20 September

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Man claims he was shot by police for breaching Stay-at-Home orders

in Interviews, Media, Newspaper Articles

A man from Charlotteville, Tobago, who was allegedly shot by a police officer for allegedly breaching ongoing Stay-at-Home regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has threatened to sue the State. Attorneys representing Zauvghan Benjamin, of Belle Aire Road, Charlotteville, made the threat in a pre-action protocol letter sent to National Security Minister Stuart Young on Thursday. In the letter, attorney Janelle Ramsaroop claimed that on April 6, Benjamin was standing in his relative’s yard at J.D Elder Drive in Charlotteville when he noticed a police vehicle driving on the road. Ramsaroop admitted that Benjamin ran upon seeing the officers but claimed that he...

18 September

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Tobago Chamber head: ‘We want more flights’

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in Media, Tobago Business Chamber

The Tobago Business Chamber is urging the Government to increase the number of flights between the two islands. At a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, on September 12, the Prime Minister announced the covid19 restrictions that were in place from August 17-September 13 will continue for another month, as there had been no significant let-up in new infections. He said restrictions on beaches, churches, gyms and in-house dining at restaurants will remain until October 11. Airline travel between the two islands has also been restricted, with CAL operating one flight per day. But in a WhatsApp voice note, the Tobago Chamber’s...

18 September

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Health Secretary: Scarborough cath lab ‘not in operation’

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in Media, Tobago Business Chamber

“It’s not an easy task but we’re very committed to treating with operationalising the cath lab.” THA Health Secretary Tracy Davidson-Celestine made this admission in answer to a question about the status of the catheterisation laboratory at the Scarborough General Hospital. She spoke during Tuesday’s virtual Division of Health media briefing. The question was asked in the wake of a recent newspaper report that the $70 million cardiac lab for heart patients in Tobago has not been in use for five years. Davidson-Celestine said: “The cath lab is not in operation currently and we’re working very hard to ensure that we can utilise that...

16 September

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Maxi drivers take THA, PTSC to court

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in Interviews, Media, Newspaper Articles

Maxi operators in Tobago have taken legal action against the Public Transport Service Corporation and the Division of Education Innovation and Energy for what they have described as unreasonable and unfair employment contracts. But officials of the Tobago House of Assembly and PTSC seem to have opposing positions on the matter. The group totalling thirty-one owners is being collectively represented by Attorney Janelle Ramsaroop of Martin A George and Company who said many of the owners have been engaged for more than twenty years, and during that period there has been no issue until the PTSC stepped in. “The new contract now seeks...

19 June

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Tobago autonomy ‘gimmickry’

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in Media, Newspaper Articles

Chairman of the Tobago Business Chamber Martin George is calling on Tobago to put aside its obsession with self-governance and focus first on its economic independence. In a video sent via WhatsApp on Monday, George said if Tobago gets financial independence, all others would fall into place. George said it is “unfortunate and regrettable” that there seems to be an imbroglio over the question of the Tobago autonomy bill. “The fact of the matter is that when one considers the scenario in Tobago, the more important aspects that persons should be focussing on is to try to ensure that there is economic and...

04 June

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Tobago gets to do what it wants

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

Has Tobago been allowed to spend billions of taxpayers dollars with little or no oversight and even less accountability to the people of T&T whose money it is entrusted every year? The Tobago House of Assembly by Act 37 of 1980 has been ascribed significantly more power than any other local government body in the country. In its revised legislation, a formula was set for its funding that ensures the Minister of Finance provides a minimum percentage of the national budget to the island. Part of the rationale for the governance arrangements for Tobago are that the island is under-developed re: Trinidad...

04 June

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George supports Govt’s reopening plan

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

“Lives before livelihoods.” That is Tobago Business Chamber’s take on Government’s phased reopening plan after most of the country was shut down to reduce the spread of COVID-19 weeks ago. Speaking with Tobago Today on the issue, the chamber’s chairman Martin George said the organisation fully supports Government’s plan as it’s “a measured and balanced attempt at reopening.” “The Tobago Business Chamber wishes to lend its support to the Government’s efforts to stage a phased reopening of the country...

04 June

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Economist suggests taxes based on business sizes, minister disagrees

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in Interviews, Media, Tobago Business Chamber

As the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the vast informal sector in T&T, Economist Dr Roger Hosein believes that one of the reasons companies stay informal is due to the high cost of doing business. He has recommended that as something the Roadmap Recovery Committee should pay close attention to. Hosein said one option that should be placed on the table when the Revenue Authority comes on stream is, “to encourage small firms to cross the border from informality into formality we would probably want to consider a lower tax rate, for example, for firms employing five or less people.” In response to the suggestion...