fish and fish processing, packaging and printing, merchant marine, yachting, food and beverage and entertainment.

Asked if the members were alerted to potential business opportunities in TT as a result of the business fora which preceded this country’s hosting of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in April and the CHOGM last month, Jones replied: “They were made aware. So we were given information on contacts in advance. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been particularly helpful in that area. Making sure we knew who the proper contacts were in advance.” She explained that this gave the delegates the opportunity to do some research on their prospective business partners and make prior introductions if necessary.

Asked why small and medium businesses in the US were exceptionally keen to do business with their counterparts in countries like TT, Jones cut to the chase. “There is very little trickle down. The economy has clearly impacted global nations all around the world. As money starts to flow, credit starts to flow and opportunities come online it is not trickling down yet in the US to the smaller businesses,” Jones explained. “Smaller businesses are feeling the pinch. They are going out of business. They are struggling. They are not getting the credit from the economic offices, the banks, the financial industries. They are trying to get any opportunity that’s available to partner to keep themselves afloat. That’s why this is so very important.”

She added that the members of the trade mission are “not coming looking for people to invest in them.” “They’re coming looking for opportunities to joint venture,” Jones said. Describing the crisis as a cyclical event, Jones stated: “This will all turn around eventually. It will continue to take time.” While there has been considerable focus in the US and other countries about the broader economic policies being taken to address the crisis, Jones believes that governments will ultimately play second fiddle to entrepreneurs in bringing the crisis to an end.

“Entrepreneurship is where the economy starts to pick up. When people start to invest in selling something, producing something and hiring other people. That’s what helps turn the economy around,” Jones declared. She explained that while the members of the trade mission want to speak with various government agencies while they are in TT, “they realise that things will moves a little bit faster probably business to business.”

Jones said the delegates are hoping to “work with someone who is in their same industry that is less in a policymaking role but more in another role of trying to do the same type of work and they can collaborate.” “We hope that the same partners that we get to meet with here, will seize the opportunity to come to the US and see what we may have to offer. We are hoping to have follow on,” she added.

Jones also revealed that women are “the fastest growing sector of business owners in the US.”. “We starting generally to outpace the men who are starting new companies and new enterprises,”

she said. Asked what were the reasons behind this growing trend, Jones said women are outpacing men educationally in the US and are not waiting to move up the corporate ladder in major companies.

Jones said many women are forming their own businesses and in so doing have managed to “crack that glass ceiling.”She added that she happy to see that there is an increasing number of women in TT who are going into business for themselves. During their visit, the delegation met with business persons from Trinidad at the Hyatt last Friday.

The mission was also briefed by representatives from the US Embassy in Port-of-Spain, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Development Corporation and other agencies about business opportunities in this country. They had the chance to interact with business persons from Tobago at a function by the Tobago House of Assembly on Saturday. The delegation left for Washington on Sunday

Ex-sugar farmers get leases



By STACY MOORE Thursday, December 17 2009(T&T Newsday)



AGRICULTURE land leases registration has been reduced to approximately $400 and the elimination of stamp duties has now been implemented on standard agricultural leases for state lands. Previously the land registration was calculated based on the value of the land, now it is a fixed figure of $ 400 or less.

This was yesterday revealed by Agriculture Minister Arnold Piggott following a ceremony where agricultural land leases were distributed to 100 ex-cane farmers. The ceremony was held at Paria Suites, La Romaine.

The farmers who are former employees of Caroni Ltd 1975, said that they were elated to receive the leases but described the process as being lengthy.“It is a step forward, I have waited so many years, so long for this and now today it happened,” said farmer Gopichan Doon. He also told Newsday that he was ready to plant on his land. “Watch how many years Caroni close down. But today I am extremely happy about this and ready to plant,” he added.

Farmer Stephen Suknanan said that he believed that the delivery of the leases came rather quick. “Knowing how long government takes when they make promises, I find we get these land leases quick but nevertheless, I am grateful and looking forward to begin my planting.” Suknanan explained. But an upset vegetable farmer Balchan Daroga told Newsday that today (yesterday) was somewhat happy and sad day for him. “I get the land and right I feel good, but I cannot do anything with it because it is not level properly. My lot is No 140, closer to the road and it is like a swamp.

If I want to plant dasheen now, the water reaching my waist so I cannot plant,” Daroga of Felicity Chagunas contended. Meanwhile National Food crop farmers Association (NFFA) education and research officer Morris Deonarine who was present at the ceremony also agreed that the distribution of the land leases was a step forward but he described the process as lengthy.

Minister Piggott in addressing the farmers said that the process for land distributions is a lengthy exercise but government was committed to have 1,000 land leases distributed by January 2010. “I want to assure you that the Government remains committed to delivery of all the leases in the shortest possible time frame,” Piggott said. Adding that a number of variations to the Lease preparation have been introduced with positive results for earlier delivery times.

The minister further announced that government has listened to the concerns of farmers relating to high price of agricultural lease rentals. “Agricultural lease rentals were deemed to be somewhat high. We therefore sought and obtained Cabinet’s approval for the reduction of the lease rental on agricultural lands which are under ten hectares in size.” Piggott said.

UK firm pioneers Caribbean’s first ‘Chocolate Hotel’



By Darcel Choy Thursday, December 17 2009(T&T Newsday)



COCOA will be king again in the Caribbean and its first royal act will be to use its exquisite sweetness to create a regional tourism delight that will keep visitors coming back for more. This is the vision of Hotel Chocolat, a British owned luxury chocolate manufacturer, which has established a three phase plan which they believe can transform cocoa into a new and successful West Indian business that could become as popular as sun, sea and sand.

On a visit last week to their Rabot estate which they bought in 2006, near Soufriere, in St Lucia, estate director, Phil Buckley pointed out the three phases included re-establishing Rabot as a viable thriving cocoa grower, building a chocolate factory in St Lucia and finally building a boutique chocolate hotel. He hinted that the hotel will take visitors into a wondrous world rivaled only by the magical chocolate factory of Willie Wonka.

He revealed the company’s project is not only for St Lucia but for the entire Caribbean. “When we revive the cocoa here we will go to Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Jamaica and many other islands,” he said. Buckley revealed he has been in talks with Trinidad and Tobago’s government and hopes to start functioning in the new year.

“We hope to start working in Trinidad and Tobago on a large scale where we will be implementing fermentation and drying of the cocoa there,” he said. Estate overseer, Marius Felix, said the first phase of the company’s goals was to basically establish a centre of excellence.

“We mean that it is going to be an area where the best in cocoa production technology is going to be practiced. Where farmers in the region will be happy to come around to see what is being done, to see the data we have based on our field operations,” he said.

He continued: “We are hoping to develop new varieties of cocoa right now. We are linked up with two of the world’s best universities as far as cocoa is concerned, Reading University and the University of the West Indies,” he said.

He added that at the estate which is wholly organic has 17 types of cocoa at present.

Buckley explained with their plan to have a factory in St Lucia will mean a huge resurgence in the world for fine flavoured cocoa.

“We spent three years reviving cocoa on this island as well as this estate. We are now in a position where we have driven up the tonnage to about 20 that is a significant improvement to when we started which was one and a half tonne,” he said.

He pointed out that building the factory in the middle of the estate means the added value of the cocoa stays in the island rather than staying in the West.

He revealed the factory is designed to allow 250,000 visitors a year, “which will be a great addition to the tourism product for St Lucia and the Caribbean.”

Hotel Chocolat is Britain’s number one private company it was founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris in 1993. The company began as a catalogue-based business known as Choc Express, in 2003; they re-branded as Hotel Chocolat and launched their first retail store. “Our growth in the last two years has been 226 percent, we got about 42 shops in the UK and we are the only company in the world which harvests the beans. We process them, we send them to our factory and we send them to our own shops. We have plans to be about 100 shops in 2011 and we plan to open in ten countries across the world in the next five years,” he explained.

Buckley described the company as a unique one having what they call engaged ethics.

“It is because we find fair trade is too constraining in the things we are allowed to do. We like to push the envelope, we like to roll up our sleeves and get involved,” he said.

Buckley explained they chose St Lucia for many reasons, one of them being the island’s “fine flavoured cocoa”.

“We also wanted to work with a government that had a good reputation, we also looked for a workforce that was at a certain level in terms of education and also the culture,” he said.

Hotel Chocolat has also given more jobs to the island’s farmers, they are currently doing business with 73 of them. They provide the farmers with seedlings so they can regenerate the farms and establish fine flavoured cocoa on the island.

The estate pays the local farmers 40 percent above the world market price for cocoa.

“We are actually subsidizing the price to get people back into cocoa. The price is not going down, we have deliberately driven the price up to get people back in. Ethically we think the chocolate industry can’t continue to sustain the model as it is that is why we have changed it, which is why we are pioneers, we have turned the entire chocolate industry on its head,” Buckley said.


www.hotelchocolat.com

Ferrostaal is large…



By Vernon Khelawan Thursday, December 17 2009(T&T Newsday Business section)



IN spite of the tremors which continue to rock the global corporate world, German industrial giant Ferrostaal, announced last week it would set up permanent offices in Port-of- Spain early next year.

Although the company has been part of and around Trinidad and Tobago’s industrialisation efforts over the past 30 years or so, particularly in the chemical and fertiliser sectors in the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, it was only recently the principals decided to raise the company’s profile on the island.

This meant maintaining its existing shareholder interest in industrial facilities in TT and undertaking and developing additional projects as an EPC contractor and co-investor.

Additionally, this heightened presence would not only enhance its local image, but set up an operating base for sustainable development in the wider Caribbean, demonstrating long term commitment to the region, to its major clients and as a support for its asset base and serve as well, to look at expansion in the company’s interests in the petrochemical sector and its methanol holdings and activities.

Ferrostaal’s history of operations in TT goes back to 1984 when it completed its first EPC contract.

Since then it has been involved as a general EPC contractor and co-investor in seven major chemical plants, among them being the world’s largest methanol plant which was completed in 2005.

Daily throughput is 5400 metric tonnes. Total output of methanol is 5.1 million tonnes, making TT the second largest methanol producer in the world.

The two ammonia plants in which Ferrostaal is involved in Trinidad and Tobago has an annual production of 1.23 million tonnes.

Speaking at the launch of Ferrostaal Trinidad Limited at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Centre in Port-of-Spain last week, Howard Barnes, president and chief executive officer of the new company said, “We saw the need to increase our company’s profile and grow their business locally. We see a lot of potential for further investments in chemicals and now in energy.”

He placed some emphasis on the energy sector and with good reason since Ferrostaal is now involved in the construction of the new 765 megawatts power plant in La Brea for Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU) and which has a contract to supply Alutrint’s controversial smelter plant which is to be sited next to the power plant, should all the necessary approvals and permissions be granted by the relevant authorities.

Whether or not the smelter is eventually built, TGU has already committed a sizeable portion of its power production to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Corporation (TTEC) to augument their distribution needs.

By the end of next year, the projection is that TGU will be producing 237.5 megawatts with the remainder expected to come on stream seven months later in July 2011.

Barnes insisted that on completion the plant would meet all international environmental standards and codes and would have almost “zero emissions.”

Since most of its involvement in TT has been in the chemicals and fertilisers, its appearances in the energy sector might have seemed strange or even ambitious, but Barnes allayed any such fears when he pointed out that Ferrostaal was no stranger to power plant construction in the region.

While in the English speaking Caribbean the company has only built a 9MW plant in nearby St Vincent and an 18MW plant in the Bahamas, a 57MW plant in Bermuda and a 35MW plant in Grand Cayman, its list of plants in the Caribbean basin includes plants in Curacao, three in neighbouring Venezuela, two in Brazil, three in Santo Domingo and two in Guatemala, one in Nicaragua and two in Panama.

Police Association a partner in gas station



Published: 17 Dec 2009 (Trinidad Guardian Business)



Member of Parliament for Laventille West, NiLeung Hypolite, third from left, cuts the ribbon to open the Beetham Gardens Service Station. Looking on, from left, are Cpl Emrol Bruce, president of the T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association; Fitzroy Browne, association member; Richard Callender, NP’s chief executive officer; and Stephen Small, managing director of Armour Security Services Limited. PHOTO: KEITH MATTHEWS


The T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association (TTPSSWA), in partnership with Armour Security Services Limited, has taken over management of the Beetham Gardens Service Station.

At the official ceremony yesterday, Cpl Emrol Bruce, the association’s president, said the partnership heralded stronger ties between the community and the Police Service. “The Police Service needs to partner with communities to provide better services and eventually create a better T&T,” Bruce said.

He said all employees at the station were Beetham residents, adding they felt a sense of pride in uplifting their area. Endorsing Bruce’s sentiments, Richard Callender, NP’s Chief Executive Officer, also praised the business partners.

http://guardian.co.tt/multimed...-back-needy-children

$400M FOR ex-CARONI WORKERS


Christmas cheer after seven year wait


Curtis Rampersad Business Editor



Thursday, December 24th 2009 (T&T Express)



It may be the closest thing to a Christmas miracle former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers may ever see.

Couva based Caroni (1975) Ltd yesterday announced the final approval of pensions totalling $400 million for more than 10,000 former daily paid workers at the defunct sugar production company.

Former employees have waited almost seven years for the pension entitlements, after Government officially shut down the company that haemorrhaged billions of dollars over several decades.

Final pensions are being secured through the purchase of annuities by Republic Bank Trust and Asset Management Division, the trustee of the daily paid pension plans.

’The process has already been initiated,’ a statement from Caroni chief executive Deosaran Jagroo indicated yesterday.

’Government is making available, on or before December 31, to the trustee, an amount equivalent to $400 million to meet the annuity purchases,’ the statement added.

The database of Caroni pension beneficiaries comes up to 10,508 people.

The initial purchase of annuities, effective July 1, 2008, from the company’s insurer, CLICO, by the trustee secures benefits for 7,651 former daily paid workers. Cash is also being placed in a separate reserve fund to be held by the trustee, to meet annuities for 2,857 more employees for whom employment data was not adequate or who ’simply could not be found’, Caroni said. These resources will remain in the fund for seven years, after which it will be wound up and transferred to the Ministry of Finance.

CLICO and the trustee are in the process of issuing individual annuity certificates setting out the benefits for the former workers, with a completion date by the end of March 2010.

’The Government and Caroni are fully confident that the guarantee arrangements it had put in place with CLICO are secure and sustainable,’ the statement indicated.

Monthly paid pensions were part of a monthly staff pension arrangement from 2003, and this plan will be wound up and the surplus distributed to members. This increased pension will be paid on or before March 31, 2010.

The company said it was working with the Government to deliver other commitments in Caroni’s 2003 VSEP, including residential services lots and agricultural plots. Residential lots are expected to be delivered on or before March 31, 2010.

But there are now fears that the hopes of former employees may be dashed again.

Rudy Indarsingh, president general of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union, said yesterday this again might be an issue of pronouncements without actual implementation. While he was happy that former workers seemed to be finally getting their pensions by next March, he said previous failures to do so ’continued to show the closure of Caroni was a rush job’. There were also continuing problems to collect data on other workers, he said, and residential lots for former employees were still not allocated.

’We have to view this with a degree of scepticism. Is it another public relations exercise to hoodwink the public?’ he asked.

In the meantime, former employees who have been deprived of their pensions for close to seven years were still challenged to meet their health and housing needs.

General secretary of the Cane Producers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Seukeran Tambie, in a phone interview yesterday, said it was good news for sugar workers, but he believed they were entitled to much more money. He said questions also had to be raised about why Government was still depriving workers land they were entitled to.

’Look how long they have taken and they are still not giving what the workers are entitled to,’ he said. ’We know that many former workers have died waiting on their money. Is it a strategy by Government to let time elapse?’

In the meantime, sugar workers and former employees are still not going to have a happy Christmas without their money, he added.

Shastri Boodan


Published: 24 Dec 2009 (Trinidad Guardian)

TOP: Teachers from the Mahatma Gandhi institute and the executive of the Tobago Hindu Society. From left: Pooja Malhotra , Kathak Dance Teacher, Neela Shookla, vocal teacher, Mahendra Prasad Sharma, drumming teacher, Malay Mishra, the Indian High Commissioner, Pulwattie Holass-Beepath, Treasurer of the Tobago Hindu Society, Paul Santlal, PRO of the THS, Rayan Ramoutar, President of the THS, Seeta Beepath, youth arm executive member of the THS, S Sanjay, THS Member, Chris Hardeo, Secretary General of the THS.

ABOVE: Orville London, the THA Chief secretary , addresses the opening of classes at Calder Hall.



Shastri Boodan


The Tobago House of Assembly’s executive council gave the final approval to hand over a parcel of land at Signal Hill for the construction of a Hindu Temple on the sister island. This announcement was made by Orville London, the THA Chief Secretary, when he opened classes in drumming, Indian dance and vocals at the Calder Hall Community Centre, Scarborough on Friday.

London said the THA was pleased to be part of the multi-cultural synergies on the island. London said the announcement came on the very day that the THA celebrated its 29 anniversary as an assembly. Rayan Ramoutar, the president of the Tobago Hindu Society (THS), said the organization was elated and was hopeful that the THS would get a deed from the THA by January.

Ramoutar said once a temple was constructed the facility would be used not only for religious pursuits but for educational endeavors “We are also planning on doing classes in Hindi to break down any cultural barriers we may encounter in Tobago”. Ramoutar said the classes at Calder Hall takes place on the first Friday of every month and are open to all Tobagonians.

Malay Mishra, the Indian High Commissioner, commended the THA and the THS for their joint effort in expanding Indian culture on the island.

Airports Authority opens $33M centre



By Leiselle Maraj Thursday, December 24 2009 (T&T Newsday)



The Airports Authority (AATT) yesterday opened its new airport administration centre at the south terminal of the Piarco International Airport as part of the proposed Airports Authority Estate which will deal with the expansion of the airport beyond the northern terminal.

The new administration centre was designed and constructed by local contractors and took two years and nine months to finish at the cost of $33 million.

Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert was on hand to formally open the facility which will replace the 70 year old wooden structure on Caroni North Bank Road, Piarco where the authority’s administration office was previously located. The former Customs Baggage Hall at the southern terminal was converted to create the new two storey administration complex.

AATT chairman John Eckstein said the new facilities were welcomed because of the dilapidated state of the old building.

“The facilities on the Caroni North Bank Road was contributing to organisational inefficiencies, it was a fire hazard, uninsured and uninsurable as it was condemned by Fire Service. It exposed the authority’s business record and equipment and staff to unacceptable levels of risk. Relocation was absolutely necessary and extremely urgent,” he said. The new administration centre, he said, is one part of a strategic land use development plan for the AATT estate which was approved by Cabinet.

Imbert, in his address, congratulated staff for their ability to work at the old building, which was constructed during World War II and noted the milestone reached as staff transitioned into a business oriented enterprise. He said the land use plan, which includes the development of the AATT Estate, calls for development geared towards the establishment of an International Airport Business Park.

“The new construction projects and upgrade of existing facilities will facilitate the expected increase in air travel as a result of the nation’s tourism thrust and other business development activities. It will also contribute to the safety of aircraft operations in line with international civil aviation standards and recommended practices,” he said.

AATT, Imbert said, developed the plan in 2003 to overhaul the southern terminal, which was decommissioned in 2001, to meet increased growth in air traffic.

Aside from the new administrative complex, work is ongoing to develop air cargo facilities for import and export warehousing, office service, transshipment warehousing, shipping and container marshalling; general aviation office space for helicopter services, fixed base of operations, courier service and ground handling service and aviation business related office space for freight fowarders, custom brokers and banking.

The minister added work is also planned for Tobago with the rehabilitation of the Crown Point Airport runway and some facilities in the new year.


picture
Well done: Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert applauds as Airports Authority chairman John Eckstein looks proudly at a plaque marking the opening of a new administrative centre at Piarco International Airport yesterday.

‘I had to do something’



By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Saturday, January 23 2010 (T&T Newsday)



TRINI pilot Evan Wilson said he had to “do something” to assist the people of Haiti following the January 12 earthquake which killed 75,000 and caused suffering to countless others rendered homeless and without food, water or shelter.

What he did was use his light twin engine plane and at his own expense flew the first batch of relief medical supplies collected by the TT Red Cross Society (TTRCS) to Haiti, last Monday.

In an interview, Wilson said the journey began last Monday at 4 am when he left Piarco International Airport and flew for four hours to Puerto Rico and then another two hours to Haiti. Even before he took flight, Wilson said there was a “a lot of planning back and forth” organising the trip with involvement from the American Red Cross, TTRCS and Medianet.

He flew to Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second airport located on the north coast and arrived at 2.30 pm (3.30 pm local time). Wilson told Newsday that he had gotten a 3 am Tuesday slot arrival for the Toussaint L’overture International Airport but “decided to opt for another airport” so as not to jeopardise his return work. He is a pilot with Caribbean Airlines (CAL).

Wilson spent an hour on the ground in Haiti as the persons who were supposed to meet him were not there yet.

Representatives of Rotary International and airport personnel assisted with offloading the 300 pounds of medical supplies and the Rotary kept it secured until the Red Cross arrived. The stock comprised syringes, IV lines, bandages, splints, blood clotting medication etc.

“It was good to do something. It was not too difficult for me to do it. I used to work in Haiti, so I have a feel for the people,” Wilson said. In 1988 he was a pilot in Caicos Island and made frequent trips to Haiti.

Wilson has put his own contribution in perspective. “I am just one of many people trying to help. I met up with other people.” People from different countries including Florida and the Bahamas are offering their services and private planes. Wilson said there were also persons affiliated with missionary aviation travelling back and forth. It cost Wilson approximately US$1,500 to fuel his plane for the 3,270 km round trip, plus there were other costs.

While he would be happy to get assistance, he is willing to fly to Haiti on his own again if called upon. Cap Haitien was unaffected by the earthquake and Wilson said people were going about their business as normal.




TRINI HERO: Trinidad born pilot Evan Wilson (left), who flew from Piarco International Airport, 3,270 km to Haiti, to deliver medical supplies to that earthquake ravaged country.

MHTL starts up new ammonia plant


Peter D Neptune



Published: 28 Jan 2010 (Trinidad Guardian)



Trinidad and Tobago’s newest petrochemical plant a facility producing the liquid fertiliser referred to as UAN, successfully made its first product on January 19 and will send its first shipment to market in a few days. The new plant owned by Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd (MHTL) is the second stage of a US$1.7 billion ammonia, urea and melamine (AUM) production complex scheduled for completion by the end of this year. UAN is a solution of urea and ammonium nitrate in water and is principally used as a fertiliser. Presenting an update on the overall AUM project at the Energy and Entrepreneurship Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Tuesday, Vishard Chandool, Business Development Manager at MHTL, said construction and commissioning of the facility was moving three months ahead of schedule and is well within budget.

He said when testing and full commissioning is completed, the UAN component of the complex will be able to produce 1.5 million tonnes of product annually. The melamine component of the facility will begin production later this year and will generate 60,000 metric tones of melamine. He said melamine was an important input in several industries including resin manufacture, paints and plastics. He said these are only a few of the areas that local investors should consider, as they will have a competitive advantage when compared to other international producers since they will have easy access to this valuable resource and input. Chandool said the company believed it was important to diversify its production based to include other upstream components of the petrochemical industry.

MHTL also operates several other large petrochemical plants including the largest methanol production plant in the world the M5000 plant, which can produce 5,000 metric tones of methanol per day. This plant was commissioned on November 2005.

The company is a major producer and exporter of methanol and is the largest exporter to the United States. The company also controls 23 percent of the global trade in methanol. The first stage of the mega AUM project was completed in May 2009 and currently has an annual capacity of 616,000 metric tones of ammonia. The production complex includes storage capacity for 28 days to add to MHTL’s global marketing capability to respond faster to customer requests. This gives the company the flexibility to add to its existing storage in Europe and the USA.

He said apart from the 3,000 workers on site during the construction, the project would create 400 permanent, high paying, highly skilled jobs for Trinidad and Tobago nationals, as well as 400 additional indirect jobs for sub contractors as well as temporary workers who may be hired to take on specific projects over the lifetime of the facility. He noted that keeping the project on schedule and within budget was a serious challenge for the T&T staff, as they always tried to keep the local content of the project as high as possible this was about 18 percent of the project cost. “Of all the projects were have successfully embarked locally, this was the first time we had to source contractors from outside the country. We faced a shortage of labour as well as competent contractors. We were forced to hire a foreign contractor to maintain the aggressive construction schedule we planned,” he added.

“This philosophy of efficiency has been translated into the operation of the facility and we are determined to be a low cost, world class competitor that focuses on safety and quality.” “Methanol to Power is a convincing alternative to LNG and is a safe and inexpensive way to transport the clean power generating capabilities of natural gas. We are now looking at alternatives and opportunities for us to apply this new knowledge into commercial settings such as using methanol as an alternative to many fuels including natural gas,” he added.

Govt to construct $15b highway network



Akile Simon



Published: 28 Jan 2010(Trinidad Guardian)



Tenders have been invited as the Government prepares to embark on its $15 billion major highway development programme across the country. Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert made this public as he delivered the feature address at the opening of the just refurbished PTSC Sangre Grande Passenger Terminal Facility on Tuesday. According to Imbert, tenders were invited last week for the construction of a new highway from San Fernando to Mayaro. Work on the highway is expected to begin by July this year. Imbert said within the next few months, two more packages for the extension of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin and the extension of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway to Manzanilla, with a new ring road around Sangre Grande, will be put out for tender. The new highways include the long awaited Churchill/Roosevelt Highway between O’Meara Road and Santa Rosa Heights.

Later this year, Imbert said, tenders are to be invited for the construction of a causeway from Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas; a new East-West highway to link Curepe to Princes Town and a highway from the Uriah Butler to Trincity and Piarco. He said: “All these highway contracts are scheduled for award by the end of 2010, with actual commencement of construction of the first new highway, the San Fernando to Mayaro highway scheduled for July of this year, with the other five highway packages following shortly thereafter.” Imbert said consultations with residents who will be affected by the extension of the CR highway from Wallerfield to Manzanilla and the Mayaro to Princes Town highway, have already been completed. He said consultations on the other highways will take place later in the year. The minister disclosed also that 85 new PTSC buses are being assembled abroad with delivery expected within the next few months at a cost of $65 million.

Imbert said: “Sixty of them will be assigned to rural areas for the benefit of thousands of commuters who must rely on PTSC services for their daily travel. “This will bring the PTSC fleet to almost 450 buses and the citizens of Sangre Grande will certainly benefit from this initiative.” Imbert also promised Toco/Manzanilla MP Indra Sinanan Ojah-Maharaj that work will soon begin on the Toco Main Road to Matelot to accomodate larger buses. Meanwhile, chairman of PTSC Ethelbert Paul says the corporation intends to provide service in areas such as Caratal, North Manzanilla, Kernahan and Caigual. He says work is in progress at other passenger facilities at San Fernando, Arima, Port-of Spain, to be followed by installations at Tobago and Rio Claro. The Sangre Grande terminal was refurbished at a cost of approximately $4million. It provides a service to four destinations along the north-east coast.


Sangre Grande Terminal routes:

Route 1: Port-of-Spain- express Arima

Route 2: Port-of-Spain- all stops; Cumuto; Guayaguyayare

Route 3: Toco; Fishing Pond; Four Roads Tamana

Route 4: Biche; Guaico Tamana; Manzanilla; Rio Claro

Suriname to tap T&T’s energy expertise



Raphael John-Lall



Published: 29 Jan 2010 (Trinidad Guardian Buisness section)



Suriname is looking to tap into Trinidad and Tobago’s human resource capability to help develop their own local energy industry. According to Glenn Sairras, Deputy Director of Production and Development, at the state owned energy promotion company Staatsolie, Suriname will need Trinidadian expertise for onshore explorations and downstream processing. “We are going to have extensive explorations in several plots onshore. This is going to be at least one rig owned and operated by Staatsolie and two rigs operated by contractors both are from T&T,” he said. He pointed out that Suriname does not have a good service industry in the energy sector.

“Suriname does not yet have a well developed service industry like T&T. If an oil company wants contractors, the company can go anywhere in Trinidad and get service. We do not have that capability in Suriname, and we need help from suppliers in the United States and Trinidad to develop that,” he said. Sairras made the statement during his presentation last Tuesday at the T&T Energy Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. “We had a good year in 2008 because of exceptional prices but when prices fell we ended up in a loss position. This drop in revenue also had to do with write offs we made on certain programmes that we pursued,” he said.

Despite this, he said the operating results were still good. “The operating result we achieved was quite good. It was satisfactory for the Government, good for the people who work there, and good for the everyone,” he added. He said they had developed a three year developmental programme at Staatsolie. “We have a programme to take us from 2010 to 2012. We have details of every year and we try not to plan too far ahead,” he said. He added that their offshore exploration plans include the completion of a 3D seismic well. “We plan to drill two wells late in 2010 and early 2011,” he said. He also said Suriname is developing an alternative energy industry. “Suriname already has hydro-energy which is owned and operated by Alcoa.

Thai-rrific: More than just a sumptuous sit-down buffet



Satisfying the customers



Carol Quash
Published: 30 Jan 2010(Trinidad Guardian)

Fish, steamed vegetables and jasmine rice are on the menu. Photos: Jennifer Watson
Carol Quash


Imagine dining at a restaurant that offers a picturesque view of the Queen’s Park Savannah, stylish Asian ambiance, service that is simultaneously warm and professional, and Thai food that is out of this world. Can customers enjoying a Tamnak Thai’s executive lunch buffet ask for anything more? I thought the aforementioned was the epitome of fine buffet dining until I experienced an additional service recently introduced by the restaurant’s management: a sit down buffet.

According to Tamnak Thai’s general manager Saska Rampersad, the new lunch service was all about keeping customers comfortable and satisfied. “For some customers, getting up and having to go to the buffet line can be a bit inconvenient. So, we decided to bring the buffet to the table,” she said. So just how does the sit-down buffet work? Each course is delivered to the table by friendly waitresses, dressed in beautifully coloured shalwars, as opposed to the customary white shirt and pair of black pants or skirt. “I choose the uniforms myself,” she said. “They add to the ambiance and theme of the restaurant. I have had customers commenting on how beautiful they are.”

Tamnak Thai’s waitresses Janelle Villaroel, Vanessa Ward and Lisa Simon serve up dessert.


The portions of food were generous, as I soon found out, and in keeping with a buffet concept. For starters, I was served a rich and spicy lambie soup. And for someone who is not a lover of lambie, I was surprised at how good it tasted. “We get the lambie fresh and directly from Grenada. In fact, all of our ingredients are guaranteed fresh,” Rampersad said. This was followed by mouth-watering bite-sized spring rolls and a Thai vegetable salad (Som Tam) garnished with cashew nuts and drizzled with lemon dressing, which really enhanced the taste of the green papaya, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. After consuming all of the salad, I told myself, “This is it. I certainly can’t eat another bite.” That was until waitresses Janelle Villaroel, Vanessa Ward and Lisa Simon brought out the main course and laid the platters before me.


Tamnak Thai’s head chef Charoon Chaikeaw is flanked by junior chefs Adul Daengngarm, left, and Jare Nirachornkul.

The aroma of the fish still steaming in seafood bouillon with fresh galangal ginger and kaffir lime leaves; the braised lamb shank in Thai rice wine and fresh Thai herbs; the grilled chicken; the sautéed mixed vegetables, herbed potatoes and steamed jasmine rice re-opened my appetite. And as I savoured the taste of each dish, I could not help but sing the praises of Thai chefs Charoon Chaikeaw, Jare Nirachornkul and Adul Daengngarm. And I certainly was not the only one. According to customer Pat Harris, “The food was absolutely delicious and the sit-down buffet was a wonderful idea.” And just when I was preparing to make an attempt to get up to leave, Rampersad insisted that dessert was a must.

“This is what all our customers get for a reasonable price,” she said. When I finally left the restaurant, I had an epiphany. If I found the time to eat like that on a regular basis, I’m sure I would attain my goal of weighing 115 pounds in record time!

Venezuela, T&T to sign energy trade pact



Published: 1 Feb 2010

Francisco Medina executive at Aeropostal airlines, Jose Perreira vice-president of Aeropostal in Venezuela, Joseph Ross Tourism minister, Maria Eugenia Marcano Casado Venezuela Ambassador and Douglas Vasquez - President of Aeropostal in Venezuela, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Piarco International Airport on Friday.


NADALEEN SINGH (Trinidad Guardian Business section)


T&T and Venezuela will soon sign a pact to increase trade in energy products and to develop the oil and gas sectors of both countries. “Energy matters are high on the agenda between Trinidad and Venezuela so that closer ties can be formed between T&T and Venezuela,” says Maria Eugenia Marcano Casado, Venezuela ambassador to T&T. Speaking with reporters after the ribbon-cutting ceremony to re-activate Aeropostal Airlines’ Port-of-Spain to Caracas route, Ambassador Casado confirmed that Venezuela is expected to sign an energy treaty soon, but she did not disclose when details of the treaty will be revealed, or provide a more specific timeframe for the signing.

She said another sector that is getting the attention of her embassy is tourism, and it will involve working with various communities in T&T. “We love to work with the community. The T&T people are great to work with,” Casado said. She expressed confidence that the ties would deepen further through the re-activation of the Port-of-Spain-Caracas route. “In this bi-centennial year of our independence, Venezuela chose T&T as the first important point, to open the international route. “We expect not only passenger but also cargo between the two countries would increase in the near future,” the ambassador said.

She said when she first came to T&T last year, Venezuela had two companies working in transportation and this will be the third company that is widening their operations here. The Ambassador said Aeropostal airlines would fly from Port-of-Spain to the Venezuelan airport and from there passengers can access pertinent areas of Venezeuela. She has a determined goal to improve and foster the relationship between the two countries. “Here in T&T we have a Venezuela Institute of Culture and Cooperation and daily we have about 150 Trinidadians taking Spanish classes,” Ambassador Casado added.

Petrotrin’s US$1.3 billion upgrade back on schedule


Peter D Neptune



Published: 2 Feb 2010 (Trinidad Guardian Buisness Section)



Petrotrin will become uncompetitive and will go out of business in a few years if it does not undertake its massive upgrade programme now, said company executives. Imtiaz Ali, general manager, strategy and business development, said the gas optimisation project (GOP), which was initially estimated to cost US$350 million in 2003, had escalated to US$1.3 billion due to an unanticipated expansion in the scope of works, increases in construction costs and delays due to financing and the availability of expertise and materials during construction.

Ali said the global industry was moving in a certain direction towards efficiency and environmental protection, and Petrotrin had to upgrade its facilities to remain price competitive as well as meet the higher internationals standards that were being set by the industry and the major markets. Speaking at the Energy Conference hosted by the South Chamber in Port of Spain last week, Ali said the project would allow the company to lower its costs and expand its capability to use cheaper, lower quality crude, which can be sourced nearer to Trinidad. Apart from savings from transportation and raw materials, Ali said the new facility will be more efficient and will generate more of the higher value-added product that is being demanded by the international energy sector.

He said up to November 2009, the GOP had already cost $1.1 billion and was 89 per cent completed. Overall completion of the project is expected by November 2010, Ali added. “The scope of the project is firm, the schedule is realistic and the project is progressing within the newly projected cost structure. No additional cost overruns are expected.

The project includes the upgrade or implementation of five key processes that will reduce the sulphur content of the end product, improve the octane levels of local and exported gasoline, as well as reduce impurities in diesel and aviation fuels. Ali also announced that the contract for the latest project to be undertaken by the petroleum refiner the construction of a new ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) plant has been awarded to the Samsung Engineering Company Ltd.

The project includes the upgrade or implementation of five key processes that will reduce the sulphur content of the end product, improve the octane levels of local and exported gasoline, as well as reduce impurities in diesel and aviation fuels. Ali also announced that the contract for the latest project to be undertaken by the petroleum refiner the construction of a new ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) plant has been awarded to the Samsung Engineering Company Ltd.

Land and marine exploration projects are also being planned with the drilling of 18 developmental on land wells at a cost of $70 million, and two offshore developmental wells at the cost of $50 million. For local service providers, Ali said Petrotrin would award six new joint venture, production sharing contracts with commercial activities scheduled to begin by the second quarter of 2010. Also on the agenda is the upgrade of on-land infrastructure such as pipelines, access roads and bridges as well as tank farm facilities at a cost of $77.4 million. He said investments are also planned for upgrading Trinmar’s offshore facilities.

SAUTT instructor cremated



By INDARJIT SEURAJ Saturday, February 6 2010(T&T Newsday)



SPECIAL Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) instructor Ian Neville Parry was cremated yesterday following a funeral service under military rites. The 49-year-old, from England, died in an early morning accident at the traffic lights by the El Socorro and Churchill Roosevelt Highway intersection on January 31.

SAUTT officers turned out for the service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, where the United Kingdom national was remembered by his colleagues.

In the eulogy yesterday, Kevin Capstick, a SAUTT officer also from the UK, said Parry was enthusiastic about his job and wanted to make a difference in crime fighting.

He noted that Parry had fallen in love with TT, returning to SAUTT after initially leaving TT to take up a job with the Wiltshire Police. “Forgive me for saying this, but he was ‘Trini’ to the bone,” Capstick said.

He said Parry fitted into TT as if he was a son of the soil, making friends all over the country.

“He placed value on people and friendship, not on material things,” he said. Parry’s relatives and friends flew in from the UK for the funeral presided over by Reverend Colin Sampson.

Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert and other senior officers also attended the service.

Also eulogising Parry was Mervyn Richardson who described Parry as a “live wire” with a “strong sense of humour.” He said Parry brought a wealth of knowledge to SAUTT and provided invaluable training for the officers who entered SAUTT.

“Ian came to Trinidad and made an impression on all who knew him,” Richardson said.

“He had a personality that soon settled in Trinidad,” he added. He noted that Parry established the “British liming club”.

“Like a true Trini, the word ‘lime’ was close to him.” Parry, he said, had a passion for rugby and even helped train national rugby players. He said Parry would be most remembered and respected for the contribution he made at SAUTT. “Ian has left a legacy for us. We should continue to live the legacy that Ian has left.” Parry was later cremated at the St James Crematorium, Long Circular Road, St James.



picture
MY CONDOLENCES: National Security Minister Martin Joseph offers his condolences to Joan Smalley following the funeral service of her son, SAUTT instructor Ian Parry yesterday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Show of class at Red Cross Children’s Carnival

Kids’ moment in the sun


Youngsters play themselves for Carnival


Peter Balroop



Published: 7 Feb 2010 (Trinidad Guardian)



Call it the tug of mas and it was on show from the word go in Between The Trees—the small band produced by Rosemary Perkins for the Red Cross Children’s Carnival 2010 yesterday. The first section, comprising tiny children in winged costumes, came on stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah in brilliant sunshine, each holding on to a rope which adults used to guide them around the stage. They were too small to dance in time to the music, but quickly caught on that they must mimic the adults guiding them. But it was not tug of war, just the traditional launching of the first big mas event for the Carnival season.

In a sense it was nine days to Rama, when the adults will be doing their thing on the streets and on stage throughout T&T for Carnival Monday and Tuesday, next week. Intricate costumes were the order of the day as some 112 individuals, ranging in age from babes in arms to eight years, took to the stage to start the show in a smoothly organised event that was a credit to chairman Michelle Rolingson Pierre and her committee.Then it was the turn of some 24 small bands, with up to 60 members before some 58 more individuals, boys and girls between nine and 11, had their moment in the sun to show that their mas genes ran deep.

They did not disappoint, because the phlanx of judges wore a perplexed look as they pondered how to allot the scores of prizes on offer from generous sponsors that included Digicel, Blue Waters, bpTT, Courts, Carib/Smalta, Flavourite, Bermudez and British Gas. Seven medium bands with up to 150 members pranced across the stage after which about 64 individual boys and girls between 12 and 15 bid to catch the nod of the judges. The curtain came down yesterday evening with four bands in the large category, each comprising over 150 members, sought Carnival glory. It was a show of class, which assured that T&T Carnival was in rock solid hands for the next generation.


A masquerader from the band Blazing Fire produced by Carla and Gisselle. Photos: Andre Alexander

ABOVE LEFT: She was like a punch line with her smiling face from Tell Me A Story.
ABOVE RIGHT: She was a joy to behold as her costume caught the rays of the midday sun.

ABOVE: Female parang singers From the Success Laventille Composite band From The Hills of Paramin

ABOVE: Red Indians From The Hills of Paramin of Success Laventille Composite.

ABOVE: A young burrokeet From The Hills of Paramin of Success Laventille Composite.

ABOVE: Masqueraders from the band Blazing Fire produced by Carla and Gisselle Austin joyously play themselves on stage.

Cabinet approves new postal code proposal



Juhel Browne



Tuesday, February 9th 2010(T&T Express)



A new postal code system is to be put in place to ensure the better delivery of your mail, reduce the response time of the police and firefighters in finding your home and help assist in land allocation at cost of almost half a million dollars.

Cabinet approved a proposal for the new system that will be based on a new postal code model during it’s weekly meeting last Thursday.

During the post Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Public Utilities Minster Mustapha Abdul Hamid announced the details of the proposed new postal code systems that will be based on a standardised address system that will involve ’adding a postal code as the last line of addresses.’

’This postal code system is proposed to be completed in two working months at the estimated cost of $496,000,’ Abdul-Hamid said.

He said the new system will involve the collection of correct geographical location of addresses since at present, Trinidad and Tobago does not have a standardised address system.

’Despite the small size of Trinidad and Tobago not everyone is aware of the location of towns and villages and there is indeed a great dependence on word of mouth and the use of landmarks along with various known systems which are not always present or visible. Moreover, population growth, changes in land use the surge in housing development and industrialisation of new areas have rendered these causal location systems increasingly inefficient,’ Abdul-Hamid said.

He said that while TTPost and mail delivery companies such as Fedex and DHL will primarily benefit from the new postal code system, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) and Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) will also benefit from the improved handling and delivery of mail.

’For the Fire Service, Police Service and the Ministry of Health there will be decreased emergency response times through faster and more accurate address location...There would be additional benefits for commercial banks, insurance companies, for the (Board of) Inland Revenue, Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Central Statistical Office in that will assist in Government making processes such as land allocation and pricing in relation to the needs of a particular area,’ Abdul-Hamid said.

He said a public consultation will be held on the new system but offered no further details.

Movie star in kiddies ‘jump up’



By DARCEL CHOY Saturday, February 13 2010(T&T Newsday)



British born American actor, Delroy Lindo, got an early taste of mas yesterday during a visit to the St Mary’s Children’s home in Tacarigua.

More than 140 children from both the home and St Mary’s Anglican School jumped up and danced through the streets of Tunapuna in Nedco’s presentation of “Trinidad Is Still A Paradise” while Lindo followed, enjoying the music and the celebration.

Since his arrival on Wednesday evening, he has been kept busy with numerous interviews, but he took a break to visit Phase II Pan Groove’s panyard to hear them practise for tonight’s Panorama finals. He also got the opportunity to taste the local flavour as he enjoyed a bake and shark at the Queen’s Park Savannah which he said he thoroughly enjoyed. He admitted he was anticipating trying doubles at the popular UWI doubles centre, in St Augustine.

He added that he was enjoying the hot weather, and was also looking forward to playing mas on Tuesday. “I have been invited to play mas with D’Krewe, and I have been thinking about it. I may do that for a few hours,” he said.

Lindo who is the son of Jamaican immigrants admitted he was not as familiar with soca as he is with calypso which he grew up listening to as a child.

“I am looking forward to listening to soca and learning more about the music,” he said.

Lindo was brought to TT to sit as a celebrity panelist at last night’s International Soca Monarch competition. Patricia Martin Ward, manager of the home, said she was very pleased Lindo paid them a visit. “It is not new for celebrities to visit our home, but it is definitely an honour,” she said.

She confessed she was a fan as she enjoyed the work he did in the film “Romeo Must Die”.

While there, Ward said Lindo had asked a lot of questions as he was interested in the history of the home. “He expressed his interest in wanting to return to the home over the weekend, as he wanted to bring his eight year old son to meet and interact with the children,” she said.


http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,38526.html#foto
TIME OUT: American actor Delroy Lindon took time out for a photo shoot yesterday with these young masqueraders children at the St Mary's Home in Tacarigua.

Eric, check out this Trini from Alabama running for Congress

http://www.lesphillip.com/inde...on=com_content&id=46

T&T, Chile to cement energy links



Raphael John-Lall



Published: 20 Feb 2010(Trinidad Guardian)

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet



T&T is an important partner of Chile in the Caribbean, according to Rodolfo Berlinger, deputy head of mission and consul, Embassy of Chile. “We give great importance to T&T. This is the second visit of our President, Michelle Bachelet, in less than a year to T&T.

She’s coming because she was invited by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. It will be an interesting visit and it will promote greater ties,” Berlinger said in an interview at the Embassy of Chile, St Clair, yesterday.

He was speaking about the upcoming visit of the Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, to Trinidad on Tuesday. Commenting on the energy agreement to be signed between T&T and Chile, Berlinger said it would create more opportunities in the energy sector for Chile.

“A memorandum of understanding in energy matters will be signed next Tuesday during the visit of President Bachelet. It will be signed by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Chile and the Foreign Affairs Minister of T&T, Paula Gopee Scoon."

“It will develop the energy sectors of both countries. We have two liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Chile. “The first plant is already in operation with shipments of LNG from T&T, and the second plant will be inaugurated after our president returns to Chile,” he said. Berlinger said Chile’s energy sector was of growing importance, and that only one week ago that country had set up an energy ministry.

“We have recently set up a new Ministry of Energy. Before we only had a Commission for the Energy Sector. We are the only country in South America with two LNG plants,” he said. Berlinger said Chile hoped to expand co-operation between the two countries in other areas such as teachers and police being trained in Chile.

“Last year, 26 teachers (from T&T) were sent to Chile to learn Spanish as a second language. This year, we will give about six more scholarships. “T&T has also sent police officers to Chile to be trained.

We have special courses in criminology, traffic accident co-ordinators and other areas. We offer these to all Caribbean countries. Our police are very professional,” he said.

On March 11, President-elect Sebastian Pinera will be taking office. Pinera won presidential elections in Chile’s January election. Berlinger said the strong ties between T&T amd Chile would remain when Pinera assumes office.

SEC: Regional electronic trading in pipeline



NADALEEN SINGH



Published: 6 Mar 2010 (Trinidad Guardian)



The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is soon to establish a new electronic trading arrangement which would allow trading among Barbados, T&T and Jamaica Stock Exchanges, said Charles de Silva, acting general manager, SEC. “We are in the process of moving to a new trading arrangement. It is an electronic platform that allows people to trade from any of the three countries now that host the three major stock exchanges,” de Silva said. He said it is a technological platform “because we do buy and sell each others shares through the cross listing arrangement.”

“What is about to happen, and it is coming down the pipe in a little while a technical platform has been installed that will allow a T&T broker to actually trade on the Jamaica exchange or vice versa,” he said. He was speaking to the Guardian following SEC’s luncheon meeting yesterday held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. Asked how soon this proposed system is to be put in place, de Silva, “There are still a few regulatory and operational kinks to be worked out. It is pretty close to fruition.” De Silva said he could not give an exact date when the system would be implemented.

Encouraging trading activity

Referring to the benefits this new system would have, de Silva said, “Access to trading in regional stocks is now going to be much easier and that would have the effect of encouraging more participation in trading activity.” He said the stocks that are already listed on the exchanges are “now going to be more widely accessible.” “There was the cost involved in acquiring that technology. That has been done. The challenge after that is the regulatory challenges because what you have is three separate jurisdictions: T&T, Barbados and Jamaica, allowing persons from another jurisdiction to trade and there are issues of regulating that kind of activity,” he said. “What we have to do is to decide how we would operate the law, given the new situation where persons outside of the physical boundaries are accessing the stock exchange. What happens if that person commits a contravention of the law? How do you enforce?” De Silva said the exchanges must talk about such issues as settlement of trade across boundaries as there are different exchange rates in each country.

Costly technology

He said he could not disclose the cost of the technology involved, but that each stock exchange would have to incur its own expenses. Deborah Thomas Felix, chairman, SEC, said the local securities market has grown within a ten year period. “Our local securities market has grown rapidly over the period 1998-2009, far exceeding the growth of the banking sector. “By 2009, 31 individuals and 53 institutions operated in the market,” Thomas Felix said. “Let me put this growth in perspective. By the end of September 2009, the securities market was more than three times the size of the banking sector and the value of securities outstanding represented 158 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of that period, while commercial bank deposits for the same period were 48 per cent of GDP,” she said. She said the SEC was able to make its conclusions growth in the T&T securities market through a survey it had conducted.

Fram Exploration strikes ‘black gold’


NADALEEN SINGH



Published: 10 Mar 2010 (Trinidad Guardian)



Fram Exploration AS, the Norwegian firm which was awarded the sub-licence to take over operations of the Inniss Trinity oilfield, last Saturday started to examine existing wells on that field, said Jim Oberkircher, director, Fram Exploration.

He said examination of the field cost the company between US$150,000 and US$200,000. Petrotrin officially awarded Fram Exploration the ten-year sub-licence on October 28, 2009. The Norwegian company was one of five to have been given a sub-licence to operate seven fields in Trinidad.

The fields were distributed as follows:

• Los Bajos Oil Ltd, an affiliate of Trincam Oil Ltd, operating the Beach-Marcelle block
• Cameron Oil & Gas Ltd, holding the Goudron block
• Fram Exploration, awarded the Innis-Trinity block
• AV Drilling and Workover Ltd, with the Catshill and Moruga east blocks
• API Pipeline Construction Company, awarded the Navette and Balata east blocks.

Oberkircher was at the company’s cocktail reception, held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, Port-of-Spain, on Monday. The reception was held to introduce Fram Exploration’s board members to Petrotrin executives and to discuss its future plans in T&T. He said Fram Exploration met with Petrotrin employees yesterday to share with them some of the skills and technology Norwegians have developed. “We’ve just conducted a series of meetings within the past few days, done some site visits and been around Trinidad.

“We toured the entire western part of the island from Maracas to Palo Seco. We went through the field itself in Moruga and several other areas,” Oberkircher said. Oberkircher said the executives were very excited about Saturday’s site visit. “We actually got first production on Saturday, so the timing was quite good. We were able to open some wells.”

Oil flowing

Oberkircher said the site visit enabled the executives to “see the oil flowing out of the ground, which is always an exciting thing. They were very impressed.” “A lot of the work involves conducting an inventory of the wells. Some of them are hard to find. They have been abandoned or lost for 10 to 15 years, so the jungle tends to grow up around them quickly,” Oberkircher said. He said there are going to be some wells that have been “dried up or cannot be brought back to life.” “You have to remember that some of these wells were drilled back in the 1950s, you are looking at 50 to 60 year old wells some of those won’t be worth trying to do anything with,” Oberkircher said. “There appears to be fluid in many of the wells. We do have wells that are actually flowing, which, given the timing, they have been abandoned. It’s a good sign.” Fram Exploration is very confident about the performance of T&T’s energy sector and plans to expand its operations in T&T.

Expansion plans

“We are interested in expanding our operations. We had a series of meetings with Petrotrin in that regard. There are upcoming opportunities that we are interested in. “What we are attempting to do in the short term is demonstrate to Petrotrin and to the Government, that we are capable of doing what we said we would do and we are capable of fulfilling the expectations that have been placed upon us,” Oberkircher said. The opportunities which Fram Exploration would be looking at are offshore and onshore. Oberkircher said T&T is a “good petroleum producing province.”

Mayers: T&T has gas for projects until 2028



Raphael John-Lall



Published: 10 Mar 2010(Trinidad Guardian)



There is enough gas to meet projects until 2028, said Leroy Mayers, permanent secretary, Ministry of Energy. “Recently, we did an evaluation of our gas resources and we were quite comfortable that we have enough gas resources to meet projects that we have agreed on. “We have allocated gas for projects and we also have existing projects. We have 11 ammonia plants and we have seven methanol plants and we have determined that there is enough gas to meet these projects as far as 2028.

“We have enough gas based on the existing reserves to meet existing projects and planned projects. This is what we have determined based on exploration and other activities. Then again there are other activities to come that would show up our gas reserves.” He said this yesterday in reply to questions from the Joint Select Committee on the 2000 to 2001 annual report for Ministry of Energy in Parliament.

Helena Iniss-King, director, resource management, Ministry of Energy, said by the end of the month, the Ministry of Energy will be launching the next competitive bid round. “Seven blocks will be offered and this will be gas blocks mainly. We’ve looked at the capital demand of the future and we decided that it will be expedient to offer, at this point in time, blocks that are more perspective for gas. “Work from these blocks should begin some time in 2011 because the close off bid round is in August, and we traditionally give companies a wide time to gear up to start the exploration.

“So within a year to 15 months after signing contracts, we should have acquired all the exploration tools before they come to drilling wells,” she said. Iniss King said proved gas reserves for T&T stand at 15.37 trillion cubic feet (tcf), while probable gas reserves are at 8.45 tcf and possible gas reserves stand at 6.39 tcf. She said total gas reserves stand at 30.11 tcf.