05 January

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Mixed reactions from business groups to PM’s announcement

A business chamber has expressed concern that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that he is stepping down without a successor in place and with general elections around the corner. The Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC) believes this could put doubt in the minds of investors. CRBC coordinator Jai Leladharsingh said: “This is creating a lot of uncertainty among the business community and has put a halt to domestic investment and over the last few years we have not seen any foreign investment at all. Again, a worrisome situation.” Weighing in on the prime minister’s legacy Tobago Business Chamber chairman Martin...

05 January

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Tobago Chamber head on Rowley’s announcement: ‘Think about your legacy’

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PRESIDENT of the Tobago Chamber of Commerce Martin George called on the Prime Minister to think about the legacy he will leave as he begins his transition out of politics. He made the statement as a reaction to Dr Rowley’s announcement on January 3 that he will be bowing out of politics before the end of this parliamentary term. Noting his long and distinguished career in politics, George said now is a good time to take a look at the country Rowley is politically leaving behind. “At this point what he has to consider is what is his legacy to Trinidad and Tobago, given the...

17 December

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Need proper definition of ‘autonomy’ for Tobago, says Martin George

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The Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber says there isn't enough clarity on what is meant by autonomy for Tobago. According to Martin George, that lack of clarity is the real reason the Tobago Autonomy Bill wasn't passed, as there were no real specifics outlining what ‘autonomy’ would really mean and look like for the island. He believes the discourse surrounding autonomy has been over simplified, and when the reality of autonomy is much more complex. He says the effects of autonomy are far reaching and will involve significant changes to the Constitution. “Where do we start? Do we start looking at a...

14 December

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Ex-TSTT worker to repay union $.3M

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A former Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) employee has been ordered to repay a little over $326,353.22 to the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU). CWU reportedly paid Anika Gaspard’s $15,000 salary for almost two years while it was pursuing a case on her behalf against TSTT in the Industrial Court. The union claimed the payments were made to alleviate her hardship and based on the agreement that it was a loan that had to be repaid if she was eventually successful in the case and awarded compensation. The union, through its lawyer Martin George, sued Gaspard, of Mootoo Lands, Arima, after she...

12 December

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Licks for Farley over house slave comment

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Emancipation Support Committee chairman Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada says she left shocked after Chief Secretary Farley Augustine labelled Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley a “house slave” after the defeat of the Tobago autonomy bills on Monday. Uzoma-Wadada said she’s disappointed to again have to call on the country’s leaders to act responsibly. She said Augustine must be conscious of the sensitivity of African culture and history, what is deemed acceptable, and the potential impact on society. After the bills’ failure on Monday, Augustine took to Facebook, saying, “Nothing is worse than when your relative, who sits in the seat of power, is nothing but...

12 December

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[UPDATED] PDP, IDA: Chief Secretary ‘lacks diplomacy’

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PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke has blamed Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for the failure of the main Tobago autonomy bill in the Parliament. During debate on the pieces of legislation on December 9, the House of Representatives passed the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021 by a vote of 20-10, but failed to pass the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020. The Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020 did not get the special three-fourths majority for passage as 21 government members voted for the bill and 16 opposition members voted against. The bill required at least 31 of the 41...

12 December

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Mixed reactions from Tobago stakeholders

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The rejection of the Tobago autonomy bills in Parliament has left the island’s politicians and stakeholders pointing fingers, with some saying the bills’ return to the House was nothing but a show. While some argued yesterday that political games and division caused their failure, others believe the bills wouldn’t have brought any real change. Tobago House of Assembly Minority Leader Kelvon Morris called the outcome a “deeply disappointing moment for Tobago,” placing blame squarely on the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) for prioritising “political self-interest” over the island’s push for greater self-governance. He also bashed Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for what he described...

12 December

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Tobago Chamber: Govt must clear the air

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The Government cannot stay silent and avoid accountability in the face of an allegation that there is half-a-billion dollars in cost overruns in the construction of the ANR Robinson International Airport terminal in Tobago, says Tobago Business Chamber chairman Martin George. He said any normal responsible Government would provide transparency, adding that failure to give an account will lead to calls for a criminal charges to be laid or a public enquiry. “In relation to the allegations of cost overruns on the Tobago airport project, it would appear that a reasonable and prudent course of action would be for the Government to...

07 December

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George: $42M drug bust in Tobago ‘a drop in the bucket’

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Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber, Martin George, says the $42 million drug bust in Tobago is just a drop in the bucket, as it relates to crime detection on the island. Police believe the narcotics and firearms, which were found during a police operation at Pigeon Point Beach on Monday night, were en route to another Caribbean island. Two suspects were arrested during the bust and are expected to be charged soon. Martin George told Guardian Media that drugs are the driving force behind violent crimes in Tobago. He believes there is a lot more work to be done by the police. “I am...

07 December

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Kamla, Rowley spar on Tobago airport project

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Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar are now in a war of words on the ANR Robinson Airport expansion project in Tobago. This, as Rowley accused Persad-Bissessar of making a “scandalous outburst and torrent of baseless allegations” in the wake of her accusations of mismanagement and corruption on the project by Government. In a WhatsApp message yesterday, Persad-Bissessar doubled down on accusations first made at a United National Congress cottage meeting in Las Lomas on Monday night. Calling for a criminal probe of the project, she asserted Government has been misleading the public about the project’s escalating costs....