30 April

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George: Don’t shut down every time cases rise

in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George says the country has to find ways to “creatively and meaningfully live with the virus” and while he understands that the government must take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 it’s not enough to just shut down the economy when cases increase. The Tobago Chamber head is once again calling for mass vaccination which he said is the key to economic recovery. Responding almost immediately to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement of additional COVID-19 restrictions yesterday, the prominent attorney said he believes that the only way to manage the economy while navigating...

19 March

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Employee loses $1m lawsuit against TSTT

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in Newspaper Articles

A Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) payroll clerk has lost her almost $1 million lawsuit against her employer, over it reneging on an offer of early retirement. Delivering an oral judgement, during a virtual hearing yesterday, High Court Judge Frank Seepersad dismissed the breach of contract case brought by Brenda Mark against the State-owned telecommunications provider. Seepersad noted that while the company made an offer of voluntary enhanced early retirement in April 2014, which was accepted by Mark, the process to form a binding contractual agreement between the two parties was far from complete. Seepersad noted that the prospectus document issued to employees,...

11 March

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Big Easter weekend for Tobago hoteliers

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Tobago is expecting a bumper Easter weekend with Trinidadians flocking to the island. Responding to Newsday via WhatsApp on Tuesday, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) president Chris James said villas and self-catering properties are the top sellers for the long weekend. “Easter weekend has seen an increase in bookings and presently stands at 49 per cent across all property types with villas and self-catering doing best,” James said. Hinting at the limited availability of tickets on both the air- and seabridge, he said the association is advocating for more flights. “We will be speaking to the authorities to increase ticket availability for Easter....

10 March

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Judge to rule on TSTT clerk’s claim for $.9m pension benefits

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in Newspaper Articles

NEXT Thursday, a High Court judge will give his ruling on a claim by a TSTT payroll clerk who is seeking almost $1 million. She says the amount is owed to her as part of the company’s voluntary enhanced early retirement plan (VEERP), a pension lump sum and a reduced monthly pension. Brenda Mark, a permanent employee of TSTT since 1984, said she submitted an application for VEERP in April 2014, and her lump sum figure was calculated and given to her. It amounted to $974.289.04. She was invited to financial counselling sessions and said she believed TSTT was serious about “the binding agreement”...

07 March

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Duke: I don’t want Finance Secretary position

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine says several Tobagonians have raised concerns over the conditions of the Progressive Democratic Patriots’ (PDP) power-sharing proposal to manage the Tobago House of Assembly. In particular, they fear the prospect of Watson Duke becoming Finance Secretary. However, in an immediate response to the concern, Duke says he is not interested in the role in the power-sharing arrangement. Davidson-Celestine addressed the issue after a walkthrough at the site of the Bacolet Indoor Sporting Facility yesterday, where she confirmed that the PDP’s formal proposal was received and the PNM executive will meet for discussions on...

07 March

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Power-sharing in THA illegal, risky—George

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Attorney Martin George says Tobagonians are now ensnared in a local version of Game of Thrones, as the proposal to share control of the Tobago House of Assembly is illegal and will never work. Basing his opinion on the nature of local politics and history, George said he believes members of both parties will operate with a metaphoric “hidden sword” anxiously waiting for an opportunity to outperform or show up the other party. However, Progressive Democratic Party deputy leader Farley Augustine says they are willing to take the chance as it puts Tobago first. George applauded the efforts of the PDP to offer...

07 March

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PM: Follow the law to solve THA deadlock

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

THE Prime Minister on Friday maintained that the law must be followed to find a solution to the six-six Tobago House of Assembly (THA) electoral impasse. Dr Rowley expressed this view when asked to comment on a claim by attorney Martin George that an interim PNM-PDP power-sharing arrangement would be illegal. The PDP made its proposal for a power-sharing arrangement during talks between Rowley, the PNM's assemblymen and its assemblymen at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Tobago on Wednesday. He asked them to put their proposal in writing and said he would respond in a week. "Nothing can be achieved or operated outside...

05 March

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Medical Board to probe Sawh

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in Newspaper Articles

THE MEDICAL Board has decided to investigate the allegations against Dr Avinash Sawh, who has been accused of making racist statements in telephone calls with a former employee. In January, the board wrote to Sawh’s attorney Martin George, agreeing there was a procedural flaw in the way the complaint against the doctor had been received. After its regular monthly meeting in February, the board wrote to George again on Wednesday, informing him of its new decision to embark on an inquiry. It said, “Having considered the matter, the council has chosen to exercise its own independent discretion to carry out an inquiry under...

05 March

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Medical Board launches new inquiry into Avinash Sawh

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in Newspaper Articles

The Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago (MBTT) has launched an independent inquiry into the allegations surrounding Dr Avinash Sawh’s racist tirades. In a statement sent to his lawyer, Martin George, the Board’s Council explained that they’ve received adequate complaints, concerns and allegations from various arms of the public to prompt an investigation. “The Council has received a number of emails and correspondence from members of the public, the Medical Board, the Minister of Health, the attention of the media generally coupled with the Board's statutory duty under the Medical Board Act,” the Council wrote. Coupled with a now infamous social media recording...

05 March

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Tobago Chamber: Power-sharing in THA illegal

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in Interviews, Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber has said any form of power-sharing between the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) and People’s National Movement (PNM) in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will be illegal, because the law simply does not allow for such an arrangement. On Wednesday, the the Prime Minister held a meeting with 12 elected THA assemblymen in an affort to end the six-six deadlock in the THA. At the meeting, the PDP proposed an interim power-sharing arrangement until a solution to the impasse is arrived at. The PDP offered to give the PNM the positions of chief secretary and presiding officer, while it...